June 2009 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee?
by Greg Sarratt 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

You are correct Jim. 73, Greg Sarratt, W4OZK -----Original Message----- From: K8JE [mailto:k8je@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:14 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? FB, Greg. Would I assume correctly that you are the chairman of this subcommittee? Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org, Tel.: 513-459-1661 ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio -----Original Message----- From: Greg Sarratt [mailto:gsarratt@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:01 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? The PSC is studying this. At the January 2009 PSC meeting, it was moved to establish a sub-committee to study a structure of a committee to study emergency preparedness response and assist the manager of emergency preparedness and response. There are two members of the NERPC on the sub-committee and a report of recommendations will be ready at the July meeting. 73, Greg Sarratt, W4OZK -----Original Message----- From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@verizon.net] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 1:53 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? [I sent this nearly 2 hours ago and it hasn't come through to me. Sorry if it causes a dupe.] During the NERPC study, I asked the group to consider whether or not the PSAC/ECAC should be revived. No one said yes. There are so many hams with so much expertise in the field that the rigid one-representative-per-Division structure of Advisory Committees seemed ill-suited to the task of ensuring that the Board and Staff have the most timely, highest-quality input reflecting a diversity of viewpoints. Having just 15 or 16 (if Canada's included as it is on the other AC's) voices seemed to the committee to make the funnel just too small. It would also make a Director's life a credible version of hell to have to choose just one person from a large number of possible appointees in his or her Division -- some of whom have great big axes to grind and do not listen at all well to viewpoints different from their own. The NERPC volunteers suggested a different model, if a committee of volunteers is thought to be desirable, and that is the PR Committee. Because it is not an Advisory Committee, the PR Committee is not limited to one representative per Division and so it's possible to achieve both geographic balance and a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints. We were looking specifically at input from the field to HQ, but that does not rule out the same input being available to, say, the Board's PSC as the basis for policy recommendations. I have appended the relevant two pages from the NERPC report. The relevant section starts about halfway down the first page. 73, Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:17847] RE: [arrl-odv:17832] RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee?
by David A. Norris 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

TNX Jay, Mickey, Greg and I all dealt with Katrina as SMs and it was a real "baptism by fire" for my part. If that experience taught me anything it taught me that we must always tap our Section Managers, SEC's and EC's on these matters. These elected and appointed hams are "our guys" on the front lines and their feedback, expertise and experience is essential for the BoD to make informed decisions. Additionally, we should also keep a close rapport with major served agencies and draw on their expertise or knowledge to better foster interoperability, but not at the sacrifice of the spirit and character of amateur radio. We will be getting in to that issue I'm sure! Also, your statement about one size not fitting all is correct. I think we need to hear the subcommittee report and keep flexibility and adaptability in mind WRT the unique geographic areas of the USA and Canada. We must continue to evolve with the technologies, times and needs; however as I state above this evolutionary process should not be at the sacrifice of the spirit and character of amateur radio. Our unique abilities make us valuable communicators when disaster strikes. I look forward to hearing the subcommittee report. (Which I forgot was out there! SRI Greg!) 73 David A. Norris, K5UZ Vice Director, Delta Div. -----Original Message----- From: John Bellows [mailto:jbellows@skypoint.com] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:46 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:17832] RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? David: An interesting suggestion. You and Mickey have the perspective of having been former SM's. I can't say I have heard concerns along the lines you mentioned in the Dakota Division and those SM's and SEC's have considerable experience in dealing with emcomm emergencies such as month long floods over many hundreds of square miles in sub-zero temperatures. My point is emcomm may not have a "one size fits all" solution. Perhaps you are right and we should listen to amateurs with professional emergency management experience a bit more. Still I feel we need to first listen to the elected SM's and volunteer SEC's who have the on the ground experience are in the best position to evaluate their needs and no allegiance to any particular system or technology. The NERPC committee did a fine job of identifying a way for ARRL to address future emcomm needs, particularly in wide area disasters. This Board accepted and praised the NERPC committee report and recognized the good work of the members and the leadership of VP Kay Craigie. New views and new ideas should always be welcome on the Board. BUT before creating another committee, advisory or otherwise we ought to first be clear that what we already have in place isn't adequate or can't be adjusted to meet the perceived shortcoming. The current discussion arose from comments from Steve Waterman, K4CJX to Mickey. Steve is an avowed Winlink zealot who feels Winlink isn't being given its due and isn't being backed and promoted by the NERPC committee or ARRL. Frankly I am inclined to think Steve wants a second bite at that apple and is pushing the committee idea to foster that result. I would be surprised and disappointed if true believers such as Steve and the D-Star advocates didn't press their case. ARRL ought to make sure that new useful technologies and systems are featured in QST and on the Website, but I don't believe ARRL should back or endorse any particular system or technology, particularly a proprietary technology. There are any number of excellent technologies and systems out there. There are any number of professional emcomm folks out there who are Amateurs. Just because a technology or system exists or an Amateur has expertise in structured governmental or NGO communications doesn't mean that technology, system or expertise is transportable to Amateur emcomm services. Let's not forget the needs or seek the input of guys on the line, the SM's and SEC's, when dealing with emcomm issues. 73, Jay, K0QB -----Original Message----- From: David A. Norris [mailto:k5uz@suddenlink.net] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:01 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17832] RE: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? Good Points Kay, I think we should look in to this PSAC/ECAC idea again citing the following from the NERPC Report: Conclusion Disaster preparedness is a moving target, moving faster all the time. No recommendations, no plans, no systems should be considered as graven in stone and the permanent answers for all circumstances and hazards. The level of professional expertise in emergency communications and emergency management among Amateurs in the USA is growing, and the expectations these Amateurs place upon their League to provide first-rate leadership and guidance is growing, too. This committee appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the ARRL's ability to provide that leadership and guidance. We trust that the process will continue. If "lessons learned" are not followed by "behaviors changed," then the lessons have not been learned at all. To coincide with this I hear a lot of talk about ARRL not sufficiently promoting and supporting Emcomm throughout the division and the need for the ARRL to "get out in front" WRT Emcomm. Many members cite the above report and these members are of the opinion that we aren't doing enough in support of Emcomm. The ECAC/PSAC idea is worth looking at as well as a "committee of experts" approach. Perhaps we could look at a hybrid committee with 15-16 division/Canada appointees and a number of additional Emcomm experts selected either by the President or a committee of the whole. Let's all bear in mind that there is a tremendous amount of expertise to draw from. I think we have a very good topic for discussion here. David A. Norris, K5UZ Vice Director, Delta Div. -----Original Message----- From: Kay Craigie [mailto:n3kn@verizon.net] Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 1:53 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17824] RE: [arrl-odv:17815] EmComm Advisory Committee? [I sent this nearly 2 hours ago and it hasn't come through to me. Sorry if it causes a dupe.] During the NERPC study, I asked the group to consider whether or not the PSAC/ECAC should be revived. No one said yes. There are so many hams with so much expertise in the field that the rigid one-representative-per-Division structure of Advisory Committees seemed ill-suited to the task of ensuring that the Board and Staff have the most timely, highest-quality input reflecting a diversity of viewpoints. Having just 15 or 16 (if Canada's included as it is on the other AC's) voices seemed to the committee to make the funnel just too small. It would also make a Director's life a credible version of hell to have to choose just one person from a large number of possible appointees in his or her Division -- some of whom have great big axes to grind and do not listen at all well to viewpoints different from their own. The NERPC volunteers suggested a different model, if a committee of volunteers is thought to be desirable, and that is the PR Committee. Because it is not an Advisory Committee, the PR Committee is not limited to one representative per Division and so it's possible to achieve both geographic balance and a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints. We were looking specifically at input from the field to HQ, but that does not rule out the same input being available to, say, the Board's PSC as the basis for policy recommendations. I have appended the relevant two pages from the NERPC report. The relevant section starts about halfway down the first page. 73, Kay N3KN

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[arrl-odv:17846] Re:RE: FCC turns 75 Today
by David A. Norris 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

Spur them into positive action? I think the better word is SCARE them into positive action! Hi Hi! Hey Rick, do you still have that old "business card" you used to carry??? 73 David A. Norris, K5UZ Vice Director, Delta Div. -----Original Message----- From: jfenster(a)pacifier.com [mailto:jfenster@pacifier.com] Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:14 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:17843] Re: FCC turns 75 Today But, having Rick jump out of a cake wearing a bikini might spur them into some positive and productive action!!! > > 73, > K5UR > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Mileshosky <n5zgt(a)swcp.com> > To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> > Sent: Fri, Jun 19, 2009 10:52 am > Subject: [arrl-odv:17840] FCC turns 75 Today > > > I see a story on ARRL's website about FCC turning 75 today.? > ? > I'm wondering if ODV would be amenable with tasking Rick Roderick to > calling them up and wishing them happy birthday. Maybe having him throw a > party for them? Delivering a cake? (Hopefully without Rick inside of it)? > ? > 73,? > Brian N5ZGT? > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division? > On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org? > ? > >

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[arrl-odv:17845] NERPC Report available
by Kay Craigie 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

A colleague has noted that some Board members came along after the NERPC report was accepted by the Board in January, 2007. Dave reminded me that the document is available on the ARRL web site at http://www.arrl.org/announce/reports-2007/january/ 73 - Kay N3KN, soon to be DL/N3KN

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[arrl-odv:17844] Re: FCC turns 75 Today
by Brian Mileshosky 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

Thoughts of my weekend flyfishing the Conejos River in Colorado have been totally ruined by this vision. Thanks. A bunch. No, really. 73, Brian N5ZGT On Fri, 19 Jun 2009, jfenster(a)pacifier.com wrote: > But, having Rick jump out of a cake wearing a bikini might spur them into > some positive and productive action!!! > >> >> 73, >> K5UR >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Brian Mileshosky <n5zgt(a)swcp.com> >> To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> >> Sent: Fri, Jun 19, 2009 10:52 am >> Subject: [arrl-odv:17840] FCC turns 75 Today >> >> >> I see a story on ARRL's website about FCC turning 75 today.? >> ? >> I'm wondering if ODV would be amenable with tasking Rick Roderick to >> calling them up and wishing them happy birthday. Maybe having him throw a >> party for them? Delivering a cake? (Hopefully without Rick inside of it)? >> ? >> 73,? >> Brian N5ZGT? >> ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division? >> On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org? >> ? >> >> > > > > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:17843] Re: FCC turns 75 Today
by jfenster＠pacifier.com 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

But, having Rick jump out of a cake wearing a bikini might spur them into some positive and productive action!!! > > 73, > K5UR > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brian Mileshosky <n5zgt(a)swcp.com> > To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> > Sent: Fri, Jun 19, 2009 10:52 am > Subject: [arrl-odv:17840] FCC turns 75 Today > > > I see a story on ARRL's website about FCC turning 75 today.? > ? > I'm wondering if ODV would be amenable with tasking Rick Roderick to > calling them up and wishing them happy birthday. Maybe having him throw a > party for them? Delivering a cake? (Hopefully without Rick inside of it)? > ? > 73,? > Brian N5ZGT? > ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division? > On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org? > ? > >

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[arrl-odv:17842] Re: FCC turns 75 Today
by k5ur＠aol.com 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

Ha!!!!! Oh, yeah....... 73, K5UR -----Original Message----- From: Brian Mileshosky <n5zgt(a)swcp.com> To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Fri, Jun 19, 2009 10:52 am Subject: [arrl-odv:17840] FCC turns 75 Today I see a story on ARRL's website about FCC turning 75 today.? ? I'm wondering if ODV would be amenable with tasking Rick Roderick to calling them up and wishing them happy birthday. Maybe having him throw a party for them? Delivering a cake? (Hopefully without Rick inside of it)? ? 73,? Brian N5ZGT? ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division? On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org? ?

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[arrl-odv:17841] Re: EmComm Advisory Committee?
by Mickey Cox 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

Tom, Thanks very much for your comments. Your recommendation that I write a section with my dissenting position (if necessary) sounds good to me. 73, K5MC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Frenaye" <frenaye(a)pcnet.com> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 8:58 AM Subject: [arrl-odv:17839] Re: EmComm Advisory Committee? > > I have to admit that I went to bed last night thinking I was hallucinating > after reading recent ODV messages. It seemed like members of the PSC > were unaware that the PSC had a subcommittee studying Emcomm issues. Now > I understand a little better, Director Cox is trying to get the rest of > the Board involved in that discussion. > > Looking back at the PSC minutes from January 15th and April 4th meetings, > I see that Mickey is on that PSC subcommittee, and the PSC expects a final > report to be delivered at their meeting on July 16th, just before the > Board meeting, and he appears to have a different view of what should be > in their report.. My recommendation to Mickey is that he should > contribute to that report, and if he is not in sync with the others on the > subcommittee, he should write a section with his dissenting position. > > That said, I think the general topic of ARRL and Emcomm should be an > important part of our upcoming meeting. President Harrison has already > indicated that the Thursday night informal discussion (actually he called > it a formal presentation by Mr. Imlay) will cover it - at least related to > the commercialization of Amateur Radio. That's a very timely topic from > my view. > > I'm encouraged that PSC members have been trying to deal with the growing > Emcomm issues in their last few meetings - though it looks to me that > Emcomm itself is enough to keep them busy. I think we're getting to the > "soul of the machine" (or "soul of the hobby") point with Emcomm and many > of the issues are beginning to become strategic questions about where we > want to go and what we want to become in the next few years. > > The New England Division had a cabinet meeting last Saturday, with five of > the six Section Managers on hand, a couple of SECs, and about thirty club > presidents and officers from around the Division. As a result of some > discussions at our previous cabinet meeting in January, we have started to > become involved in the FEMA Regional Emergency Communications Coordination > Working Group (RECCWG) for Region 1 (New England states). I believe there > is amateur radio involvement in two other FEMA regions (southeast/Atlanta > and Texas areas). The RECCWG groups are directed to deal with > communications inter-operability issues at all levels of government and > the legislation establishing them specifically says they must coordinate > with the amateur radio community. See > http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/04/100/?nc=1 > > We spent more than half of the cabinet meeting talking about Emcomm > issues, the experience with the first couple of RECCWG Region 1 meetings, > and national Emcomm challenges. Dennis Dura/K2DCD was able to attend - > one of the very few times he's been in front of a New England group. I > was very impressed with Dennis, he held the group's attention when he > spoke, he was very knowledgeable and filled in a lot of gaps in > information about what ARRL has been doing regarding Emcomm issues. > > As I said when introducing Dennis at the meeting, he is often tough to > reach and has a lot of bosses and constituents in Newington and across the > country. During the nearly two years he has been with ARRL a lot has > changed. Dennis has turned over a lot of stones and found a huge number > of issues that need to be dealt with, helped to develop a lot of > relationships for ARRL in government and NGO groups, and perhaps has > managed to spread himself a bit too thin with everyone. > > After two years, it is time to assess how we're doing and what we're doing > related to Emcomm. I get the feeling we're unable to decide whether to > be happy with one, apparently overworked, person focusing upwards on > government connections and downward on Field Organization Emcomm issues, > or whether we need to expand our involvement so more HQ players are > involved. From Dennis' comments about his interactions with DHS/FEMA, it > sounds like they have changing views about how Amateur Radio should be > involved - and that means they are more and more positive about it. As a > result, we may need to do more to step up to the plate organizationally. > > That's long enough... I do think that we need to find adequate time at > this upcoming meeting to talk about some of our policy questions regarding > Emcomm - and not get bogged down in operational details too much. > > -- Tom > > > ===== > e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director > http://www.arrl.org/ > Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > > >

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[arrl-odv:17840] FCC turns 75 Today
by Brian Mileshosky 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

I see a story on ARRL's website about FCC turning 75 today. I'm wondering if ODV would be amenable with tasking Rick Roderick to calling them up and wishing them happy birthday. Maybe having him throw a party for them? Delivering a cake? (Hopefully without Rick inside of it) 73, Brian N5ZGT ARRL Director, Rocky Mountain Division On the web at www.RockyMountainDivision.org

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[arrl-odv:17839] Re: EmComm Advisory Committee?
by Tom Frenaye 19 Jun '09

19 Jun '09

I have to admit that I went to bed last night thinking I was hallucinating after reading recent ODV messages. It seemed like members of the PSC were unaware that the PSC had a subcommittee studying Emcomm issues. Now I understand a little better, Director Cox is trying to get the rest of the Board involved in that discussion. Looking back at the PSC minutes from January 15th and April 4th meetings, I see that Mickey is on that PSC subcommittee, and the PSC expects a final report to be delivered at their meeting on July 16th, just before the Board meeting, and he appears to have a different view of what should be in their report.. My recommendation to Mickey is that he should contribute to that report, and if he is not in sync with the others on the subcommittee, he should write a section with his dissenting position. That said, I think the general topic of ARRL and Emcomm should be an important part of our upcoming meeting. President Harrison has already indicated that the Thursday night informal discussion (actually he called it a formal presentation by Mr. Imlay) will cover it - at least related to the commercialization of Amateur Radio. That's a very timely topic from my view. I'm encouraged that PSC members have been trying to deal with the growing Emcomm issues in their last few meetings - though it looks to me that Emcomm itself is enough to keep them busy. I think we're getting to the "soul of the machine" (or "soul of the hobby") point with Emcomm and many of the issues are beginning to become strategic questions about where we want to go and what we want to become in the next few years. The New England Division had a cabinet meeting last Saturday, with five of the six Section Managers on hand, a couple of SECs, and about thirty club presidents and officers from around the Division. As a result of some discussions at our previous cabinet meeting in January, we have started to become involved in the FEMA Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group (RECCWG) for Region 1 (New England states). I believe there is amateur radio involvement in two other FEMA regions (southeast/Atlanta and Texas areas). The RECCWG groups are directed to deal with communications inter-operability issues at all levels of government and the legislation establishing them specifically says they must coordinate with the amateur radio community. See http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/10/04/100/?nc=1 We spent more than half of the cabinet meeting talking about Emcomm issues, the experience with the first couple of RECCWG Region 1 meetings, and national Emcomm challenges. Dennis Dura/K2DCD was able to attend - one of the very few times he's been in front of a New England group. I was very impressed with Dennis, he held the group's attention when he spoke, he was very knowledgeable and filled in a lot of gaps in information about what ARRL has been doing regarding Emcomm issues. As I said when introducing Dennis at the meeting, he is often tough to reach and has a lot of bosses and constituents in Newington and across the country. During the nearly two years he has been with ARRL a lot has changed. Dennis has turned over a lot of stones and found a huge number of issues that need to be dealt with, helped to develop a lot of relationships for ARRL in government and NGO groups, and perhaps has managed to spread himself a bit too thin with everyone. After two years, it is time to assess how we're doing and what we're doing related to Emcomm. I get the feeling we're unable to decide whether to be happy with one, apparently overworked, person focusing upwards on government connections and downward on Field Organization Emcomm issues, or whether we need to expand our involvement so more HQ players are involved. From Dennis' comments about his interactions with DHS/FEMA, it sounds like they have changing views about how Amateur Radio should be involved - and that means they are more and more positive about it. As a result, we may need to do more to step up to the plate organizationally. That's long enough... I do think that we need to find adequate time at this upcoming meeting to talk about some of our policy questions regarding Emcomm - and not get bogged down in operational details too much. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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