The existing means for collecting information on public service and emergency communications events is for the EC to submit it to the SEC and the SEC includes it in their monthly report to HQ. The problem is that many ECs don’t report activity and many SECs don’t submit monthly reports to HQ. Further complicating the situation is that when such activity is reported, there is no standard format that allows for the easy extraction of data.

Reporting via a web form on arrl.org would make the process simple, uniform, and efficient. Information gathered can then be used for the periodic Report to America updates and ongoing ARRL lobbying efforts.

I will be making this motion at the July Board meeting. As with any other motion I have/will send out, please feel free to offer any tweaks that you believe would make it a better motion. If there is interest, I can schedule one or more GoToMeeting sessions between now and the Board meeting to discuss this or any other motions.

Thanks & 73,

Doug

K4AC

Motion

WHEREAS the central gathering of information on amateur radio activities involving public service or emergency communications is vitally important for the League to be able to educate and inform the public of our contributions; and

WHEREAS the central gathering of information concerning the financial impact of amateur radio events such as hamfests and conventions is needed to be able to educate and inform elected officials and other government officials;

THEREFORE the ARRL Board of Directors directs Headquarters Staff to work with the Public Relations Committee (PRC) to design and implement a web based reporting form to gather information on public service and emergency communications events where amateur radio operators performed services and amateur radio events such as hamfests and conventions. Information submitted via the form will be available to any Headquarters Staff needing it, the PRC members, the Section Manager(s) for the reported events, and the Board. The reporting system should be implemented as quickly as possible, but not later than January 1, 2015.