Working with an answering service is the most appropriate solution to the concern.
No one wants to receive those “out of office” messages, but they serve a useful purpose. It appears that ARRL policy is to have staff indicate when they are leaving, when they plan to be back, and who to contact in their absence. Additionally, some indicate where they will be (state convention, Dayton, etc.). The sender realizes they will not get a rapid response, but have the option to resend their e-mail to the staff member covering, if a rapid response is necessary. If not, the message will be in the recipient’s inbox when they return.
Immediate forwarding of e-mail is a possibility, but e-mails intended ONLY for the out-of-office recipient would be inappropriately forwarded as well. The sender should have that option.
Voice mails should direct callers to call the main ARRL number if a staff member is out of the office, which will route the call through either an ARRL operator or the answering service. An option for the caller to press “0” for an operator/answering service would let the caller know “someone is home”!
Reading Mike’s job description and recent posts, the message seems to be “Yes, you accepted the job under the above conditions, but as additional duties, you need to be on call 24/7 because you deal with emergencies”. This seems grossly unfair.
From someone who has had to take call for over 25 years as part of my profession, I can tell you that this is a life-altering event. If his number would be open for “emergencies only” after hours, he would be subject to any insomniac with an axe to grind, or one that is time-zone challenged (in addition to true emergencies). Family and sleep disruption can definitely take their toll!
The answering service appears the most appropriate solution, as they can serve to be a filter, and direct TRUE emergencies to the appropriate individual after hours. It appears Dave is reviewing the filtering and calling criteria with the answering service.
How about letting Dave handle this one? There’s a VU4 out there that desperately needs me in their log.
'73 de JIM N2ZZ
ARRL Vice Director
Roanoke Division
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™
From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 5:04 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:19791] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Jim, 860-594-0200 is answered 24/7. Our answering service has instructions as to what to do when they receive an emergency call. We are in the process of reviewing those instructions to make sure they reflect current needs.
Dave
From: Jim Weaver K8JE [mailto:K8JE@ARRL.org]
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 4:25 PM
To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ; arrl-odv
Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:19788] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Dave,
I fully accept what you have said. I'm looking at the situation from a 'moving ahead" perspective rather than retrospective. My question stems from what might be considered an "implied warranty" resulting from actions appropriately taken by HQ during and following the response to Katrina. In other words, given the change in emphasis on potential involvement of staff in emergency/disaster situations should we also take a similar added step in having someone be available by telephone. To some extent this is a decision you can make. Because the question involves policy regarding our EmComm preparedness/response, it could be a Board decision?
Do I understand correctly that you do not believe there is sufficient reason to have Mike (or someone on his behalf) available by telephone 24/7 "in case of emergency?" I do not intend this question to be prejudicial, incidentally. It is an honest question and your answer "will not be held against you in a court of law."
Jim
Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
ARRL Great Lakes Division
5065 Bethany Rd.
Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661
ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio
From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 4:03 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:19788] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Jim, I believe the number of people who have a legitimate reason to be able to reach Mike, or whoever is covering for him, on a 24/7 basis is very limited.
To the best of my knowledge and recollection we have never had an ARRL “duty officer” designated on a 24/7 basis except during actual emergencies.
Dave
From: Jim Weaver K8JE [mailto:K8JE@ARRL.org]
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 2:40 PM
To: Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ; arrl-odv
Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:19781] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Dave,
Thanks for telling us that Mike carries an ARRL cell phone. Given that he already has an ARRL cell phone to carry, the only step that would be needed to provide 24/7 coverage for his office number would be a means to link this number to the cell number. This might involve modifying his "not available" answering message to provide an "in case of emergency" contact number. Would you consider that doing this is a logical step under Mike's job description? Is this the direction you believe HQ should go now that we have made our direct involvement in the response to Katrina, our development of several"go" kits and ability to respond similarly in the future so widely known?
Jim
Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director
ARRL Great Lakes Division
5065 Bethany Rd.
Mason, OH 45040; Tel. 513-459-1661
ARRL, The national association for Amateur Radio
From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:28 AM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:19781] Re: Mike Corey's job description
David,
Mike has a cell phone – two, actually. One is his personal phone and the other is an ARRL phone. We can reach him if we need to.
If he’s going where he can’t be reached he will leave the ARRL phone with someone else, since it’s one of the operational contact numbers we give our served agencies.
Dave
From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of David A. Norris
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9:14 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:19775] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Why don’t we furnish Mike a cheap cell phone or pay part of his cell bill with the express purpose of him being able to respond? Since he is the EMCOMM guy shouldn’t he be available? I think we should help facilitate that if we are going to be in the emergency comms arena! IMHO…
73
David A. Norris, K5UZ
Vice Director, Delta Div.
-----Original Message-----
From: arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Grant Hopper
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 5:36 PM
To: arrl-odv
Subject: [arrl-odv:19774] Re: Mike Corey's job description
Dave, thanks for sending this out to us!
I've reviewed the job description and I have trouble seeing that any part of his job, as described, requires the ability to immediately be reached by phone (unless it's something under #13 "other duties as assigned.") I'll add specifically that #10 does not look like it sets an expectation of '24x365' communication ability. Now, as I understand it, some of functions he presently performs could be time sensitive and being able to activate those tasks/functions can or do depend on timely notification so that someone at the ARRL can start a timely response.
That suggests that some evaluation and review is in order. If we expand his role, does this trigger a compensation review?...
Grant
KB7WSD