One of the issues that I've heard about our HamAid program centers on the payment for services. Some hams (and some ARES volunteers) believe any reimbursement is not permitted. In thinking about it I can't put my finger on anything we have that gives volunteers guidance in this area. I looked through the Public Service Communications Manual and didn't find anything. I looked at the FCC rules and found rules permitting VEs/VECs to be reimbursed. I didn't spend a whole lot of time looking so I could have missed some key documents. I think we did the right thing with HamAid, and don't have a problem with the reimbursement program. What I do think is that we should probably have some clear information in our publications and web site helping volunteers understand where the line is between being reimbursed $25 for a days worth of volunteer operating, and a days pay for someone who works for a first responder or other non-profit and thinks ham radio can be used to help them do their job. Or have I missed something along the way? I got the sense (I was away and out of touch during the key 10-day period after Katrinia hit) that the HamAid program was necessarily implemented quickly and some key decisions made without a much policy input from the Board. Understandable under the circumstances, but I think it'd be useful to all come to some agreement on what guidance we want to give volunteers in the future. -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki@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