Hi, I'm sending out Allen's press release as an FYI to everyone. This is good stuff. Thanks, Allen! Harold ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- For more information: Allen Pitts, W1AGP Media and Public Relations Manager ARRL (860) 594-0328 apitts@arrl.org National Volunteer Week April 17-23 Ham Volunteers Newington, CT April 15, 2005 -- Each year hundreds of thousands of Americans volunteer their time and energies for the improvement and safety of their communities. Mechanics turn into firefighters when the alarm sounds. Hairdressers become EMT's . Engineers turn into auxiliary police. America has a long and proud history of these "Minutemen" who answer the call to service in times of emergency.... And thousands of them are "Hams!" Hundreds of Amateur Radio groups nationwide provide free emergency communications services in crises. Through their affiliation with the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, hams provide radio communications capabilities for the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Weather Service, DHS Citizen Corps, and many state and local emergency agencies in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) program.. In the recent Topoff-3 nation-wide drill conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, the hams received high praise for their volunteer services providing communications. Mario J. Bruno, Director of Emergency Services and CT State Disaster Relations Liaison for the American Red Cross sytated, "We have learned a lot about what ARES can really do when things get messy, and TOPOFF 3 has been a clear example of how complicated a disaster can get, and how ARES is always there to provide the support that is needed so we don't have to worry if those fancy satellite phones or blackberrys don't work. When the lights go out, I know I'll see someone's radio dial glowing as the messages keep going." Amateur Radio communications have remained critical in many situations when other systems were destroyed, failed or overloaded. * Indian Ocean Tsunami -- December 2004 * Hurricanes Bonnie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne in Florida -- 2004 * Severe weather in Virginia -- May 2004 * Tornadoes in Illinois -- April 2004 * Amtrak train accident in Mississippi -- April 2004 * Earthquake in Central California -- December 2003 * Hurricane Isabel -- September 2003 * Northeast blackout -- August 2003 * Midwest tornadoes -- May 2003 * Shuttle Columbia recovery effort -- February 2003 Like volunteer firefighters, hams provide this skilled service freely to their communities. "Being an 'amateur' means we do not accept payment, but there's nothing second rate about the skills involved," said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. "We're volunteers serving our community." ###