Hi, As a head's up, this is some information from Debra Johnson regarding the status of our on-line EmComm courses. This information was previously presented to the Board at the July meeting as part of the Program and Services Committee Report. We also reviewed it with the Committee at Saturday's meeting. Steve Ewald will be sending this to the SM List tomorrow morning. We will do a Web story on this sometime after that. 73, Harold ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------- New Advanced Emergency Communications Course in the Works Over the past months we have been reviewing the ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications program. This has included a critical examination of the course content, as well as methods of course delivery, and interrelationships with government organizations. Our aim is to develop professional level courses which are widely accepted by other organizations for the emergency communication component of Amateur Radio. We are investigating requirements that the Department of Homeland Security is currently putting in place for approved courses, as well as other possibilities, to develop emergency communications training that meets the emerging training needs surrounding emergency communications. While there are still questions, one issue has become clear and. we have already made one decision. We will revise the Level 3 course to become a new Advanced Emergency Communications course, which will replace both the current Level 2 and Level 3 courses. We are currently planning to release the new course in the last quarter of 2009. Students who have previously taken the Level 2 course will need to have the new Advanced course to complete the current Amateur Radio Emergency Communications training program. Those who have completed the Level 1 course may progress directly to the Advanced course when available, which will contain content formerly included in the former Level 2 and 3 courses. For the time being, the Basic Level 1 course will continue to be offered in its current format We will be retiring the Level 2 course, and upon request, refunding any enrollments in the online session scheduled to begin April 17. Any scheduled field instruction of the Level 2 content as well as Level 2 exam sessions will also be suspended. We will honor exam sessions that have been previously scheduled and award Level 2 certificates for any exams successfully completed up to May 31. Our training program mandate is to provide the training that ham radio communicators need to be prepared to serve our communities in time of communications emergencies. This consolidation of program content will streamline the delivery of the training and apply volunteer and administrative support resources more effectively. Debra Johnson, K1DMJ Education Services Manager ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111-1494 (860) 594-0296 Fax: (860) 594-0259 djohnson@arrl.org <mailto:djohnson@arrl.org>