Hi, FYI, here is the official approved statement about the status of the American Red Cross and the ARRL. We have sent this to our staff here at HQ and the SM list. A slight variation of this statement will appear in this week's ARRL Letter. We are using this as a consistent response to the emails and phone calls that we are receiving. Thank you for your email (or telephone call) concerning the American Red Cross' background check policy. While we believe that the Red Cross is implementing some changes that will address some of the concerns expressed to them by ARRL, at this point, it is work in process. There are many questions yet to be answered, but we believe that the Red Cross is progressing in good faith to complete the changes to their policy and their background check consent form, which was the primary concern expressed to the Red Cross by ARRL. There will be more clarifications and information in the near future. Please keep an eye on the ARRL web site for updates as we know them. We are very much aware of your concerns and have conveyed them to the Red Cross. We expect the Red Cross to address these and other concerns on subject of their background check policy in the near future. (Dennis Dura and Allen Pitts originally drafted this statement. It was edited by Chris Imlay and approved by Joel Harrison, Chris Imlay and myself) 73, Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Telephone: 860 594 0220 email: hkramer@arrl.org web: www.arrl.org/ <http://www.arrl.org/>