This past month, television and
Internet viewers have had the choice of two different
"spec-tackles". Most of us watched a little of
each. The Winter Olympics was mostly about the
triumphs of a "bunch of amateurs". The Senate
hearings on Katrina were mostly about the failure(s) of a bunch
of professionals. Odd, isn't it? The amateurs
inspire us all. The professionals...well...you decide if
they inspire you. One thing baffles us completely:
From "the top" (FEMA), right on down to the state
and local level why wasn't the ICS followed? Could
it be that they never bothered to take an ICS/NIMS basic course?
ICS has been around about 20 years and the basics are
easily learned in about a hour or two. If we, the
lowly amateurs, are required to know and practice
ICS/NIMS, why are not the professionals required to
know and practice ICS/NIMS? Kinda' makes you
wonder...doesn't it?.
We recently received a message questioning our requirement
that all WRRL ARCT TYPE I members also be members of the
WRRL.
Reference:
http://www.wrrl.org/arct_program/requirements.asp The
concern was that the WRRL may be using that to
enrich its coffers.
The short answer is:
"If you wanna' play in the game...you must first join
the team!" (Or at least some
team.)
The long answer is:
First of all "resource typing" simply defines specific
resources. It does not mandate standards or requirements
which are provided in other rules and regulations that
may vary from agency to agency and from place to place.
Work is currently underway by FEMA/NIMS to establish
minimum general requirements for many types of
resources; but as far as communications is concerned we know
of none that have been implemented to date. At
least not at the national level. This is going to
be a long slow process, and it involves politics, special
interests, funding, not to mention the massive
federal bureaucracy. Meanwhile, while the 50 states and
most national NGOs wait and watch, they are
hesitant to make any concrete plans. One
mandate seems inevitable. All responders will need to
show evidence of satisfactory completion of some ICS training.
(Probably ICS-700.)
The ARCT resource typing system is public domain and is
available to all bona fide emcomm groups
to use whether they are "government" sponsored
or a legitimate NGO (e.g. - the WRRL).
As far as registering, certifying and deployment of ARCTS (as
defined in NIMS draft documents, ref.
http://www.wrrl.org/arct_program/arct_table.asp )
is concerned, the WRRL has taken a proactive stance.
It is apparently the only (inter) national communications NGO
that has taken the bold step of forming and
registering
ARCT TYPE I
teams now,
and is setting up a national dispatch center for TYPE I ARCTS.
WRRL has established reasonable and minimal requirements
for all TYPE I ARCTs that it will certify
and deploy. One of these requirements is to
join the WRRL. However, if $5.00 per year (100% of
which goes to support emcomm), is a hardship for any qualified
operator who has met the other requirements and has been
accepted into a viable TYPE I ARCT...WRRL will waive the
annual dues.
Further, there is nothing that says that government emcomm
units and other NGOs cannot implement the ARCT Resource Typing
System. In fact, we hope that many will do just that.
But as far as standards and requirements are concerned, they must
set their own standards until such time that
they are mandated by FEMA/NIMS.
Under the ARCT Resource Typing System, a one operator mobile
or portable station is a TYPE IV ARCT, no matter what
organization is coordinating them.
HAVE ARCT, WILL
TRAVEL
WIRE GOMBERG - SAN
FRANCISCO
We are pleased to announce
that the FIRST IN THE NATION, ARCT TYPE I
- SAN FRANCISCO has been approved.
Several other ARCTS are currently in the application
and/or certification process. An ARCT may be city
based, state based, or even multi-state based. Who
(and where) will be next? Seattle?
New York? Miami? Utah? Texas?
Honolulu? Arizona? New Orleans? Denver?
Your area? -- (Ref: ICS PERSPECTIVES
further down)
BUT..."WHAT ABOUT ME"?
We also receive letters bemoaning the lack of interest or
leadership by local "club" or other amateur radio
groups and organizations. Some have reported
situations that sound pretty hopeless. One correspondent
expressed his frustration by saying: "Our local
ARES/RACES group just can't seem to get going and just
putter around and get nothing done. They do not even want
to send a test message at weekly net time. Too many old
fuddy-duddies in a clique that cannot be broken. They only
want to sit around and drink coffee and play SET once a year
doing nothing."
Unfortunately
this is often "the norm". Serious hams
who are dedicated to preserve what is left of traditional
amateur radio are getting fewer in number every day. At
least as far as teamwork is concerned. And leaders who are
capable of motivating others...belong on an endangered
species list. Sadly, volunteerism in general, is in
decline. Some people say: "What?
Me help? That what I pay taxes for!" Others
when asked to volunteer to do something may say:
"Sure. How much does it pay?!" Or,
"What's in it for me?" Many have asked what they
can do since "no one around here" seems to be
interested in doing anything productive.
Here
are few things that you as an individual emcomm
operator can do:
(All
WRRL members sign a pledge to do this)
1. Maintain
your station in good operating condition and have an emergency
power backup system.
2.
Use only ITU phonetics and practice proper
communication procedures...100% of the time!
Ref: http://www.emcomm.org/svares/training/itu_phonetics_10_30_2001.htm
3.
Know and use proper message handling procedures (universal
RADIOGRAM). If you don't know how start LEARNING HOW
TODAY! Order our message traffic handling DVD.
No more excuses about how your local group isn't interested
and/or won't provide training! And then PRACTICE
often. Get active in at least one emcomm
traffic net. At least there will then be at least one
station in your in your town or county capable of handling
traffic during an emergency.
4.
Maintain a radio watch at your station
as much as possible. (See N.E.T.S. below.)
5.
Upgrade to at least "general class". And if they
drop the Morse language as a requirement...LEARN IT ANYWAY!
Read
(or re-read) THE “WELL EQUIPPED AMATEUR STATION” in
RETRO REVIEW this month.
∙-∙-∙
SHORT
CIRCUITS
∙ NOW
AVAILABLE! MESSAGE TRAFFIC HANDLING DVD
Our first training DVD (one of a series of
DVDs about various emcomm skills...we hope) is in
the final copying process and we are accepting orders now. (We
expect to ship by March 15, and we will hold your check until
they are shipped.) This DVD is not your usual
scripted, studio, well-rehearsed, and edited training
video. D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ is the presenter and it
was taped live by Paul Peterson, K6PTT, on October 29,
2005, at the U.S.F.S. facility at Redding, CA . As
you watch it, you'll feel like you are actually in the
classroom. DW begins with a review of the history or
communications beyond the horizon followed by a thorough
explanation of the "whys and wherefores" of
basic message handling. Essential information for
all emcomm operators is presented in a palatable way.
(Warning: it is "raw and unedited" and it includes
flub-ups, bloopers, jokes, and unsolicited comments!)
Thanks to Robert Jackson, KB6YTD, of Weaverville, CA, the
audio and video quality is good, but there are a few
"glitches" so do not adjust your player or TV.
Use for training sessions, meetings, or home
viewing. Includes a brief overview of the ICS. Not
rated. 155 minutes. $10.00 (includes postage and
shipping) - $15.00 for two DVDs to same address. Send check
payable to EMCOMM to: EMCOMM, P.O.
Box 99, Macdoel, CA 96058 - NOTE:
This RADIOGRAM DVD is copyrighted. Contact us for
permission to copy for non-commercial use only.
∙ NEW!
- "TACTS" (Traveling Amateurs Communication
and Transportation Service)
In ICS/NIMS communications
and transportation are under LOGISTICS.
Also a lot of amateurs travel.
Amateurs also often have an item that they would like to
get moved from "Point A" to "Point
B", but it is too heavy or bulky to
ship and may not be worth as much as the expense
of shipping. With fuel costs going ever
higher it is often not cost effective to just drive to
pick up some item.
THEREFORE as a service
to our readers, EM will devote
space each month to subscribers who have an item they
would like to have transported from one point to another
and attempt to put them in contact them
with someone who is taking a trip and has some
extra space available to transport.
"TACTS" listings in EMCOMM
MONTHLY must state:
1. FROM WHERE
and TO WHERE the item is going.
2. SIZE and WEIGHT
of the item(s).
3. DELIVER BY DATE if
appropriate.
4. SPECIAL CONDITIONS (E.g. - Whether
it may be transported in an open truck/trailer, or must
be transported in a weather proof vehicle.
THERE WILL BE TWO TYPES OF LISTINGS. EXAMPLES:
NEEDS:
(This one is real): Have small, too heavy to mail, package
from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Reseda, CA. No
hurry...anytime is OK. D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ
k6soj@wrrl.net
OFFERS:
Traveling from San Francisco to Salt Lake City via I-80
around July 4. Return trip leaving SLC July
30. Driving a pick up truck with camper shell.
Can transport small to medium size/weight item(s).
Contact Joe Dokes, KZ6TRK at: joeb @ sftruck.net
DISCLAIMER:
EMCOMM MONTHLY and/or WRRL
and any of it staff or members assume no responsibility
whatsoever for safe delivery or any other liability
resulting from this service. It is solely a
mutual agreement between two consenting adults. NO
ILLEGAL ITEMS...PLEASE!
SEND your NEEDS and WANTS LISTING to:
k6soj@wrrl.org
Deadline: 25th of the month.
∙ ERRATA,
GREMLINS...AND MISTAKES
In the February feature article
"ARE
LONG RADIO MESSAGES REALLY NECESSARY?"
we said:
