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   Message 94 of 279   
   Ham news to All   
   The Ares E-LEtter pt I   
   25 May 11 13:23:10   
   
               The ARES E-Letter   
      
   Published by the American Radio Relay League   
   ********************************************   
      
   May 25, 2011   
      
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE    
      
   ==> JUST IN: JOPLIN, MISSOURI TORNADO DISASTER   
      
   Here is a brief report from Missouri SEC W0KRB, just forwarded by Dale   
   Temple, W5RXU, Arkansas Section Manager, at press time: "Thanks to all   
   who volunteered to help provide radio support for the Joplin tornado.   
   Last night, Amateur Radio was used to provide communications between   
   Freeman hospital (in Joplin) to the hospitals in Springfield to help   
   provide information about resources needed in Joplin. We also had a   
   link-up for Red Cross between the main office in Springfield and the   
   satellite office in Joplin.   
      
   "John Howard, K0VET, activated the Missouri Emergency Services Net   
   (MESN) and it was up until 2300 hours last night. It ended up steering   
   a lot of people to the proper Web site for health and welfare messages.   
   The hospital requirements for radio communications were terminated at   
   0900 this morning and at 5:00 PM tonight we are on a standby status for   
   Red Cross between the two locations.   
      
   "We still have a couple of the Jasper County ARESŪ and Newton County   
   ARESŪ members providing communications between the Red Cross Shelter   
   and the HQ for Red Cross that was set up away from the normal chapter   
   office as this is now a national-level Red Cross response. It is   
   anticipated that this need will be fulfilled by noon tomorrow.   
      
   "Again, thanks to all of you for asking if you could help and   
   especially for not self-deploying, which ends up adding to the problem.   
   Our professionalism again came shining through. -- Kenneth Baremore,   
   W0KRB, Section Emergency Coordinator ARESŪ, Missouri Section   
      
   The Associated Press called the event the worst single tornado disaster   
   since 1950.   
      
   ==> TORNADO DEVASTATION, RESPONSES IN THE SOUTHEAST   
      
   On April 27, 2011, two waves of tornadoes hit the region, causing   
   massive damage and communication failures involving land-line phones,   
   the Internet, and cell services that were severely impaired across   
   Alabama. More than 600,000 residences and businesses in north Alabama   
   were without power for over a week.   
      
   The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARESŪ) successfully provided   
   critical communications for multiple organizations. The time spent   
   practicing and training on nets and exercises, building relationships   
   and hard work paid off for ARESŪ when this disaster struck. ARESŪ   
   worked.   
      
   The National Weather Service documented 53 separate destructive   
   tornadoes in Alabama resulting in damage to many counties, and forever   
   changing the lives of so many who call Alabama home. There were 28   
   tracks in north Alabama, with 6 EF-3, EF-4 and EF-5 tornadoes. 22   
   smaller but damaging EF-0, EF-1 and EF-2s. Numbers at a glance:   
      
   238 deaths; thousands of injuries; thousands of demolished homes and   
   businesses; an EF-5 tornado traveled 132.5 miles; six EF-4 tornadoes   
   traveled 6, 33, 47, 28, 20.5 and 28 miles in length; eight EF-3s; four   
   EF-2   
      
      tornadoes traveled 20, 6.6, 2, and 26 miles in length; 130 high   
   tension high-voltage line support structures/towers were demolished; 11   
   high-voltage transmission lines were out of service.   
      
   The President declared a Major Disaster for Alabama: the Federal   
   declaration encompassed 42 counties. The NWS in Huntsville issued 92   
   tornado warnings, 31 severe thunderstorm warnings, and seven flash   
   flood warnings.   
      
   ARESŪ operations began at 4 AM on Wednesday, April 27 as severe weather   
   tracked into Alabama and continued to operate for the next 12 days.   
   ARESŪ supported the State Emergency Management, local county Emergency   
   Management, National Weather Service, American Red Cross, Southern   
   Baptist Disaster Relief, The Salvation Army, and Volunteer   
   Organizations Active in Disaster.   
      
   Amateur Radio had to face and contend with a major disaster scenario. A   
   major city, Tuscaloosa, was severely hit, with multiple communications   
   towers down, multiple counties and disaster areas involved, commercial   
   and Amateur Radio repeaters gone or not operational, main utility power   
   out, long lines at gas stations and grocery stores, many accepting cash   
   only. Some hams were victims of this disaster but still provided   
   Amateur Radio support.   
      
   I am proud of all the Amateur Radio operators that provided assistance   
   during this long duration disaster. -- Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Director,   
   ARRL Southeastern Division   
      
   Here are links to ARRL coverage of the ARES tornado disaster responses:   
      
   5/11/2011 -- As Weather Clears in Southeast, Hams Continue to Provide   
   Support   
      
      
   5/4/2011 -- Northern Florida Hams Respond to Aftermath of Alabama Storm   
      
      
      
   5/2/2011 -- The ARRL Ham Aid Fund Needs Your Help to Support Radio   
   Communications in Alabama   
      
      
   5/2/2011 -- Georgia Hams Hasten to Help During Storms   
      
      
   4/28/2011 -- Tornadoes and Thunderstorms Keep Radio Amateurs Busy in   
   Midwest, Southeast   
      
      
   A good example of an after-action report comes from ARESŪ AEC Alan   
   Sieg, WB5RMG, of Huntsville-Madison County, Alabama and is included in   
   this issue. He adds: "That report came from deep inside, and I've had   
   several personal responses from people within the EMA, acknowledging   
      
      that depth. Many of these issues are still very close to the surface   
   with us, and we expect them to be for some time. This is normal, we   
   process it. Writing and sharing is part of my process. It's hard   
   sometimes, but it helps. This sharing is some slight good to come from   
   such a tragedy. In that light, I have also just updated our   
   Huntsville-Madision County EMA/EOC/ARESŪ blog   
    with   
   the sitreps that our group posted to our SEC."   
      
   ________   
      
   2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast: "Above Average"   
      
   Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center (NHC   
   ) are calling for an "above-average" Atlantic   
   hurricane season for 2011. In its initial outlook for the 2011 Atlantic   
   hurricane season -- which runs from June 1-November 30 -- the National   
   Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center (CPC   
   ) is calling for a 65 percent   
   probability of an above-normal season, a 25 percent probability of a   
   near-normal season and a 10 percent probability of a below-normal   
   season. -- ARRL   
      
   Get ready now: Here   
   is   
   a good article on hurricane planning and preparedness for all radio   
   amateurs. Also, the following notice was just received from National   
   Hurricane Center assistant station coordinator WD4R:   
      
   WX4NHC Hurricane Season 2011 On-The-Air Station Test   
      
   When: Saturday, June 4, 2011, 9AM - 5 PM eastern time. The purpose of   
   this event is to test the National Hurricane Center   
    Amateur Radio station equipment in   
   preparation for this year's hurricane season. Station operators will be   
   making informal contacts on many frequencies and modes. They would   
   appreciate signal reports and basic weather data exchange ("Sunny," or   
   "Rain," etc.) from stations in any location.   
      
   WX4NHC will be on-the-air on HF, VHF, UHF and 2 and 30 meter APRS. They   
   plan to test on the following voice frequencies +/- QRM: 3.950 MHz,   
   7.268 MHz, 14.325 MHz, 21.325 MHz, and 28.425 MHz. The operators will   
   try to stay on 14.325 MHz most of the time and announce when they QSY.   
      
   Readers may be able to find the operation on HF by using one of the DX   
   spotting networks, such as the DX Summit Web Site   
   . They will also be on the VoIP   
   Hurricane Net  1 PM - 3 PM (IRLP node   
   9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). Southern Florida area VHF   
   and UHF repeaters will also be contacted. QSL cards will be available   
   via WD4R. Please send your card with a SASE. Please do NOT send QSLs   
   directly to the Hurricane Center address. For more information about   
   WX4NHC, please click here . Thank you. -- Julio   
   Ripoll, WD4R, WX4NHC Amateur Radio Assistant Coordinator   
      
   _____   
      
   Here is a link   
   to a   
   current New York Times editorial on the need for an emergency   
   communications system that is compatible across jurisdictions.   
   Interesting reading.   
      
   _____   
      
   The 2011 Dayton HamventionŪ is in the history books. I asked Greg   
   Sarratt, W4OZK, who attended the event, about emcomm and ARES forums   
   there. He reported "I spent most of the weekend in the ARRL Emcomm   
   booth meeting ARESŪ members, EC's, DEC's, served agencies' personnel   
   and many emcomm interested amateurs. I enjoyed talking with many hams   
   from all across the nation about emergency communications. The FCC   
   emcomm and ARRL ARESŪ forums were informative, must-attend events for   
   ARESŪ leadership and membership. They were packed.   
      
   "The FCC's Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ and William Cross, W3TN, gave the   
   Commission's annual emergency communications information update.   
   Discussion items included the ARRL Amateur Radio course for emergency   
   managers, an upcoming emcomm survey, and a review of FEMA head Craig   
   Fugate's speech that included praise for the viability of Amateur Radio   
   emergency communications.   
      
   "ARRL ARESŪ forum speaker Mike Corey, W5MPC, the ARRL's Emergency   
   Preparedness Manager, talked about the recent success of ARES in the   
   southeastern tornado disaster and discussed the importance of ARES   
   member image, training and exercises.Corey showed how ARES works and   
   debunked some myths." Thanks, Greg. -- K1CE   
      
   _________   
      
   In This Issue:   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
   - Just In: Joplin, Missouri Tornado Disaster   
   - Tornado Devastation, Responses in the Southeast   
   - 2011 National Hurricane Conference a Wrap   
   - ARESŪ Digest   
   - Reflections on Alabama Tornado Disaster: On Doing More   
   - N5FDL's Seven Tips: How to be a Volunteer that Leaders Love   
   - Letters   
   - K1CE For a Final   
      
   _________   
      
   ==> 2011 NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE A WRAP   
      
   Hosting ARRL Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, summed   
   it up: "Amateur Radio at the 2011   
   National   
   Hurricane Conference was a success! The Conference leadership recognize   
   the valuable contribution of Amateur Radio operators and again invited   
   us to participate with two sessions at this year's conference held in   
   Atlanta, Georgia last month. What a great opportunity for Amateur   
   Radio."   
      
   The National Hurricane Conference    
   (NHC), billed as the nation's forum for education and professional   
   training in hurricane and disaster preparedness, was held in Atlanta   
   during the week of April 18-22. Anyone interested in hurricane   
   preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation could hear about and   
   share experiences as they went about planning for the 2011 hurricane   
   season. The conference held at the Hyatt Regency conference center in   
   downtown Atlanta was attended by about 1400 people from federal, state   
   and local governments, the private sector, businesses, VOADs and the   
   ARRL. Amateur Radio was well represented: Representatives from the   
   ARRL, WX4NHC , the Amateur Radio Station at the   
   National Hurricane Center , the Hurricane   
   Watch Net  (HWN) and VoIP Hurricane Net   
    (VoIPWXNet) completed several presentations at   
   the conference as well as a presentation at Georgia Tech for area ham   
   radio clubs.   
      
   Nearly 40 people attended the Amateur Radio Disaster Communications   
   Workshop titled "Disaster Communications, Before, During and After   
   Hurricanes," on the afternoon of April 18. WX4NHC Amateur Radio   
   Coordinator John McHugh, K4AG, and Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll,   
   WD4R, explained the 30 year history of their work at the National   
   Hurricane Center and the importance of measured surface data and damage   
   reports. The pair told how this knowledge helps hurricane specialists   
   to make better forecasts. They also told some stories and showed videos   
   from several of the most critical activations over the past few years   
   including emergency communications and interoperability involved in the   
   deployment of operators in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.   
      
   ARRL Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, and Ken   
   Bailey, K1FUG, Emergency Preparedness Assistant from ARRL HQ surprised   
   Ripoll with an award from the ARRL for his dedication and service   
   during the Haiti earthquake of 2010. On Wednesday, he also received the   
   conference Distinguished Service Award for his tireless efforts over   
   thirty years as Amateur Radio coordinator at WX4NHC. The award reads   
   "exceptional service in providing emergency communication during   
   hurricane events over three decades while leading [the] WX4NHC Amateur   
   Radio station at the National Hurricane Center." For a more in-depth   
   story of Ripoll and the Amateur Radio station he co-founded, click here   
   .   
      
   Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net Rob Macedo, KD1CY,   
   gave a presentation on the net and the role it plays in gathering data   
   for WX4NHC. He explained how it also can be used to connect various   
   National Weather Service forecast offices, as well as local and   
   regional Emergency Operation Centers during hurricanes. As Macedo   
   explained "The VoIP Hurricane Net relays info to WX4NHC using any and   
   all means of reliable information from all sources to give WX4NHC the   
   most information possible from the surface during a hurricane."   
      
   Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, a member of the League's Board of Directors   
   (Southeasten Division) and veteran ARES and emcomm leader, gave a   
   presentation on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), how it   
   works in the field and interaction with ARRL HQ.   
      
   That evening, area hams who could not attend the conference were   
   invited to the campus of Georgia Tech to hear the same presenters give   
   similar presentations. A big thank you to Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, ARRL   
   Southeastern Division Vice Director and newly elected president of the   
   Georgia Tech Amateur Radio Club, for arranging the use of the Molecular   
   Science and Engineering buildings lecture hall for the talks.   
      
   On Tuesday morning, Dennis Dura, K2DCD, and Rob Macedo, KD1CY, were   
   among several speakers who hosted a workshop for about 20 emergency   
   management officials and representatives of government agencies. The   
   workshop focused on situational awareness and disaster intelligence,   
   stressing its importance to Emergency Management and how it creates   
   more opportunities to utilize Amateur Radio. The presentation was   
   followed by a question-and-answer session relating to Amateur Radio   
   emcomm. "Collecting and gathering data and sharing information and   
   reporting during disasters is another way Amateur Radio can assist   
   beyond the typical message handling," Dura said. This rap session   
   concept was started several years ago when Dennis Dura, K2DCD and Greg   
   Sarratt found the forum worthwhile in explaining the ARRL's role in   
   emergency communications to Emergency Management and other served   
   agencies. This interaction continues to prove very valuable to   
   emergency management and Amateur Radio.   
      
   All sessions were videotaped through the efforts of professional   
   videographer and ARRL Eastern Massachusetts ARESŪ Assistant Section   
   Emergency Coordinator Jim Palmer, KB1KQW. The videos should be   
   available later this year on the North Shore Radio Association (NSRA)   
   Web site . Meanwhile, be sure to watch   
   videos of pasts NHC conference's and Southern New England SKYWARN   
   related videos. Of special interest to all SKYWARN volunteers was Rob   
   Macedo, KD1CY discussing the Southern New England SKYWARN Program on   
   the Weather Channel   
   .   
      
   This year's conference is now history and while we hope for a quiet   
   hurricane season, we left with the confidence that the knowledge   
   received would increase our effectiveness should the worst happen. Next   
   year the National Hurricane Conference is scheduled to be held in   
   Orlando, Florida, March 26 - 30, 2012. Hope to see you there. - Ken   
   Bailey, K1FUG , Emergency Preparedness   
   Assistant, ARRL HQ   
      
   ==> ARESŪ DIGEST   
      
   Goochland County, Virginia ARESŪ Activates for Outage   
      
   April 26 seemed to just be another day and, as usual, I had already   
   begun the Central Virginia Six Meter Net early to list check-ins. There   
   were two stations from North Carolina near Raleigh already waiting   
   their turns for comments.   
      
   The phone rang, and the voice on the other end I knew well: it was Bill   
   Mackay, County Fire and Rescue Chief. ARESŪ was needed as the agency   
   was suffering communications problems. "The dispatch frequency is not   
   working to our fire/rescue stations and we need emergency backup   
   communications at all fire rescue stations and the EOC." My response   
   was simply "OK, Bill."   
      
   My heart began to race as I began to make several calls. The first was   
   to Ray Clemons, WB4IKL, and within a few minutes he was in route to   
   station Co#6. The next two calls were to Mat Long, N4MI, and Ned   
   Creasy, AE4ID. Just as quickly, they were headed to cover Co#2 and Co   
   #5. I called Rick Cook, AB4U, EC for Hanover County. He only asked   
   "Where do you need me?" He was soon headed to cover Co#3.   
      
   As I headed to the EOC, Dennis Pinner, N4DEN, came up on the Goochland   
   call-up repeater. After explaining the situation, he responded to Co#1.   
   Within an hour we had five stations and the EOC up and running. I   
   called and advised Chief Mackay that we had coverage in place for all   
   stations except, Co#4. I asked if he wanted the coverage for any   
   stations shifted. He said that the coverage was fine and that he would   
   advise if any changes were needed. We later had "Medic 50" sign up with   
   Beau Bouharoun, N4SIR, an Advanced Cardiac Life Supporter.   
      
   All stations were able to respond to the EOC when connected as we had   
   all sites already pre-equipped with radios, power supplies, antennas,   
   and manuals with several log and message handling forms. Chief Mackay   
   came into the EOC and asked me to pass along his thanks to all of the   
   radio amateurs. He also expressed his surprise that we were able to   
   respond to the request as quickly as we did.   
      
   In accordance with protocols, I called to advise the District Six EC of   
   the situation: Anthony Harbour, KG4YXP, is a very good person to have   
   close by in any given situation. He is a great radio operator and   
   computer guru as well as an Advanced Cardiac Life Supporter and   
   Registered Nurse. This call resulted in several other amateur operators   
   ready as stand-bys.   
      
   Thankfully, business was slow. We handled communication from a call to   
   co#3. There had been an accident and this info was relayed to the EOC.   
   Shortly after noon, with all equipment back in service, a stand down   
   was declared. The call-up had lasted from 0800 to 1230. We were again   
   thanked by Chief Bill Mackay for our support and the confidence he   
   gained in our abilities and willingness to respond.   
      
   I thank all of the operators involved for their support and   
   participation. Many had changed plans or had to take time off from work   
   to provide this coverage. This demonstrates their devotion to the   
   service of our community. I am sure that this sentiment is shared by   
   many other ARESŪ groups as well. -- Ralph Fetty, Sr., W4FEG, Emergency   
   Coordinator, Goochland County, Virginia   
      
   York County, PA Tornado Activation   
      
   Saturday night, April 16, 8:00 PM -- The York County, Pennsylvania   
   ARESŪ/RACES/SKYWARN group (YARS) assembled on the air due to an Extreme   
   Weather Alert. Members reported high winds and heavy rain. There was a   
   report of a possible tornado near Hanover, Pennsylvania. Within minutes   
   I heard that familiar sound of a freight train rushing past my house,   
   accompanied by loud cracking noises and a power outage. After it had   
   passed, my wife and I made a visual inspection. Four sections of our   
   fence and a mature spruce tree were down and a huge flowering pear tree   
   was down on the roof of our neighbors' house.   
      
   It wasn't until Monday afternoon that the NWS declared it to have been   
   a tornado after determining evidence of rotational wind damage. --   
   Chris Palm, WY6Z, York, Pennsylvania   
      
   ==> REFLECTIONS ON ALABAMA TORNADO DISASTER: ON DOING MORE   
      
   I would like to think that the years of training and decades of Field   
   Day practice allowed me to provide my community, the Huntsville/Madison   
   County area, with the level of support that was needed after the   
   tornadoes of April 27. Surely with all my experience helping with Red   
   Cross sheltering after blizzards and hurricanes, all the planning   
   sessions and tabletops and so on and so forth, I had what it takes.   
      
   What I feel has made the most difference this time is the fact that our   
   EMA is well known and well respected in this community. Add to that the   
   fact that our radio group is also well known and respected by this EMA.   
   These two factors added up to our group's ability to step into action   
   immediately without any need to organize further, or be in-processed as   
   raw recruits might. We were already on the inside.   
      
   Yes, our training helped. We performed just as we have practiced time   
   and time again, and we adapted successfully to a changing environment.   
   However, I feel that my tasking was greatly empowered by one simple   
   fact: that I held an official credential - a standardized ID card   
   issued by the EMA, and it was easily recognized within the ICS   
   infrastructure on the scene. No one ever challenged my presence or my   
   inquiries. My job could have been more challenging and much less   
   effective.   
      
   My job on the surface was to pass messages, primarily in support of a   
   VOAD member, the Northern Alabama Medical Reserve Corps. Their task was   
   to establish a field clinic at the Sparkman School, just south of the   
   Anderson Hills area that was so heavily hit. When I realized that this   
   location was also the support base for dozens of visiting law   
   enforcement troops, and was becoming a major supply and staging area, I   
   recognized that I could do more to help than just talk on the radio.   
      
   I wanted to become a hub of information management: who, what, when,   
   and where. I identified and introduced myself to anyone who would   
   listen: school administration, county commissioners, lunch-ladies and   
   janitors, Sheriff deputies and officers from Madison County, SWAT teams   
   from Montgomery and Mobile, the captains and lieutenants from the   
   National Guard who knew who I was, and even the guy that changed 90   
   flats on the patrol cars that first night.   
      
   I spoke with neighborhood residents and volunteers, doctors and   
   patients. My message was simple: "You have questions - I can get you   
   answers." They all knew that they could come to me with their   
   questions. And I knew where to go and who to ask about what, when, and   
   anything in between.   
      
   Communication is an essential piece of managing the information.   
   Talking on the radio was simple, because I've had practice - it's   
   second nature. Listening and building these relationships was also   
   simple - because I cared. My message to you now? Don't be afraid to   
   care, and do more than pass messages. I have never been more proud than   
   to be a part of such an effective group. We made a huge difference.   
   This community knows what we can do, and we know we will gladly do it   
   again whenever we need to. -- Alan Sieg, WB5RMG ,   
   Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Huntsville-Madison County ARESŪ/RACES   
   , Alabama   
      
   ==> N5FDL'S SEVEN TIPS: HOW TO BE A VOLUNTEER THAT LEADERS LOVE   
      
   Having spent two months talking about how to build and kill EMCOMM   
   groups, this month I'll touch on what it takes to be the volunteer   
   every leader wants on his or her team. Here are seven tips:   
      
   Sign-up and show-up - This is really simple, but can't be overstated.   
   Leaders need dependable volunteers and need them to commit early. We   
   need to be able to plan based on the number of volunteers we can   
   expect. So sign-up early, let your leader know if your plans are   
   "tentative," and cancel as soon as you know you cannot attend. That   
   makes the planning job much, much easier. Ten people who become   
   available the "day of" aren't very helpful, unless I have ten   
   unexpected no-shows.   
    People respect our group because they know if we commit to something,   
   we will deliver. This group reliability depends on volunteers who are   
   equally reliable.   
      
   Dress like an emergency communications professional -- I feel stupid   
   saying this, but what we wear impacts the image of all Amateurs. Now   
   that we wear orange or green safety vests much of the time, individual   
   fashion expression is not so apparent to served agencies or the public.   
   However, as unpaid professionals we need to look like the paid   
   professionals we work alongside.   
      
   In general, dress in office work/casual office attire when on an   
   assignment, unless you have a special reason (cleared with your   
   leaders) for dressing differently. If you don't wear an official   
   government-issued patch, I am not wild about uniforms. I have a   
   Sheriff's SAR uniform - silver badge and all - and I try very hard not   
   to wear it. Polo shirts (with your group's logo) are almost always the   
   best thing to wear. Try not to have too many logos or call signs (even   
   your own) visible at the same time.   
      
   Smile, Darn Ya, Smile! - We all have better and worse days, but great   
   volunteers develop a "game face" and "game attitude" they bring to   
   public events. Whiners are not allowed. Egos get checked at the door.   
   No, it really isn't about you, it's just what net control said or did,   
   probably without thinking, and usually in the heat of the moment.   
      
   Seek Feedback (And Offer It) - We all need to talk about what we do   
   well as well as where we could improve. Volunteers need to understand   
   that the people who provide feedback (volunteer bosses) are sometimes   
   insensitive louts. Please forgive us. We didn't mean to hurt your   
   feelings and it really isn't personal. Nor is it personal when you tell   
   leaders how we might improve. We are here to serve the public and our   
   communities and we win or lose as a team.   
      
   The key to this is being a decent human being and treating others the   
   way you'd want to be treated yourself. Sound familiar?   
      
   Build Your Skills - Newcomer mistakes must be forgiven. And some people   
   - like me - make the same silly mistakes over and over. But, we need to   
   constantly "sharpen the saw," as the book 7 Habits of Highly Successful   
   People calls it. Great volunteers sharpen the saw on a regular basis.   
   The reason we provide support for all these bike rides, community   
   fairs, rodeos and other non-emergency events is two-fold. Sometimes   
   these events become real emergencies. Mostly, though, we're training   
   for when "the big one" (whatever that is where you live) happens. Use   
   these events to train yourself while having fun. Then read, take   
   classes, do free online training, anything to improve your skills.   
   Reading this newsletter is a good use of your time.   
      
   Help solve problems - I was really pleased at a recent event when our   
   volunteers at a remote site solved problems that occurred at their   
   location without help from anyone. It was an issue related to signals   
   and geography and these were new hams - all KJ6 call signs - who took   
   initiative and made things better on the spot. And some people say   
   HamCram hams are know-nothings! In the process, they improved our   
   ability to serve the organization we were working for. Great volunteers   
   give great customer service.   
      
   Observe Lines of Authority - Not long ago, I came unglued (it had been   
   a bad day) when a fairly inexperienced volunteer tried to do something   
   that went against the goals of the organization. It was not   
   ill-intended, just inexperience. But, it was the second or third   
   problem. This was a hugely promising volunteer, who just needed to   
   understand why certain things are done the way they are. Even   
   insensitive louts sometimes have good reasons behind their logic.   
      
   Good volunteers have ideas and want something to do. They want to   
   contribute but can be overly enthusiastic and cause problems without   
   meaning to. Long story short, the volunteer and I decided to give each   
   other the benefit of the doubt, and at his first event he performed   
   marvelously. He wants to become a leader and at the rate he is going,   
   he will. But, he will need to work within the rules of the organization   
   and ask questions before just "doing."   
      
   This is another way of saying, "Respect your elders." But if you feel   
   your local leaders are killing the group don't just sit and watch it   
   happen. That is a topic for another column, based on some of the   
   letters I've been getting from E-Letter readers.   
      
   "What did you do at the bike race, dear?" That is what my wife, K6SWE,   
   asked Saturday after I got home from working all day at a bicycle race.   
   As leader of the group, I delegated much of the organizing to Matt,   
   KI6ZTY, who served as net control. I purposely arrived late so Matt and   
   his assistant NCS, Conrad, KJ6CNV, would get started without me. They   
   did just fine, though I was ready to jump in if needed (I can delegate   
   tasks but not responsibility).   
      
   What did I do from 0730 until 1530? Mostly drive around to make sure   
   things were going OK. I occasionally cut in on the radio to ask a   
   question, offer a clarification, and help handle emergencies -four   
   riders were injured during the day.   
      
   The most critical thing I did was help get our operators moved around   
   and instructed as to how to assist Highway Patrol, fire and race   
   organizers when a racer had to be airlifted from the scene after a   
   crash. I also took the injured woman's friends and their bikes back to   
   the start line and later hauled in another rider with a minor injury   
   and her bike. I also filled in at various locations when operators   
   needed a break, etc.   
      
   <<< Concluded in next message>>>   
      
      
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