To The ARRL Board of Directors
January 17, 2003

DOC #22

The following summary report is submitted to the ARRL Board of Directors on behalf of the Volunteer Resources Committee.

1. The Committee has again been very active. We have held two in-person meetings in addition to the two prior to the Jan. and July 2002 Board meetings. In addition, we held a total of seventeen teleconferences. The Committee members have again found teleconferences to be an highly effective and economical means for conducting business. A 52-page Word document containing minutes of all VRC meetings and teleconferences in 2002 is available and will be emailed to any member of the Board family who requests one.

2. The VRC studied a proposal by Vice Director Woolweaver designed to encourage members to contribute multimedia presentations, particularly PowerPoint presentations, designed to entertain and instruct, and to be placed on the Web or on a CD. VRC committee members agreed to endorse some form of this proposal, although some concern was expressed regarding the difficulty of screening copyrighted material out of the presentations. Mark Wilson agreed to investigate the feasibility of such a program, including costs, with a report to be submitted to the VRC on Jan. 10, 2003.

3. A proposal by Director Fallon, submitted at the 2002 Second Meeting, resulted in assigning to the VRC a study to implementation of an eight hour operating event to be held each year in September for the purpose of demonstrating the communications capabilities of Amateur Radio. The event would include operations from homes, EOCs, government buildings, and other emergency facilities. Minute 58 of the Second Meeting provides the details, as follows:

58. On motion of Mr. Fallon, seconded by Mr. Walstrom, the following resolution was proposed:

WHEREAS, there is a need for local government legislators and administrators to learn about Amateur Radio and its emergency communications capabilities; and

WHEREAS, Amateur Radio volunteers are very willing to work with their town's municipal governments; and

WHEREAS, September will for decades be an important time for all Americans to consider the problems of security and emergency preparedness;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the ARRL Board directs the VRC to study for possible implementation an eight hour operating event to be conducted each year on a weekend in September from homes, EOCs, government buildings, and other emergency facilities designed to demonstrate the ability of Amateur Radio to communicate locally, across state lines, and nationally.

After extensive discussions extending over several months, including support from the Public Relations Committee, the VRC concluded that a more effective way of exposing Amateur Radio's capabilities would be to incorporate some of the ideas into ARRL's Public Awareness Day, or possibly a week long community media event tied in with Field Day. Jennifer Hagy has been requested to prepare a candidate proposal for such an event, with a report to be made available to the VRC by January 16, 2003.

4. Director Goddard requested that the VRC look into the feasibility of revising the Terms of Reference for the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award. His proposal suggested that, in addition to the award stipend, additional funds be provided to cover expenses of the winner to attend an event so that a formal, public presentation of the award can be made. The VRC considered several options, but ultimated VRC voted not to revise the ToR at this time, since Directors can help fund awardee travel.

5. Minute 35 of the 2002 Annual Meeting assigned to the VRC the studying the League's programs related to emergency communications and non-emergency public service communications, and to report recommendations for modernizing, streamlining, and increasing their effectiveness. The Minute read as follows:

35. On motion of Mrs. Craigie, seconded by Mr. Walstrom, it was unanimously VOTED that the following resolution is adopted.

WHEREAS, Amateur Radio's emergency communications capability ranks first among the bases and purposes of the service set forth in the FCC's Rules; and

WHEREAS, non-emergency public service communications events are training experiences which prepare Amateurs for service in both natural and man-made disasters; and

WHEREAS, since the founding of our League, the ARRL has sponsored programs which train, organize, and enable Amateur Radio volunteers to provide emergency communications support to charitable agencies and government authorities; and

WHEREAS, in these challenging times not only for our country but also for the entire civilized world, it is essential for Amateur Radio to offer the most efficient and effective emergency communications systems, including support for Homeland Security;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the ARRL's Volunteer Resources Committee is directed to perform an in-depth study of the League's programs related to emergency communications and non-emergency public service communications, and to report recommendations for modernizing, streamlining, and increasing the effectiveness of these programs to the Board at the Annual Meeting in January, 2003.

5.1 The Committee's work this year has, to a large degree, been driven by this one study. One of our first steps was to try to understand whether or not new and unique requirements would likely be placed upon our public service activities as a result of the 9/11 attack. VRC member George Race, WB8BGY, then Director of the Great Lakes Division, attempted to determine whether or not a rational set of requirements existed at a national level. Such a set of requirements proved to be elusive, but in the process George prepared an extremely useful index of Internet links to a variety of government agencies. A CD containing the results of his study was provided to the Board at its July, 2002, meeting.

5.2 In the second half of 2002 the VRC returned to a more direct approach at satisfying the requirements of Minute 35. In addition to extensive discussions of the issues, primarily during teleconferences, a survey of SM was carried out. Only 21 of the 71 SMs responded to the survey, but those responses received were very useful. In addition, the Chairs of the three NTS Areas also provided useful comments.

5.3 Conclusions. Several inter-related themes have emerged as a result of the study.

5.3.1. Amateur Radio must earn and maintain increased credibility with served agencies, both nationally and at the local level. The existing ARRL certification programs can help in this regard. Additionally, excellent training is available through FEMA, the Red Cross, and other served agencies. Such courses aren't designed for exclusive Amateur Radio audiences, but present an opportunity for ARES/NTS volunteers to expand their emergency preparedness horizons.

5.3.2 Amateur Radio emergency communications volunteers must be more actively involved in a variety of training experiences throughout the year.

5.3.3. Although ARES and NTS are structurally separate in Section field organizations, these two volunteer programs must work more cooperatively, functioning as part of one coherent emergency communications program at the Section level.

5.3.4 The Committee notes persistent requests for creating new leadership positions. The post of Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (ADEC) is the one most often suggested. In addition, suggestions are received from time to time to give Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC), appointment more stature. It is presently a local appointment, not part of the formal field organization structure. The VRC, however, is not convinced that the solution of organizational problems require new leadership positions. Many SMs have solved their local organizational problems by more creative use of the existing appointee structure.

5.4 Recommendations. In support of the above conclusions, the VRC recommends the following actions.

5.4.1 Amateur Radio should exhibit a higher level of readiness than is presently the case. This may be accomplished, at least in part, by encouraging SMs, in collaboration with their SECs and STMs, to study, on a continuing basis, the training needs of their Sections and the effectiveness of training programs in place.

5.4.2 Amateur Radio should exhibit a higher level of professionalism than is presently the case. This may be satisfied, at least in part, by adhering to the following program:

* SECs and STMs, earn Level 1, 2, and 3 certification as soon as possible

* DECs and NMs earn at least Level 1 and 2 certification as soon as possible

* ECs and OES appointees earn at least Level l certification as soon as possible

* SECs, and STMs strongly encourage all ARES and NTS members to earn Level l certification in order to prepare them for possible future disasters and in order to prepare them to become future leadership officials.

* Finally, the training provided by FEMA, the Red Cross, and other served agencies should be considered for inclusion in ARES/NTS training programs. These courses aren't designed for exclusive Amateur Radio audiences, but present an opportunity for ARES/NTS volunteers to expand their emergency preparedness horizons.

5.4.3 SECs should make more effective effective use of OES appointees -- the guideline document for this Field appointment is deliberately broad, so as to give SECs flexibility required to solve a variety of Section organizational problems.

5.4.4 SMs, SECs, and STMs should work cooperatively to develop workable plans for joint drills and training.

6. There is no shortage of problems to be addressed by the incoming VRC. A list of open items will be made available to the incoming VRC.

The Volunteer Resources Committee this year consisted of Frank Butler, W4RH; Fried Heyn, WA6WZO; George Race, WB8BGY; Wade Walstrom; W0EJ; Kay Craigie, WT3P; Bill Edgar, N3LLR; and Rosalie White, K1STO. Following Mr. Race's resignation in July, his position was ably filled by Gary Johnston, KI4LA. I wish to extend my personal thanks once more for the care and thought each member brought to this Committee. Special thanks again goes to F&ES Services manager Rosalie White, for her advice, counsel, and other help during our regular telephone conversations.

Respectfully Submitted

Jim Maxwell, W6CF
Chair