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PUBLIC SERVICE RICK PALM, K1CE, K1CE ARRL. ORG  STARTING OR RESTARTING AN
ARES GROUP THE INTANGIBLES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE TANGIBLES WHEN
BUILDING AN ARES GROUP FROM SCRATCH OR ACTIVATING A DORMANT ONE.  HERE ARE
SOME TIPS.  CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO YOUR TOWN OR COUNTY SUFFERED A
TORNADO EMERGENCY, TRAGICALLY RESULTING IN CASUALTIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES RESOURCES WERE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT AND AFTER
ACTION BRIEFINGS RESULTED IN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF RESPONSE
TIMES AND EFFICACY.  ONE OF THE PROBLEMS UNDERMINING RESPONSE EFFICIENCY
AND EFFECTIVENESS WAS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS WERE OVERLOADED, SOME TOWERS
WERE DESTROYED, AND RESPONDERS FROM DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES FIRE, POLICE,
EMS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, RED CROSS, ETC AT TIMES HAD DIFFICULTY
COMMUNICATING AND COORDINATING AMONG THEMSELVES.  YOU RECOGNIZE THAT
AMATEUR RADIO COULD HAVE HELPED FILL COMMUNICATIONS GAPS, WHILE ALSO
ENGAGING CITIZEN RADIO AMATEURS IN SUPPORTING THE RESPONDING AGENCIES, AND
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR TOWN OR COUNTY NEEDS AN ARES GROUP WITH MEMBERS
THAT ARE RECRUITED, REGISTERED, TRAINED, MANAGED, AND COORDINATED WITH YOUR
PARTNER/SERVED AGENCIES.  LETS DO THIS.  THE RIGHT MINDSET FIRST, CONSIDER
WHAT YOUR POTENTIAL GROUP IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO FOR YOUR AGENCIES.  IN
THIS COLUMN FOR THE JANUARY 2012 ISSUE OF QST, AL TAYLOR, KN3U, WROTE THAT
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