CNCS Emergency Communication Training Grant News

SEPTEMBER 2004

ARES Members Respond Before, During and After Four Hurricanes Hit Florida and Neighboring States

Hundreds of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama provided a wide range of communications services as four major hurricanes hit Florida and surrounding states within six weeks in August and September. As all four--Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne--struck, ham volunteers supplemented communication at emergency operations centers and shelters set up for those who evacuated ahead of the storms. With power out for weeks in some areas and telephone coverage spotty at best, Amateur Radio volunteers worked around the clock in support of American Red Cross and Salvation Army relief operations as well as food distribution centers, evacuation shelters and even the US military.

ARRL Gets Two CNCS Grants

The ARRL has received new funding of nearly $90,000 from the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) to execute a pilot program that will enlighten communities about the value of Amateur Radio for community safety and security. The one-year grant will enable ARRL to develop the Community Education Project (CEP) and carry ham radio's message to a dozen locales across the US. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the CEP will work with Citizen Corps--the League is a Citizen Corps affiliate-ARRL clubs, ARES Field Organization leadership and ARRL personnel.

"While our friends and major partners understand the power of Amateur Radio in an emergency, a clear understanding of what certified Amateur Radio operators can accomplish to enhance safety and security has not trickled down to the general community," Hobart said. "We know that our best work happens at the local level to keep communities safe and secure."

The Community Education Project will be an extension of the role hams play as individuals, within local clubs and on Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams, she said. The CEP will work through local civic organizations, news media, faith-based groups, schools, food banks and a variety of other community organizations to get Amateur Radio's message across, Hobart explained.

CNCS also has renewed ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course tuition reimbursement grant for a third--and final--year. The third-year emergency training grant is for $179,600. Hobart also said she was extremely gratified to see the third-year Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course tuition-subsidy grant come through. The third-year grant will place even greater emphasis on providing Amateur Radio emergency communications training to licensees age 55 or older and will provide training for 1700 volunteers.

ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, will be traveling extensively to both Amateur Radio and emergency communications-related events and meetings to drive home the point that hams play a vital role in times of disaster and emergency, as recent events have demonstrated.

"Please encourage everyone--especially seniors--to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course," Miller urged. "With full reimbursement of the registration fee for ARRL members, the training is virtually free--but only for one more year." He encouraged those who have already completed Level I to further their knowledge by completing Levels II and Level III. Tuition is reimbursable for all three course levels. "The demand for trained Amateur Radio operators continues to grow at a phenomenal rate," he emphasized. "By completing the emergency communications training, you are reinforcing the lifeblood of Amateur Radio--emergency communications."

"This grant award--totaling $266,599 for two programs--is a vote of confidence for what hams have accomplished over the past two years by being responsive to national security needs and in times of emergency," Hobart said. "We're thrilled that we got this."

A grant from ARRL's corporate partner, United Technologies Corporation, will continue to subsidize Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course training until the end of 2005. Total graduates for Year Two's UTC grant-sponsored classes equal 684 at this time and is right on schedule to meet our goal for this year.

Miller Presents Three Free EmComm Seminars

In August, ARRL Emergency Communications Course Grants Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, presented his Emergency Communication seminar at three separate venues: the APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, International) annual convention in Montreal, the ARRL New England Division Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts, and the ARRL Southwestern Division Convention in Phoenix. In Phoenix, 95 attended the seminar, 92% of whom were ARRL members and 26% were involved with Citizens Corps.

ARRL provides grant-funded tuition reimbursement for ARRL-member US Amateur Radio operators wishing to receive emergency communication training through ARRL's Certification and Continuing Education program. The third year of CNCS reimbursement will cover the tuition expense of more than 1700 amateurs successfully completing the ARECC courses.

In 2002, ARRL proposed to the Corporation for National and Community Service that the League could greatly expand its emergency communications training program with grant funding. The training is currently supported by the third year of a three-year, $540,000 federal homeland security grant from CNCS. The League was among several dozen nonprofit organizations designated to receive about $10.3 million in federal money to boost homeland defense volunteer programs. During the first year of the grant--September 2002 through August 2003--2225 emergency communication volunteers started the Level I course through the grant-funded program, and 1676 completed the training, a 75% completion rate. In the second year, ending August 31, 2004, there were 1937 graduates, also a 75% graduation rate.

"A good number of people have told us that without the grant, they would not have participated in the training," Miller said. "The CNCS grant is doing exactly what it was intended to do: provide a larger group of trained emergency communications people able to support a number of official agencies in a time of need."

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for all Americans to serve their communities and country through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Members and volunteers serve with national and community nonprofit organizations, and local agencies to help meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security and other critical areas. Senior citizens are especially encouraged to get involved.

"Introduction to Amateur Radio Emergency Communication" is a basic Amateur Radio Emergency Communication course (ARECC) to raise awareness and provide practical knowledge for amateur emergency communication volunteers.

The course includes basic message handling, equipment and use, the incident command structure, and operations and logistics, among other topics. This course has 23 lesson units and takes about 25 hours to complete over an 8-week period; there are also intermediate and advanced courses available for further study and training. Continuing education units are available.

Levels II and III continue the student's education in emergency communications, giving additional instruction in net control, liaising with public safety officials, severe weather and hospital communications, large-scale disasters, ARES, federal planning and much more.

IN THE NEWS:

ARES Groups Assist in Several Emergencies

Amateur Radio Emergency Service units in the ARRL Sacramento Valley Section in Northern California supported efforts to contain and control the French Fire.

ARES volunteers in Maryland helped bridge a communication gap after Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly--the county's largest--experienced a near-total telephone outage.

ARES volunteers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) assisted the American Red Cross after Typhoon Chaba swept through August 22 causing widespread damage.

EmComm Groups Take Part in National Preparedness Month

During September, the ARRL was among dozens of organizations and agencies that participated in National Preparedness Month. "The Ready Campaign," produced by the Ad Council in partnership with the US Department of Homeland Security, is aimed at making citizen preparedness "a priority for every city, every neighborhood and every home" in the US. With encouragement from the ARRL, ARES members and others involved with emergency communications set up public demonstrations that helped underscore the valuable service they provide at no cost to the communities they serve.

ARRL Opens EmComm Courses

September saw the opening of all three levels of ARRL's grant-sponsored Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Courses. Registration opened September 20 for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line course (EC-003). Class began Friday, October 8. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opened September 13, and class began October 1. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course (EC-001) opened September 6, and class began September 24.

Seniors are strongly encouraged to participate. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.

To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

As you may or may not recall, I am the blind ham from Michigan who spoke to you about the mechanics of taking the ARRL Emergency Communications on-line courses earlier in the year. This summer, I completed EC001 with no problems, and have now just completed the Level II. EC course. This also was a very positive experience for me, and I learned a great deal both from the course and from my course mentor.

I again want to express my appreciation to the League for offering this very informative set of opportunities.

The level II. course was completely accessible on the web. I did all of the course units independently with my Jaws speech screen reader. The only thing I sought assistance for was the final exam, for which I dictated my answer choices to my sighted wife (also a ham) so I was sure I was entering the answer choice I actually picked.

Thanks again for all of your help and for encouraging me to take these courses. I plan to take level III. at some point in early 2005. I am a college professor, and have to wait for those all-important semester breaks to do things like this.

I have successfully completed the ARRL Emergency Communications course. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I learned a great deal about our role as emergency communicators. Hats off to ARRL for a job well done!

73, Tom Behler: KB8TYJ, Big Rapids, MI and Mecosta County EC/RO

I have successfully completed the ARRL Emergency Communications course. It was a wonderful experience for me, and I learned a great deal about our role as emergency communicators. Hats off to ARRL for a job well done!

73, Nick Rothermel, N8WLE, Columbus, Ohio

On 29 Sept 2004, I completed all the activities, and submitted and completed Lesson 24. I took the Final Assessment and received a score of 100%. I wish to extend my thanks to all that make this course available. I look forward to taking EC-002. Thanks again.

Kenneth Murphy, KI4GEM

Your classes are really bearing fruit in Florida right now. And could help save lives on the next hurricane headed here. So, thanks!

Don Franck, AD0F, Section Emergency Coordinator, State of Minnesota [in Florida to assist with hurricane relief]

[Editor's Note: If you would like to join the ranks of our dedicated volunteer mentor/instructors, please send an e-mail to cce@arrl.org. We will send you our Mentor Familiarization Package and some additional instructions. New mentors are always welcome because they are indeed the lifeblood of the emergency communications training program.]

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