ARRL F&ES Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, welcomes Bill Barrett, W1WJB, to ARRL Headquarters.
ARRL F&ES Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, welcomes Bill Barrett, W1WJB, to ARRL Headquarters. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 20, 2004--Bill Barrett, W1WJB, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, is the newest member of the ARRL Headquarters family. He joined the ARRL Field and Educational Services (F&ES) staff October 18 as ARRL Community Education Program Coordinator. In that position, he'll execute a pilot program to enlighten 12 localities around the US about the value of Amateur Radio to community safety and security. He'll be exploring the best ways Amateur Radio operators can work with Citizen Corps councils and to show the council members what ham radio can do for them. For this new program, Barrett plans to make the most of his experience as an ARES District Emergency Coordinator, more than 40 years of Amateur Radio experience, and his work producing video and film projects for corporate clients--something that often involved making presentations to clients and crew members.
"I enjoy bringing a message to groups that expands their capabilities," Barrett said. As an emergency coordinator, he developed a PowerPoint presentation that local officials could view right at their desks. The presentation circulated to several communities. "A new presentation will grow out of that, with a lot of new material better suited to the new audience," he added.
The one-year position Barrett is filling is a new one at ARRL HQ. Both the position and the program are funded by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The new funding of nearly $90,000 will enable the League to develop the Community Education Project (CEP) and carry ham radio's message to communities.
ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says now that more amateur licensees have been trained in how to handle emergency communications, they have some educating to do. "Hams can contribute so much to Citizen Corps council members," she said, "not just to served agencies like the Red Cross and The Salvation Army, but also when communication problems confront grassroots community institutions such as hospitals, utilities, blood banks, shelters and even schools."
F&ES Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, says Amateur Radio is fortunate that many hams newly trained in emergency communications over the past few years are starting to get involved in ARES groups and ARRL affiliated clubs. "The US has many new Citizen Corps teams, also," she noted, "but ARES groups and affiliated clubs and the Citizen Corps councils haven't necessarily started working together in many US communities. The new CEP hopes to start connecting the dots." She expressed confidence that Barrett's background in ARES, customer service and perfecting presentations will stand him in good stead in his new post.
A native of Connecticut, Barrett has been active in ARES for more than five years, becoming an EC in 2000 and moving up to DEC in 2002. He was deeply involved in planning this year's simulated emergency test (SET) in his district. Barrett says in his new position, he'll work with both ARES groups and affiliated clubs with the objective of establishing ties between them and Citizen Corps councils.
"A goal is to share the message about ham radio and EmComm with community leaders," he said, "and have our local ARES and club people demonstrate their expertise to the Citizen Corps Councils."
Resources that he will leave behind with the councils include a CD-ROM, a booklet, and a connection between the councils and area radio amateurs. Barrett says he's looking forward to having the opportunity to interact with local leaders and to advocate the active participation of Amateur Radio in community emergency plans and activities.
Barrett also enjoys RTTY and traffic nets, and he checks
in regularly to the Connecticut Phone Net.
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