CNCS Emergency Communication Training Grant News

Covering January 2005

ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, has firmed up more of his travel plans under the third and final year of the ARRL's grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. He will offer a presentation at the 7th annual Communications Academy in Shoreline, Washington April 1-3, the Ohio Homeland Security Symposium April 18-21 and SEAPAC June 17-19 in Seaside, Oregon.

In February, Dan will present at the Hurricane Watch Net Conference in Miami and will man an exhibit (with assistance from Mike Carr, WA1QAA, and Jim Cross, WI3N) at the National Emergency Management Association Convention in Washington, DC.

In all, for the remainder of the 3rd and final federal grant year, Dan has 6 ham-related and 8 non-ham conventions on his schedule. These involve a mixture of seminars, forums and Amateur Radio emergency communications exhibits.

As announcements of upcoming EmComm presentations are posted to the ARRLWeb, pre-registrations are being received. Interest is dependent upon several factors: How widespread is publicity? Is the target audience reached successfully? Does description sound interesting and inviting? Besides the ARRLWeb, announcements are sent to ARES leadership in surrounding states via reflectors for Section Managers, Section Emergency Coordinators and others, as well for inclusion in newsletters, club bulletins, nets, etc.

Dan asks that hams encourage everyone--especially radio amateurs 55 and over--to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course. "With full reimbursement of the registration fee for ARRL members, the training is virtually free--but only for one more year." He encourages 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 emphasizes. "By completing the emergency communications training -- and getting active in your community -- you are reinforcing the lifeblood of Amateur Radio--emergency communications."

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. With Year 3 comes the final opportunity for interested ARRL members to take this training and receive full reimbursement of registration fees.

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. Citizens 55 and up 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:

Community Education Program

CEP Coordinator Bill Barrett, W1WJB, made his first formal presentation January 26 to an enthusiastic group of town officials and local hams in Saco, Maine. Although the size of the group was reduced because of a blizzard, Bill received many positive comments about his presentation.

The CEP is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to explore the best ways Amateur Radio can work with local emergency managers and with Citizen Corps councils. The CEP has targeted a dozen communities from Maine to Oregon to learn about the value of Amateur Radio to community safety and security between now and August.

Ventura County (CA) ARES/RACES Active after Deadly Mudslides

Flooding and a devastating mudslide in Southern California kept Ventura County ARES/RACES members on the move in mid-January. Among other activities, ARES/RACES has supported communication at shelters housing La Conchita residents displaced by the January 10 mudslide that killed at least 10 people.

Results of the Digital Communications Survey

The following is the result of surveys received for the digital communications study:

The DCTI Reflector currently has 38 members. Survey questionnaires received included 172 entries.

87% are not tied to Winlink Classic.

56% are connected to systems using the Internet; 53% are not.

78% are connected to Winlink 2000.

41% use POP3 to receive packet messages; 47% do not.

55% use SMTP to send packet messages; 53% do not.

89% handle NTS messages through this site.

2 meters and 20 meters are the predominantly used bands.

Median power used is 65 watts.

PacCom and KAM Plus are the predominantly used TNCs.

Approximately 75% use omnidirectional antennas; 25% use Yagis.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

With more than 40 years of experience in emergency and public service communications, the Level I course was still very informative and interesting. I look forward to the Level II.

73, Lew, N2RQ

I am very pleased with the course and my mentor. I think I have only finished the first seven lessons but have learned a lot.

I am planning to take this course again when things become less hectic. I am a RACES/ARES member and the EC I/EC II have answered a lot of questions that I have had and some topics I would never have thought of on my own.

Thanks you for offering these courses.

73, K3FKW

ARRL Opens EmComm Courses

January saw the opening of all three levels of ARRL's grant-sponsored Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Courses. Registration opened in late December for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course (EC-001). Class began January 21. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opened January 10, and class began January 28. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line course (EC-003) opened January 17, and class was to begin February 4. The Level I course was filled after only 33 hours.

Radio amateurs 55 and over 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.

Editor's Note: If you have completed at least Level I online and 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. With their dedicated efforts this valuable training will continue to reach more and more people, providing an ever-increasing number of trained, skilled emergency communications operators!

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