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Covering July 2005
UPDATE: The federal grant is ending! Students in August classes MUST complete all the course requirements and be "Passed" by their mentor/instructor on or before August 31 to be eligible for reimbursement!
ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, reports that the federal CNCS grant is closing on a strong, positive note. "With a month to go," Dan says, "we are more than 50 beyond the 3-year goal. The corporate grant from UTC is also on track for a strong successful conclusion."
Dan spoke at the 2005 Western Territory Citizen Corps Conference July 14-17 in Bozeman, Montana. Approximately 150 people attended this excellent training workshop/conference. According to Dan, the event concentrated on the five major programs of Citizen Corps--CERT, USA on Watch, Medical Service Corps, Volunteer in Police Service and Fire Corps.
With the assistance of Jim Fuller, N7VR, Montana SEC, Laura Lubner, KJ7UN, Bozeman Emergency Coordinator, and others, an ARRL Exhibit Booth provided additional opportunities to network with attendees, answering questions and discussing how Amateur Radio operators can assist in their many duties and responsibilities. That ARRL was the only exhibitor quickly became a "plus" when we realized that there were no other booths competing for the attention of those present.
In a short couple of months, this conference grew from local, to regional, to national in scope. Despite the inherent complications with such a growth spurt, the event was very informative and productive. A total of 28 people dropped by our booth and took the time to complete our Emergency Communications Information Surveys. Results included the following:
54% Male, 36% Female
32% Veterans
Under 40--21%
41-54--53%
55-69--25%
Oldest--64
Youngest--33
Listed as "number one priority regarding emergency communications":
August travel plans under the third and final year of the ARRL's grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service include an Emergency Communications seminar at the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention in Huntsville, Alabama, and the APCO Convention in Denver.
Dan asks that hams encourage everyone--especially radio amateurs 55 and over--to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course. "While full reimbursement of the registration fee for ARRL members is still available, the training is virtually free -- but only for a limited time." 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 through October 2005 for a much smaller number of students each month than previously. With Year 3 comes the final opportunity for interested ARRL members to take this training and receive full reimbursement of registration fees.
Graduate totals for the three-year CNCS grant are Level I = 3937, Level II = 895 and Level III = 473. Graduate totals for the UTC grant are Level I = 1154, Level II = 1009 and Level III = 662.
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 on-line 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 has done 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 Radio 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:
Time is Short to Register for Tuition-Free Courses
An article posted to the ARRLWeb called attention to the fact that the last course seat available for tuition reimbursement under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grant was to open in June. After that, only a few reimbursable seats in each course will be offered through October under a United Technologies Corporation (UTC) grant. By the time the CNCS and UTC grants end, some 8000+ radio amateurs will have taken advantage of the tuition subsidies and received training in Amateur Radio emergency communications. At this time, no further grant-sponsored reimbursements for Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course students are on the horizon. EmComm Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, commented: "This has been a very successful program, thanks chiefly to the support and participation of the ARRL Field Organization. We sincerely appreciate your efforts."
Community Education Program
CEP Coordinator Bill Barrett, W1WJB, reports that the Community Education Project is in its wind-up phase. His two final presentations to local Citizen Corps Council members will be in August in Old Hickory, Tennessee and in Concord, New Hampshire. With the assistance of local volunteers, a statewide Connecticut meeting was held July 30.
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. The Program will end in August.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Dan, K3UFG,
I want to tell you about a student I have had for the last few weeks. This student was a prize student and one that I was so pleased to pass in EC2 today. He spoke to me on phone at the beginning and this was my first introduction to a very interesting man. Each time I received an activity I got correct answers and complete answers. What suggestion could I make to such good answers? I felt like he was the instructor/mentor and I was the student and was watching a good review of the course. He also made me feel like a young woman and at my age I am a grandmother of four. This student told me he is 89 years young and what a special man. Thank you for giving me the special privilege to meet and get to know a great ham. His name is Edward Kydd, KG4QLN.
Debbie Freeze, W0CJV
ARRL Opens EmComm Courses
July saw the opening of all three levels of ARRL's grant-sponsored Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Courses. Registration opened July 4 for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course (EC-001). Class began July 22. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opened July 11, and class started July 29. Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line course (EC-003) opened July 18, and class was to begin August 5.
To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education
Web page. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Coordinator Jean Wolfgang jwolfgang@arrl.org;
860-594-0219
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