Biography

Ham History and Public Service Interests, NI6A

Licensed as: kn9ozm (novice) 1957 and k9ozm (general) 1958. Also held n6feo and ke6jv

Most hams that I know are willing, but not necessarily able, to use their radio expertise for public service -- to help their families, neighbors, community, and nation. Using one’s equipment and abilities for public service was the basic assumption when I was growing up.

MY PAST:
Cal Fire/CDF (California Department of Forestry)
Served as communications specialist (amateur radio operator)
Worked numerous CDF Wildfires such as:
Napa fire support 1982
Mt. Hamilton fire base camp and shadow 1982
Silverado fire support 1982
Lexington Fire 1985, Base Camp and shadow
Miller Canyon/Sunol Ridge Wildland Fire (East Alameda County), 1987 – base camp and shadow for the FIO. Used packet radio and also NWS (SKYWARN) data.
Mt. Vaca Fire support, 1987
Trained and served with CDF VIP (Volunteer in Protection) program 1981-1990).

Disaster Services:
Deployed by the American Red Cross to serve as the sole communicator during the Santa Cruz Floods at Gold Gulch camp as radio op (1981/1982)
Communications Chairman for East Bay Chapter. ARC, 81-90, creating HF, VHF, UHF, and packet radio BBS stations and antennas at Berkeley ARC, Oakland ARC, and the Richmond ARC.
During the Loma Prieta Earthquake, I supervised 12 simultaneous shelters for 2 weeks for the Red Cross HQ in Oakland and satellite stations at the Berkeley Red Cross, Richmond Red Cross, shelters, damage assessment teams, logistics, and the makeshift morgue at the Cyprus Overpass collapse.
Taught Earthquake Preparedness for the East Bay Chapter of the ARC
Trained as a Red Cross Shelter Manager
Served in Red Flag Fire Patrol for Consolidated Fire for East Bay Regional Park District Fire Department and the Contra Costa County Fire District, 1982-1990
Served in Red Flag Fire Patrol for NALCO ARES/RACES and the City of Berkeley
Founder of NALCO ARES/RACES Berkeley 1985
Longtime member of Contra Costa County RADIO AMATEUR CIVIL EMERGENCY SERVICES sponsored by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s department) (RACES)
Past member of West Co Co County (WCCC) ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services)/RACES (Radio Amateur Radio Service),
Past Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) WCCC (West Contra Costa County ARES/RACES) 1981-1990
RACES Communicator for Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department 1982-1990)
Became Official Emergency Station (OES) for ARES (March 1985) and Official Relay Station (ORS) 1985

Recently appointed District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for Contra Costa County and OES.

Currently, net manager for Contra Costa County EmComm Disaster Preparedness HF Net, which meets weekly at 1830 local on 3893 KHz.

Message Handling/NTS
Acted as Net Control Station (NCS) many thousand times for ILN, NCN, 9RN, RN6, CAN, PAN, ARES, RACES, and Public Service Nets (CW, SSB, FM, HF, and VHF Nets).
Central Area Net (CAN) certificate May 1961
Formerly TCC liaison for CAN (Central Area Net) and PAN (Pacific Area Net)
NTS traffic handling approximately 50 BPL awards (Brass Pounders League) from 1960 to present representing over 20,000 formal written messages handled. My traffic total for August 1961 of 2520 points as published in November 1961 QST magazine was one of the highest ever recorded in Illinois. I made BPL consistently from 1961-1964 as K9OZM before needing to dedicate more time to my college studies receiving 15 BPL cards, perhaps my most prized achievement in amateur radio.

As NI6A, I regularly made BPL for many years throughout the eighties, consistently making BPL from 1982 to 1985 with totals frequently around 1000 points/mo. I was proud to have the honor and experience working the best CW ops in the business and am thankful for their elmering.
I was proud of my over 1000 PSHR mentions throughout the years. Now, I see these as unneeded proofs of an insecure youth.

I regularly check into 15 plus nets a week (CW, SSB, and FM) and participate in two SETs/year minimum. I need more frequent reminders.

Former Assistant manager RN6 (NTS) in the eighties.
Formerly TCC (Trans-Continental Corps) operator and PAN (Pacific Area Net) liaison.
Official Relay Station (ORS) January 1961 and again now in 2022.
Volunteer Examiner (ARRL VEC)
Registered Instructor, Pacific Division

Past Activities Include:
Past Section Traffic Manager (STM) East Bay Section ARRL 1982-1867 under Bob Vallio, W6RGG. Resigned to become Assistant Director Pacific Division ARRL under Rod Stafford, W6ROD.
Key Presenter at the ARRL Pacific Division Convention in 1989 (Santa Cruz) pertaining to the Loma Prieta After Action (Critique)
Presenter of Earthquake Preparedness classes, Shelter Management, Net Operations, traffic handling, and packet radio operations at the Benecia Amateur Radio Club, the Alameda Red Cross, Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club, East Bay Amateur Radio Club, and KAROECHO (see www.karoecho.net )
Wrote numerous articles for “QST, “World Radio”, the “ARRL Emergency Communicator’s Manual”, “Gateway: The ARRL Packet-Radio Newsletter”, “The Carrier” (MDARC Newsletter, “The Blown Fuse” (EBARC Newsletter), the KaroEcho Newsletter, and similar.

Formerly (Other Has-Beens):
Chicago RACES
Former MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) 1958-1965
Communications Chairperson. East Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC) Disaster Services 1981-1990,
Former Board of Directors and Treasurer for the East Bay Amateur Radio Club
Former East Bay Amateur Radio Club Field Day Committee Chairperson
Formerly Official Relay Station (ORS), April 1961 “QST”
Former Official Emergency Station (OES), June, 1985 “QST”
Former Official Observer (OO)
Former. Sysop W6CUS-1 Packet BBS and HF Packet (1984-1990)
One of the original stations approved for temporary authorization (STA) for unattended HF packet radio message forwarding operations under FCC Letter of Authorization 7230-J in the mid-eighties.
Co-Founder WestNet (PACKET) dedicated to linking NORCALwith SOCALvia radio,
Formerly worked OSCAR/10 satellite (AMSAT) Morse code and SSB), 1983 -- 1984 O-10 had two transponders on board. Mode-B (U/V): from 435 MHz to 145 MHz, two beacons, 50 W PEP, omni and high gain antennas. With a bandwidth of 150 kHz, about 50 simultaneous connections are possible.
Mode-L (L/U): from 1269 MHz to 435 MHz, passband 800 kHz, two beacons, 50 W PEP, high gain antennas. With a bandwidth of 800 kHz, it allowed about 300 simultaneous connections. See: https://amsat-dl.org/en/amsat-phase-3-b-oscar-10/
Former member of the Pacific Packet Radio Society (PPRS)
Former member of Northern California Packet Association (NCPA) and their first NARCC representative
Former member of Northern Amateur Radio Repeater Coordinating Council (NARCC)
Former Section Traffic Manager (STM) East Bay Section, ARRL from 1982-1987 under Bob Vallio, W6RGG
Former. Asst. Director Pacific Division ARRL under Rod Stafford, W6ROD, 1986-1990.
Formerly Communications Committee Chairman for East Bay Chapter. ARC Disaster Services Committee, 81-90
Former member of Mount Diablo Amateur Radio Club
Formerly member QCWA, OOTC
Installed 50’ towers and 3 element tri-banders with the EBARC crew at the Richmond Red Cross (Richmond, CA) and the Salvation Army (San Pablo, CA) locations.
Installed VHF/UHF antennas at the above, plus the Alameda County Blood Bank, Berkeley Red Cross, and the Oakland Red Cross.
Formerly Vice-President and Executive Board member of KAROECHO (the Kensington Amateur Radio Operators – El Cerrito Ham Operators). See www.karoecho.net
Recent member of the California Historical Radio Society (CHRS)

Currently a member of the:
RCC (Rag Chewers Club) and the R.O.W.H. (Royal Order of the Wouff Hong)
USS Red Oak Victory Ship Amateur Radio Club, Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network (BDPNN), BECERTAINN (Berkeley CERT and Inter-Neighborhood Network),
Contra Costa Communications Club (WA6KQB/R). www.wa6kqb.org
East Bay Amateur Radio Club (EBARC) www.ebarc.org
Net Manager of the Contra Costa County Emcomm and Disaster Preparedness HF Net for ARES/RACES which meets every Thursday evening at 1830 local on 3893 kHz LSB.
Member and founder of the Northern Alameda County ARES/RACES (NALCO) www.n6brk.org
Member: The American Radio Relay League (ARRL); Registered Instructor and ARES member
Registered ARRL VE (Volunteer Examiner)
Registered License Instructor Pacific Division
Member of KAROECHO (Kensington Amateur Radio Operators and El Cerrito Ham Operators) https://www.karoecho.net/ a 501(c)3 affiliated radio club
Currently Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) for Kensington Amateur Radio Operators-El Cerrito Ham Operators (https://www.karoecho.net/)
Morse code 45 WPM Certificate

Simple Story (Narrative)
I grew up with ham radio. As the TV era took off in 1950 Dad bought a Dumont TV set that had continuous dial coverage from channel 1 to channel 13. It covered the VHF low band between 54 and 88 MHz, containing channels 2 through 6, FM broadcast, Taxi Cabs, and VHF high band all the way to 216 MHz. I became more interested in listening to VHF than watching TV. My dad noticed, and bought me a Hallicrafters SX-99 shortwave receiver in 1956 and I used an inside long wire in our dining room to tune in the world -- wow! I think Dad wanted to keep me out of trouble growing up in the inner city of Chicago. I became fascinated by listening to all the magic signals "in the air" -- amazing! I was hooked. Still am.

One of my favorite listening spots was 28.8 MHz daily ragchew net which was populated by "expert" ragchewers. Although I was 11 years old, I decided that one day I was going to talk to these characters. There was also a weekly RACES/ARES Net on 29.640 MHz and lots of skip (solar cycle 19 was just starting to pop). I was SWLing, but shortly joined the ARRL and started studying for my novice ticket.

I fell in love with Morse code, found a general class licensee one block away who administered the novice test, bought a Heath DX-20, and a handful of crystals for the 15m, 40m, and 80m novice bands and had one hell of a time. Morse came easy to me and after I obtained my general class license, I migrated to the CW National Traffic System (NTS) Nets giving myself a chance to compete with the big guns while no one knew my actual age or circumstance. I didn't do well on voice as my 12-year-old voice didn't get much traction with older folk. Luckily, I was brought up by many great encouraging, knowledgeable, and patient Elmers who taught me the value of public service and what it took to be a "good operator", but I am a slow learner. I was never a big fan of chasing DX, working contests other than field day, or technical experimenting, but I join in when I feel called. I prefer public service, emergency communications, and CW QSK ragchewing on the low bands.

I seemed to fit in best as a traffic handler whose coveted prize was the BPL (Brass Ponders League) award. In general, BPL award cards were issued to hams who received, relayed, and/or delivered 250 messages in a one-month period for a total of 500 points or more. An op had to really work hard for a BPL reward card, something that I coveted greatly (being a traffic hound). It helped to be a resident of a large city and be centrally located in the US, but one had to be accepted as a trusted relay station between section nets and regional nets, between regional nets and area nets, and between areas (TCC) in order to achieve the BPL award cards.
At one time I had somewhere near 50 BPL awards in Chicago and the East Bay (I’ve lost count), which approximates handling approximately over 20,000 formal written messages.

Traffic handlers focus on accuracy and speed, which equals efficiency. Well, the implementation of free long distance calling and the internet changed much of that, but formal written traffic networks still have much value, which I won't belabor here.
Second to traffic handling, was my commitment to Public Service, ARES, RACES, ACS, and CDF (California Department of Forestry) as a radio operator, and the excellent friendships that were made. Many dedicated and high-quality friendships were established, as we were motivated as a team to achieve a common purpose to make our radio skills useful to neighbors and the nation. The same altruistic comradery was established with the Berkeley/Richmond Red Cross and later, the East Bay American Red Cross where I was the Communications Chair of the Disaster Services Committee's Communications Committee from 1980-1990 which included a few minor disasters, but most notably the 1981-82 Santa Cruz Floods and the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989.

Back then our ARES/RACES team (West Contra Costa County) partnered with the California Department of Forestry's (CDF) Volunteers in Prevention (VIP) program. Every Spring we went through wildfire-fighting training, and during the summer and fall were deployed to various Northern California Forest Fires. Such volunteer efforts were also rewarding experiences in many ways. Many fabulous friends were made. We don’t forget.

Throughout the years, my first love continued as a QSK Morse Code operator. Morse has a rhythm and personality that comes through all by itself. It's music, and the key is the instrument.

As an OT and Elmer, I will sum up my views of amateur radio. They are my own of course.

HAM DIARY 2023 -- The Past, Present, and Future of Ham Radio
In the late fifties Chicago RACES was an integrated part of the city’s civil defense system. I remember operating a Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in the hardened basement below the Belmont Avenue Fire Department. The tactical callsign was King 2. Everyone had their assigned cubby hole, RACES, Red Cross, Edison Company, Water, Public Works, Mayor, Police, Fire, etc. We had foot pedal keying and headsets, crystal control radios on 29.64, a remote station on the South Side (King 1) and two large communications trailers Victor 1 and Victor 2. The handhelds weighed 10 lbs. at least and were larger than 2 shoe boxes put together. We had only one activation in ten years.

I worked mostly the traffic nets. We did a lot of FPO/APO, via MARS, traffic for service personnel, hamfests, fairs, special events, as well as day to day communications for the general public. The average time a message could travel across the nation via the traffic nets was 24 hours, depending, plus or minus. The primary function was to serve as a nationwide message system in case of disasters, especially for outgoing health and welfare traffic in disaster zones.

I had the good fortune of working W9TT many times on the UTL (United Trunk Lines) before this “Iron Man” national relay system became replaced by the National Traffic System (NTS). At that time, I worked the Illinois Section net (ILN), 9RN (Ninth Regional Net, CAN (Central Area Net), and the TCC (Transcontinental Corps). Had great mentors, such as Mae, W3CUL, W9DO, W9TT, W9JOV, VE3CWA, W9ZYK, and W9DYG. I was young and ambitious seeking as many BPL (Brass Pounders League) certificates as I could.

We know that the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) was founded at a time that it was difficult to talk directly coast to coast. Relays were necessary and good ops were able to RELAY messages accurately and efficiently. Shortly after, hams were allowed back on the air after WW2, W1NJM, George Hart, started the NTS in 1949. He then nursed it along until he left his 40 year employment at ARRL HQ as honorary Vice-President. George developed a practical and efficient national network that linked the US and Canada from section level, to region, to area, and then interarea by the Transcontinental corps (TCC) relays on a daily basis in order to achieve the highest standards and “best practices” for message handling linking every region in the US. In addition. The ARRL Radiogram format was developed as an effective means to check the accuracy of a message, to track its arrival and source dates, times, location, and provided a means to track the message. Specific procedures to effect the above were refined over many years and became “best practices”

NTS was also designed to interface with ARES during disasters, through what was first the ARRL Emergency Corp (AEC), then the AREC (Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, and eventually ARES (the Amateur Radio Emergency Service). The coordinating body was the Amateur Radio Public Service Corps (ARPSC).

After W1NJM retired, various national ARRL "Communications Department" managers followed, but the public service aspect of amateur radio became increasingly neglected until there was no public service column in QST, no job descriptions for STM, no updates on the NTS Traffic handling manual, etc., culminating with the firing of the NTS Area staffs (Managers of the NTS region nets, and Trans-Continental Corps (TCC), who were seasoned and dedicated traffic handlers. The latter contingent then formed the RRI see: https://radiorelay.org/ )

I won't further detail the controversy involved, but there is a move by some directors at HQ to remove local, region, and section authority (including SMs), and further centralize NTS field operations from HQ. Those in the trenches disagree. W1NJM acknowledged many times that HQ was only to act in an advisory and support capacity, while the nuts and bolts were to be handled at the local level.

Here, in the East Bay Section I was Section Traffic Manager (STM) in the eighties, followed by Joe Lee, W6DOB SK, whom I schooled, and then, Jim, K6APW, became East Bay STM (bless the Elmers).

During this period, I was Communication Chairman of the Berkeley/Richmond Disaster Committee of the American Red Cross and Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) for West Contra Costa County ARES/RACES. We had class I HF, VHF, UHF, packet, a one KW all band HF station and three element yagi installed at the Richmond Red Cross and a similar station installed at the Salvation Army in San Pablo. The American Red Cross decided to centralize. Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland, and Tri-Cities ARC were then consolidated into the East Bay ARC. We had a class one HF, VHF, and UHF station at the Oakland Red Cross at the time of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, where the Cyprus overpass collapsed killing over 30 people. At one time we had 12 shelters going whose communications were provided exclusively by amateur radio for two weeks. Further consolidation by the Bay Area American Red Cross eventually sold all the buildings and equipment and left Contra Costa County and Alameda County without any local ARC presence to this day.

Although the disappearance of the Red Cross and the abandonment of ARRL leadership were discouraging the bright spots were the leadership provided by our SEC, W6LKE (a MDARC Kiroy Key 1980), W6CPO (a MDARC Kilroy Key Club holder, 1984) and two young college students WA6HAM and WA6AEO. W6LKE opened the doors with the RACES programs in the county, CDF/Cal Fure, East Bay Regional Park Service, numerous Police jurisdictions, etc. WA6HAM and WA6AEO created a 2 meter repeater system that linked the entire county.

Currently, I am serving as the interim District Emergency Coordinator for Contra Costa County. Admittedly, and reluctantly, I am missing a step or two and am seeking a successor. We need more volunteers and more trained ops. These are tasks that are ongoing. I’ve been the net manager of the Co Co County EmComm HF Net for the past 5 years. Thanks to K6KHB, who held the net together previously. The Contra Costa County Disaster Preparedness HF Net meets every Thursday on 3893 kHz at 1830 local. We have an active forum and list server at https://groups.io/g/ContraCostaEmCommNet

As indicated, there no longer are Red Cross chapter offices in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, therefore old MOUs are no longer valid. Similarly, Contra Costa County OES and ACS/RACES program has disappeared since early 2020. It is far easier to establish a RACES/ACS relationship with government agencies if your group is organized under ARES. Identifying as a ARES organization will help get your foot in the door and establish a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with government agencies. Resource Net procedures, Mutual Aid Teams (MATs), County wide SETs (Simulated Emergency Tests), and a MOU with Cal Fire/CDF are planned.

THE FUTURE of AMATEUR RADIO EMCOMM
Since in my old age, I will take the liberty of expressing my true feelings pertaining to top-heavy and top-down centralized “management” command and control theories versus local, resilient, bottom-up, and self-reliant methodologies, where decisions are made by the EC, AEC, or RADOs as much as possible. We are trained to be self-reliant and not to depend upon the calvary coming over the hill to save us. We must avoid becoming top-heavy. Granted, managers are trained to manage, yet one of their top priorities “should” be to empower the operators in the field in order to get the job done. Too much red tape too often stands in the way of expedient benign results.

Indeed, any astute after-action (critique) from Hurricane Katrina, Puerto Rico, Lahaina, etc., indicates the need for local planning and execution.

As a longtime volunteer I feel that a successful volunteer organization must avoid being top heavy; yet at the same time establish trust from served agencies and a positive appreciation of the volunteers. This is done through mutual respect and congeniality. We must recognize that times have changed, thus signaling a possible change in focus/direction. Government agencies have become increasingly security conscious. They understandably prefer to work with vetted professionals. I won’t argue the agencies’ requirement, if they are reasonable or not. only to comment that the times have changed and will continue to tighten up. This NOT to say that any RACES, ARES, ACS Auxcomm unit should not honor their commitment as stated in their MOUs. They must fulfill their contract. However, a large ARES group may be able to sufficiently fulfil multiple contracts locally.

In the past government agencies welcomed us with open arms, today we are met with many added hoops to jump through, which many skilled potential radio operator volunteers have no affinity toward, such as extensive educational requirements. This unfortunately discourages many potential volunteers whose radio skills we can utilize, but who are not interested in FEMA activities that do not involve radio communication.

For example:

In the past government agencies welcomed us with open arms, today we are met with many added hoops to jump through, which many skilled potential radio operator volunteers have no affinity toward, such as extensive educational requirements for example:

Level 2 ARES requirements include:
ICS‐100.c ‐ Intro to Incident Command System*
ICS‐200.c – ICS for Single Resource*
ICS‐700.b – Introduction to National Incident Mgt. System*
ICS‐800.c – National Response Framework*
ARRL EC‐001 Intro to Emergency Communications

Level 3 ARES

IS-120.c - An Introduction to Exercises*
IS-230.d - Fundamentals of Emergency Management*
IS-235.c - Emergency Planning*
IS‐240.b ‐ Leadership & Influence*
IS-241.b - Decision Making & Problem Solving*
IS-242.b - Effective Communications*
IS-244.b - Developing & Managing Volunteers*
IS-288.a – Role of Voluntary organizations in Emergency Mgt*.
IS-2200 - Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions*
ARRL EC-016 Public Service & Emergency Communications Mgt*

That is not what 99% of radio ops need to know in the first 72 hours of a disaster. Granted the basic ARES 1 requirements are elementary and the CommU/Auxcom training is useful as is CommT and CommL classes, but the non-radio related requirements except for understanding the very basics of ICS relationships, severely limits volunteer recruitment. The top-down hierarchical command and control structure is understood to stand in opposition to community needs for self-reliance and resilience (a bottom-up local control system), which is required in the first 72 hours, yet, the difference is NOT necessarily unreconcilable depending on the jurisdictions involved. It is understood that government agencies desire command, control, commitment, and ownership as well as record keeping/books, but not at the expense of human life and property. Paper trails are all well and good, if you have sufficient staff and time. NEVER sacrifice human life and well-being in lieu of filling forms.

As a result, some local groups have decided to go primarily with community neighborhood comm hubs, integrating with GMRS on the local level while interfacing with local faith based or service organizations, Salvation Army, Urgent Care Centers, Hospitals, Neighborhood Watch, and related NGOs. In that model the neighborhood comm hubs would co-locate both a GMRS op for local intra-zone work, and a ham operator for longer distance inter-zone and regional mutual aid resource needs.

I acknowledge that the above may be controversial for those who have contracted with agency stakeholders, yet never-the-less, neither silence nor ignoring/avoiding our lack of volunteers/recruits will not solve the problem, nor will it help a direct partnership with mutual support of ham radio with the immediate community. A mutually respectful dialog may be helpful in order to augment our recruitment, training, and operational needs resulting in serving our fellow citizens. Is a happy integration possible? Can we wear multiple hats? Can we increase our volunteer potential? Yes!

REACH OUT and TOUCH YOUR NEIGHBOR
We have all witnessed if not been inundated the past 20 years with a plethora of top-down centralized command and control organizational structures whose security restrictions have intensified since 2001. This has led to an acceleration of agency certification requirements that is certain to further increase in the future as public safety agencies become increasingly security minded. In an attempt to prove our worth many of the ham radio EmComm organizations have decided to embrace these new requirements, while others have decided to avoid jumping through these mostly bureaucratic hoops. I will not bother to argue the merits or deficiencies of each extreme position, i.e., centralization top-down regimentation as distinct from decentralization non-hierarchal local control systems.

My views are my own, not necessarily any organization with which I am associated. Cutting to the chase, I am advocating a shift in attention to bottom-up grassroots direct service to the victims, our residents, especially during the most critical time of need, the first 72 hours when WE “should” be PLANNING to be self-reliant, independent, resilient, and effective (SIRE).
I am not asserting that the top-down approach is wrong or should be abandoned. We must act responsibly and honor our commitments and our MOUs. Serve your stakeholders/clients, but also let’s extend our mission to include serving our families, neighbors, and community as communications specialists when they need it the most.

Even if the EOC is not activated or is not accepting situational awareness, damage assessments, requests for help, or is non-existent it should not prevent a grassroots Radio service, which is vitally engaged with their community from providing disaster communications.
A Bottom up: Direct Community Engagement approach provides maximum versatility, resiliency, and robustness. Our goal is to maximize our skills and abilities to provide maximum service to our community within the first 72 hours. We need not wait for National Red Cross, State, County, municipal, or FEMA help to mobilize and show up.

This is all more apropos as agencies increasingly distance themselves from domestic volunteers. Agencies are increasingly security conscious because of the assumption of domestic terrorism. This trend will continue to escalate. As citizen volunteers we are unfortunately being held back by agencies that can be perceived as overly cautious.

Amateur Ham radio operators will never be accepted as professionals. Young Emergency Managers might have zero radio experience at all. They are more likely to give credence to members of the more benign sounding General Mobile Radio Service, the Family Radio Service, Multi-Use Radio System (MURS), and the Citizen Band Radio Service.
More direct engagement with the community as a vital part of the community’s well being provides support from the community and at the same time provides more palpable enthusiasm for volunteers such as us. This kind of positive engagement will help us recruit and maintain staffing.

The main excuse that we receive from our volunteers is, ”I don't have the time – I’m busy". They disappear fast when we expect them to take non-radio related ICS training. Volunteers do not like to be corralled into a hierarchical structure, where through external evaluation metrics they are not respected for their skills. Providing bookkeeping or menial tasks other than radio communications are considered extraneous.

Experienced hams are a valuable comm resource. Some are radio engineers, others skilled traffic operators, and others yet, have trained in emergency self-reliant portable and mobile usage. They, however, do not always welcome bookkeeping and accounting work. What I am getting at, as you might guess, is that our EmComm problems that we have witnessed from critiques of Katrina, to Puerto Rico, to Lahaina are not addressed through more hierarchical top-down regimentation.

The vision of amateur radio as an integral and vital part of the community morphing into direct relationships with local service organizations like CERT, NERT, neighborhood watch groups, Salvation army, Red Cross, urgent care medical clinics, hospitals, faith based organizations, service organizations (Lions, Rotary Club, Odd Fellows, Shriners, American Legion, Masons, etc.), local businesses, as well as Municipal government agencies. If government agencies want a part of the action, hams are ready and willing.

Never-the-less, an interface Comm Hub with local GMRS networks would be co-located strategically throughout the area with community communications hubs that provide access to both the ham networks and the GMRS networks through two separate but co-located radios and operators utilizing a message center manager and scribes. This is a great way to connect with the community through neighborhood block associations or community councils.

The interface between ham nets and our community GMRS networks are linked with the community response team’s district leadership. Decision makers and coordinators will be grateful for situational awareness, general information, reunification facilitation of families and pets.

They will want to notify their loved ones, will need material and human resources, food, water, mass care, and so on, which the ham network can help interface. The idea is to provide (via ham/GMRS district interoperable communications hubs) throughout the neighborhoods. Any neighborhood block association that can reach one of the GMRS hubs can have communication services anywhere in the area or out of the area.

As an example, an ARES ham net can liaison at a dual radio communications hub, which has both GMRS and Ham nets going, and handle traffic between any two nearby neighborhood districts for mutual aid, long distance communications via voice, and digital and internet communications via Winlink, MESH networks, etc.

This is not to say that the ARES group performs any of the traditional CERT work, but merely provides the communications to extend the reach and capabilities of the Community Response Team’s existing GMRS network. The hams can also help train, program, and provide technical assistance to the GMRS Network. Teaming up with local community associations, community councils, community centers, neighborhood watch groups, and GMRS networks is an idea that is past due.

Missing the old-timers such as Dwayne W6LKE, Dave N6DRT, Jack K9DQU, W9DYG, W9ZYK, W9JOZ, VE3CWA, W9TT, Vic W4KFC, W9DO, Mae W3CUL Cece W6EOT, Dick W6IPL, Sam W6NL, Gordon N6GW, Bill W7BS, Bob K6TP, Hank W0RLI, Hank KA6M, Doc W6ZRJ, Jettie W6RFF, Will AA6VL, Doug N6JNK, Lew WA6JSO, Karl KA6OLK, Leo WA6ZFV, Al W6VZT, and especially Joan WA6BXT (love you JT). Still listening at the noise level for old friends.

Equipment

Station:

NI6A has switchable 100% emergency power capability
Operates 900 watts PEP/700 watts CW on 160-10M (on grid) and 100 watts maximum (off grid),
100 watts 6M and 2M CW/SSB, FM (100 Watts), 220 (20 watts), & 440 (50 watts) Portable Go-kits for HF, VHF, UHF, and GMRS. 80m-70cm mobile with Hustler High Power whips. 130' dipole inverted vee up 55' at vertex and fed by ladder line.
Digital Comms: Packet (AX.25) 2m, and Winlink via VARA FM Wide and VARA HF.