The American Red Cross, Credit Checks and Ham Radi

[wa6itf]

Lets discuss the demand by the American Red Cross that all volunteers to that organization -- including radio amateurs such as we -- go through background checks that include granting permission for a third party contractor to delve into our personal finances. The details are contained in the Amateur Radio Newsline story below researched and filed below by Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, who in real liofe is a news producer and reporter in Philadelphia PA.:

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AMERICAN RED CROSS WANTS PERSONAL INFO ON ALL VOLUNTEERS INCLUDING HAMS

If you plan to volunteer your communications services to the American Red Cross, be aware that the organization wants to know everything about you. It even wants to know about your personal finances and that has the ARRL warning hams to be careful of what information you provide. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V is in Philadelphia with more:

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The American Radio Relay League was among the first to sound the alarm on this one after members involved in emergency communications activities with the Red Cross began questioning the need for extensive background checks for all volunteers.

Perhaps it is the legacy of Hurricane Katrina and the fraud investigations of Red Cross activities that followed.

Volunteers began receiving letters in the last several weeks from Red Cross chapters around the country instructing them if they wished to continue serving, they would have to submit to a mandatory criminal background check by Oct. 31. That deadline has since been moved to the end of December.

The letters directed volunteers to go to the website: www.mybackgroundcheck.com.

While the Red Cross chapter letters insisted there was only interest in whether someone had a criminal background and a valid driver's license, it was the disclosures and instructions on the website that alarmed ham radio operators around the country.

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, writes the Public Service column for CQ Magazine.

"The big concern right now is the difference between what the Red Cross is saying versus what is actually posted on a website that they are directing you to to register for the background check," Josuweit says.

He says it's not so much the issue of a background check, but the kind of information the website seeks.

"There is concern that the background checks that the site is requiring is much more extensive than many county background checks for RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) operation," Josuweit says.

What has so many up in arms is the requirement of mybackgroundcheck.com that you give them your name, Social Security number, date of birth, telephone number, driver's license number, email address, and other personal data. Then, you must grant the company permission to run a credit report, education history, and quoting from the website's privacy policy "other types of background screening."

This could involve exploring your sources of income, investments and other business or legal arrangements.

In this age of privacy concerns about personal information, and risks of identity theft, many hams are crying foul and have called their ARRL field representatives and League headquarters to raise concerns.

The League's president Joel Harrison, W5ZN, even issued a statement advising hams who work with the Red Cross to read carefully what the organization permission to gather. The League's position is it's up to the individual volunteer to comply with the Red Cross request.

A website statement posted on a Red Cross chapter site in Maryland, and comments of a Red Cross official in an interview aired on KYW Newsradio here in Philadelphia, stated the Red Cross is not interested in credit checks - only criminal background and driver license information.

The national office of the Red Cross has not been forthcoming with an explanation of the inconsistencies in what data is being sought.

ARRL has a Statement of Understanding with the American Red Cross governing the work of ham radio operators with the organization. There is no mention of background checks in the agreement, which comes up for review next year.

Bob Josuweit says some volunteer radio operators are exploring another alternative.

"There's already some discussion going on several email reflectors indicating they don't want to go through the additional background check that is required at this point," Josuweit says. "However, other sections are looking into the possibility that they may be able to still provide the service but being assigned to a shelter by a local county government."

Josuweit concedes the Red Cross has been under fire in the wake of allegations that some volunteers assigned duties during the Gulf Coast hurricanes engaged in theft and diverted donations elsewhere.
"They had a need to take some drastic steps" Josuweit says. "There was concerns over some fraud issues following the Katrina disaster last year with the hurricanes.

"And they need to take some steps to make sure that everybody, that they were above reproach and people, the volunteers were going to help out without any surprises coming on."

Josuweit says he is hopeful the matter can be resolved amicably.

"Oh, I think there is a resolution there," Josuweit says. "I think it's going to have to be discussed. I'm hoping that ARRL will continue their discussion with Red Cross on a national level and express our concerns. We do play a major role with the Red Cross communications and hopefully that this will resolve sooner before we have the next major disaster."

Based on a reading of some of the popular ham radio websites, Red Cross chapters may be in for quite a shock when formerly loyal volunteer communicators don't respond to the call.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.

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To what extent this demand for personal information will have on future ham radio volunteering to the American Red Cross is to early to tell. (ARNewsline™ with information from various sources)


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The discussuon is now open

[K3VR]

Most amateur ops will be asked to relay messages. They won't be in charge of disbursing funds, or handling money. Presumably they will be passing emergency traffic via radio. Let those handling Red Cross donations undergo these checks if they desire to do so, and let hams pass the traffic!

Teen agers have a saying: "TMI" which means too much information! That's what the Red Cross is asking for.

Personally, I would never divulge that kind of information to any third party contractor, including mybackgroundcheck.com unless there was some rational explanation for their need to know. When I have to by law, I divulge sensitive information to my bank, my broker, my mortgage company, and to the IRS.

There are too many security breaches involving identity theft when that kind of data is lost, stolen, or carelessly handled. As others have pointed out, the Salvation Army does a great job when disaster strikes. I predict there will be a massive shift in voluntarism away from the Red Cross if they insist on engaging in this kind of intrusive information gathering.

VR

[N2RJ]

Well Brian, it isn't that simple.

Even when passing traffic we are still dealing with clients in shelters.

At the very least a criminal background check should be done. Don't want a registered sex offender in a shelter full of families with kids.

I don't agree with the credit history part of it, but I can understand why they would do that.

[N5RLR]

From a local ham-club E-newsletter [emphasis in red, mine]:

Quote[/b] ]<span style='color:green'>...Some discussion was held on the reason for the background check now required by the American Red Cross, it was affirmed that the check was only needed for persons who might work in shelters and be involved with refugees, even though the idea that the background check involves character and credit check, </span> <span style='color:red'>the RED CROSS stated that these will not be necessary unless the person becomes involved with the RED CROSS as a full-time paid employee.</span>
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[K3VR]

I agree with a criminal and a sex-offender background check for anyone involved with working with families and children in shelters. Those are routinely handled by the Dept. of Public Welfare and the State Police in my State.

I wouldn't want to farm out such an important safeguard to a 3rd party internet information warehouse.

I'm not sure that a credit check is valid for any reason. The premise seems to be, if you're poor or in debt, you have a greater propensity to steal. I think a cursory glance at the headlines on any given day will indicate that businessmen, clerics, and politicians steal more and more often than those with poor credit. Does a credit check indicating a bad debt ratio correlate with criminal tendencies? I doubt it.

[KC5SAS]

What the Frell? We already have a thread going with 3 pages of this Dren. Do a Search for noobs sake.
http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin....=136071 (http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=7;t=136071)

[K5FH]

Quote[/b] (K3VR @ Nov. 14 2006,14:36)]I wouldn't want to farm out such an important safeguard to a 3rd party internet information warehouse.
I second that.

From the FWIW department:

About a year ago I changed employers. #Because of the sensitive nature of my new job I had to go through a fairly extensive background check including a credit check, all of which, as it turns out, was handled by a third party.

Last week I got a letter from the third-party company that did the background check informing me that they had a "security breach" and it was possible that my and hundreds of others' personal information had been "compromised" (read: stolen).

That's the real problem. #There is no such thing as a "secure" system any more than there is such a thing as an "unsinkable" ship (i.e., the Titanic), regardless of what anyone tries to tell you.

[ab9qu]

We had a guy from the ARC come talk at our club mtg.
last month about how they needed our help. He didn't
say one word about background checks.As far as I know the last time I had a background check was before I went to the
police academy in 78.The way identity theft is increasing
I refuse to give out any info and will not allow a check to be done by anyone. I just went through the deal where some knot head from the VA took a computer home with all kinds of personal info on it. I don't trust the ARC any more than the
VA. Everyone must do what is right for them. For me it is keep as much private as I can.

[KC9ECI]

As I understand it, this is the ARC's reaction to some things that went on during the Katrina response. Just out of curiosity, how many of the people that they had trouble with would have been eliminated by a background check? I guess I just don't see a lot of folks getting released from jail and running out to volunteer with the Red Cross.

[K3UD]

I don't know if this is happening nationally but our local chapter of the United Way has been asking for Social Security numbers on the pledge card for at least the last 5 years. I called the chapter chairperson and asked... why? All they would tell me is that it was optional. I never really understood why they would even ask for that information.

As far as the ARC is concerned, if the company doing the research into ones life history is collecting all of the information that has been listed in this thread, Any volunteer better beware of how it could possibly be used. This is WAY over the top.

73
George
K3UD

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (K3VR @ Nov. 14 2006,16:36)]I wouldn't want to farm out such an important safeguard to a 3rd party internet information warehouse.
But that is how it is done these days. In my company all of our new hires or temps have to undergo a background check done by a third party company. I agree that there is the risk of ID theft and fraud, but that risk is there, third party or not. There is no real advantage in the Red Cross itself running the background check. It would give the same result and probably cost them more.

Quote[/b] ]
I'm not sure that a credit check is valid for any reason. The premise seems to be, if you're poor or in debt, you have a greater propensity to steal. I think a cursory glance at the headlines on any given day will indicate that businessmen, clerics, and politicians steal more and more often than those with poor credit. Does a credit check indicating a bad debt ratio correlate with criminal tendencies? I doubt it.

The credit check is based on actuary data showing that lower credit scores mean that a person is a higher risk. It's actually a pretty good indicator of your overall trustworthiness and is a good indicator of how responsible a person you are. However, it does few people who aren't necessarily untrustworthy or irresponsible. But such is life. Nothing is perfect, and in everything you'll have some collateral damage. However, don't think that a low credit score will automatically exclude you. It may just raise some additional questions and prompt some further research.

As an aside, I've undergone quite a few background checks and my ID has not been stolen. But I keep a close watch on my credit, which anyone who cares about their ID and credit should be doing. Doesn't even cost anything these days.

[KI4PEQ]

The bad thing about actuarial analysis using credit scores is that it contains flaws.

Part of the matrix deals with employment. How long have you been in your present job, how long have you been working in your lifetime, how long were your periods of unemployment, how many total jobs have you held are some of the factors the analysis considers.

I haven't been employed since 1996. I'm retired and receive a pension. Because I do not work, I have been told by several credit grantors that I am an increased credit risk. Never mind that I get my check every month like clockwork and don't have to worry about losing a job. never mind that I pay all of my bills like clockwork and I am never late. #The only creditor that gives me preferred rates is my credit union.

The Red Cross volunteer application also wants employer information, along with three personal references, including their addresses and telephone numbers. The ARC called me not long after I got my amateur license and asked me to be a volunteer. #One look at that multi page application and I knew I would not pass muster.I could not give them a current employer, I was an Air Force NCO and I worked overseas before I retired. #No references, no volunteer certification.

I guess that my ability to get and hold a DoD security clearance has nothing to do with my trustworthiness or good character.

[KS4VT]

I can honestly say that we are breathing a sigh of relief here.
The local chapter of the ARC has stated today that the amateur
radio communicators at the shelters are "county volunteers"
and not ARC volunteers and do not have to go thru the background check.

[wa6itf]

Our reporter Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, was able to get someone from the American Red Cross to go on the record -- kind of. In this story just released this morning, Laura Howe who is the groups Director of Public Affairs indicates that the American Red Cross will not back away from requiring the "right" to obtain personal financial information on all volunteer, but claims that this will not be done in most caees. The text is below and the audio file of the entire newscast (mp3 format) is at www.arnewsline.org.

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FOLLOW-UP: MORE ON AMERICAN RED CROSS WANTING PERSONAL INFO ON HAM RADIO VOLUNTEERS

More fallout from the recent ARRL warning to all radio amateurs regarding information that they supply when volunteering to the American Red Cross. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, is in Philadelphia, with the latest:

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The American Red Cross does not appear to be backing off its requirement that ALL volunteers and employees - including ham radio operators - undergo a background check which could include a credit check and other information if they wish to work with the organization.

The checks, being performed by mybackgroundcheck.com, have sparked privacy concerns among amateur operators who volunteer in an Amateur Radio Emergency Services capacity for their local Red Cross chapters.

In response to the American Radio Relay League's concerns about the background checks, the American Red Cross' director of diaster public affairs, Laura Howe, released a two-page statement to the League.

Howe spoke with Amateur Radio Newsline, but would only quote from the statement.

"The consent form, which is a standard form based on federal and state fair reporting credit acts, contains standard legal language that's used by both nonprofit and for-profit organizations for their background checks. By signing the consent form, it's true that the person does agree that the Red Cross has the right to conduct a credit check or other investigation into an individual's background," she says, reading from the statement.

"However, it's only in a rare applicable circumstance that the Red Cross will actually run a credit check. Instances when a credit check may be warranted include, but aren't limited to, when a unit is hiring someone to work with finances or fundraising or when an individual is suspected of a theft, fraud or other crime related to his or her activities with the Red Cross," she continues.

"While the Red Cross will never run a credit check on the vast majority of its employees and volunteers, it is important that this standard legal language is included in the consent form to protect our clients, volunteers and employees."

Howe insists the credit check approval - sought by mybackgroundcheck.com - doesn't apply for most volunteers and employees.

"Now, the Red Cross does realize that some volunteers may have concerns about authorizing a credit check. And, those concerns are understandable. But please rest assured that the credit checks are only run in rare instances and are not a part of the routine minimum basic check that the Red Cross performs on its employees or volunteers," Howe says, reading from the agency statement," she says, reading from the statement.

What are those checks?

"The standard minimum check only includes only a Social Security number verification and a search of the National Criminal File for the the past seven years (from the date of release from prison or probation, or whichever occurs later.)," she says, reading from the statement.

"If a volunteer has questions about whether their chapter would need to conduct an additional check besides the standard, those questions should be directed to that particular chapter administrator."

Allen Pitts, ARRL's media and public relations manager, says the League and the Red Cross are two separate organizations that have a relationship through a Statement of Understanding.

"The decision of the Red Cross to initiate the background checks is a Red Cross decision and the ARES members are free to choose their own comfort level as to what types of information they will give to any outside organization without detriment or consequence to their ARES membership," Pitts says.

Pitts and the Red Cross' Howe confirmed the dialogue is ongoing. Only Pitts would put it on the record.

"At this time there is continuing conversations going on between the ARRL and the American Red Cross and we hope to have further clarification in the future," Pitts says.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.

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Mark will be keeping an eye on this story and will have more for you in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (ARNewsline™)

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