Using Amateur Radio for public service

[KY5U]

You know, I have no bone to pick with ARES or RACES. They are but another facet of our service. People obsess over these activities like digital enthusiasts obsess, AM guys obsess, contesters obsess. It's enthusiasm, which only starts to suck badly when it seeks to limit the enjoyment of others for some perceived slight or some desired gain.

[WA9SVD]

I'm still perplexed by the whole RACES and ARES situations, and that's why I haven't been involved in "Civil Defense " communications (I have the participation certificates to prove THAT) for over 30 years. In MY (perhaps flawed) thinking, RACES requires an explicit activation by a local government agency, be it city, municipal, or county(parish, whatever term is used,) At which time, short of a nationwide disaster, emergency comms will be or could be limited on certain frequencies; on a National basis, that could be determined by the FCC
But during local emergencies, ARES can spring into action, with or without waiting for an official "activation" of RACES, and can operate even without the severity of a RACES activation.

SO WHERE is the "cutoff?" If ARES is already in operation, and a RACES activation is declared, can they demand all other Amateur activity cease? Can RACES insist that ARES (even very local ARES) groups and even individual amateurs automatically cease operation, on all frequencies, because a RACES situation has been declared?

[AD0DQ]

This is a very interesting discussion. I have joined the local ARRL affiliate club and I've sent in my ARES registration. My understanding is that to get involved with RACES you have to go through a state or county office. I guess I now have to figure out which one that is. That is apparently a difficult task since there doesn't seem to be a link anywhere in Missouri to the RACES organization or a central point of contact to deal with.

[K5KRH]

In my town we have three hams, and two ham clubs. I'm VP of BOTH of them!

Was wondering why you don't start your own club and be the pres?

[K1FBI]

Was wondering why you don't start your own club and be the pres?

Don't give him any ideas, next thing you know he'll be hoarding Club Callsigns.

[NA0AA]

Don't give him any ideas, next thing you know he'll be hoarding Club Callsigns.

To heck with that, can barely remember the one I have....

The gung ho types in my old stomping grounds used to wear the edges off discussing how to implement a dual ARES/RACES group, but the politics involved are fearsome indeed and would take both the Wouff-Hong and the Rettysnitch to get an inch of cooperation. It's a power thing, of course.

Where I live now, there are so few hams we talk to ourselves!

[N5PVL]

Looking at 97.1 Basis and Purpose, there is one passage that I have always tried to take to heart:

(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.

There is a reason that is right up front. Although most people participate in Amateur Radio as a hobby, you can slice and dice Part 97 any way like and you will not find the word hobby anywhere in there. The Amateur service exists because the government recognizes that despite sometimes being a real pain, Amateurs are sometimes handy to have around.

It sometimes seems that way to persons who are not acquainted with the hobby's history.

And who don't bother to look it up.

[N5PVL]

You know, I have no bone to pick with ARES or RACES. They are but another facet of our service. People obsess over these activities like digital enthusiasts obsess, AM guys obsess, contesters obsess. It's enthusiasm, which only starts to suck badly when it seeks to limit the enjoyment of others for some perceived slight or some desired gain.

You mean, like when they go into great contortions of logic in order to 'prove' that AR exists only for emcom, for example?

[N5PVL]

So I take it that means you are in favor of self-appointed/self-trained/untrained storm chasers, whackers, and other idiots that happen to have a ham license ruining your local Skywarn net?

That's how it is now.

The grant money attracts buttholes like fresh poo attracts flies.