Just an observation, but about 10 years ago on the Zed, I posted an article "If it were a real emergency".
It generated about 10 pages of discussion. The question back then was basically why get yourself on an
ARES roster if you're not going to show up for meetings, training sessions etc.
There are hams out there that live and breathe emcomm 24/7. Then on the other end of the spectrum (pun intended)
you have hams that take the training for a while, then stop showing up. They'll show up when something happens, but
their training/info will be outdated. The standardization of everyone having to have the same training (ICS) is a step
in the right direction, but it's important to keep that training up to date as well. ICS is always evolving, new data
and information is learned over time and we need to do the same. Case in point. About 10 years ago I moved away
from Kirkland, WA but still kept in touch with the ARES group there. I'll hopefully be moving back to the area soon.
My approach will be, "My training is out of date and I will need help to bring me up to speed on the latest procedures."
Things have changed, the Emergency Coordinator is not the same one I knew, the radio room isn't in the same place it was.
You get the idea. If everyone is on the same page and using the same playbook, then everyone know what to expect from everyone else.
So, you know that I know, that you know that I know that the things you know are the same things that I know. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Besides, I like learning new things. Keeps the old noggin sharp.
--KD7YVV, Kirkland ARES