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Author Topic: American Red Cross  (Read 1274 times)

W1MOW

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #15 on: November 12, 2020, 09:00:18 AM »

I note that the American Red Cross will no longer include Amateur Radio will no longer be part of the national communications strategy.

Does anyone have insight into this? The Force of Fifty?

If this is the case, then why is there a big exercise taking place this weekend with cooperation between ARC and ARES (and other groups?) The first line in the drill instructions reads: "This drill is an exercise in sending messages from local sites to a group of Divisional Clearing Houses to simulate and demonstrate the capability of amateur radio operators across the country to relay information in times of need."

It seems to me that the ARC is very quite interested in including ham radio in their operations.

Could also be looked at...Does Amateur Radio really work in the way we need it to? Might be looked at as a feasibility study.

Gary W1MOW
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The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt - Bertram Russell (1935)

So not much has changed in almost 90 years!

W9IQ

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #16 on: November 13, 2020, 07:37:57 AM »

From this week's ARRL newsletter:

The fall 2020 nationwide Red Cross Emergency Communication Drill will take place on Saturday, November 14, in conjunction with ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) groups. The focus of the exercise is sending messages from local sites to a group of divisional clearing houses to simulate and demonstrate amateur radio's capability to relay information in emergencies and disasters. The drill will get under way at 0900 until 1800 local time in each time zone. The scenario is a major weather event that has caused outages and created hazardous conditions across the country.

The drill will use Winlink as the primary method of delivering pre-formatted messages. The goal is to encourage more operators to become familiar with Winlink and its message templates -- primarily ARC-213. This format permits sending standardized messages. The drill aims to bring as many radio operators as possible up to a "basic" level of Winlink proficiency.


- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

AF6TP

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #17 on: November 17, 2020, 11:17:19 PM »

As time and technology marches on, amateur radio is becoming less relevant. 

Richard
AF6TP
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KA2ODP

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2020, 11:46:54 AM »

This is an example of the executives at the national Headquarters of the American Red Cross changing policy without consulting the people at the bottom of the food chain.  There are a lot of local chapters of the American Red Cross that were surprised by the new policy, and disagreed with the policy shift.  This is especially true out in the rural areas of the western states where the population is sparse.  But then again, someone may have pointed out to the executives of the ARC that Amateur Radio is, well, for "amateur" use only.  The American Red Cross is a BIG business, with its CEO making a salary of six figures.  Time for the ARC to stop using Amateur Radio as a cheap communications system and develop their own communications plan.  At one time they had a nationwide business band license for 47.420 and 47.500 MHz.  They should have upgraded their nationwide license to VHF (138-174 MHz) years ago.  If the ARC executives have decided the future of their communications is with cell phones and satellite telephones, then fine.  Even the ARRL expressed concern years ago over the growing number of business activities that plan to use Amateur Radio to solve their communications issues during an "emergency".  The point being is that if you have time to plan for your next "emergency", then you have time to obtain a business band (Part 90) license from the FCC.
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K1FBI

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #19 on: December 02, 2020, 05:57:16 AM »

In many ways, our hobby becomes less relevant because of advances in consumer electronics. Plus you don't need another person to get the message through when you can do it yourself.

A person with a sat phone still has the world at its fingertips even in a disaster zone.
But the average person with a phone won't know to say: "Figures 123" and "I spell". In an emergency you need Official Traffic Handlers with ID Badges and glowing vests. :o
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KG7LEA

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #20 on: December 11, 2020, 06:08:11 AM »

Here is an update from the Pacific Northwest

After reviewing all of the information in conjunction with our real estate strategy and communications needs, we have decided to continue with our HAM program/strategy where it allows.  In addition, we want to continue to pursue appropriate partnerships with emergency management, clubs and organizations to ensure that our communication needs are met during a potential catastrophic event.  In that regard, the below points should help to guide our actions moving forward to ensure we are maximizing all resources.  Please continue to bring questions and concerns to your Chapter DPM’s as we work together to navigate this road.
 
In Chapters where National Real Estate Strategy includes the selling of buildings, we will not have a HAM operation housed in the new locations.  This means equipment must be stored elsewhere or distributed in a proper fashion.
In Chapters where we are keeping our buildings (Seattle and Yakima), HAM operations and equipment may continue on site.
Regardless of Real Estate Strategy, ALL Chapters should seek partnerships in their chapter areas to ensure a HAM strategy is in place and effective in case of a catastrophic event.
The Northwest Region budget does not include any line items to support HAM expenses.
 
Again, thank you for your continued support of the  American Red Cross.

 
American Red Cross Northwest Region
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KF6IIU

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #21 on: December 11, 2020, 12:34:57 PM »

That post clarifies what started this whole kerfuffle - the change in real estate policy. the ARC's real estate is expensive to maintain, and the locked-in value and ongoing funding can be better spent on other programs and services. So, some offices in Northern California and other regions are being sold or the leases are being allowed to expire.

Some of the offices have radio rooms, and those radio rooms will be decommissioned. The equipment will either be given away to ARES, CERT, or similar groups, or converted for mobile or portable operation. Most ARC offices have never been used as EOCs or disaster HQs, so there is no reason to have radio rooms there.

Maintaining a cache of ham gear has never worked well for the Red Cross in my area. Interest waxes and wanes with the interests of a few individuals who come and go, the equipment breaks or is stolen, and the  callouts for hams in emergencies are very infrequent. The gear belongs in the hands of ham clubs, ARES groups, and dedicated individuals.

Ham radio does serve as an excellent gateway to volunteer service for the Red Cross, CERT, and other groups with a humanitarian mission. The Red Cross does have a training and deployment track for disaster technology skills, but it includes computer and networking skills, stellite comms, and our primitive but still useful lo-band VHF simplex radios as well as ham radio. As others have pointed out, these technologies increasingly operate as one in emergency communications. June and November's Winlink exercise was a great example.
« Last Edit: December 11, 2020, 12:38:17 PM by KF6IIU »
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AC7CW

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #22 on: December 11, 2020, 03:18:29 PM »

Ham gear for emergencies should be in the hands of hams and in daily use. Otherwise there is no way to know if anybody knows how to operate it or if it works. Ham gear in a shared situation is going to get stolen, damaged, etc... it's just the way it is... during one earthquake in Southern California a police officer, the sole occupant at the time, ran outside the EOC building to see what was going on and became locked out. It took hours to round up somebody with a key. Hams with mobile stations or portable stations would have been the only way to go at that time..
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

KE8SOK

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #23 on: October 04, 2021, 07:05:17 AM »

The Red Cross is a completely corrupt organization, and less than 1% of the money gets to the people it should help. I thought HAM's would realize in this day and age we could be the only method of communication available and its critically important to be independent of any operation like the red cross or state and federal government in many cases especially with the ridiculous planned hoax we are all continuing to see unfold. We should be the filter keep our integrity and be prepared in any disaster situation. I wouldn't wander in to a riot with a handheld unless its loaded. Relying on cell phones or the liars on TV is not smart, or a good strategy in any way. My club is going to be able to reach each other in just about any situation.
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KD2HCU

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #24 on: October 04, 2021, 10:23:03 AM »

IMHO the use of ham radio for emergencies is not what it used to be.  With the advent of more sophisticated radio systems in use by agencies, and cell phones and sat phones our hobby has become less important.  We may be in ARES or RACES or other groups, but how often are we utilized in a real emergency that couldn't have been resolved without our help?  Perhaps in some areas we may play a more important role, but in the highly populated suburban area where I live the most important service we can provide is providing comms at a race or other non emergency situation.
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AK4YH

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #25 on: October 04, 2021, 10:33:54 AM »

That doesn't surprise me one bit, and the reason might not be only economical, but you guys are not going to like my opinion on this...

Let's face it, most HAM operators are OLD... And often opinionated as to what they should be doing and how. If I was a Red-Cross administrator, I'd probably think twice about having those guys around, brandishing their orange vests and police-looking call-sign badges... It would seem that it might create more problems than solving any, not to mention that some of them might have to be evacuated along with the victims following a coronary trying to lift an old boat anchor... Now, it's not always like that and I am sure some clubs are top-notch with able bodies, but I don't think it is the norm...

KE8SOK is right. IMHO it would be much better to operate outside of official agencies. Access might be a problem, but if they don't want HAM operators, that's that... Just provide the best help you can with your group/club without creating more issues or interfering. It's all fun and games until you have to hike up a mountain with no sleep for two days... Then you become a liability, not an asset.

Ultimately I think that these agencies need to have HF NVIS capabilities. While it doesn't have to be HAM, that's where the talents are... I do understand their position though.

Personally my radio emergency plan concerns myself and a few friends first. If I can help my community, so much the better of course, but that's just the cherry on top of the cake. I don't want to pay for classes then work for free on top of that, when I can just maybe help as a private citizen, even along others.

I suspect less and less agencies will include amateur radio in their plans, and yes, it might bite them in the ass some day, but I don't think it is any loss to us HAM operators...

Gil.
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K3XR

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #26 on: October 05, 2021, 06:11:35 AM »

That's a wide range of responses.  From interesting stories to "you watch too much TV".  The hobby won't live or die because agencies like the Red Cross no longer use the service.  With 61+ years in the hobby I guess I'm one of the old dudes mentioned in at least one post.  My Novice ticket was obtained at age 16 so I guess there's hope for all you "young dudes".
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KB8VUL

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Re: American Red Cross
« Reply #27 on: November 07, 2021, 09:18:23 PM »

The reason for the move is simple, but NOT what hams want to hear.  If I have a sat phone, cell phone, two way commercial repeater system with radios for it and ham radio's  to use.  I can hand 3 of the four devices to ANYONE.  NO special license, minimal training and they are up and running.
The ham radio has to be operated by a HAM.  If I don't have a ham operator, I can't utilize that resource.  Now if i am reliant on that resource, I am reliant on a volunteer to show up to a location of MY choosing and need. That person may be required to be quarantined if the site is exposed to some unknown biologic threat that requires a quarantine and that person is not being paid for ANY of this.  Which means, you have little to no control over then short of a quarantine situation that they can get up and walk at ANY point.  Paid employees are easier to control, are trained far beyond how to operate a radio and can do other things. And radio operation is NOT exactly hard.  So if you can eliminate the need of a licensed operator and a special radio they require to operate then it makes sense to eliminate that resource and invest in other resources that are more reliable.  And the reliability is NOT in the radio equipment, it's in the radio operator.


So to put it lightly, hams can't be 100% relied on to come in and volunteer. 

Then you have the age issue to contend with.  Ham's are typically old retired guys that may or may not have medical issues or limitations that keep them from being effective for long periods of time.  I know there are a number of you that are saying that they would show, and be able to go for hours.  And some no doubt can.... but what if YOU are the only one that shows?  Are you gonna be able to operate for 24 hours a day for 3 or 4 days with minimal sleep or food?  Are you going to show up self contained and prepared for a week straight of operations? 
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