>>I suppose that my last objection would vanish if the vendor is forbidden from using selling or otherwise revealing the information collected. My understanding is that there's specifically no such a prohibition (but, I've been wrong before).
Once again, it's their rules and they're the served agency, not the other away around. You can get a copy of all of the policies from your local Red Cross chapter through "Crossnet".
When hams first objected to the Red Cross background check system, I pointed out that the advantage of our participating in it is that the Red Cross pays the bill for it and gets a great rate because of their volume. And now you have background check certificate you can use for other things if you wish.
Remember, the Red Cross policy in effect says "Fine, if your members don't want to use the background check service that we're providing to you for free, then, as your own agency, set up a standard national one that has the appropriate level of checking". For us hams that would be a simple crminal and SSAN check, just like the Red Cross actualy runs on us.
So if the league wants to set up it's own national background check system with a vendor and a consent form that eliminates any concern about the potential (albeit extremely low) for "mode of living or financial checks" and other things some folks are having heartburn about, they can.
Looking into it at a number of vendor sites, it seems it would probably cost about $50 bucks per person, because we don't have nearly the volume to get the Red Cross's $12 rate. And since the League doesn't have the money needed in it's budget, it would have to charge each ham participant the $50 fee.
So as long as every ARES and RACES member wants to support such a system with their own funds, that's an alternative. Are the concerns about the Red Cross system worth the $50 bucks? That's a decision each ham may have to make, but to me, not by a long shot.
Also, a lot of folks are bandying about the so called "7 day rule" whom I suspect haven't been on Red Cross national job. That rule is only for the longstanding category of "spontaneuous volunteers" those well-meaning strangers who show up off the street and are not part of a planned response.
Those folks are limited to doing things like making copies, loading trucks, sweeping floors, etc. at headquarters and warehouses away from shelters and direct contact with Red Cross clients. They must work under the direct constant supervision of a Red Cross volunteer who has been previously trained and has passed the background check policy.
The way hams are used doesn't fit into that category as they often work more on their own and are often at shelters. Communications staff normally will either have passed the Red Cross background check or have passed the equivalent national background check policy of their own agency. As I mentioned, the latter doesn't exist for hams and won't unless we're willing to individually pay for it.
Finally, I would strongly suggest that those hams who have such stong concerns about all of this go to their local Red Cross chapter and read all of the details about the policies instead relying on Internet hearsay. Any Red Cross chapter can download all of them from Crossnet.
73
Gary, K2GW