Efforts Continue to Enhance ARES Program, Add Resources

The ARRL Board of Directors, committees, and Headquarters administrative staff are continuing efforts to enhance the venerable Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) program. A major ARES Plan has been adopted, providing new direction going forward. In addition, a standardized training plan has been adopted, and a new ARES Emergency Communicator Individual Task Book has been approved and published.

At its July meeting, the ARRL Board considered the report of its Public Service Enhancement Working Group (PSEWG). A "change log" was proposed for the Task Book that will highlight changes made as the document is periodically revised and updated. ARES position guidelines were posted to the online ARES Workbook and a major revision and update of ARRL's Introduction to Emergency Communications course -- now designated as EC-001 -- has been completed.

The course is now available at no cost to any ARES registrant, and a "mentor-less" format has been added as a parallel path for completing the course. Additional mentors were recruited to assist in handling the initial surge of interest. A self-guided version that leads up to the final exam is also being implemented. An update and introduction of EC-016 -- Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs -- has been completed.

Veteran Ohio Section Manager Scott Yonally, N8SY, has been brought on board to assist in implementing ARES Connect and to field questions about the new software package from users. ARES Connect is a volunteer management system covering event signup, reporting, and roster management, to simplify managing volunteers and events.

Some modest procedural revisions have been made to the Ham Aid program. Read more.
-- Thanks to The ARES E-Letter

Source:
www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2019-08-29