On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:30:12 CST, Steve Bonine wrote:

We need to pitch in and get the job
done, not fixate on providing communications. If the organizer needs
someone to direct traffic, and you refuse to do that because your job is
communications, the organizer is going to find someone with a cell phone
who is willing to direct traffic and also can handle communications.

Our folks (Washington County, Oregon ARES/RACES/HEARTNET) are capable
of multi=tasking, but our served agencies and the Incident Commanders
(remember the NIMS ?) are tasked with using the specialists for
specialist tasks. For example, of we need to move the EOC's comm
console (which is on wheels) from the EOC to a relocation site, we get
movers from the Labor Pool. That's THEIR job. If there aren't enough
laborers to do it, that's the IC's problem to delegate someone to get
them per the Plan.

Hams need to work more effectively with non-hams. For example, if
FRS/GRS radios make sense, they should be a part of the plan. Local
events can provide good recruiting opportunities to get people
interested in the hobby.

Our county operations are totally integrated with the various cities'
CERT members who use FRS/GMRS as their primary comm system. As a
result, we've recruited quite a number of CERT people as new hams, and
they make GOOD hams, (with or without code!).
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net