K0HB Said:

QUOTE:

Did I hear someone muttering "Isn't that what ARES is all about?" or
"Our
current field organization already provides for this." Good points --
ARRL
already has some of the pieces in place, and it looks good on paper.
Unfortunately these "pieces" tend to be scattered around the ARRL
organization
and are not linked into a cohesive program.

UNQUOTE.

Yes, that was my first thought, Hans.

A couple of points of my own.

First of all, there's already flexibility written into the ARES
program to allow for it's implementation based upon local needs or
concerns. The needs of emergency planners in Plymouth, MN or
Winchester, TN are going to be different than those of New York City or
Miami, FL.

I don't see how a nationally directed program could possibly do
anything more than appear to be micromanaging.

Secondly, the ARRL Special Services Club's program already offers
assistance for helping to manage some aspects of club activities,
offers of sponsorship, etc.

What they (the ARRL) COULD do, without creating a whole new
"branch" and field directorship with it, would be to start spending
some more money to get more recruiting materials, including TV/Radio
"commercials" into the field. They could "regionalize" the materials
with pictures of local clubs, landmarks, etc in them to help "identify"
them to the target audience.

Otherwise, I like the ideas.

73

Steve, K4YZ