"an_old_friend" wrote in message
oups.com...
In the discussion of the ARS work during Katrina there is a distintion
being lost, the difference between Valuable and Vital.

I am certain that somewhere postclean up some looking at disater plans
is goingto look at just what value our service has provided

I have seen little in the back and forth that rises to level of Vital.
Indeed would the world notice a difference in the suffering if the ARS
had not existed for Katrina. even the people we help would likely not
be aware of the difference after all a ham radio message seem to come
to them as a bolt from the blue since our profile in the world is low.

agin I se our service as valuable but despensable, the served agencies
could funtion without us supplies would still be moved

This isn't to trash the ARS but someone not freindly to our interests
will be asking these questions, we would be better if we had thought
about em first


With your attitude and age you don't know of how Ham Radio used to be with
the agencies. Right up there with "gotta have it".

Over the years the agencies like Red Cross, Civil Defense (Now Emergency
Management), etc. depended on hams for commo. These type of agencies went
for the sales pitches of the high tech big buck computer driven systems you
see today. You know the ones like the NY Trade Center had and no one could
talk to each other with. Same Same in this fiasco.

KISS.....keep it simple stupid is a time proven technique. And hams have
that perfected.

HOPEFULLY someone in power will pay attention before the next disaster
strikes. In the mean time dedicated Amateur Radio operators will practice
and train. At their own expense and not ask a dang thing for it.

Dan/W4NTI