Welcome to the group Doug.

> credentialing are going to be a fact of life now, I just hope it
doesn't
> get to the point where, it all gives volunteers, cause to pause.
With
> due respect for those at ncrev, even if their efforts don't reach
their
> expectations, they may prod some over due action by others in this
area.
> Anyway I learned with the posts to this topic to cert-comm,
hopefully
> I'll learn more here where's it's on-topic. Later...

Your comments here provide a good opportunity to make the intentions
of the NRCEV clear.

While a local group might decide on their own to utilized the NRCEV
Certfications as their training standard, it IS NOT the intention of
our Certifications to replace local training standards, but to
supplement them.

As you say, "it's a fact of life now" that credentialing will become
a norm. DHS, through the NIMS Integration Center, has stated as
much. However, it's still to be determined what what will look like
for EmComm Volunteers (which includes more that just hams).

Still, not every amateur radio operator or other volunteer who
participates in EmComm activities will need or desire our
Certification, based on their own level/type of participation.

Our Certfication programs have two main goals. First is to promote
a national standard in training, whether or not that's accompanied
by a Certification. And Second, to provide a Credential
(Certification) that has a known set of standards which individuals,
teams and organizations have been verified as meeting. This
Credential (Certification) would then be able to be used to
facilitate the identification of qualified volunteers for use during
emergencies and disasters, especially when these volunteers are
traveling accross jurisdictions and their qualifications are not
personally known by EmComm or Emergency Management officials in the
effected area.

Again, welcome to the group and we hope to benefit as much from the
discussions which develop here as the members do.

73's
Chris, NG3F
NRCEV


--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, Doug Younker <dougy@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> At 15 years of being a licensed amateur radio operator, I'm a
relative
> newcomer. While I always understood emcomm. was a part of amateur
> radio, I really wasn't too involved in it beyond Skywarn activity,
but I
> was eased into in to as time went along. When a long time amateur
who
> was considered the unofficial amateur radio representative in the
county
> retired, and moved out of the county I was "anointed" his
replacement.
> Not long after that a flood hit nearby city. The traffic on the
sheriff
> repeater was mulling if and how they can contact the affected area
to
> see if assistance was needed. One officer commented the hams
could do
> that, I though to myself yes we could, but... That's when I
decided to
> become more actively involved, so expectations where realistic. I
> sought, and received appointment as my County's RACES Radio
Officer.
> After the ARES organization learn that, they ask I serve as the EC
for
> my zone, I agreed, and as time went on I was appointed the DEC of
the
> Kansas ARES 3rd District. I'm also involved with the Red Cross
locally.
> Fortunately the number of disasters are few in number, and far
in
> between. The downside of that if there can be one, preparedness
tend to
> become a bit slack in the volunteer community. Of course, ready
or not,
> they will be there to serve, if ever needed.
>
> The first need, with assuming the volunteers are capable, I
recognized
> after becoming DEC is generally accepted method of
identification. One
> that ID's the person as who they are and their membership in the
> emcomm organization.In this new world, I'm sure background checks
and,
> credentialing are going to be a fact of life now, I just hope it
doesn't
> get to the point where, it all gives volunteers, cause to pause.
With
> due respect for those at ncrev, even if their efforts don't reach
their
> expectations, they may prod some over due action by others in this
area.
> Anyway I learned with the posts to this topic to cert-comm,
hopefully
> I'll learn more here where's it's on-topic. Later...
>
> Doug, N0LKK
> Kansas USA
>