If you are looking at our fee as only covering the time to check
applications against the training requirements and the cost
associated with printing and mailing the certificates, I can see how
one may say $25 is too high. But, there is more into providing
these certifications that just making check marks on a sheet of
paper and printing certificates. There is the time spent developing
and working to maintain the programs, research to make sure they are and remain valid, keeping contact information up to date in our
database during those three years and of course the standard
expenses telephone, fax, admin fees for incorporation, webhosting
fees, and normal office supplies etc.

I'm not trying to cry the blues here on what it cost us, only
poining out there's more to providing these certifications that may
first appear on the surface, and that we just didn't pull the $25
out of the air. We are not trying to make a profit, but we do need
to cover our costs. Is the $25 fee a major obstical to people
applying for certification? If so we will need to re-evaluate the
fee.

Final thought - you get what you pay for - some of that value may be tangible such as in fees or lack there of you have to pay or the
certificate, patch or other "thing" you might receive, and some are
intangible benefits you receive that can't be valued in a dollar
amount. Only the individual can decide if both the tangible and
intangle benefits one receives are worth what they are be ask to pay.
Chris, NG3F
NRCEV

--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, Ken Wilhelmi <kwnet1@...> wrote:
>
> How much does it cost to be an ARES memebers for three years?
> How much does it cost to be an RACES memebers for three years?
>
> Just to compare the different groups.
>
> 73 - Ken N7QQU
>
> ahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
> NRCEV group:
>
> For those who feel the three (3) year fee of $25.00 is Too High,
> What what would you feel is a more appropriate fee?
>
> o $20
> o $15
> o $10
>
> To vote, please visit the following web page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337963
>
> Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
> not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
> web site listed above.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************
> Ken Wilhelmi
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone
call rates.
>

I'ld like to start a dicussion on our application process.

I would especially like to hear comments/suggestions for improving
this process or alternative ways that credit may be obained for
Certification, i.e. testing out.

Chris, NG3F
NRCEV

I'ld like to start a discussion on the requirements for NRCEV
Certifications.

Are they appropriate?
If not why?

Are the they arrange appropriately for the different Certification
levels?
If not why?

Any other comments/suggestions regarding
improving/modifying/clarifying/etc the requirements.



Chris, NG3F
NRCEV

Interesting questions Ken,

First:

The NRCEV is not an organization you JOIN. Our fee is not a
membership fee.

However, continuing along your line of questions;

What do you pay in dues to the ARRL every three years, how about your
local radio club?

What are the requirements to be a member of ARES/ARRL or RACES?
In many areas, they don't even require members to be active and only
maintian a list of operators that have submitted
application/registion forms.

Do they require specific training standards for every member? And
the same ones in very local organization across the nation?
Does ARES/ARRL or RACES require any training that is recognized
nationally, regarless of what organization you belong to?  Does
ARES/ARRL or RACES vouch for your qualifications as an EmComm
volunteer?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking these organizations.  And while
local groups vary in training levels and participation, there is
nothing uniform or standardized or required of volunteers other than
being a licensed amateur radio operator and having a desire to serve.
Those are not requirements you can rely upon in a disaster. It is
left up to the individual to prove their qualifications on their
own.  This may work fine on a purely local level where everyone
knows everyone else but not when you are away from home.

The NRCEV is an organization established for the purpose of
promoting training standards that are recognized nationally,
establishing certification requirements based on commonly agreed
upon training standards and then verifying that individuals, teams
and organization have meet these standards.  By issuing the
Certification, it is the NRCEV people will turn to if an individual
does not live up to the standards we said they have met and it will
be the integrity of the NRCEV that will suffer if we can't stand
behind those we Certify, much more so than the integrity of the
individual.

If you are looking at our fee as only covering the time to check
applications against the training requirements and the cost
associated with printing and mailing the certificates, I can see how
one may say $25 is too high.  But, there is more into providing
these certifications that just making check marks on a sheet of
paper and printing certificates.  There is the time spent developing
and working to maintain the programs, research to make sure they are
and remain valid, keeping contact information up to date in our
database during those three years and of course the standard
expenses telephone, fax, admin fees for incorporation, webhosting
fees, and normal office supplies etc.

I'm not trying to cry the blues here on what it cost us, only
poining out there's more to providing these certifications that may
first appear on the surface, and that we just didn't pull the $25
out of the air.  We are not trying to make a profit, but we do need
to cover our costs.  Is the $25 fee a major obstical to people
applying for certification?  If so we will need to re-evaluate the
fee.

Final thought - you get what you pay for - some of that value may be
tangible such as in fees or lack there of you have to pay or the
certificate, patch or other "thing" you might receive, and some are
intangible benefits you receive that can't be valued in a dollar
amount.  Only the individual can decide if both the tangible and
intangle benefits one receives are worth what they are be ask to pay.

Just more food for thought.

Thanks for the provoking question Ken.

Chris, NG3F
NRCEV

--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, Ken Wilhelmi <kwnet1@...> wrote:
>
> How much does it cost to be an ARES memebers for three years?
>   How much does it cost to be an RACES memebers for three years?
>
>   Just to compare the different groups.
>
>   73 - Ken  N7QQU
>
> ahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
> NRCEV group:
>
> For those who feel the three (3) year fee of $25.00 is Too High,
> What what would you feel is a more appropriate fee?
>
> o $20
> o $15
> o $10
>
> To vote, please visit the following web page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337963
>
> Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
> not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
> web site listed above.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************
> Ken Wilhelmi
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low  PC-to-Phone
call rates.
>

True Ken,
However, RACES does not exist everywhere.

chris, NG3F

--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, Ken Wilhelmi <kwnet1@...> wrote:
>
> That is a RACES requirement as I understand it. That gives us
a "Served Agency" to work with and therfore a mission to accomplish.
>
>   Ken - N7QQU
>
> NRCEV@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>
> Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
> NRCEV group:
>
> Do you think the requirement that applicants must be
> Officially Enrolled/Registerd with with an appropriate
> Emergency Management/Civil Defense organization is appropriate?
>
> o Yes
> o No
> o Undecided
>
> To vote, please visit the following web page:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337951
>
> Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
> not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
> web site listed above.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> **********************************
> Ken Wilhelmi
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low  PC-to-Phone
call rates.
>

Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

For those who feel the three (3) year fee of $25.00 is Too High,
What what would you feel is a more appropriate fee?

o $20
o $15
o $10

To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337963

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

Do you think the requirement that applicants must be
Officially Enrolled/Registerd with with an appropriate
Emergency Management/Civil Defense organization is appropriate?

o Yes
o No
o Undecided

To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337951

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

The primary reason behind this requirement is two fold:

Since the main process for requesting support for disasters is
through government/emergency management channels (i.e. he EMAC
system), volunteers responding to a disaster are mostly likely to
doing so under the auspices of the government.  While not
guaranteeing it, being officially enrolled as a volunteer with will
help to provide the greater possibility that these volunteers will
be covered by Workman's Compensation and Liability Insurance during
such deployments.

ARES and the ARRL do not provide this coverage for their members.
I may be wrong, but I understand this is the case with most
volunteer organizations and NGS, unless you are a regular employee.

Would adjusting the requirement so that this is spelled out better
to include NGO's, as long as the NGO provides this coverage for the
volunteer?


Chris, NG3F
NRCEV




--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, "N4AOF" <N4AOF@...> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <NRCEV@yahoogroups.com>
> > Do you think the requirement that applicants must be
> > Officially Enrolled/Registerd with with an appropriate
> > Emergency Management/Civil Defense organization is appropriate?
>
> I voted yes, but I do think the requirement should be extended to
allow
> operators who are enrolled/registered with recognized NGO
emergency response
> organizations such as Red Cross and Salvation Army (SATERN)
>

----- Original Message -----
From: <NRCEV@yahoogroups.com>
> Do you think the requirement that applicants must be
> Officially Enrolled/Registerd with with an appropriate
> Emergency Management/Civil Defense organization is appropriate?

I voted yes, but I do think the requirement should be extended to allow
operators who are enrolled/registered with recognized NGO emergency response
organizations such as Red Cross and Salvation Army (SATERN)

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

For those who feel the three (3) year fee of $25.00 is Too High,
What what would you feel is a more appropriate fee?

   o $20
   o $15
   o $10


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337963

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

Do you think the requirement that applicants must be
Officially Enrolled/Registerd with with an appropriate
Emergency Management/Civil Defense organization is appropriate?

   o Yes
   o No
   o Undecided


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337951

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

What is/are the main reason(s) you may have not applied for Certification at
this time?

   o Don't feel the requirements are appropriate or arranged.
   o The Application Fee
   o The Application Process
   o The NRCEV is a newly establish organization
   o Other


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337947

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

Are the Certification Levels appropriate?

   o Yes
   o No
   o Undecided


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337942

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

The fee for the three (3) year Certifications are:

   o About Right
   o Too High
   o Too Low


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2337941

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Please take a few moments and visit the Polls section.

We have created a number of Polls to get the "pulse" of the members of
this site.  The responses we receive to these Polls will be useful to
us at the NRCEV to help us stay on the right track.

Chris, NG3F
NRCEV

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
>

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

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

Should a Certification be available for both Amateur and non-Amateur EmComm
Volunteers?

   o Yes
   o No
   o Undecided


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2336878

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Enter your vote today!  A new poll has been created for the
NRCEV group:

In your opinion which type of organization should provide a Certification for
Emcomm Volunteers?

   o An independent/non-affiliated organization such as the NRCEV
   o An already established organization such as the ARRL
   o State or Federal Government
   o Parent organization such as ARES, RACES, REACT, ACS etc
   o Don't need no stinkin' Certification


To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRCEV/surveys?id=2336870

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.

Thanks!

Welcome everyone.  Thanks to Tom for setting up the group and
volunteering to moderate it.

As Tom mentioned in his Welcome message, this Group is intended for
the discussion of the need and/or disirability for a National
Certification for EmComm Volunteers, or the lack of a need or
desireability for one, depending on your point of view.

The founders of the National Registry of Certified EmComm Volunteers
obviously believe there is a need for such a Certification and since
no other organization (exising or new) was appeared to be taking
steps to provide such a Certfication, they decided to do so.

Must time, thought, discussion and research went into developing the
Certfication programs and their requirements and we believe we are
off to a good start and have a solid vehicle to move us forward.

Having said that, we do not claim to have everything perfect.
However, our goal is to provide Certifications and programs of high
validity and integrety standards.

The Group and the discussions which occur here, will assist us in do
doing that.

We wish to hear all points of view from all experience levels.

All we ask is that discussioin be related to certification and/or
training standards and that everyone be respectful of the other
members of the group.

Again Welcome,
Chris Snyder, NG3F

Doug,
While the emphasis would most likely be the NRCEV and the NRCEV
programs, as long as the discussions center around  need or
desirability for a certfication, training standards etc, all
discussions are welcome.

Chris, NG3F
NRCEV President/Co-Founder


--- In NRCEV@yahoogroups.com, "Doug" <dougy@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I was directed here by the post on cert-comms, could I suggest that
> those who posted in that group on the nrcev topic, place those
posts
> in this new group?  Is the intent of this group to discuss the
efforts
> of nrcev.org elusively or, will discussion in general the need and
> desirability of certification and credentialing of AR EMCOMM.
> volunteers in general be, a part of the general theme?
> Thanks
> --
> Doug, N0LKK
> Kansas USA
> When all else fails- Amateur Radio
>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robin Warren" <retsquid@...>
Subject: [NRCEV] PTB FOR NIIMS


> Has anyone gone over the Position Task Books for the three comm types?
> There is one for: Comm tech, Comm Team Leader and one for Incident
> Command Comm.
> Comm Tech is: PMS 311-96
> Team Leader is: PMS 311-35
> Incident Communication Center Manager: PMS 311-45

PMS 311-45 is for EQUIPMENT MANAGER (EQPM) not Comm Center Manager

The correct Position Task Book for Incident Communication Center Manager is
actually PMS 311-41

And you left out the Position Task Book for Radio Operator PMS 311-97

These can all be accessed from
http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/taskbook/logistics/logistic.htm

Has anyone gone over the Position Task Books for the three comm types?
There is one for: Comm tech, Comm Team Leader and one for Incident
Command Comm.
Comm Tech is: PMS 311-96
Team Leader is: PMS 311-35
Incident Communication Center Manager: PMS 311-45

Thanks.

I am Robin Warren, KE5DQM, and have been a Ham for 1 1/2 years. Got
into CERT same time as I stated a Ham class. Prior to this I was in
the Navy doing secure communications, retired in 1998. When I started
the Ham/CERT part of my life I was asked by the then EC to start up a
comm unit made up of Hams who were/are CERT trained. Got the
background stuff done and then the EC moved to Okla. New EC not that
into CERT.
During and after the Katrina/Rita time period the Fannin County CERT
teams started up and ran (with RED CROSS) two shelters. Have been on
both ends, once as semi-trained volunteer and once as a professional.
Having a working relationship with volunteers I think is the best way
to know a persons abilities and weekness. The NRCEV is a step into the
future. If not now, when? If not us, who?

Hello,

I was directed here by the post on cert-comms, could I suggest that
those who posted in that group on the nrcev topic, place those posts
in this new group?  Is the intent of this group to discuss the efforts
of nrcev.org elusively or, will discussion in general the need and
desirability of certification and credentialing of AR EMCOMM.
volunteers in general be, a part of the general theme?
Thanks
--
Doug, N0LKK
Kansas USA
When all else fails- Amateur Radio

I am delighted to see that we have several new members since
yesterday. I assume that most of the new members heard about this
group from the message posted in the CERT Communications group where
a few of us had been talking about NRCEV last week.

I see that several of the new members have included their ARS or GMRS
callsign in their Yahoo ID or profile. From the callsigns that I
saw, it seems that we have a cross-section of the amateur radio
community ranging from Techs to Extras. We have some people who have
been involved in Emergency Communications for over three decades and
some who probably got their state in EmComm very recently.

Everyone with an interest in Emergency Communications is certainly
welcome here -- I think it is important that we have a broad cross-
section representing different levels of experience and training, as
well as people from many different areas across the country.

Everyone's opinions are valuable -- one way or another ;-)

I'd like to kick things off by asking everyone to do two things:

1) Read the NRCEV brochure which was automatically sent to you when
you joined the group (If you didn't get it, you can download a copy
from the files area on the group website).

2) Please introduce yourself with some brief information about your
experience and your interests in emergency communications -- I am NOT
looking for a brag session, and I certainly don't want to intimidate
any of the newer hams who may have less experience (frequently the
fresh perspective of a new person can give us insights that we
dinosaurs have been missing all these years). The reason I'm asking
for introductions is so that everyone can get an idea of who they are
talking with. We don't want to make anyone uncomfortable so I am
deliberately not asking any specific questions for people to answer,
I'm just asking you to introduce yourselves and share whatever
information you feel would help others get to know you.

Tnx & 73
de N4AOF
Tom

I am delighted to see that we have several new members since
yesterday. I assume that most of the new members heard about this
group from the message posted in the CERT Communications group where
a few of us had been talking about NRCEV last week.

I see that several of the new members have included their ARS or GMRS
callsign in their Yahoo ID or profile.  From the callsigns that I
saw, it seems that we have a cross-section of the amateur radio
community ranging from Techs to Extras.  We have some people who have
been involved in Emergency Communications for over three decades and
some who probably got their state in EmComm very recently.

Everyone with an interest in Emergency Communications is certainly
welcome here -- I think it is important that we have a broad cross-
section representing different levels of experience and training, as
well as people from many different areas across the country.

Everyone's opinions are valuable -- one way or another  ;-)

I'd like to kick things off by asking everyone to do two things:

1) Read the NRCEV brochure which was automatically sent to you when
you joined the group  (If you didn't get it, you can download a copy
from the files area on the group website).

2) Please introduce yourself with some brief information about your
experience and your interests in emergency communications -- I am NOT
looking for a brag session, and I certainly don't want to intimidate
any of the newer hams who may have less experience (frequently the
fresh perspective of a new person can give us insights that we
dinosaurs have been missing all these years).  The reason I'm asking
for introductions is so that everyone can get an idea of who they are
talking with.  We don't want to make anyone uncomfortable so I am
deliberately not asking any specific questions for people to answer,
I'm just asking you to introduce yourselves and share whatever
information you feel would help others get to know you.

Tnx & 73
de N4AOF
Tom

This is a newly formed Yahoo!Group to provide a place to discuss the
idea of a national registry of EmComm volunteers in general and the
NRCEV in particular.

The intent is for this to be a forum for an open exchange of ideas
which hopefully will give us a place to have a positive and fruitful
discussion of how to make a national registry get off to a good start.

73 de Tom Currie
N4AOF, WPOL710, ex-DA1NB, ex-KGQ9027, etc, etc.
ARRL EmComm Level I, II, III
REACT Certified Emergency Communicator
Communications Officer, Louisville Southwest Red Cross Service Center
Secretary, Kentucky Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
RACES Radio Operator, Louisville Metro, Ky
President, Louisville METRO-REACT Team
President, Kentucky State REACT Council
Chairman, Training & Development Committee, REACT International Inc
former member SATERN
32-year Red Cross Disaster Volunteer
Extra Class Amateur Radio Operator
former General Radiotelephone Operator
etc...
and, oh by the way, Moderator for this Yahoo!Group