I was re reading some of the info from RAC with regards to the the changes they have planned for the Ontario Section. I find the wording a bit more confusing when I read it over and over and now I find myself wondering how we can have 4 sections in Ontario with 4 section managers and only two directors. Four directors would make more sense to me. From what I could tell from an ARRL Bulletin they are going to be counting the 4 sections into contest scoring. Perhaps before we are told who has been appointed into the positions they will be giving us more information.
I guess that means when I participate in Field Day I will be changing my exchange from “ 1B ON ” to “1B EON “
Now outside of adding the three extra multis for the contests I don’t see much of an issue here as I don’t seriously contest. I don’t think it would make much of a difference as I think we have enough “serious” contesters spread around Ontario already that we should be able to work the 4 ontario sections almost as easy as we could work the single section before…. Now this is not an attack on contesting so if anyone who is a serious contester would like to nicely explain to me what I might of missed…. Please let me know…. For me the purpose of contesting is to give the serious operators some contacts…
Now something else which came to mind is that…. I know that the current Section Manager VE3AJB was acclaimed several times in the past as Section Manager for the Ontario Section. The question comes to mind is that if we only had one person dedicated enought to want to take on the position in the past… Where does RAC figure they will find three other amaters that are either willing or qualified to take on the positions?
I know that there are some good people locally in the various ARES groups but as section manager their job will be to support the FULL Field Services Organsiation and from when I was manager of the Ontario Phone Net there were not that many local EC’s or DEC’s that could bother to check into the only Province wide Traffic Net that the Ontario Section operated. Now we can debate the need for the NTS but… It is part of the Field Service Package and if you check out the ARRL website and this link should take you to an article on the ARES-NTS topic you will see that the ARRL still sees a need for NTS.
So althought I think the splitting of the Ontario is a good idea I am wondering if it was thought out well enough. I am wondering if the section has enough good people (4 Section Managers, 4 Section Emergency Coordinators, 4 Section Traffic Managers etc) to continue to do the good job that should of been done in the past.
However if the “good job” had been done in the past we probaly would not be talking about the changes being made now…
73bob
Tags: amateur radio, ARES, ARES-NTS, ARRL, NTS, RAC, RAC Ontario Section, Radio Amateurs of Canada
February 25, 2012 at 2:53 pm |
Bob
I understand and support your concerns, but what does it say about Amateur Radio. People complain that RAC is not representing them, not talking to them enough, and now we suggest we may not be able to find a handful of energetic volunteers to run the Ontario Section. (Why would anyone do it anyway, since the bloggers will judge their every move and flog them with written bashings)
The success of our National organization and our Ontario section depends on the effort WE put into it. It’s show time and Amateurs are going to have to step up, or shut up and accept the consequences of failing to help.
ARES is dying because a few people work till they burn out and everything stops. RAC has recognized this and in Ontario they have been working with the ARES groups for several years to build a supporting infrastructure to make it easier for an ARES group to stay alive. This is made more challenging by the ECOA turkeys who for 10 years have done everything they can to be non team players and confuse what little support there is from Amateurs for ARES.
I know there is some action for the Eastern Ontario section, so lets hope there is for the others as well.
Regards
Peter – VE3BQP
Former EC Ottawa ARES
February 25, 2012 at 6:30 pm |
Peter,
It’s nice to see typical RAC propaganda being spewed here!!!
You jest of course when you wrote: “RAC has recognized this and in Ontario they have been working with the ARES groups for several years to build a supporting infrastructure to make it easier for an ARES group to stay alive”.
My ARES group hasn’t heard from our DEC for over two years, and I don’t think we have EVER heard from the SM since the day our EC was appointed. And let me assure you that no opinion has EVER been solicited from our ARES group regarding the “new and improved” organizational reshuffle currently going on.
So please, tell me just how RAC is making it easier for ARES groups to stay alive, when RAC stopped non-incorporated and non-RAC affiliated ARES groups from buying into the RAC liability policy? This policy forced 2 out of 6 ARES groups in my district alone to shut down. Another ARES group in Loyalist District recently left RAC ARES over this issue.
How many more have gone quiet, or are about to go quiet, because of this policy? This is RAC ARES HELPING!!!!!!!!!! God help us all!!!
As for your comments regarding ECOA they’re not worthy of a response, you obviously have no clue at all of the reality of the situation.
February 25, 2012 at 5:11 pm |
Good morning Bob, I too was a little confused as to the whole 4 section setup and how RAC is going to make it work. Good point about the only one section manager. One who has been in and not challenged for some time now. As for contesting which I am apart of. The one kinda benefit is some sections if there are not to many op’s in the contest could become very busy giving out points.