Ward Calling

Welcome to the site!I have two recommendations, first is related to gaining experience andthe second is related to serving in the Church.The best way to gain an understanding as to what you're in for is to getinto it... And that's actually pretty easy.Join ARES ! You may want to look into Northern Utah ARES:http://home.comcast.net/~noutares/Joining ARES will give you the opportunity to gain training, experienceand you will have the additional benefit of networking within the EMCOMMarena.In tandem with ARES, you will also need to hit the free FEMA courses:IS-100, IS-200, IS-700 and IS-800. They will teach you the ICS systemwhich is an absolute must.You also should take the ARECC course from ARRL. (EC-001) ... The priceis worth it, take the FEMA ICS courses first as the EC-001 course buildson that.You should also get basic emergency response training as well, CERTwould be ideal. Not so you can be a responder, but more importantly, youwill have a better understanding of the response efforts and prepared ifyou should be asked to accompany responders as a communicator.You should have a firm understanding of what your role is, as acommunicator, you are not the one directing the efforts. If someone asksyou to pass a message, your responsible for passing it, not correctingor editorializing it.Finally, when it comes to serving in the Church, things are not cut anddry. Church headquarters does not dictate what is to be done or how todo it. Some things are organized, such as: your area storehouse and/orstake may have regular nets, and then again, they may not. At the stakelevel, you will have a member of the high council that is responsiblefor preparedness (including communications) and possibly preparednessand communications specialists. You may also have preparedness andcommunications specialists at the ward level.As a general rule, the priorities will be determined by the area authoritiesthen communicated with the stake and those priorities will then flow to the wards. The Bishop will then determine with the help of the Ward Council howto accomplish those priorities.As a specialist, it will be your duty to implement solutions to meet thepriorities. Clearly, having experience and knowledge will be necessary,As will having knowledge of how the first responders in the communitywork will aid you in that service.Certainly, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to contribute, you should be reaching out to the bishopric member over preparedness and/or your bishop. If there are already people serving in those callings, you should offer to assist them, they can probably help you gain valuable experience.I wish you the best in your efforts! It's a ton of fun and very worth it.73 from WB7SGL - Rob

If you have trouble contacting your local area ARES group. Go to the ARRL website at ARRL.ORG and click on the public service tab at the top of the page.  Follow the instructions there and contact your SEC (Section Emergency Coordinator) through the links provided.  If you are called to work as a communicator in the area where you reside, it will be beneficial to be familiar with the ARES group members and leadership.  While you are poking around, look at RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) as they may be more active than ARES in some areas.  Different areas tend to go more with one organization or the other.  It Texas, RACES tends to be more popular with the state government and ARES, which tends to be more informal, is more popular in outlying areas.  Both organizations have a lot of co-members and both work on training and relief projects.  I worked on a relief project in Galveston, Texas after the last hurricane and helped with the dispatching of tools, supplies and Helping Hands to different work areas.  It was very interesting.The repeater club I am a member of made their repeaters available for dispatching and status reporting for the PODs distributing food, water and ice in the Houston area.  Volunteer amateurs provided equipment and operators at the various POD (Point Of Distribution) sites in the area.All of that knowledge and training does little good without some practice.  You can probably find opportunities to volunteer for work in communications for races, runs, and other large events.  The local REACT group volunteers to use GMRS to dispatch the hay wagons that carry people to and from the parking lot at the county fair.  Amateurs volunteer to support the Houston Air Show, various parades and even the MS150 bike ride.  You can usually find opportunities to serve through the local radio clubs. I have worked bike races, parades and kid fishing tournaments put on by local groups.  It doesn't pay anything other than sometimes you get to eat free and drink some water.  The experience in dealing with a large scale event is priceless though.  Have FUN!AC5WA

Wow, what a great reply. In Canada, where I live on Vancouver Island, I became a communications specialist in Victoria 2nd Ward. I also joined the local Saanich municpal EOC. It's a win win situation. I get to know the other volunteers in the EOC and they get to know something about the emergency prep program in the church. I teach ham classes for church members and allow members of the community in as well. About 80% of the class members are usually non members and I think that's wonderful. Sort of a missionary service that's acceptable to the community. It's fun too. Great way to make new friends.I just had our Stake President as one of my students and that made my day. On a down side we have several people who got their ham certifications but who have not gone the next step and purchased radios or gone on the air. I suppose they think a radio will appear out of thin air if we have a serious disaster to deal with. Sigh....  I see reports coming out of the Bishops Storehouse across the line in Washington state and feel somewhat embarrassed by the high numbers of check ins on Sunday nights compared to the ones I get locally. Well, no one ever said it would be easy.All the best everyone!