How does everyone balance their ARES and Church communication responsibilies

[KI4REX]

I am my wards assistant EmPrep coordinator for communications, and a member of the Walton County (GA) ARES response team, and am trying to find a balance so I can fulfill both of my commitments.  How does everyone else balance these 2 roles?

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[wb7sgl]

Personally, thus far, I have not gotten involved in ARES. So my balance tips completely toward Church and Family (not necessarily in that order!)

[K5NX]

Hey Sean, This is David in Kingwood Texas, I'm also an ARES member and the Emergency Communications Specialist for Kingwood 1st ward as well as a VE and then my main Church calling is Secretary in the High Priest group.( I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew) anyway, The main problem I've run into Is that ARES wants allot of time and also they want 4 ISO modules for certification. It does seem a little overwhelming to try and do it all. My personal opinion is that you should be involved in all of these good programs but do what I do and that is something called,  ” THE PROCESS OF SELECTIVE NEGLECT”!!! the main issue I have is trying to get a Ham radio operators in the Kingwood Stake area is like trying to get Congress to Act on any one thing, and the sad part is Church really doesn't help out there at all but they don't stop it either. The main focus is to set up a good Emergency communications  Net in  Your area with the main objective towards members. As long as you can keep that objective in mind , I’m sure you’ll do just fine..      Just remember to that Guys like You and I are a very rare breed, that try to do it all and people get jealous even your own Church Leaders sadly enough, But My motto is do as much as you can for as long as you can, or endure till the end.  Good luck Sean and keep up the good work!!!    David    

[K3LDS]

I am my Ward EmPrep Specialist, Ward EmComm Specialist, Red Cross Disaster Services Instructor, DHS CERT instructor and serve on the Board of Directors for Tennessee Emergency Communications Association (TNECA).  My priority list is as follows.First - Ward Second - Local CommunityThird - StakeFourth - StateFifth - NationalI use my training to see that training is performed in these organizations in the same order I would agree to be deployed according to my priority list.Lastly, I am not afraid to say, "No, I'm sorry I can't do that".

[KE7MQF]

I am the the Family Preparedness, as well as the Communications Specialist for Orchard 10th Ward, North Salt lake City.  I am also a member of Davis County ARES.  Recently I accepted the role of ARES Communications Specialist for our local Hospital.  I've “recruited” a Ham in the Ward and he is now the Assistant Ward Communications Specialist.  In the event of an Area wide incident, I would respond to the Hospital if needed. If not I will assist at the Ward or Stake level.  After a lot of thought I decided that the place to best serve the most, would be at the Hospital.

[KT5YZ]

I was recruited to a license class after Katrina and have since joined ARES, RACES, and CERT. I was also recently called as Ward EP Specialist and Stake Comm. Specialist.For the IS classes mentioned, they are all online. I did them about 30-minutes at a time when I could fill in time after the kids were in bed. That was a couple of years ago. I should probably retake them this spring as a refresher.As was mentioned, priorities start with my family, then church, then community (ARES/RACES/CERT). So I'm not committing to make an ARES served agency a primary committment since church will take priority, if needed. But I will get trained to assist with a local served agency as it's likely they will not both need me at the same time.73, Ed Sarlls, KT5YZ, Katy, TX

[KI4REX]

Thanks all for your comments.  Keep up your great service.

[KF7LXF]

I'm the Stake Clerk/Stake Technology Specialist.  We have a Stake Preparedness Specialist who actually works for FEMA, but noone at the ward level.  I just got started into Ham radio, but I am signed up with ARES.  I have completed all the standard ARES-required classes (EMCOMM 100,200,700,800) and it only took a couple of hours per course.  You can take them all for free online at http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp.  The actual order is 700, 100, 200, 800.We have a short training every Thursday night, and one or two scenarios a year we participate in.  I haven't gotten a call out.Aside from studying to try to get my General License, it really hasn't been a big deal to keep proper balance.  The bigger issue is getting a 10m rig for long-distance communications - all I've got right now is a 2m/70 cm rig in my car.

[AC0PR]

For me I just stay in the loop of the ARES group, participate in weekly nets and attend the club meetings. I don't try and take leadership positions in it and go out once in a while for Skywarn when needed. With that I feel connected to the people and the procedures, yet it doesn't drawn too much of my time away and I'm free to get into Church communications as much as I'd like.

[.-.. -.. … …. .- —]

In my area I let folks know that if they have been called or assigned to work with the stake or ward that their prioirty needs to be with the stake or ward. However, if they want to participate in ARES they are free to do so but should an emergency arrive they will need to support the stake and wards. Most do not have any problem with that.73- Matt ~ WD7N

[AC5WA]

I figured that part of being Stake/Ward EMCOM specialist is interfacing with the external emergency preparedness organizations in the area.  We will quite likely have to work together if something really bad happens so best to be familiar with them and their operation BEFORE something happens.  Church before ARES but I have not kept it a secret where my priorities lie.  The ARES groups often work with a number of other organizations such as those putting on walk/run/ride events as well as things like community events.  Volunteering to help with these events will provide valuable experience in working with others as part of a net.  This can be done without conflicting with church activities if you carefully pick those events you work.   

[Anonymous]

DELEGATE…DELEGATE…DELEGATE… and when you can't delegate you must prioritize.  I was EC for NC Army Mars…I stepped down and later resigned my post in MARS because of time required (I was called to the Bishopric).  At the same time I was ARES EC for my county…I have since stepped down from that position when I was called as Bishop.  I am still active in ARES as a member…but I have had to prioritize my time.  Sometimes you must choose to do what you need to do rather than what you want to do.  Good luck in making the right decisions.

[kj6bqk]

This is a very good question.  I have been a scout leading in some capacity for near 18 years now, and so I have often tapped to be on the job safety committee, emergency plan development team, etc.  I am a teacher now and have sworn an oath to the state of California to protect my charges and it is widely known that I am also a ham operator, so I am on the emmcom team there as well;  my point:  everyone expects me to use my skills for them.  Quite a while back I decided I had to have priorities:  family first, community 2nd.  During a disaster I don't think I would just help church members, although I would make sure they were taken care of–as I see it serving my fellow man, I would still be serving Heavenly Father.  Hope this helps.

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