Amateur radio emergency communications

A member bulletin was emailed to all ARRL members and included these highlights.

The Herbert V. Ackerberg Award for Outstanding Service to Emergency Communications was established, recognizing exceptional dedication by ARIES groups or individuals to providing emergency communications services and significant contributions to helping their fellow citizens during times of crisis.

The award honors Herbert V. Ackerberg, who at just 15 years old used his amateur radio station to provide critical communications during the 1913 Columbus, Ohio flood, helping establish the legacy of amateur radio emergency communications.

To encourage greater participation by affiliated clubs in the ARRL Club Commission program, a new online membership form will be created to allow new and renewing members to select a participating club to receive credit for their ARRL membership.

The motion also increases the Club Commission for ARRL membership renewals from $5 to $10 each.

As always, local and section SET teams are encouraged to conduct their exercises on another date throughout the autumn season, or practically any date throughout the calendar year if those dates happen to be better for their group, groups, or section and served agencies with which they are working.

This nationwide exercise provides a chance to test your personal emergency operating skills and the readiness of your communications equipment and accessories in a simulated emergency deployment.

ARRL field organization leaders at the section and local levels, and many other volunteers who are active in public service and emergency communications, are developing scenarios and consultation with a variety of served agencies and organizations.