Continuation:
I said "remaining" because government service is not everyone's cup of tea. This is why we deal with individuals and never clubs, associations, or other groups. There is no room among the unpaid professionals for loners, egos, and non-conformists. Some feel it's not
I said "remaining" because government service is not everyone's cup of tea. This is why we deal with individuals and never clubs, associations, or other groups. There is no room among the unpaid professionals for loners, egos, and non-conformists. Some feel it's not
"P.C." to discuss such issues, but failing to do so is a sure formula for failure. It is essential to weed out those who don't have the mind set to fit in very early and, preferably, before any individual is signed up and sworn in. Club or other affiliation influences must be left home in order to function properly. Acceptance comes before one can be a success part of a team effort.
Preparedness among volunteers often includes activities well outside the realm of being a radio operator. However, many Amateurs still think that their sole purpose is to send and receive radio messages. At one time in government that was the one and only mission. As Public Safety and other communications systems improved in quantum leaps in urban environments, the need for such radio emergency communications shrunk. Now, where you have volunteers with skills other than just operating a radio, you have a far more viable support resource. Some Amateurs disagree with this concept because they don't want to do anything other than send and receive messages. That's their choice, but they will not be invited to participate as an unpaid professional in Public Safety. Any volunteer must put the needs and desires of the served organization above their personal or outside organization agendas.
This discussion is addressed to both volunteers and government paid staff they serve. There is a very good reason for this. Both are partners and not separate and distinct. At one time (and perhaps still) there was a tendency for one government to tell or suggest how other governments deal with volunteers. The volunteers were (or are) not included because they are improperly considered to be an outside, separate, doomsday resource. If you do this, you have added a very big factor to the Formula for Failure. Local governments must provide their volunteers a continuing curriculum of People, Procedures and Preparedness. That is the very heart of the "Auxiliary Communications Service: Lessons Learned" workshops for states, counties and cities.
(end of series)
Preparedness among volunteers often includes activities well outside the realm of being a radio operator. However, many Amateurs still think that their sole purpose is to send and receive radio messages. At one time in government that was the one and only mission. As Public Safety and other communications systems improved in quantum leaps in urban environments, the need for such radio emergency communications shrunk. Now, where you have volunteers with skills other than just operating a radio, you have a far more viable support resource. Some Amateurs disagree with this concept because they don't want to do anything other than send and receive messages. That's their choice, but they will not be invited to participate as an unpaid professional in Public Safety. Any volunteer must put the needs and desires of the served organization above their personal or outside organization agendas.
This discussion is addressed to both volunteers and government paid staff they serve. There is a very good reason for this. Both are partners and not separate and distinct. At one time (and perhaps still) there was a tendency for one government to tell or suggest how other governments deal with volunteers. The volunteers were (or are) not included because they are improperly considered to be an outside, separate, doomsday resource. If you do this, you have added a very big factor to the Formula for Failure. Local governments must provide their volunteers a continuing curriculum of People, Procedures and Preparedness. That is the very heart of the "Auxiliary Communications Service: Lessons Learned" workshops for states, counties and cities.
(end of series)
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