The Comm Room
  • Home
    • About Me
    • Personal Website
  • Amateur Radio
    • SkyWarn >
      • What is SkyWarn?
      • Getting Started
      • What Do I Report?
      • Severe WX Reporting
      • Spotter Safety
      • Overpass Safety?
      • SkyWarn in Arizona
    • Public Service & Events >
      • 10 Ways to Optimize Your Effectiveness
      • Are You Making a Difference?
    • ARES Information >
      • ARES Net
      • Prowords
    • Emergency Communications >
      • Emergency & Disaster Radio Operating Procedures
      • ECom Do's & Don'ts
      • Emergency Management Cycle
    • Training
    • EMCOMM Bulletins >
      • RACES >
        • 1995-96
        • 1996
    • Virtual QSL Wall
  • Incident Command
    • DHS Position Paper on NIMS & the ICS
  • Emergency Preparedness
    • Emergency First Aid >
      • First Aid for Pets
    • Planning For Pets
  • Social Media
    • Social Media vs Ham Radio
  • Links & Awards
    • SkyWarn Links
    • Public Service Links
    • ECom Links
    • ICS/NIMS Links
    • Emergency Prep. Links
    • Training Links
  • Radio Logs
    • Contest Log
  • Photos

2000-01 EmComm Bulletins

TO: Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
TO: Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
FROM: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Back

EMC306 - Assumptions Kill!

9/10/2001

0 Comments

 
More times than we'd like to recall we've observed inherent assumptions kill an EMCOMM idea, plan, project or program.

Assumptions? Yes. Whenever we discuss an idea or a project many of us assume that the reader or listener has the same mental grasp as do we.

If, for instance, we discuss (present or negotiate) "amateur radio" most of us just assume the other person knows what we mean.

Let's use an illustration of a local government that you want to use your local EMCOMM unit, or to create one in that government. You know that the director of the local emergency management agency came from the sheriff department of an adjacent county. You also know that during his years in that county it had a RACES unit. So he should understand the amateur radio EMCOMM unit plan you have prepared. Right? Unfortunately, that may not be true.

Why? While he may know what it signifies, his "picture" of it may be very adverse, and you won't know until you check on it.

Two phrases we've heard used repeatedly in recent years regarding "amateurs radio" are "propeller hats" and "Disneyland tourists"; both being used in a derogatory sense. It was their way of saying their experience had been so colored from exposure to that type of person that they wanted nothing to do with "amateur radio".

More than one official has pointed out that the activities of those who led to those terms has definitely been adverse to the use of "amateur" radio" in government, and will continue to do so. Conversely, there are areas, sometimes just miles away, where "amateur radio" means "successful emergency communications".

The fact is, it is personal experience that presents the lasting mental image. Until you know that you are not fully informed.

Speaking to the mental images of "propeller hats", how do we overcome that? First, consider how it came about: possibly from some amateur(s) that showed up wearing a cap studded with badges, pins and a solar operated "fan", two hand-helds strapped to his belt, six badges on his shirt and a vest labeled in yellow with "Amateur Radio". Contrast that with what the official was most probably expecting: someone dressed like others in the agency.

Can we overcome that? It's not easy. The most likely way to do so is to provide a new, better and more significant image with which to replace the one that is not desired. That is NOT an easy process, but it can be done; but it may take years of personal effort and many 'seedlings planted along the way.'

In summary, to get the best understanding about your unit, be sure that no assumptions on critical meanings of terms stand in the way of the benefits sought to be provided. Essentially assume nothing, but verify, verify and verify.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    A Decade Of Emcomm
    Ale Experiences
    Amateur Radio Withdrawn!
    A Passion For Emcomm
    Are We Prepared?
    Assumptions Kill!
    Because They Care!
    Bulletin Focus
    Comfort Is An Emcomm Unit
    Confined Space Response
    Do You Know What I Mean?
    DSW Coverage Begins?
    Dsw Rules Changes
    Emergency Preparedness
    Exercise En Masse!
    Gila County EMARC (AZ)
    Hidden Jewels
    How Do You Activate?
    How Many To Involve?
    How To Create An Emcomm Unit
    Images
    Important Documents
    Indecision Can Kill
    Informing Officials
    Internet Rims
    Is RACES Unique?
    It Takes Time
    Management Or Operations
    Mutual Aid 2000
    Mutual Aid Recap
    Net Control - A Perspective
    Nsep And Shares
    Operations Techniques
    Pabulum Or Popcorn?
    Preparedness Partners
    Quakes In Mind
    Quick Quotes 1
    RACES - Amateurs Only?
    Races And The Acs
    RACES & FEMA
    Races History
    RACES History - 4
    RACES History - DCS Unit
    RACES History & FLAMES
    Races One Hour Rule
    Resource Directories!!
    Sharing Ideas
    Shortage Of Hams
    Solving The Impossible
    Statewide Comm Drill
    Successful Emcomm Units
    Synchronicity & You?
    Training Test Matrix
    Unit Activation
    Unit Life And Death
    Unit Organization
    Unsuccessful Units
    Use Volunteers? Y/N
    Volunteer Awards
    Volunteer Management
    We Don't Need It!
    Who Writes The Bulletins?
    Why We Volunteer
    Wildfire Volunteers
    Working With Volunteers
    Y2k & Good Timing

    Archives

    December 2001
    November 2001
    October 2001
    September 2001
    August 2001
    July 2001
    June 2001
    May 2001
    April 2001
    March 2001
    February 2001
    January 2001
    December 2000
    November 2000
    October 2000
    September 2000
    August 2000
    July 2000
    June 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    February 2000
    January 2000

    ACS Bulletins

    The Bulletins are addressed to the Emergency Management Agency (with sub-addresses to others) with the intent that the Radio Officer, ACS Coordinator or other unit participant will deliver them to the agency coordinator, and discuss their topics.

    RSS Feed

Search This Site:



© Copyright 2009-2022, David M. French.

All original content by David M French is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Other names, titles, and images are registered trademarks of their respective companies or organizations. All rights reserved.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.