KC8WOL posted this “Letter to the Editor” in the Hamsexy Forums, and I felt it bore re-posting here. Apparantly ARES itself is starting to realize how pointless and redundant they are in an actual disaster scenario.
+ LETTERS: HTs, BUT NO HELMETS
Brevard County, Florida — During a recent county disaster drill,
responders were expected to arrive on the scene ready for deployment.
Fire responders showed up in full fire gear, Police in full police
gear, CERT members with appropriate gear including helmet, orange
safety vest, long pants, shirt, heavy shoes, gloves, face mask,
flashlight, as well as HT, and necessary tools. Our ARES members
showed up only with their HT, with some in shorts, sandals, no head
gear nor uniform/identification of any kind.ARES responders need to meet the same equipment standards as Fire,
Police and CERT personnel. Had ARES members attending our mock drill
arrived and reported for an actual event, they wouldn’t have been
deemed prepared and likely would be sent to NIMS-IC “camp” for
training. ARES/ARRL needs to develop gear standards. ARES personnel
need to arrive on the emergency site ready to be deployed. Prepared
for deployment means ARES members having more than the clothing on
their backs and an HT (with only one set of batteries) in their
hand!–
Is your ARES group as bad as this one? Does your group have a clue on how to act and ‘get it right’? Let us know. We here at Hamsexy want to feature ARES groups that GET IT RIGHT. Please send us a report and photos of your local ARES group – convince us that there are some ARES groups out there that are in it for more than flashy lights and ham badges. Send your submissions to [email protected] and we’ll get them up on the site!
Reminds me of that famous line from “The Untouchables.”
“Just like a wop to bring a knife to a gunfight.”
They have the nearly invincible radio protection, the only problem is someone may have kryptonite to weaken their force field and radio signals.
Perhaps we can get some Hamsexy help in developing these lyrics for the Toronto Ares group, they are pretty much as inept as the one described above.
Thank, Ian
Whacker! with help from the Village People
Whacker, I see your signal’s down,
I said Whacker, you are nothing but sound,
I said Whacker, I blame a QRM Clown,
What you need is a good handy
Whacker, when your charge becomes low
I said Whacker, there’s a place you can go,
Go on, Whacker – just key your radio
six-o-clock PM, GTU
You get to talk to the A R E S,
You get to talk to the A R E S,
They have everything, for you to enjoy,
They will teach you to play with your new toy,
It’s fun to chat with A R E S,
It’s fun to play with A R E S.
You can act like an mooch, bum a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel.
Whacker, are you listening to me?
I said, Whacker, what do you wanna be?
I said, Whacker, you can do parades
But you got to know this thing.
No whacker does it all by himself,
I said Whacker, put your lights on the shelf.
And just go there, to the A R E S
I’m sure they can help you some way..
It’s fun to chat with A R E S,
It’s fun to play with A R E S.
You can act like an mooch, bum a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel.
It’s fun to chat with A R E S,
It’s fun to play with A R E S.
You can act like an mooch, bum a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel.
Whacker, I was once in your shoes.
I was a Whacker with a radio too!.
I felt Whackers didn’t care about me.
They just checked into ARES.
Then Bruce Boy came up to me,
And said, Whacker, drive up the street.
Tune in your radio to the A R E S
They will help you act like an ass.
It’s fun to chat with A R E S,
It’s fun to play with A R E S.
You can act like an mooch, bum a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel.
A R E S … you’ll check in with the A R E S.
Whacker, Whacker, there’s a need to check-in..
Whacker, Whacker get yourself out of your jam.
A R E S … you’ll check in with the A R E S.
Whacker, Whacker, there’s a need to check-in..
Whacker, Whacker get yourself out of your jam..
A R E S… just check in to A R E S.
Whacker, Whacker, are you listening to me?
Whacker, Whacker, what do you wanna be?
You don’t like Toronto ARES much, do ya? 🙂
I think it’s time for you to submit an article on them for the site, man 🙂
Perhaps I will, Brian, perhaps I will.
Btw, didja notice the absence of Toronto ARES at the Toronto’s Gay Pride parade, perhaps a phobia or some other reason.
They ARES group usually does parades.
The security hamsexuals were there.
And why weren’t they at the waterfront for an emergency demonstration in the last week?
Hmmm….. Not really and “EMERGENCY” service, I suppose.
Hope they can handle the “Markham Ribfest”, they may get a free meal.
They may also show at the “Warrior’s Day parade in the whacker shorts and shirts with stripes on, so they can order people around.
Two fine emergencies, Ribfest and Warrior’s parade, we may see them in action at their best, eating and complaining, no emergency there.
Don’t forget your batteries and hard hats boys!
I know why you are not properly dressed. Those other groups that you mentioned ARE first respnders…..you are not. Shorts and T-shirts are perfect attire for using a radio, especially when you are out off the immidiate area. If you want to be a cop, fire fighter etc. keep up with the push ups.