Bid: $RACESBUL.306

TO:    ALL ES, CD, AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTORS VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:  ALL RACES OPERATORS IN CALIFORNIA
INFO:  ALL AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
FROM:  CA STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES   (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)
          2800 MEADOWVIEW RD., SACRAMENTO, CA 95832 916-262-1600
          LANDLINE BBS OPEN TO ALL 916-262-1657
RACESBUL.306                 RELEASE DATE:  December  27th, 1993
SUBJECT:  MGT  -  Observations  -  Part 2/3
     I don't wish to imply that our RACES and other volunteer
government communications programs were not free of this in California
before the State Legislature undertook to turn this around. Following
authorizing legislation the State Office of Emergency Services
initiated a fulltime volunteer communications coordination effort in
1985 that has paid dividends ever since.
     Our State cannot tell the counties what do any more than counties
can dictate to cities. Therefore it is important for state government
to maintain a fulltime leadership role to maximize the positive and
productive use of unpaid communications professionals in government
service. It is such commitment to a program that makes ACS, RACES or
similar communications reserve a success --- not disasters.
     On the same multi-state RACES program trip I had the opportunity
to talk with and meet several county radio officers. Almost all of
them receive the RACES Bulletins by packet radio, by mail, and/or by
computer disk. They had established successful programs under their
emergency management officials. Some called it RACES. Others called it
the Auxiliary Communications Service, the Sheriff's Communications
Reserve and by other names. All agreed that their programs either
always or finally succeeded for several reasons, as given in the next
Bulletin.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!