Msgid: $RACESBUL.347
Subject: B347 RACES, What's That? 2/2


From: W6WWW@KD6XZ.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NOAM
To  : RACES@ALLUS

TO: ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    ALL COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:    ALL AMATEURS U.S     (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS.
FROM:    CA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
    (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)  PH: 916-262-1600, 2800 Meadowview Rd.,
    Sacramento, CA  95832. Landline BBS, 916-262-1657 (Open
    to all). Internet crm@oes.ca.gov or seh@oes.ca.gov

BULLETIN 347      MGT-Overview - RACES, What's That? 2/2
Release Date     October 10, l994

In the last bulletin we learned that ideas and images associated
with terms, such as "amateur", can close down the listening
process and abort further mind-to-mind communication. We
particularly described officials who "tune-out" when the word
"amateur" comes up in the conversation.

At State OES we've begun a long-term process of reforming the
way we describe the service that is rendered by those who have
FCC licenses issued under the Amateur Radio Service provisions.
In describing the Auxiliary Communications Service we have begun
to eliminate the word "amateur" entirely . It can be done by
reference to the section, or by referring to FCC licensed
specialists whose activities are limited to non-business,
non-pecuniary service.

Is that important? Yes. Even though there are areas where
"Amateur Radio operators" is a term that is highly regarded,
there are hundreds more where the term deprecates and has
unfortunate consequences to the emergency communications concept.
As mentioned in part one, there are far to many instances of
people "turning out the lights" of their minds when the term
"amateur" is in the conversation, no matter how correct it is in
its definition under the FCC regulations.

People who open a business often learn the importance of the
right name immediately. "Silvia's Silk Screening" soon may become
"Superior Silk Screens". The same thing applies to the world of
"Amateur Radio". Too many people associate "amateur" with
unpleasant experiences they or someone they know have had:
interference on the TV, unsightly antennas, messy property, loud
and boisterous mannerism, and so forth. Oh, yes I know there are
places where "Amateur" has important and accepted meanings and
you may well be proud of that fact. However, the point is that is
not universal by any means, and this seeks to point out that
critical fact.

One way to overcome the problem is to rename the emergency
communications unit of a government. It could be a DCS (Disaster
Communications Service) unit. It can be an AUXCOM unit. It can be
an ACS, Auxiliary Communications Service, like the one we have at
State OES. Any of these can incorporate the RACES and be less
confusing. The goal is to overcome the hurdle of miscommunicated
ideas. RACES is confusing to many - one person wanted to know why
we had a 'racist unit'!  So, you see, it pays to apply your
ingenuity to the process and solve this "communications" problem!

Cary Mangum, LL.B., JD., W6WWW
State OES Chief Radio Officer
EOM.