Bid: $RACESBUL.360
Subject: RB360 Multiple Commit.1/2

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

TO:	ALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:	COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:	AMATEURS U.S  (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS, RACES
FROM:	AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE (ACS) of the Governor's
      Office of Emergency Services; the volunteer communications
      reserve of the State of California.

360 Multiple Commitments 1/2     Release Date: January 9, l995

Query from Emergency Management Agency Official: Why do Amateur
Radio operators sign up with a multitude of places to serve and
then are not available to any particular unit when really needed?

Reply: Here are some ideas, perceptions and practices that result
in that situation:

Item 1. Those who want total control over their activity. They
"pick and chose" where and when to serve - IF at all. This can
also be an excuse for other concepts including a fear of
commitment itself.
  This is often heard from those who say that their "unit is
never called on in an emergency" [meaning to operate their radios
and make them feel good about what they want to do but can't]
because:
  a: they aren't committed enough to any one program to make it a
viable one. Or
  b: they don't grasp the major changes in the government's
communications needs of the 90's. Or
  c: the unit isn't an active part of its government and isn't
utilized due to such reasons as the above; or as a result of the
agencies perception of the people or the programs usefulness.

Item 2. Multiple card-carriers who want to feel like they are
"really doing something" when in fact they may be doing little
or nothing in a cohesive and directed manner.
   This can be an extension of the need to control described in
item 1.
   There will be those of this group who will contend that they
are "never called out and so they belong to several of the groups
so they will be able to actually do something" as they express
it.  [review item one and also see next bulletin.]    This can
also be a person on a real ego trip. In either case it may be
best to let them fade away without depending on them until they
ask "why?". Generally, those with such attitudes can't be helped
until they are ready to look beyond their own perceptions.

   There are, of course, other aspects of the above, so please
keep in mind that one of the major purposes of these bulletins is
to aid on-going dialog between the agency Radio Officer and the
paid staff. It isn't a matter of whether this presentation of
this is "correct" or not (as there are other possibilities), but
that it stimulates interchange of ideas and relationships on the
topic. It will help to study the next bulletin before forming an
opinion! The entire topic is complex and covered in related
bulletins on "reasons" that people give as a justification of
their actions. (continues next week)
                            --  --  --
ACS Addresses:  2800 Meadowview Rd., Sacramento, CA. 95832.
Ph: 916-262-1600. FAX 916-262-1677. Landline BBS: 916-262-1657.
W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA or  Internet crm@oes.ca.gov or seh@oes.ca.gov.
eom