Date:         Wed, 2 May 2007 19:26:25 -0500
Reply-To:     vt <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         vt <samcvt@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Converting '88 Vanagon into a mobile office
Comments: To: Tom Buese <tombuese@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

Damned right FEMA could do this .... But, truth is, there are two strong ham
radio organizations (ARES and RACES) which get activated when a disaster
situation is declared which sets up and begins operating long before FEMA
even begins to show up.

ARES stands for "Amateur Radio Emergency Service" and RACES stands for Radio
"Amateur Communication Emergency Service."  ARES is activated by a state's
Emergency Management agency and RACES is activated from within the amateur
radio community.  Many amateur radio licensees belong to both organizations.

It is, today, relatively easy to pass the examination to obtain the basic
amateur radio license and, once attained and with appropriate equipment and
some training, the licensee is ready to volunteer.

Anyone interested in looking into become licensed, can go to WWW.ARRL.Org
(American Radio Relay League) and the organization can identify local radio
clubs which sponsor both short term course and the exams for a very low fee.

Sam Conant N1PDL