CQ CQ CQ Calling all R.A.C.E.S. Members The major difference between success and failure to perform of any group is the level of participation of.

CQ CQ CQCQ CQ CQCalling all R.A.C.E.S. MembersCalling all R.A.C.E.S. Members

The major difference between success The major difference between success and failure to perform of any group is the and failure to perform of any group is the

level of participation of it’s memberslevel of participation of it’s members.. Groups like San Diego RACES can fail to be Groups like San Diego RACES can fail to be

effective in their mission even though we have effective in their mission even though we have excellent financial and operational support of our excellent financial and operational support of our public service sponsors. public service sponsors.

Many groups have organized clear mission Many groups have organized clear mission statements, trained and prepared members statements, trained and prepared members without any “official” support, and as a result have without any “official” support, and as a result have became such an attractive resource the agencies became such an attractive resource the agencies in their areas have sought them out.in their areas have sought them out.

Having clear goals and objectives, and a rollout Having clear goals and objectives, and a rollout plan attracted many Ham volunteers to the plan attracted many Ham volunteers to the recent effort to rollout a statewide D-STAR recent effort to rollout a statewide D-STAR System in Alabama. System in Alabama.

Organization brings enthusiasm and enthusiasm Organization brings enthusiasm and enthusiasm brings out more volunteers. Recent participation brings out more volunteers. Recent participation by Hams in Oregon during a severe weather by Hams in Oregon during a severe weather event so impressed the Governor he allotted event so impressed the Governor he allotted funds to build a statewide Winlink system for funds to build a statewide Winlink system for each of its counties emergency opperations each of its counties emergency opperations centers. centers.

Success has many fathers. Failure is always a Success has many fathers. Failure is always a bastard child.bastard child.

The Volunteer Action PlanThe Volunteer Action Plan In this meeting and through email to members not here we In this meeting and through email to members not here we

will be calling for member volunteers to commit to will be calling for member volunteers to commit to helping RACES grow.helping RACES grow.

We are not looking for a fulltime commitment unless you We are not looking for a fulltime commitment unless you want to. We are looking for people who can commit a want to. We are looking for people who can commit a few hours a week or, a few hours a month, or a skill to few hours a week or, a few hours a month, or a skill to hack off parts of our goals and objectives.hack off parts of our goals and objectives.

You must be self motivated.You must be self motivated. When you agree to work on a When you agree to work on a part of our Action Plan you must follow through or let us part of our Action Plan you must follow through or let us know when you can’t. None of this business where you know when you can’t. None of this business where you agree to do something, don’t do it, and then some time agree to do something, don’t do it, and then some time down the road come up with an excuse on why you did down the road come up with an excuse on why you did not follow through. If you over commit there is no shame not follow through. If you over commit there is no shame in letting us know you bit off more than you could handle.in letting us know you bit off more than you could handle.

It’s Amateur Radio people! Its suppose to be fun and It’s Amateur Radio people! Its suppose to be fun and useful.useful.

But first a little on time But first a little on time management.management.

Properly managing the time you have each Properly managing the time you have each and every day can be the key to success and every day can be the key to success of any task or goal you set in life.of any task or goal you set in life.

The sad part is so many people are not The sad part is so many people are not aware how simple time management is aware how simple time management is and how it can effectively turn around and how it can effectively turn around almost every problem or stumbling block almost every problem or stumbling block you may be having in your life or career. you may be having in your life or career.

Simply, Time Management is the process Simply, Time Management is the process of managing your time.of managing your time.

Step one. Make an inventory.Step one. Make an inventory.

Take a few moments and make a list of everything Take a few moments and make a list of everything you need to accomplish over the next year.you need to accomplish over the next year.

Make it free flowing or sub divide it by job, life, Make it free flowing or sub divide it by job, life, home, pleasure or whatever. The only important home, pleasure or whatever. The only important thing is your list must include everything that you thing is your list must include everything that you think needs to be accomplished.think needs to be accomplished.

If you are working you may want to make a list for If you are working you may want to make a list for your work / career and one for your personal your work / career and one for your personal projects. projects.

Take no more than 30 minutes on your list. Take no more than 30 minutes on your list. If you If you can’t think about it in 30 minutes it is already not can’t think about it in 30 minutes it is already not important enough to spend any time onimportant enough to spend any time on..

Next rate your inventory listNext rate your inventory listThe key to rating is as simple as The key to rating is as simple as A, B, C.A, B, C.

An An A projectA project is the big one. An is the big one. An AA project is usually a major project is usually a major goal that is going to take some time to complete. goal that is going to take some time to complete. Upgrade your education. Upgrade to a General license. Upgrade your education. Upgrade to a General license. Lose weight. Find a new career. Build a boat.Lose weight. Find a new career. Build a boat.

A A B projectB project is important but usually as not as extensive or is important but usually as not as extensive or time consuming. Getting your General license may be on time consuming. Getting your General license may be on this list. Painting a room. (Probably from the YL’s A list?) this list. Painting a room. (Probably from the YL’s A list?) Cleaning up your office and keeping it clean, your car, Cleaning up your office and keeping it clean, your car, those files on your desk. Doing that antenna project. those files on your desk. Doing that antenna project. Starting or finishing that project for your significant other. Starting or finishing that project for your significant other. Doing those 2 or 3 minor but effective projects at work or Doing those 2 or 3 minor but effective projects at work or in your hobby. This will be a much larger list.in your hobby. This will be a much larger list.

A A C projectC project is usually someone else’s is usually someone else’s AA project they have project they have dumped on you. After all if it’s on your dumped on you. After all if it’s on your CC list it is not very list it is not very important to you!important to you!

How to make this workHow to make this workand how to make it fail.and how to make it fail.

First failure.First failure. If you don’t If you don’t work on a piece of your A list on work on a piece of your A list on a regular schedulea regular schedule you will fail. you will fail.

Next the plan for success.Next the plan for success. First put your First put your CC list in a drawer, list in a drawer, out of sight. Make a commitment to only review it once a out of sight. Make a commitment to only review it once a week. You may find something on it has moved up to week. You may find something on it has moved up to BB status. If employed, and its one of your bosses projects, status. If employed, and its one of your bosses projects, it may even move to your it may even move to your AA list? list?

Next divide your Next divide your AA and and BB lists into manageable chunks. If lists into manageable chunks. If you are going to finish that education or upgrade your you are going to finish that education or upgrade your Ham license there are steps you need to perform to Ham license there are steps you need to perform to accomplish the goal. Divide the steps into manageable accomplish the goal. Divide the steps into manageable chunks. Work on a chunk every day, every 2 days, once chunks. Work on a chunk every day, every 2 days, once a week, but keep the time commitment. If you do this you a week, but keep the time commitment. If you do this you will magically come to a time when all the chunks are will magically come to a time when all the chunks are done and your done and your goal has been reachedgoal has been reached..

FinallyFinally

Occasionally review your lists. Sometimes priorities change Occasionally review your lists. Sometimes priorities change or need to be adjusted to reality. It’s that simple. And, or need to be adjusted to reality. It’s that simple. And, how else do people fail? They fail by screwing around how else do people fail? They fail by screwing around with their with their CC projects because they are usually simple and projects because they are usually simple and easy to do and you can say to yourself look what I easy to do and you can say to yourself look what I accomplished today. In reality what you accomplished accomplished today. In reality what you accomplished was wasting the day on something you have already was wasting the day on something you have already listed as listed as not very important!not very important!

Now to help you get started Now to help you get started here is the RACES A List!here is the RACES A List! Hopefully there is a project here you can put on your Hopefully there is a project here you can put on your time managementtime management list? list?

San Diego RACES Immediate San Diego RACES Immediate Priority ProjectsPriority Projects

Volunteers will be asked to sign up to assist in the Volunteers will be asked to sign up to assist in the development and implementation of key RACES development and implementation of key RACES projects.projects.

Craig Williams will coordinate the volunteer pool Craig Williams will coordinate the volunteer pool and make sure they are assigned to projects.and make sure they are assigned to projects.

Volunteers will be assigned to a project team in Volunteers will be assigned to a project team in their indicated area of interest.their indicated area of interest.

Project members in each key area will work with Project members in each key area will work with the Staff member responsible to determine their the Staff member responsible to determine their exact goals and objectives keeping in mind the exact goals and objectives keeping in mind the priorities of the projects. priorities of the projects. ( Time Management! )( Time Management! )

Volunteer organization, new member Volunteer organization, new member recruitment, and administration.recruitment, and administration.

Recruit existing members to help update and Recruit existing members to help update and implement key areas of the RACES Mission. implement key areas of the RACES Mission. Involves assisting RACES Staff in the areas of Involves assisting RACES Staff in the areas of new member recruitment and RACES office new member recruitment and RACES office administration. administration.

Seek out new members in the amateur Seek out new members in the amateur community and the ever growing community of community and the ever growing community of CERT Team Ham radio operators. Assist CERT Team Ham radio operators. Assist prospective members in completing their prospective members in completing their applications to insure prompt processing.applications to insure prompt processing.

Assist Staff in administrative tasks, preparation Assist Staff in administrative tasks, preparation of and distribution of member rosters, update of and distribution of member rosters, update of existing RACES procedures, manuals and of existing RACES procedures, manuals and operational plans.operational plans.

Technical Operations.Technical Operations. Assign member volunteers with technical interests and abilities to Assign member volunteers with technical interests and abilities to

organize, inventory and improve RACES communications organize, inventory and improve RACES communications equipment. The goal is more effective support of our mission of equipment. The goal is more effective support of our mission of Mutual Aid Communications,Mutual Aid Communications, and develop personnel resources and develop personnel resources that that do not depend on one person to get the mission do not depend on one person to get the mission accomplished.accomplished.

Update, Integrate and prepare equipment, manuals, frequency Update, Integrate and prepare equipment, manuals, frequency lists, and equipment operating positions as required in the lists, and equipment operating positions as required in the RACES radio room, ECHO III and the RCV. May be divided into RACES radio room, ECHO III and the RCV. May be divided into RACES room group and Field Operations group if both groups RACES room group and Field Operations group if both groups work together to develop common procedures for common work together to develop common procedures for common equipment.equipment.

Establish two specific groups of trained operators. One for Establish two specific groups of trained operators. One for Technical and one for General and above class operators and Technical and one for General and above class operators and operators wishing to upgrade to General and above. These two operators wishing to upgrade to General and above. These two groups will also work together on common areas of on air groups will also work together on common areas of on air procedures and message handling but also work towards the goal procedures and message handling but also work towards the goal of a well trained team of HF operators who can insure local NVIS of a well trained team of HF operators who can insure local NVIS and long range capabilities when repeaters or public service and long range capabilities when repeaters or public service systems fail or are overloaded.systems fail or are overloaded.

TrainingTraining

Assign member volunteers and seek Assign member volunteers and seek instructors from outside RACES to bring instructors from outside RACES to bring back the RACES Academy. Although we back the RACES Academy. Although we have been able to provide training in have been able to provide training in wildland fire safety, first aid and RCS wildland fire safety, first aid and RCS system operation over the past few years, system operation over the past few years, we have not had volunteers available to we have not had volunteers available to put together the very extensive RACES put together the very extensive RACES Academies of the past.Academies of the past.

In ConclusionIn ConclusionOver the past few years, around the world, it has been Over the past few years, around the world, it has been

proven over and over that the time will come when proven over and over that the time will come when the only reliable communications available after a the only reliable communications available after a major disaster is Amateur Radio. The recent major disaster is Amateur Radio. The recent events in Haiti show what happens when there is events in Haiti show what happens when there is not a group of Ham operators ready and available. not a group of Ham operators ready and available. With only 10 active hams in the entire country (per With only 10 active hams in the entire country (per World Radio Magazine) and only 2 able to get on World Radio Magazine) and only 2 able to get on the air after the disaster, there was virtually no the air after the disaster, there was virtually no information coming out of Haiti for the first 48 hours information coming out of Haiti for the first 48 hours after the Quake. As this is written on April 5, 2010 after the Quake. As this is written on April 5, 2010 there are 900 earthquakes reported on the USGS there are 900 earthquakes reported on the USGS California Nevada map. Yesterday a 7.2 quake California Nevada map. Yesterday a 7.2 quake occurred in Northern Mexico. occurred in Northern Mexico. Is RACES San Is RACES San Diego ready?Diego ready?

[email protected]@craigwilliams.comMay 2010May 2010