From the files of the ARRL Automated Mail Server, (info@arrl.org): Prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service. file: \public\info\hiram\redcross.txt created: 1-07-94 Reprinted from: Statement of Understanding Between the American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross Copyright 1992 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All rights reserved. Thank you for requesting the following information from the ARRL Technical Information Service or the ARRL Automated Mail Server (info@arrl.org). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs. For your convenience, you may reproduce this information, electronically or on paper, and distribute it to anyone who needs it, provided that you reproduce it in its entirety and do so free of charge. Please note that you must reproduce the information as it appears in the original, including the League's copyright notice. If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact Michael Tracy, American Radio Relay League, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (email: mtracy@arrl.org). --------------------------- cut here ---------------------------- Statement of Understanding Between the American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross Foreword The American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross have had cooperative statements of understanding since 1940. The original statement of understanding was updated in 1964 and again in 1974 by agreement between the two organizations. The American Radio Relay League, Inc., (ARRL) is a noncommercial association of radio amateurs, bonded for the promotion of interest in amateur radio communication and experimentation, for the relaying of messages by radio, for the advancement of the radio art and of the public welfare, for the representation of the radio amateur in legislative matters, and for the maintenance of fraternalism and a high standard of conduct. A primary responsibility of the amateur radio service, as established by Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission's regulations, is the rendition of public service communications for the general public, particularly in times of emergency when normal communications are not available. Using amateur radio operators in the amateur frequency bands, the ARRL has been in the forefront of this service, direct to the general public and through government and relief agencies, and continues to be so. To that end, in 1935, the ARRL organized the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, now called the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and in 1949, the ARRL created the National Traffic System (NTS). Together, ARES and NTS comprise the ARRL's public service field organization of volunteer radio amateurs. Red Cross chapters are responsible for establishing, coordinating, and maintaining continuity of communications during disaster-relief operations whenever normal communications channels are disrupted or overloaded. This document revises and updates previous statements of understanding and renews the status of close cooperation and coordination between the two organizations for the public benefit. I. Purpose The purpose of this document is to state the terms for an understanding between the American Radio Relay League, Inc., and The American National Red Cross that will serve as a broad framework within which volunteer personnel of the ARRL may coordinate their facilities and equipment with the Red Cross for communications in disaster relief, inclusive of any disaster except those caused by enemy action.II. Definition of Disaster A disaster is an occurrence such as hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, blizzard, pestilence, famine, fire, explosion, volcanic eruption, building collapse, commercial transportation wreck, or other situation that causes human suffering or creates human needs that the victims cannot alleviate without assistance.III. Recognition The American Red Cross recognizes that the amateur radio service, because of its excellent geographical station coverage, can render valuable aid in maintaining the continuity of communications during disasters and emergencies when normal communications facilities are disrupted or overloaded. The American Radio Relay League recognizes the American Red Cross as the agency chartered by Congress through which the American people voluntarily extend assistance to individuals and families in need as a result of disasters.IV. Authority of The American National Red Cross By congressional charter, dated January 5, 1905, The American National Red Cross is charged with the following responsibility: To continue and carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.V. Organization of the American Red Cross The national headquarters of the American Red Cross is located in Washington, D.C. National headquarters is responsible for establishing and implementing policies and regulations that govern Red Cross activities and for providing administrative and technical supervision and guidance to chapters and national sector units. The chapter is the local unit of the American Red Cross within its assigned territory, subject to the policies and regulations of the corporation. There are more than 3,000 chapters across the United States. Each chapter is responsible for developing a special disaster preparedness and relief committee composed of the best-qualified volunteers available. This committee studies the disaster hazards of the territory and surveys local resources for personnel and for equipment and supplies, including transportation and emergency communication facilities, that are available for disaster relief It also formulates cooperative plans and procedures with local governmental agencies and private organizations for carrying on relief operations should a disaster occur. Disaster Services at national headquarters coordinates the total resources of the organization for utilization wherever needed for large disasters.VI. Organization of the American Radio Relay League The American Radio Relay League is governed by a Board of Directors composed of 16 persons and elected by the membership. Its headquarters is located in Newington, Connecticut. Since 1914, the ARRL has been the standard-bearer in amateur radio affairs throughout the United States. The ARRL has a field organization that covers the United States, including U.S. possessions and Puerto Rico, and Canada. This field organization is administered under elected section managers in 73 sections. (A section is an ARRL-created political boundary roughly equivalent to states and provinces or portions thereof) For local emergency communications, the ARRL sponsors the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which is organized under local and district emergency coordinators and is directed in each section by a section emergency coordinator. Complementing the ARES is the National Traffic System (NTS), which functions daily in the handling of medium- and long-haul formal message traffic and whose network operations can be stepped up to meet the needs of an emergency situation. National Traffic System activities at the section level are supervised by a section traffic manager.VII. Method of Cooperation In order that the communications facilities of the ARES may be coordinated and utilized to the fullest advantage during disasters and emergencies, the American Red Cross and the American Radio Rely League have agreed to the following:* Through its national headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, the American Radio Relay League will maintain liaison with Disaster Services at American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C., so that there may be the closest possible cooperation in emergency communications planning and in the coordination of amateur radio communications facilities for disaster relief operations.* The American Red Cross welcomes the cooperation and assistance of the American Radio Relay League, through its field organization, to extend emergency communications planning into the jurisdictions of the local chapters. Red Cross chapters may further this cooperation by requesting an American Radio Relay League emergency coordinator to serve as a Red Cross disaster volunteer, as appropriate, for emergency communications pre-disaster planning and during disaster emergencies.* Whenever there is a disaster or an emergency requiring the use of amateur radio communications facilities, the Red Cross, through its local chapter or through the national sector, may request the assistance of the officials of the American Radio Relay League nearest the scene of disaster or emergency. This assistance may include: 1. The alerting and mobilization of volunteer emergency communications personnel in accordance with a prearranged plan. 2. The establishment and maintenance of fixed-, mobile-, and portable-station emergency communications facilities for local radio coverage and point-to-point contact between Red Cross officials and locations, as required. 3. Adequate provisions for maintaining continuity of communications for the duration of the emergency period or until normal communications channels are substantially restored.* Detailed operating plans for the full utilization of the communications facilities of the amateur radio service should be developed by the local Red Cross chapter in cooperation with the ARRL emergency coordinator.* The American Red Cross will recommend to Its chapters that membership on disaster preparedness and relief committees include representation from the appropriate officials of the American Radio Relay League.* The Red Cross will furnish chapters copies of this statement of understanding and the American Radio Relay League will similarly furnish copies to its field officials. This agreement is in force as of the date indicated below and shall remain in effect unless terminated by written notification from either party to the other.July 13, 1982 George M. Elsey President The American National Red Cross Victor C. Clark President The American Radio Relay League, Inc. --------------------------- cut here ---------------------------- The ARRL members and HQ staff would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this information file: KC1SX Send any additional information or changes to mtracy@arrl.org. 73 from ARRL HQ.