®
The Alger Amateur Radio Club (AARC) and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES)
®
of Alger County, Michigan share the common bond of communications in the public interest.
The (AARC) is a local 501 ( c) (3) tax exempt non-profit service organization comprised of local radio amateurs whose common goals include the management, design, maintenance and operation of radio repeater communications facilities in the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan and more particularly, Alger County.
The ARES is the local chapter of a national organization of Amateur Radio Volunteers, sponsored by the ARRL. The ARRL is a non-commercial association of radio amateurs bonded together 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. The
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in the
ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve. Because ARES is an amateur service, only amateurs are eligible for membership.
The members of the AARC recognize a primary responsibility of the Amateur Radio
Service, as established by Part 97 of the Federal Communications Commission's regulations, is the rendering of public service communication for the public, particularly in times of emergency, when normal communications are not available.
Since its inception, the AARC has taken the lead in establishing a reliable amateur radio repeater system to serve the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and more particularly Alger
County. Through these efforts, the AARC operates the Wetmore and Grand Marais repeater(s) on 145.41 (-) and 147.195 (+) MHz, respectively, and agrees to make the service of these systems available to the Alger County ARES in the event of a disaster or emergency situation.
The purpose of this document is to state the terms of a mutual agreement between the
ARES and the AARC that will serve as a broad framework within which volunteer
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personnel of the ARES may coordinate their facilities and equipment with AARC members for disaster communications
A disaster is either a natural or man-made occurrence that causes human suffering or human needs that the victims cannot alleviate without assistance and which rapidly depletes the resources of the responding agencies involved. A communications emergency is an event where normal wire line and/or radio communications have been disrupted by a natural or man-made incident. The terms may be applied interchangeably within this document.
In order that the emergency communications facilities of the ARES and the National
Traffic System (NTS) may be coordinated and utilized to the fullest advantage during disasters, the Alger Amateur Radio Club (AARC) and The Alger County ARES agree to the following:
A. Through its ARES Emergency Coordinator, the Alger County ARES) will establish regular liaison with the AARC. This liaison will provide the closest possible cooperation and direct operational assistance by the ARES in emergency communications planning, and in the coordination of amateur radio communications facilities for disaster operations.
B. The AARC welcomes the cooperation and assistance of the Alger County ARES, to extend Amateur Radio emergency communications planning into the jurisdictions of the
AARC. The AARC will be urged to further the cooperative effort by requesting that local ARES, and NTS personnel serve as disaster volunteers for emergency communications, with such personnel reporting to the ARES Emergency Coordinator of the Alger County jurisdiction. ARES, and NTS volunteers, will be encouraged to take part in pre-disaster training and planning and to work with the AARC to provide amateur radio communications equipment and volunteers, and to meet the needs of their disaster communications plans.
C. When a disaster occurs requiring the use of amateur radio communications facilities, the AARC, agrees to provide the service of its repeater system(s) to the Alger County
ARES. This assistance may include, but is not limited to the following:
1. The alerting and mobilization of Amateur Radio volunteer emergency communications personnel in accordance with a prearranged plan.
2. The establishment and maintenance of fixed, mobile, and portable station emergency communication facilities for local radio coverage and point-to-point contact between public safety officials and locations, as required.
3. Maintenance of the continuity of communications for the duration of the emergency period or until normal communications channels are substantially restored.
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D. The Alger County ARES agrees to supply the AARC with lists of it’s leadership and emergency contacts on an annual basis. The AARC agrees to supply Alger County
ARES with pertinent information and points of contact from its organization, on an annual basis.
E. While not required, detailed operating plans for the utilization of the AARC communications facilities should be developed with the Alger County ARES personnel.
F. The AARC will recommend that its membership support the local ARES organization.
G. Each organization will distribute copies of this Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) throughout the leadership of their respective organizations.
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.
Signed unto this day of January, 2006 by ______________________
Alger County ARES
Raoul D. Revord, W8RDR
Alger County Emergency Coordinator by_______________________
Alger Amateur Radio Club (AARC)
John Cromell, KC8LKZ
Vice President
Receipt of this Memorandum of Understanding is hereby acknowledged by the Alger
County Emergency Management Director. by:
Ms. Becky Wilder, Alger County Sheriff
Deputy and Alger County Emergency Management
Director
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