Page 1 MGTPolicy Version 1. 3 3/1/92 POLICY MATTERS [ Category: MGT] RACES PROGRAM GUIDANCE POLICY We have been in close contact with the FCC in the matter of RACES and other emergency communications programs. The FCC staff and their involvement in these areas was sharply curtailed in 1982. Last month the FCC expressed their pleasure and support with the State of California (OES) because it is providing fulltime staff to provide guidance in RACES--a function that neither the FCC or FEMA is funded or staffed to continue. Towards that end the FCC staff expressed their appreciation and confidence in this office to take the leadership role in interpreting and implementing the intent of the RACES Subpart F. We and the Commission agree there are inequities in Subpart F. We further agree to interpret and advise in the RACES program plans and management in a manner which we genuinely believe to reasonably serve the interests of the State and its local governments--unless otherwise directed by the Commission. (Signed) STANLY E. HARTER, KH6GBX State RACES Coordinator State RACES Officer (broadcast by MARION HENSON, RACES RADIO OFFICER W6NKR, 12/1/1986.) RB 86-42 VOLUNTEERS RESPONDING POLICY For every public safety function or problem there is a government agency charged with the primary response, control and mitigation. Some agencies use volunteers on a regular basis and others do not. Such regular or professional volunteers are generally expected to meet certain qualifications prior to acceptance and enrollment. We know of no public safety function in California provided solely by volunteers. Skilled volunteers, properly trained and registered, are a part of and support a specific public agency. Public agencies do not take kindly to unrequested volunteers showing up at an emergency. By the same token, properly registered volunteers do not self-dispatch themselves; they respond by authorization from competent authority. One of the prerequisites in California for a volunteer to serve a public agency is to first become a registered Disaster Service Worker in accordance with State Government Code 8580 et al. See your OES Coordinator for further information if you are interested. RB40-87 DEPORTMENT AND APPEARANCE WE ASKED SOME OES PROFESSIONALS IF THEY HAD ANY ADVICE FOR VOLUNTEERS. HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID: "TELL THEM TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY WHEN THEY COME TO THE OFFICE OR ANYWHERE ELSE TO WORK FOR AND REPRESENT THEIR OES. THIS MEANS A NEAT AND CLEAN APPEARANCE COMPARABLE TO OTHER EMPLOYEES. SINCE MOST VOLUNTEERS ARE ASSUMED TO BE EMPLOYEES BY OUTSIDERS, THEIR APPEARANCE AND CONDUCT MUST BE A CREDIT TO THEIR ORGANIZATION." IN SHORT, LOOK INTO THE MIRROR AND ASK YOURSELF "WOULD I HIRE THAT? AND IF SO, FOR WHAT?" 2. "NEVER REPORT FOR DUTY OF VISIT THE OFFICE WITH ALCOHOL ON YOUR BREATH." 3. "SPEAK FAVORABLY OF YOUR ORGANIZATION TO OTHERS OR NOT AT ALL. ON DUTY OR OFF DUTY YOU ARE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION IN THE EYES OF OTHERS." IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT, BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR SUPERVISOR IN THE OES. 4. "VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BE ADVISED AHEAD OF TIME THAT MOST OF US EXPECT A PRETTY FAIR DEGREE OF RELIABILITY AND COMMITMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AT A TIME AND A PLACE -- THEN DO IT." AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS A COUNTY THAT REQUESTED A DEMONSTRATION OF AIRBORNE ATV FROM A DISTANT UNIT. THE ATV TEAM ARE VOLUNTEERS WHO FLY THEIR OWN PLANE, FURNISH THEIR OWN ATV EQUIPMENT, AND PAY ALL OPERATING EXPENSES OUT-OF- POCKET. SIXTY VOLUNTEERS PROMISED TO ATTEND. LESS THAN 15 SHOWED UP. THIS IS A POOR EXAMPLE OF RELIABILITY, DEDICATION AND COMMON COURTESY. 5. "MAYBE I OUGHT TO SPELL THESE THINGS OUT TO VOLUNTEERS BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND IT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY" ADDS ONE OES OFFICIAL. THAT'S WHY WE ASKED THE QUESTION AND WHY WE ARE PASSING ON SOME OF THEIR REPLIES. RB87-19&20 STATEMENT OF MISSION [OF OES] The primary mission of the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the coordination of emergency activities to save lives and minimize property damage during natural disasters and other emergencies, and to expedite recovery from their effects. On a day-to-day basis, OES provides leadership, assistance and support to state and local agencies in planning and preparing for the most effective use of federal, state, local and private sector resources used in emergency operations. The OES functions as the immediate staff and coordinating organization of the Governor's Office in carrying out the state's responsibilities under the Emergency Services Act and applicable federal statutes. The OES acts as the conduit for federal natural disaster grants and other federal agency support. The OES also administers the state Natural Disaster Assistance Act (NDAA) which provides relief to jurisdictions in the form of grants to assist them in the repairing of roads, bridges, municipal buildings, and other public facilities. The program areas administered by the OES are: A. EMERGENCY MUTUAL AID SERVICES: - Provision and coordination of Mutual Aid (including RACES). - Development and utilization of emergency communications systems (including the RACES). - Development and implementation of emergency plans. The State, its 6 Regions, every county, and each city using Amateurs should have a RACES plan in accordance with the new model plan format. - Management and maintenance of state resources. B. ADMINISTRATION FIXED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PLANNING C. NATURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. RB 010 POLICY & PRACTICES for Management, Operations Staff, and Radio Officer This statement is intended to clarify the confusion about some Amateur Radio operators who have multiple public service interests, activities or responsibilities. A jurisdiction's RACES Radio Officer, assistants, alternates and their key management and operations staff accept their RACES responsibility as their primary Amateur radio public service activity by choice. They are free, of course, to belong to any organization, club, or allied activity that does not interfere with or detract from their RACES function--again, by their own choice. Not all Disaster Service Worker volunteers, of course, are key management or operational people as described above and thus are not expected by OES to place RACES as their priority activity of choice. Any jurisdiction has a right to reasonably expect their key volunteer staff to serve and respond in a responsible manner; to expect their volunteers to respond to them as their first choice--by choice. RB 011 USE OF ID CARD POLICY ALL STATE RACES STAFF AND OPERATORS INFO: ALL COUNTY AND CITY RACES IN CALIFORNIA The ID card issued by any California government jurisdiction to a RACES operator is for the official use only of that volunteer or employee while serving that or another government on a mutual aid basis. Please do not embarrass your agency or jeopardize the retention of an official identification card by using it to gain access or for personal advantage if you are not on official business for your agency. Infractions have a way of filtering back to authorities. One action of poor judgment can undo the hard fought gains of many fine volunteers. Good deeds are quickly forgotten but negative ones long remembered. There are reportedly counties which will not use volunteers because of one bad episode in the past. It is recommended that program managers and training officers in agencies using volunteers stress this subject of ID card use and misuse.RB87-39