What's New?

As many of you realize, we have a Training Roadmap on this page that guides members as to the courses they should complete to be a more valuable member of the ARES team.  This document was recently modified to reflect SkyWarn training.  This document will continue to change as new courses become available that can help us do our jobs better and safer during a drill or an actual event.

In order to give credit to those that take the time and effort to complete these courses, the databases now reflect additional columns for each of the courses listed in the Training Roadmap.  As you complete the courses, send an email to Art Fregeau af1hs@arrl.net.   I will update the database with the information.

Those courses now found on the Roadmap will be tracked separately.

On courses you take from FEMA, when you pass a course you'll get both a confirming e-mail within a day or two, followed by a certificate about a week later.  All you need to do is forward that email to me; I don't need (or want) to see the certificate.  If you're not sure if you've taken a course or not, they are usually listed on the back of the latest certificate.

On SkyWarn classes, you'll receive a card designating whether you passed the Basic or Advanced Class.  Just forward me that information and the date you completed it.  Keep the card handy as a reminder that your certification expires after three years and that the course(s) must be retaken.

Likewise, on Red Cross courses, you'll receive a card with the Course name and completion date.  If it's one of the courses on the Roadmap, send me the information from the card.

This tracking is starting now.  Courses that you have already taken will be grand-fathered into the database.  If you hold on to emails from FEMA confirming a course, forward me the email.  If you don't have the emails anymore, let me know anyway: the course name or number and the approximate date you took it.  So, check out the Training Roadmap, see what you've completed and let me know.  Make a list of what you're missing and concentrate on getting them completed.  They are easy to take; all they require is a little bit of time and determination.  The Roadmap document has links to where you can locate many of these courses on the Internet.

When some major event happens and you're called upon to serve, you'll be familiar with the terminology and the reason why things are being structured and handled the way they are.

Thanks!!