ARLA/CLUSTER: Conferencia Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communication regista enorme sucesso

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

GAREC 2014 a huge success

The *Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communication* (GAREC) conference, held
in Huntsville Alabama USA, shared many informative presentations, videos
and discussions on recent experiences plus some media interest.

Organiser Greg Sarratt W4OZK said the local television station interviewed
IARU Region 1 Coordinator Greg Mossop G0DUB, ARRL Regulatory Information
Manager Dan Henderson N1ND, and himself, for the evening news program.

GAREC-2014 was hosted by ARRL Alabama Section and the Huntsville Hamfest
Association. It was attended by delegates from all three IARU regions.

Greg W4OZK said that besides routine items such as IARU regional reports
and a desktop exercise, presentations were received on many interesting
topics.

These included Emergency Communications as an element of promoting Amateur
Radio, the Salvation Army's SATERN program digital modes and remote control
operation, the US Defence Department use of the Military Affiliate Radio
Service (MARS) for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, and a
combined Emergency Services Dispatch Centre providing interoperable
communications.

During the conference and in open sessions a number of themes began to
emerge and were discussed.

These included the importance of meaningful conversations with served
agencies to ensure that their communications needs are met, and to focus
attention on Amateur Radio as a trusted partner in emergency response in
all phases of the communications life cycle.

The use of social media was also discussed as a medium to send near
real-time information on an event which does not compromise our
relationships with the served agencies.

The promotion of GAREC itself including video on social media could broaden
the knowledge of this important annual event.

There were reports on Brazilian floods, the Super Typhoon Haiyan in the
Philippines, the role of radio amateurs in the Thailand flooding and
restoration of HS0AC.

The delegates reaffirmed that every country had different disaster response
needs reflecting their unique situations and operational standards.

The IARU HF Emergency Message Procedures, which has elements such as net
operation procedures, standard messaging protocols and activation
protocols, should continue to be developed to establish baseline standards
between countries and regions.

These recommended best practices are not intended to replace existing
Standard Operating Procedures but to enhance them.

The conference recognised that more needed to be done to reach out to its
served agencies to promote the emergency communication role of Amateur
Radio.

The role of Amateur Radio in emergency communications is constantly
changing. It must continue to adapt to the needs of its partners including
embracing emerging technologies and new challenges.

All GAREC participants past and present are invited to submit their ideas
or examples of local best practice to the next conference in 2015.

GAREC participants recognise that to recruit the next generation of
emergency communicators, strong emphasis needs to be paid to recruiting new
licensees to the hobby with attractive program training and support. This
includes the development of youth and mentoring programs.

Greg W4OZK said the delegates recorded their thanks and appreciation for
the generous hospitality of ARRL Alabama Section and the Huntsville Hamfest
Association, for a successful conference on August 14-15.

The next and 10th GAREC will be in Tampere, Finland in June 2015.
All groups and organisations involved in emergency communications are
invited to attend to share their knowledge and learn from others.

The final program is at http://www.w4ozk.com/GAREC14_Official%20Program.htm

All presentations will soon appear on the website
http://www.w4ozk.com/GAREC14.htm

*Jim Linton VK3PC*
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