Polk County A.R.E.S / EmComm

As the ARES Guidelines require, we must update our membership roster annually. In addition, we have been working to restructure our membership classifications and requirements. Our current records show that you are either a current Polk ARES member, or have previously indicated that you are interested in joining our organization. As a reminder, there are no membership dues to join ARES (however as we do not collect dues, we do not host picnics, etc.).
Please review the below membership information...if you are interested in joining or continuing your membership, please complete the attached Member Information form and return it by reply email or bring it with you to a regular meeting (held the last Thursday of each month, at the Polk County EOC) (for map and more info - http://www.polkemcomm.org/meetings.htm). We will be sending out similar forms on an approximately annual basis to ensure that our records remain up-to-date. In the meantime, should your information change, feel free to reply to this email or send an email to "info@polkemcomm.org"

All ARES members will be issued Polk County ARES ID Cards upon receipt of the attached form and a usable photo. Photos should be a 'head and shoulders' type shot of the individual, or one that can be suitably cropped - please do not send group photos. They can either be sent by email in a .JPG format, or we will be taking photos at our regular meetings and other activities. We are working with the County to produce these ID's, and they should be available at the August meeting for those who complete forms and submit photos in the next few weeks.

Polk ARES Membership Information:

The Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) minimum requirements for ARES membership are simple: members must hold an amateur license and have an interest in community service. Membership cards will be issued to all members who meet the ARRL's basic requirements, regardless of membership type. However, due to additional requirements from the agencies we serve, certain training must be completed prior to becoming a fully deployable member of the Polk County ARES organization. Therefore, in order to accommodate the spirit of ARES as intended by the ARRL while still providing a usable service to the Community, Polk ARES has set forth three membership classifications.

* Full Member: A full member in the organization has met all the requirements of our served agencies, and as completed all requested training. As such, a Full Member is fully deployable and able to serve in any communications capacity foreseen by the organization. Members seeking staff-level appointments may be asked to complete additional training beyond what is required for Full Membership. In addition to the ARRL minimum requirements, the following qualifications and training are currently required for Full Membership:
* must be 18 years of age
* must reside in Polk County
* must update membership information annually
* must participate regularly in meetings, nets, and public service events
* must complete ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Course Level 1 (Level 2 is recommended)
* must complete FEMA online Independent Study Courses or EMI equivalents:
* IS-100
* IS-200
* IS-700
* IS-800
* ICS-300 (staff)

* Associate Member: This designation is for members who wish to become Full Members, but are still working on attaining the requirements. This also encompasses "junior" members - those who are not yet 18 years of age.
* Supporting Member: This member classification is available for those who want to be a part of the organization but are unable to make a full participation and/or time commitment. This could include those who are employed in emergency services fields, have existing commitments to other emergency service organizations, are seasonal residents, or otherwise cannot meet the expectations of Full Membership. All membership types will be involved in all ARES activities including emergency response; it is just understood that Supporting Members may have primary commitments elsewhere.

Now that you've reviewed the new membership types, hopefully you've found one that can fit into your life! If so, then please complete the on online app below. The information collected on the form will be used to build our membership roster, contact you in the event of activation, and will not otherwise be shared outside the organization.

We hope to see you soon...73!

Robin Retzloff
AF1RE
Emergency Coordinator
Polk County ARES