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The following is an ARRL article answering most of our questions regarding the background checks with the American Red Cross.
Atlantic Division Bulletin
April 16, 2007
Bulletin Number 2007-04
NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 16, 2007 -- In March, the ARRL posted its position statement regarding the American Red Cross background check policy for volunteers. This updates information the League has obtained about that program.
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, and Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, met March 20 at American Red Cross offices in Washington, DC, with two attorneys from the Red Cross General Counsel's office and two management-level staff members from Red Cross Disaster Services.
ARRL asked the Red Cross staff if ARRL ARES volunteers would be subject to the American Red Cross background check if they are providing communications for more than seven days. The position of the Red Cross is that ARES volunteers would not be permitted to provide communications at a disaster site for more than seven days without submitting to the Red Cross background check procedure.
Discussion was then held regarding the Red Cross announcement that credit checks and mode-of-living checks would not be conducted. ARRL's stated concern was that the ARC background investigation consent form states that a consumer report and/or an investigative consumer report which includes certain credit checks and includes mode of living checks will be obtained on the volunteer signing the form.
The ARRL team asked if the Red Cross would be willing to modify the consent form so that it limits the authority granted by the person signing the form to criminal background checks only. The Red Cross representatives did not indicate a willingness to modify the consent form.
The ARRL team also suggested alternatives to the Red Cross investigation firm, MyBackgroundCheck.com. ARRL was given an indication that the Red Cross is also unwilling to accept background checks conducted by other entities, because the Red Cross would be required to compare the methodologies of its selected entity with those of the alternative background-check provider.
ARRL reiterates its recommendation that members carefully review any consent document permitting a private organization to conduct a background investigation on that person. The current Red Cross background check consent form does include permission, without further consent from the volunteer, to conduct a consumer report and / or an investigative consumer report. The Federal Trade Commission and Federal statutes define investigative consumer reports as including a mode-of-living check as well as certain credit checks.
ARRL will not suggest what organizations or agencies should or should not be supported by volunteer Amateur Radio communications. ARRL does wish to facilitate the provision of volunteer services, however.
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The FCC has proposed reducing the regulatory fee to obtain or retain an Amateur Radio vanity call sign by more than 40 percent starting later this year. In a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), "Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2007" in MD Docket 07-81 released April 18, the Commission is proposing to cut the fee from its current $20.80 to $11.70. If ultimately adopted, that would mark the lowest fee in the history of the current vanity call sign program. The FCC proposed to collect nearly $290.3 million in FY 2007 regulatory fees.
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It may be a little early however!
Before we know it 2007 will soon be half over and we need to start thinking about club officers for next year. I'm afraid we'll be looking for a president, vice president and secretary, so please start giving this some serious consideration.
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I want to personally thank Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD, for presiding over the last three club meetings for me; for volunteering to be Vice President this year in the absence of Rusty O'Donnell, WB3EUQ and for volunteering to coordinate the Monday night ARES nets. Thanks Jerry !!
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Thanks and 73's,
Darrell R. Norris - WA3AJQ
President - 05 / 06 / 07
Minutes from last meeting: (April 3, 2007)
Are there any additions or corrections ? None
Richard Stinson - KB3KBC made a Motion to pay the REA Bill and Ron Carnahan - KB3JOE 2nd the Motion.
Emergency Coordinator: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF / Not Here
Net Coordinator: Jerry Kiehl, WB3DUD
Line up net control operators; review and update the monthly call sheets as necessary and forward the updated sheets to our web master for posting.
RACES: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF / Not Here
ECHOLINK: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF As per Robert ( Jerry Kiehl reported ) there is no Server at the 911 site - Rusty will have to get with them !
Darrell, WA3AJQ, has had l lot of problems with EchoLink in Florida with noise, loudness and off altogether. It appears to be on the Indiana end. He has Emailed Robert, KB3JOF explaining the situation. Our unit needs some serious adjustment.
Repeater Operation - Elmer Sorisio, KB3WG / Not Here
Mall Display: Robert Zugates, KB3JOF / Not Here
50 /50 drawing was won by: _Ron Carnahan -KB3JOE / Donated back to the club ! THANK YOU RON !!
Potential activities for 2007
MS Walk - April 22nd Ron Carnahan - KB3JOE / Ron reported everything went well !! THANK YOU RON !!
VE Testing -- Bill McMillen, N3QM - 1st Saturday in April & October / Larry Freeman - N3LT and Dave Dzelsky - N3DZ reported there was a total of FIVE that became Generals !!
Torrance Walk -- May? - There will be " No " Walk this Year, they called and canceled it.
ARRL Field Day -- June 23rd / Ron Carnahan - KB3JOE to be in charge of this ! THANKS RON !!
Club Picnic - September 16th ( Sunday ) @ 2:00 pm at Richard Stinson's, KB3KBC. What all will the club furnish?
Notes or comments?
If you know of anyone that would be interested in becoming a ham or would like to join our club, please invite them to our meetings.
If anyone has any ideas or something they would like to schedule for one of the future meetings, please submit your request to any one of the board members to be placed on the agenda.
Motion By: Richard Stinson - KB3KBC Second: Dennis Whitson - KB3LBQ
JOURNED At: __7:58_ PM. (Local time)
ATTENDANCE:
(To be finalized at the May Meeting)
| 1. Ron Carnahan KB3JOE | 4. Linda Kiehl ----------- | 7. Terry Carnahan KB3JO | ||||
| 2. Kim Frech ------------ | 5. Dave Dzelsky N3DZ | 8. Richard Stinson KB3KBC | ||||
| 3. Jerry Kiehl WB3DUD | 6. Larry Freeman N3LT | 9. Dennis Whitson KB3LBQ |
Respectively Submitted by:
Kim Frech, Secretary / Treasurer
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