WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE #25-09
MONTHLY REPORTS ARE IMPORTANT
The following is an open letter to all ARES personnel in the ARRL West Central Florida Section from our Section Emergency Coordinator Dave Rockwell W4PXE:
“Dear ARES® Members,
Why report should we report our activity in providing public service radio support?
Reporting volunteer hours is crucial for several reasons. These hours are recognized by
counties, states, and federal officials, demonstrating the value of our contributions. Each
volunteer hour equates to a $34.08 (on average nationally) benefit to the organizations we
support, highlighting the economic impact of our efforts.
Additionally, public service hours are being used to support the passage of The Amateur
Radio Emergency Preparedness Act of 2025 (H.R. 1094 and S.459), aimed at eliminating
restrictions imposed by Homeowners Associations (HOAs). Your reported hours are
essential in showcasing the importance of amateur radio in emergency preparedness and
response.
Every ARES member should report their volunteer hours through their county Emergency
Coordinator. These coordinators should then report the hours and activities to the Section
Emergency Coordinator (SEC) using the ARRL Form 2 online or the WCF forms available on
the section website, https://arrlwcf.org/. As SEC, I send a summary of these reports to the
ARRL®. The League uses these reports to advocate for all amateur radio.
What we do is important. Our sponsors and supporters rely on the work we do. Many
counties have used the volunteer hours to justify purchasing radio equipment, ensuring we
are well-equipped to handle emergencies and disasters.
Every hour spent volunteering improves our abilities to respond during emergencies and
disasters. Therefore, it is imperative that your ARES® hours are reported accurately.
Please make sure your ARES® hours are reported.”
For the PDF version of this letter you may go to http://arrlwcf.org/download/wcfares/W4PXE_SEC_Letter_2025-04.pdf