How to get started as a Ward Communication Specialist

[AZ Prepper]

What has your ward/stake done to help Ward Communication Specialists get started and better fulfill their callings?

Please share your thoughts, ideas, etc.

[KE4JSX]

If you want to become an ECS, talk to your leadership. Are you a ham? If not, check ARRL.org and see about getting started. Ask around to see if you have a local ham club and where they meet. It's an amazing hobby and much simpler to get into than in days gone by. And if you are a ham, then see about getting your ward/stake communicating!

ECS - Emergency Communication Specialist. Generally a ham radio operator. This is where we are in the Waynesboro, VA stake:

The first thing I did was to locate as many ham radio operators in each ward. Being the Stake Emergency Prep person, we (stake presidency and myself... and recently Elder Marriott) determined that emergency communications would be top priority within our emergency plans for the wards and stake.

From there, we had an Eagle project to get 2m J-pole antennas (w/ mast and cable) at each building. All ham operators will know the location of this equipment just in case they happen "to show up/asked to report/happen to be there" when EmComms are needed.

Next, the goal is to have an ECS called for each Bishopric as well as for each member of the Stake Presidency. These callings would be to hams due to the distances that the radios will cover. I have a whole power point presentation that I have shared in a Bishops training this past January. Not sure how to make it available here, but I'd be happy to send it to you privately. As we get more hams, we will set up ECS districts so that the different geographic areas of each unit can have info collection points that would minimize travel.

My next goal is to start ham radio classes - as soon as Seminary is over and I get released - (tough call, but CES determined that Seminary would be a singular calling and I let the Stake make the decision as to where they want me..... )

Dan - KE4JSX

[Imamom]

We don't have any currently. Emergency communications is, to my knowledge, lumped together with the general emergency preparedness calling.

Our ward does do a radio check-in once a month on hand-held walkie talkies for anyone in the neighborhood that wishes to participate, but that bothers me as a sole emergency communications plan for several reasons.

One, it may be fine for checking up on neighbors and communicating within the neighborhood, but it does not have the ability to relay information outside of our immediate area. If there is a genuine emergency we will need to communicate our status and needs for help much further than we could with a walkie talkie.

Two, even with the walkie talkies, very few members of the ward in general have them and participate in the check in. There is no set plan in place for checking on those without communications abilities and reporting back. I think there is a danger in assuming that because a few people have walkie talkies, everyone will be taken care of.

Three, putting all your eggs in one basket has never sat well with me. I prefer to have a plan, and then a backup plan, and then a backup for my backup.

But that's me.

As far as having an offical callling just for emergency communications- that's a new concept for me. I wonder if it would be seen as too bold to suggest that perhaps we might want to create that calling, especially in a ward that is somewhat resistant to preparedness in general. Maybe though, it might work well to simply let leadership know that you are licensed and what equipment and communication abilities you have "in case it is ever needed". At least, that would have to be my approach in my ward.

[smootian2]

As far as having an offical callling just for emergency communications- that's a new concept for me. I wonder if it would be seen as too bold to suggest that perhaps we might want to create that calling, especially in a ward that is somewhat resistant to preparedness in general. Maybe though, it might work well to simply let leadership know that you are licensed and what equipment and communication abilities you have "in case it is ever needed". At least, that would have to be my approach in my ward.

Imamom, your post deserves quite a bit of response, as this topic is growing massively in importance within the Church.

I'm going to quote some material from the Provident Living website to give you a flavor of what the Church is seeking at the ward and stake level, that you may wish to share with your preparedness people and local leadership. Here's the first one:

http://www.providentliving.org/conte...1133-2,00.html
Preparing for Emergencies


Emergency Communication


To ensure that local units of the Church are prepared to maintain communications during emergencies, Church leaders should:

•	Call an emergency communications specialist, where circumstances warrant.
•	Set up and maintain means of emergency communication that will enable leaders within the ward or stake to communicate with each other and to communicate, as needed, with others outside the ward or stake. This communication system should periodically be tested for effectiveness.
•	Ensure that the stake has the ability to contact the nearest bishops’ storehouse. Generally, amateur radio is the best alternative when telephone service is not available. Stakes are not encouraged to purchase their own radios, but they should attempt to identify members who own and are licensed to operate amateur radio equipment.
•	Prepare a list of telephone numbers that might be needed.

For questions about procedures for amateur radio equipment use or frequencies, contact your local bishops'storehouse or Emergency Response Communications at 1-801-240-3870 or 1-801-240-3544.

[smootian2]

Ok, here's a biggie from Provident Living:

http://providentliving.org/pfw/multi...cation_pdf.pdf
Guidelines for Emergency Communication

During an emergency, normal means of communication may become inoperable. Priesthood
leaders should consider:
• How to contact missionaries and members following a disaster.
• How to communicate the status of missionaries, members, buildings, and other necessary
information to area leaders.
• Available communication personnel and equipment.
Communication Specialists
Priesthood leaders may call communication specialists as needed. Individuals interested in
communications often own radio equipment and possess valuable experience.
Additional Resources
Satellite Telephones - Storehouses in the United States and Canada have satellite telephones.
In other Church areas, satellite telephones are available in administration offices for emergency
use.
Amateur Radio – Some storehouses in the United States and Canada have amateur radio
equipment and conduct regular network exercises. For information, contact your priesthood
leader or regional welfare specialist.

[smootian2]

Here's the reference to the Church's FAQ (factsheet) on Emergency Communications. Much too much content to post, so here is the url for you to check out:

http://providentliving.org/content/d...4413-1,00.html

It's under Provident Living Home / Emergency Preparedness and Response / Emergency Communications section.

There! That should give folks an idea of what is going on. As I'm involved in this at the Storehouse - Stake level, I get to see what is happening -- the Church is building up capability in ham radio to use it as an alternative way of staying in contact from HQ down to the stake, sort of a "belt-and-suspenders" approach. And they are getting the word out to the stakes to incorporate emergency communications into both stake and ward communications plans/procedures. Obviously, depending on how well the word does get out, and local leadership priorities, these activities may have a higher or lower priority in your area.

Radio, whether ham or FRS/GMRS, is only one element of overall emergency preparedness planning, but it is an important element. For it to work at the stake level, the stake leadership must be able to communicate both ways, up to area leadership, and down to the wards/branches. At the ward level, the same pattern: the bishopric must be able to communicate upward to the stake presidency, and downward to all elements of the ward. Also obviously, how the bishopric stays in communication across the ward/branch will vary, depending upon a lot of factors.

In our stake, each ward is divided up into "blocks", and there is a "block captain" for each, as well as for the bishopric and key leaders. They all have FRS radios, and we have periodic check-ins, run by the ward emergency communications specialist (ECS). Every week, we also have a stake-level check-in by the stake ECS, for all the wards -- we use VHF ham radio for this. Then the stake ECS reports in to the storehouse specialist over our area.

Of course, that is close to the ideal; then you run into the issues of other priorities, people forgetting, etc., so even if it is working ok today, maybe not so well next month or whatever. Just one of those things that will be really important if something bad happens, but doesn't seem very important right now.

[Imamom]

As an update, I got called yesterday as my Ward Emergency Communications Specialist. Yeah!!!!

Thank you for all the info on this thread which will help me to set up my position and fill it properly.

[AZ Prepper]

As an update, I got called yesterday as my Ward Emergency Communications Specialist. Yeah!!!!

Thank you for all the info on this thread which will help me to set up my position and fill it properly.

Very cool! Congrats!

Now we'll be expecting you to share your knowledge, experience, etc here on the forum to help others!

[FireDad6]

Thanks for all the information. I have been a HAM operator for almost 3 years. I moved to the Idaho Falls, Idaho area in 2011. My wife and I met with our stake President to renew our recommends back in May 2011. I found out that I am the only active HAM operator in my Stake.

My Bishop called me to be the ward Emergency Communication Specialist/Coordinator/Director. I was set apart yesterday.

Reading this thread will help me to get things rolling.

I am really excited about this calling.