Volunteer
Information
Number of volunteer hours as of 6 December 2009 - 215.0 Hours
After the attacks on 9/11, President George W. Bush announced the United States of America Freedom Corps (USAFC) during his 2002 State of the Union address. President Bush called upon all Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves.
I volunteer with the Denver Police Depts., Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS). The VIPS program falls under the USAFC program created by President Bush.
Within the Denver VIPS program is a ham radio team known as DAREC. DAREC stands for Denver Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. DAREC uses amateur radio's emergency communications capabilities to assist the Denver Police Dept in its mission to the citizens of the City and County of Denver.
Why do I volunteer? Let me start by stating why I don't volunteer. Unfortunately, the amateur radio community has a few ego-maniacs who show up with their porcupine (antennas sticking out from everywhere) looking automobiles, red and blue flashing lights, multiple radios clipped to their belts and think of themselves as "First Responders".
The definition of a first responder as defined by Wikipedia is a term used to describe the first medically-trained responder to arrive on scene of an emergency, accident, natural or human-made disaster, or similar event. Such people may be police or other law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical services.
No where in the above definition does it mention amateur radio operators, emergency communications operators etc. Sure there are many ham radio operators who are also police, fire and EMT....but they are police, fire and EMT first...and ham radio operators second.
Please understand I have nothing against hams who have multiple antennas on their automobiles, or multiple radios clipped to their belts. Emergency communications and amateur radio certainly have an important place and role to serve in this country. However, I believe it can be done with less ego.
So that is why I'm not a volunteer. Back to why do I volunteer? Anyone who knows me, knows my patriotism and love for this Country is something I take very seriously. I also have a very high degree of respect for our President. I remember his State of the Union Address in 2002. When he announced the USAFC program I thought about different ways I could participate. It wasn't until I became a licensed amateur (ham) radio operator that the two clicked together.
Through the Denver Police Depts. VIPS program I've met some incredibly talented people and learned a great deal of information. This information will be beneficial to my family, my neighborhood and my community during a time of emergency. I encourage everyone who is interested in participating in the United States of America Freedom Corps to do so. Use the links below to help get your research started.
USAFC - United States of America Freedom Corps. You can learn more about the USAFC.
MyVolunteerpage.com - From this site you can use the search feature to find volunteer opportunities in your local community.
Denver VIPS - If you live in the greater Denver area and wish to volunteer with the Denver Police Dept. visit this website for information and a volunteer application packet.
DAREC - If you're an amateur radio operator (or would like to become one) and interested in volunteering with the Denver Amateur Radio Emergency Communications group, please visit this website. DAREC holds a weekly NET on the N0PYY repeater on a frequency of 147.300 (plus offset, with a tone of 103.5) at 20:00 hours every Thursday evening.