The ARRL Public Service Enhancement Working Group (PSEWG) has requested comments and suggestions from all Section Managers (SMs) and Section Emergency Coordinators (SECs) regarding the proposed ARES Strategic Plan by October 31, 2018.

Providing service to others (e.g. Public Service communication support) requires adaptation to the evolving needs of those being served.

In his Positioning ARES for Serving in Todays World article (a free preview from the September 2018 issue of QST Magazine), ARRL Communication Manager David Isgur, N1RSN, writes:

With the advent of more uniformly functioning public safety organizations across the nation, more requirements imposed upon agencies and organizations assisting them, and the development of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS), ARRL was challenged to align the standards of ARES with current needs of our served partner agencies.

Cass County will be issuing new Radio Operator ID Badges for RRRA ARES participants. The issuance process for these badges includes a background check.

While these badges are not required for participation in ARES, they will be required for certain ARES deployment positions.

On May 19, 2018, 22 Amateur Radio Operators—led by KD0IOE and KC0SHM—provided public service communication support for the Fargo Marathon under the auspices of the Red River Radio Amateurs club.

These operators were stationed at 19 locations across the Fargo / Moorhead area. They tracked progress of the races and passed other tactical traffic. Some of the operators are depicted in the RRRA Fargo Marathon 2018 photo album:

On April 28 a group of RRRA members—led by N0IPC—provided communication support in the vicinity of West Fargo Veterans Memorial Arena for the 2018 MS Walk.

Five stations and a SAG vehicle were staffed by these operators. The SAG vehicle was donated by Gateway Chevrolet.