Posted: 7/29/2009 8:38:52 AM EDT
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Hi all. I'm a new Ham (about two weeks). Tested up to General. I'm joining WashCo ARES and one of their requirements is an ARRL training course. Of course this is a paid course (stupid). As ARRL members get a discount that is almost the cost of ARRL membership I am likely going to join ARRL. However, I'm wondering if anyone has a good web/promo code to use on the ARRL application. The only one I've found is WB that doesn't seem to net me much. I'm hoping to find a discount on the membership or get something free. There was one that would let you pick a free book from their library but that one has expired.
Any help? Thanks, Brian KF7DUZ |
Congrats on your license and upgrade. 
I'm an ARES AEC and I can't see the point of requiring members to pay for the ARRL training courses. You don't even need a license to be an ARES member. The only courses you should be required to complete are the IS-100 and -700 NIMS courses. That's a universal ARES requirement per an agreement with DHS. We recommend -800 as well and require leaders to complete -200. Personally I'd be hard-pressed to join a volunteer organization that is going to require me to complete paid training at my expense. Seems like a great way to turn people away. While I have no personal experience I have heard from others that the ARRL EmComm courses are pretty lame. Maybe that's why they just did some major re-work on the advanced stuff. |
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Thanks.
This is basically a combined ARES/RACES organization. I'm going to press them a little on this paid training. Maybe they have a way to get it without paying. That was my thought also. If they make people take a paid training to volunteer they are going to get fewer volunteers. -Brian |