The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Falmouth, according to FARA president Bob Courtemanche, N1WAT. Courtemanche signed the document for FARA; Fire Chief Paul Brodeur signed on behalf of the Town. The MOU designates FARA as “the official RACES organization to provide emergency and disaster communications support to the Town of Falmouth.”
In agreeing to the Memorandum, the Falmouth ARA will activate the Emergency Operations Center when designated club representatives have been asked to do so by the Fire Chief. According to Courtemanche, “volunteers must be sworn in by the Town to operate in any emergency situation, whether at the EOC or at an official town site. Emergency traffic will be handled over the repeater which will be closed for general use.”
“The Falmouth ARA has worked for over a year to reach the agreement with the Town,” commented Courtemanche. “Now we must show them that we are professional, prepared, and competent communicators.”
N1WAT requests that all members familiarlize themselves fully with the MOU which will soon be posted on the club’s web site.
—Falmouth ARA Newsletter, December, 2003