The mission of Maine ARES is to provide supplemental, backup
communications support during times of disaster or emergency to
various emergency and disaster relief organizations in Maine, such
as Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the various county
EMA departments, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army,
the National Weather Service, hospitals, etc..

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service is open to any licensed
Amateur Radio operator who has a sincere desire to serve his or
her county and community in times of disaster or emergency.
Although possessing backup power capabilities is not a requirement
for membership in ARES, it is highly desirable.  Registration with
ARES indicates that you and your equipment may be available if a
disaster or emergency strikes Maine.

The Goal of Maine ARES is to develop trained, qualified amateur
radio operators, familiar with many modes of communications and
trained in the basic elements of emergency communications as well
as the specific needs of the agencies; and to provide a structure
through which amateur radio operators can be of service to their
communities.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) was established by the
American Radio Relay League to provide a cadre of amateur radio
operators trained and ready to provide essential communications
to the communities in which we all live.  Initially, hams 
enerally were the local experts in communications and could
respond to situations with the knowledge that they had more
equipment and expertise than those to whom they were providing aid.
Training beyond that required to become a licensed amateur radio
operator was not needed.  That has changed.

With the communications technology explosion of the past 20 years,
and the proliferation of cell phones, spread spectrum, and readily
available satellite communications, to mention a few of the
technologies available to our communities, our need for
specialized training and education has increased dramatically if
we are to be of use to the agencies and communities we wish to
serve.  The introduction of words and phrases such as Weapons of
Mass Destruction, Chemical and Bio-Terrorism, and Hazmat Incidents
to everyday usage in the American lexicon is a reminder that the
world we live in today is far different than our grandparent's
world.  Likewise the usefulness of the untrained and unaware
amateur radio operator wishing to provide emergency services has
diminished to the point that if we have no training beyond that
required for our license we will be viewed as a casualty waiting
to happen when we respond to an emergency.  Granted, the untrained
amateur can find a place in community service providing
communications for canoe races, bicycle races and parades.  In
fact these are excellent training venues for us to become familiar
with our equipment capabilities and limitations, to learn how to
operate within the structure of a net, and to learn some of our
own limitations.  Moreover, participation in these types of events
allow us to support our communities and to repay our society for
our privilege to operate our radios and to use the natural
resource of our radio spectrum. 

The sophistication of our served agency communications
infrastructures also makes them more vulnerable to attack and
failure.  Also, these systems are expensive and many of our
communities and agencies cannot afford to have all the equipment
they know they need.  Consequently, the need for us to be ready to
provide trained, reliable volunteers and communications has
increased, rather than decreased over the years.  Our communities
are waiting for us to respond as trained, professional
communicators, because in fact, we are amateurs only because we do
not and cannot be paid for our services.  We are no different than
our volunteer firefighters or emergency medical personnel.  We
expect a fireman to have received training if he or she is to
protect our homes, and none of us want an untrained EMT to respond
to our ambulance call.  Like us, many of these people are
volunteers.  Our level of expertise and ability to communicate
effectively has to be that of a trained professional if we are to
be of assistance in emergencies.

Max Soucia, N1KGS
SEC, 1998 - 2003