TO: Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
TO: Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
FROM: Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the California \Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Working with Government - 1/2

 EMC144
 DATE: 08/10/98

One of the most often received questions here at State ACS has to
do with volunteer groups working with a governmental agency. A
recent email expressed a common complaint: 'How can we get
noticed? The emergency management agency never seems to do
anything. What can we do to make them sit up and notice our
group?'

Actually, this is a common mistake on the part of the volunteer
group. The group will introduce themselves to the agency's
emergency management representative, stating that they represent
volunteer emergency communications for the area. Frequently, they
attempt to 'sell' the group to the official from the aspect that
'we are communicators', and close with a version of 'we're here
if you need us'. The group is frequently surprised and
disappointed when the phone doesn't ring.

It is a good idea to first examine the needs of the governmental
agency that you wish to serve. Our ACS Motto 'find a need and
fill it' is an often used expression here at OES, and we advocate
its use within any volunteer group. It's impossible to sell an
emergency communications group to management without knowing the
needs of the management. Too often, the presenters asking for the
unit to be used, assume they know the management needs, when in
fact they really do not. In today's modern communications arena
it's quite feasible for an agency to have a blind-sided view of
its communications need; meaning, in the real world they do NOT
perceive they need any help (no matter how shortsighted that can
be.) It should be obvious that if the agency perceives that it
doesn't have a use for your group, your telephone will not ring.

And the strange thing is, some agencies won't tell you that up
front, or at any time. They'll just say, "sure give us your
number and we'll call you."

What can you do to get closer to the agency you wish to serve?
First, take the ACS Motto to heart. Find a need of the agency,
and fulfill it. If the agency doesn't perceive that they need
communicators, they won't call you for communicators. Does the
agency have a need for planners, coordinators, trainers, drivers,
translators, or other personnel? Think of your group as unpaid
professionals in emergency management, rather than just as a
radio group. Your group can do more than just talk on radios;
when the agency see that, you'll start getting calls.

This approach in no way lessens your value as future
communicators to the agency. Rather it provides the door through
which services (needs!) are fulfilled (meaning you provide a
benefit). As the agency relies on your usefulness, a good leader
will find ways to expand that usefulness into the communications
areas as he/she becomes truly familiar with the agency needs.

We'll examine further some of the needs of government next week.