PRESS ROOM
HOT OFF THE PRESS
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2006 Releases
- 7/7/06
REACT Supports SOS Emergency Strategy
REACT International has linked with Midland Radio, D-CERN and NationalSOS to encourage grassroots neighborhood radio safety networks using inexpensive FRS radios.
Millions of the tiny, handy radios already in homes give people a means of communicating with neighbors when phones go out in major storms. SOS encourages neighbourhoods to create their own FRS emergency radio network in advance. It can be particularly helpful to seniors and the disabled in emergencies.
REACT recognized early on the potential of FRS to save lives, and has been proven right on a number of occasions. REACT advocated FRS-1(no tone) as an unofficial FRS distress channel. Midland later developed its 'Midland-1' program that encouraged operators to monitor FRS-1 as a call channel. D-CERN applied these ideas to create an effective emergency radio network in the Washington, DC area.
REACT Teams are being urged to include FRS-1(no tone) in their monitoring. Many REACT Teams use more powerful, licensed GMRS radios which can communicate with FRS radios to give greater range in emergencies. Ham radio and scanner operators extend the program's reach further.
"NationalSOS is a logical extension of REACT Teams' monitoring capabilities and expertise," REACT Executive Vice-President Ed Greany commented. "Using radio to help others is our mission and FRS-1(no tone) is a perfect fit."
The first SOS test using FRS-1(no tone) occurred in Connecticut on June 17, 2006 and was a major success. Similar tests in other states, particularly those susceptible to severe weather events, are at the planning stage.
Efforts are underway to make the program as widely known as possible before this year's hurricanes begin. Katrina's devastation of Gulf Coast communications last year prompted the creation of NationalSOS (www.NationalSOS.com) to prevent a repeat scenario.
2004 Releases
- 2004-0301: A
letter was sent to all Teams regarding important changes
in our umbrella liability insurance coverage. Please refer to that
letter for details or contact REACT International if your
Team did not receive the letter.
- 2004-0221:
Board announces new Dues Structure for 2005.
At the Winter Board meeting in February 2004, the Board unanimously
approved a reduction in membership dues for those families with more
than two members. Dues for the first two members (US and Canada) remain
the same as 2004, but dues for additional members of the same family,
residing at the same physical address will be only $5 each in 2005.
The new structure will not take affect until the renewal period begins
for 2005. Similar changes were accepted for our members in other countries
(outside USA and Canada) intended to make it easier to register all
members of their families as REACT members. This new structure
is similar in nature to that offered by other radio organizations.
- 2004-0221:
Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors held February 21. For
various reasons, only 3 of the 10 Directors were able to attend the Annual
Meeting scheduled for February 20-22. In order to conduct necessary business, on
February 20, the President created (in accordance with the Bylaws) a "Temporary
Executive Committee" consisting of Board Chairman Dick Cooper, Director Bob
Kaster, President Chuck Thompson (Director ex officio), Secretary Lee Besing,
and Treasurer Norman Kaplan. This Committee was charged with considering all the
items on the Board's Agenda, and making recommendations for the full Board to
consider (a fourth Director, Fred Lanshe, arrived late afternoon on Feb. 20,
and was added to the Committee by the President). On Saturday, February 21,
the entire Board was convened by teleconference, as permitted by the Illinois
Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, and considered and voted on each of the
recommendations of the Temporary Executive Committee. Full minutes of this meeting
will be posted on this web site within 30 days of the meeting and summarized
minutes will appear in the May/June REACTer.
2003 Press Releases
- 2003-0726: International
Convention - July 2003! Evansville, Indiana was the site
of our 2004 convention in July. Click
here for info about this great convention complete with riverboat
cruise on the Ohio River..
- 2003-0620:
W1AW/5 operated by Dallas County REACT - June 2003
During the largest Ham Radio event in Texas, HamCom in Arlington, ARRL held their National Convention and asked Dallas County REACT to utilize their equipment to operate as W1AW/5 during the convention weekend. Click here for story and photos. - 2003-0514: FCC
Petition - May 2003
Petition was filed May 9, 2003 by Paul Amestoy, Alan Dixon, and RK Leef, asking that GMRS licenses be made available once more to qualified 501(C)3 organizations (like REACT) to aid the (US) President's request for more volunteerism. Click here for copy. The petition said in part... - 2003-0514:
FCC Petition - May 2003
- Support Filing by RK Leef
RK Leef has filed a supporting letter in favor of the original petition. This petition has been approved by RI's General Counsel and now endorsed by REACT International for support by all members. Click here for copy. In part, Mr. Leef's letter said..."President Bush and many other leaders have asked for citizens to take part in volunteerism and homeland security, but groups that do this must have good communications to effectively carry out their activities. The purpose of our attached petition to the Federal Communications Commission is to permit licensing of volunteer emergency service organizations in the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), within the guidelines mentioned. It also asks to allow these and grandfathered organization licensees to use all available GMRS frequencies."
- 2003-0114: 2003 REACT Convention web site. Evansvile Indiana will be the site of the 2003 RI Convention, and you can find out all the details as they become available by checking out the web site listed under Conventions. Click here.
"FCC should now reconsider their ruling and make the necessary changes in GMRS regulations. The President and many others have asked for citizens to take part in volunteerism and homeland security. Citizens Corps, CERT, REACT, Neighborhood Watch, and other recognized volunteer organizations must have good communications to effectively carry on their activities. There must also be interoperability. This has been a serious need in recent emergency situations throughout the country. GMRS also has a demonstrated unique ability to communicate with FRS radios that are in common use by the public, and can pass information up and down the radio networks to and from them."
2002 Press Releases
- "The REACTer" Members from around the world wait for it to arrive. It's their way of keeping informed about team events and REACT news. And now, it's here on the web. Click Here for Info
2001 Press Releases
- 2001-0801: 2001 REACT Convention in Trinidad declared a success! See story and photos here.
- 2001-0617: Ecomm Level 1 Training Course is Released. Send a message to IWantEcomm@reactintl.org for clearinstructions on how to download this course. Restricted to downloads by REACT members only.
- 2001-0517: ARRL and REACT Sign Memorandum of Understanding. See story and photos here.
2000 Press Releases
- 2000-0703: The Changing Face of F.R.S.
- 2000-0616: REACT Suggests "Call Channel" on F.R.S. Radios
- 2000-0328: REACT Convention Targets 21st Century Communications