ARES ConnectReporting and Information System

Problems We don’t know if ARES is growing or shrinking We can’t measure the results of effort to promote ARES Discussions with Partner Agencies – Difficult

Need to make presentations to secure MOU agreements Can not state actual number of ARES participants Can not report on actual number of emergency events Can not report the number of exercises ARES holds

Causes loss of credibility

Primary Causes Monthly reports – FSD - 212

Missing Incomplete Erratic Inconsistent Statistics Membership numbers inaccurate Activities are under and over reported

Reasons for Not Reporting Nothing Changed We had no activity We reported last month It takes too much time I forgot Nobody reads my report Nobody cares It’s not important

The Solution Make it easier Make it interesting Automate Provide more user accessible data Provide Results of reporting Involve ARES Participants Reward effort

The Solution On-line Reporting System

Field provided inputs Accessible to all ECs and ARES Leadership Staff Real time report generation Document Storage Membership Rosters Off-line Capability Expandable

Obstacles NIH syndrome

If we did not invent it, it’s not good enough We already have a reporting system What we have works okay for us We don’t need all that data HQ is trying to spy on us HQ wants to control everything It must be Perfect

Design Considerations Evaluate Existing Field Systems

Look at features Examine data collected Review report generation

Consider Available Field-Created Options Will existing systems serve our entire organization? Lifelong Sustainability

Who does maintenance? What is expected term of service? What happens if provider fails or quits?

Evaluate Commercial Systems Review All Available Vendors

Look At Features Adaptability to ARRL Needs

Product Features Event Scheduling Event Calendar Individual Time Reporting Group Activity Measurement Feed to Calendars

RSS, Google Feeds Group Communication

E-mails Alerting

Report Generation Managed in and by the Field

Supplier Selection Evaluated Three Vendors

One stood out clearly above others Provided all requested features

Choice Made By HQ Staff Carr Engineering’s “Volunteer Hub”

Event-Driven Volunteer Management Endorsed and used by many Organizations

Field Accessible Processes USER

Self Registration Register for Events Report Event Participation Hours

ADMINISTRATOR Approve Registrants

Assign to County

Create Events Assign Hours

Generate reports

Special Note Eliminates Double Reporting

Individual’s Efforts Flow to the Served Community The Effort is Applied in the Community With the Need

Resident of County “A” serves in County “B”, “B” gets credit Individual Always gets Credit for Service Time EC can Access Individuals’ Time Reports

EC can monitor Mutual Aid effort

Current ARES Connect Status Short on staffing

Group leader departed Working diligently to load counties/parishes

Bi-Weekly newsletter introduced Distributed to SMs and SECs ARES Connect Status Reports Product Plans

ARES Connect - Live

Key Features Outlined

Feedback - Questions