KC8PD For a Final

AMINO Acids

Many of you may be familiar with amino acids.There are around five hundred of them and they are often called the building blocks of life because of the proteins that they form that are critical to growth and normal functioning of the human body.

What you may not know is that there is one type of amino acid that is problematic for us in ARES: The AMINO, or ARES Members In Name Only.

Consider some of their characteristics: quick to join, but never present when you need them. They never volunteer for events and you'll never hear them on nets or see them at training. They seem almost invisible. But they can be easy to spot when they brandish that ARES ID card that they insisted be issued to them.

They can be both corrosive and toxic. Corrosive because they dissolve even the strongest bonds that hold ARES teams together. They eat away at unit cohesion as active members question why the AMINO's are carried on the roster despite their lack of participation. Confidence in ARES leadership is weakened and it loses its ability to unify group members into a single, effective force.

And toxic because they can poison relationships, dilute respect for ARES both in the public eye and the amateur radio community, and with their venomous comments and conduct infect potential ARES recruits. These AMINOS's are quick to display their ID cards and brag about their involvement in emergency communications.They thrive on boasting to agency representatives and public officials about how they are the representatives of the amateur radio community, often while garbed in hideous outfits displaying more logos, slogans and symbols than a NASCAR driver.

Since they have virtually no involvement in ARES activities, they often misstate the purpose, role and methods of operation of ARES, whether at the local, district or section level. Even worse, they tend to question and ridicule the judgment and skills of ARES leaders, despite being clueless as to why or how operational decisions are being made or implemented. Their self-assurance tends to rise in inverse proportion to their actual knowledge.

Is there any good news? Yes! Just like many other acids, AMINO's can be neutralized. How? Each situation may be different but there are some common methods.The most important is that you have a well organized ARES unit that has written operational plans, holds regular meetings, training events, drills and nets, and provides its members with opportunities to be involved and feel respected and valued for the work they do. The hams in your community, agency reps and public officials, as well as the general public will recognize and respect your professionalism and discount the AMINO's unfounded remarks. Don't expect these acids to wash away quickly. It takes time and consistent effort to vanquish the last drops.

Sometimes it is also best to confront problems directly. Arrange a meeting with the vexatious AMINO and explain what your expectations are for them if they are to continue as ARES members and what the consequences will be if they fail to meet them. Then if they don't (and they usually won't) you can safely terminate their membership and have the ID card returned. Sad to say that for some of them their attacks on you might actually increase for a while but, other than for some-like minded hams, they will gradually lose their audience.

No matter what, AMINO acids can still cause damage to your team. Watch for it and as soon as you see it, begin dealing with it. Whether with ARES members or public officials, reach out to them, identify their issues and immediately address them and deal with them professionally. Sometimes the most effective antacid is your credibility, which you gain and develop by making reasonable representations about what ARES can accomplish and then following through effectively.

AMINO acids are a fact of life for all of us in ARES leadership. By being aware of them and prepared for them and then dealing with them promptly, your ARES team will be better and stronger.

-- Jim Aylward, KC8PD, District Emergency Coordinator, District Five, ARRL Ohio Section

www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2013-04-17#toc05