K7CEM-New

Fall is in the air and it’s time to consider warmer clothing and a nice hot mug of coffee.  Just to make sure we are prepared, we’ve ordered up some great new sweatshirts.  These are Jersey brand 1/4 zip sweatshirts with our Centralia ARES logo embroidered on the left chest and Centralia Amateur Radio Emergency Service on the back.  Thanks to Aldersons Award West Printwares for making this an easy process.

Back in 2008, when Centralia ARES was formed, our original team members received a Centralia Amateur Radio Emergency Service team member coffee mug.  While a few of these are still in service, many of our newer team members were recently upgraded.  These are 11oz mugs and are due to arrive just in time for full fall use.  As 2024 arrives in a few months, we will begin replacing our well used Centralia Police Department baseball caps for those needing an upgrade.  Thanks again to Aldersons Award West Printwares and Centralia PD for keeping us looking sharp!

Almost two weeks ago, Centralia Police Chief Stacy Denham “stopped by” our ARES coffee session at the local coffee shop.  This was unusual enough, but he asked if our ARES team could make time to be at the Centralia City Council meeting just a few days away.  This was the police department’s scheduled awards ceremony for officers and Chief Denham said he just wanted to introduce our team before the council so they would have a chance to see “their” volunteers in person.

On Tuesday, June 28th, our team arrived at the meeting looking sharp and ready to shine.  I was a little surprised when Chief Denham called me up before the council, but I figured he just wanted me to introduce the team.  Nope! Before the entire council and everyone in the audience and before all our ARES team members, Chief Denham presented me with the Centralia Police Department Volunteer of the Year award.  First, I would like to say thank you to Chief Denham.  Second, I would like to say I hate being embarrassed.  Third, I hate being surprised.  I was also a little surprised that some, if not all of our ARES team were in on the plan.

While I stumbled through the ceremony and accepted the congratulations from our team members (not all who have been forgiven yet) I had time to think about this award.  I know Chief Denham is proud of our Amateur Radio Emergency Service team and appreciates what we do, and as the Emergency Coordinator, I can see, perhaps, why I alone received the award.  Still, this award is not about one person, EC or not. It is all about an entire team of volunteers that unselfishly serve our police department, Riverside Fire Authority and our community.  No one individual gets paid.  We all train together month after month to be ready when disaster strikes and when the call comes, we all say goodbye to our loved ones and respond.  That’s what the Amateur Radio Emergency Service is all about.  That’s what volunteers do!   Most of our community doesn’t even know we exist.  Yes, they see our yellow vests and communication vans at events and parades throughout the year, but very few know what we do and why.

October will begin our 15th year as an ARES team, created in the aftermath of a devastating 100-year flood.  In nearly every one of those years our volunteers have given over 4,000 hours of service to the community annually.  I am VERY proud of the men and women in our ARES team and I am proud to serve as a volunteer alongside them.  I am grateful for this award but I am even more grateful for the volunteers I work alongside.  They are all heroes to me.  Thanks for all you do… every day.                                             Bob Willey, Centralia ARES Emergency Coordinator

There are plenty of fun activities to be found in the Centralia area on the 4th of July, just a few of which are the downtown parade, some amazing fireworks and the “I Ran From The Cops” 8K fun run and SWAT Challange.  With our communications van in place and set up by 6:30am, runners began to filter in, warm up and sign in for the activities.  Some runners were looking for a real challenge while others were just hoping to finish the race.  The morning was cool with some light drizzle from time to time but that didn’t seem to make a difference.  It is July 4th and it is a good day for a run.

Within the hour, other ARES team members began showing up for their assigned intersections along the run course.  These volunteers were a “visible presence” in their yellow vests.  Additionally, their job was to slow traffic and make sure all runners stayed on the course.  One part of the course created a special hazard with lots of large trucks and very little shoulder on the road so extra volunteers made sure each truck driver slowed down and paid attention to the runners ahead.  With most of the course passing through quiet residential areas, the runners had little to worry about especially with marked police cars and yellow vested volunteers watching over them.

The fun run began the day and lasted only about two hours.  Within a short time, our ARES volunteers were moving into the downtown area and changing assignments for the July 4th parade.  The 4th of July might be a relaxing time for others, but it was a very busy day for our Amateur Radio Emergency Service team.  Thanks for all you do to make our community safe!