Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
I called Mr. Gorecki to hear Motorola's side of the affair. I was referred to someone else, who is apparently handling public relations for this issue. He apologized for five minutes to me. (That was way more than I needed for my own satisfaction.) He said that the remark was completely taken out of context, and that they had received hundreds of calls, letters, and emails about the remark. He also said that Motorola want to issue an apology via the arrl.org web site, but haven't heard back from the ARRL leadership yet, possibly because many of them are also in the hurricane-damaged area helping out. In other words, this is another tempest in a teacup. - Rob KE7EAG K2 #5004, in construction On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 21:51:31 -0700, EricJ [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Your post didn't include this quote from Mr. James Screeden who is a Vice President at Motorola working in the field, drawing a salary, and tending to the needs of his commercial accounts, NOT the suffering people of New Orleans. The hams also get little respect from telecommunications-equipment companies, such as Motorola Inc. Something is better than nothing, that's right, says Jim Screeden, who runs all of Motorola's repair teams in the field for its emergency-response business. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing. Mr. Screeden says ham radios can take a long time to relay messages and work essentially as party lines, with multiple parties talking at once. I think Mr. Screeden owes an apology for demeaning the hard work and dedication of those hams who go unpaid and unreimbursed to help in this and other disasters. Mr. Screeden should be ashamed, Motorola should be ashamed, and this mean-spirited insult should not go unanswered. You can contact the following person to let your views be known: Media Center Steve Gorecki Motorola, Inc. 847-538-0368 [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think the ARRL should demand a formal apology from Mr. Screeden and his superiors at Motorola, but I think every amateur radio operator should contact Mr. Gorecki and express your own thoughts. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Commo Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:23 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage... Highlights from a story in today's Wall Street Journal, As Telecom Reels From Storm Damage, Ham Radios Hum: ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com -- Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
On Fri, 9 Sep 2005, Rob Locher wrote: I called Mr. Gorecki to hear Motorola's side of the affair. I was referred to someone else, who is apparently handling public relations for this issue. He apologized for five minutes to me. (That was way more than I needed for my own satisfaction.) He said that the remark was completely taken out of context, and that they had received hundreds of calls, letters, and emails about the remark. In other words, this is another tempest in a teacup. Without the actual statement of Mr Screeden, are you willing to acccept the statement of the PR guy? Remember, one of the roles of the PR types is damage control. But, I suppose there are some of us that are more willing to accept the PR stuff as truth, with no substantiation of actual fact. From a PR/Spin perspective, the unamed someone else earned his money. 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page, Free Classified Ads for amateur radio, QRP IRC channel Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/hosting/ *** Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
I normally don't chime in on these things... My initial reaction after reading Mr. Screeden's comments was what a pompous jerk! But after re-reading the article, I think Mr.Screeden is referring to Ham radio is all you got left when he is stating pretty close to nothing and not being demeaning. I think the reporter put his comments out of context which they do to stir up the pot and keep their ratings up so that people come back for more. Motorola should not be apologizing (because I don't think his intentions were what the article leads us to believe). I think the media needs to apologize. The media is a joke. I know that this whole disaster has motivated me to take the ARES courses from the ARRL and get involved in our local ARES organization. My wife is even thinking of participating (She would make an awesome net controller!!!) Going back to lurking... Jason N8XE EricJ wrote: Your post didn't include this quote from Mr. James Screeden who is a Vice President at Motorola working in the field, drawing a salary, and tending to the needs of his commercial accounts, NOT the suffering people of New Orleans. The hams also get little respect from telecommunications-equipment companies, such as Motorola Inc. Something is better than nothing, that's right, says Jim Screeden, who runs all of Motorola's repair teams in the field for its emergency-response business. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing. Mr. Screeden says ham radios can take a long time to relay messages and work essentially as party lines, with multiple parties talking at once. I think Mr. Screeden owes an apology for demeaning the hard work and dedication of those hams who go unpaid and unreimbursed to help in this and other disasters. Mr. Screeden should be ashamed, Motorola should be ashamed, and this mean-spirited insult should not go unanswered. You can contact the following person to let your views be known: Media Center Steve Gorecki Motorola, Inc. 847-538-0368 [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think the ARRL should demand a formal apology from Mr. Screeden and his superiors at Motorola, but I think every amateur radio operator should contact Mr. Gorecki and express your own thoughts. Eric KE6US -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Commo Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:23 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage... Highlights from a story in today's Wall Street Journal, As Telecom Reels From Storm Damage, Ham Radios Hum: ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Jason: Re: The media is a joke. Amen. Having worked for several highly visible Government agencies, I was always amazed at media accounts of our activities. They were nothing like the real story. Thomas Jefferson once said that while he believed in freedom of the press, he thought that the media should be in four clearly marked sections, Truth, Probabilities, Possibilities, and Lies. 73, Steve AA4AK At 08:44 AM 9/8/2005 -0400, Jason Hissong wrote: I normally don't chime in on these things... My initial reaction after reading Mr. Screeden's comments was what a pompous jerk! But after re-reading the article, I think Mr.Screeden is referring to Ham radio is all you got left when he is stating pretty close to nothing and not being demeaning. I think the reporter put his comments out of context which they do to stir up the pot and keep their ratings up so that people come back for more. Motorola should not be apologizing (because I don't think his intentions were what the article leads us to believe). I think the media needs to apologize. The media is a joke. I know that this whole disaster has motivated me to take the ARES courses from the ARRL and get involved in our local ARES organization. My wife is even thinking of participating (She would make an awesome net controller!!!) Going back to lurking... Jason N8XE ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Well, someone else said the quote was taken out of context, though nobody has provided the context so I don't understand the basis for that claim. Here's the quote that we have from the WSJ: Something is better than nothing, that's right. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing. If you read other quotes from Mr. Screeden (google Screeden+Motorola), you will see that the quote is certainly in character if not in context. His job is to make sure Motorola customers are satisfied with their equipment, and that it is working. If emergency services are depending on ham radio, Mr. Screeden may think it reflects poorly on him. Lives are at stake. This is not a competition. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Hissong Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 5:45 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage... But after re-reading the article, I think Mr.Screeden is referring to Ham radio is all you got left when he is stating pretty close to nothing and not being demeaning. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Well, someone else said the quote was taken out of context, though nobody has provided the context so I don't understand the basis for that claim. Furthermore, I spent several minutes searching for a retraction or apology on the Motorola site and across the Internet and found no reference to it. I'm not saying there isn't one; just saying I couldn't find it. I sent a brief email to Jennifer Weyrauch, Director, Corporate Communications in which I commented on the irony of Motorola sending in repair teams to get its communication technology up and running while complaining above the the technology that was standing in its stead in the meantime. :-) Craig NZ0R K1 #1966 K2/100 #4941 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
On Wed, 7 Sep 2005, EricJ wrote: Your post didn't include this quote from Mr. James Screeden who is a Vice President at Motorola working in the field, drawing a salary, and tending to the needs of his commercial accounts, NOT the suffering people of New Orleans. A well meaning member of the list, sent me a copy of the Motorola PR response to the articleand seemed to have a real hard time understanding that the PR guy's response wasn;t the same as the actual quote from Mr. Screeden. So, I would think that until the actual quote, in total of Mr. Screeden is known, then it's real difficult to prove the reporter misquoted him. If we are suspect of reporters, we should also be suspect of PR people. 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page, Free Classified Ads for amateur radio, QRP IRC channel Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/hosting/ *** Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Point well taken and it appears that he may have been taken in the appropriate context. I find it ironic that he is stating this stuff while their equipment is of course not working anymore :-) This whole tragedy is really allowing ham radio operators to shine. It makes me proud of being a part of a hobby that can contribute to the health and welfare of those in need. There are those that would not be alive today if it were not for ham radio. Yesterday at work a guy came up and asked me if I was still doing ham radio. I told them you betcha! He told me that there are folks at his church looking for ham radio ops to assist in communications for something. He may be referring to ARES or the Salvation Army or whatever. He gave me a contact to get in touch with to help out and I plan to call them tonight and find out how I can assist. I have spoken to other coworkers and friends and they already knew that ham radio was playing a vital role in communications. I also sent a request to SATERN to join up an help in some way. They may have all the help they need, but if they need it, I can make phone calls or fire up the rig. 73, Jason Hissong N8XE EricJ wrote: Well, someone else said the quote was taken out of context, though nobody has provided the context so I don't understand the basis for that claim. Here's the quote that we have from the WSJ: Something is better than nothing, that's right. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing. If you read other quotes from Mr. Screeden (google Screeden+Motorola), you will see that the quote is certainly in character if not in context. His job is to make sure Motorola customers are satisfied with their equipment, and that it is working. If emergency services are depending on ham radio, Mr. Screeden may think it reflects poorly on him. Lives are at stake. This is not a competition. Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason Hissong Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 5:45 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage... But after re-reading the article, I think Mr.Screeden is referring to Ham radio is all you got left when he is stating pretty close to nothing and not being demeaning. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Well, CW or Phone, to the recipients of help it doesnt matter. So in that light I would like to pass along the following URLs and also an article that a ham from my former club sent to the clubs reflector. Hope you enjoy these. The main page of the AARL site has a nice list of stories to follow up on as well. Cheers, -rick, K7LOG From Computer_World_Wrapup * Ham Radio Volunteers Help Re-establish Communications After Katrina http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,104418,00.html?nlid=PM From a posting to the local VHF reflector up here. A nice story about a ham in Portland saving 15 lives. http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/050831ham_operator_530pm.wvx From another mailing of Computer_World_Wrapup a story of Dennis Motschenbacher, Marketing Manager (I think) for the ARRL. * Ham Radio Operator Heads South To Aid Post-Katrina Communications http://www.computerworld.com/newsletter/0,4902,104446,00.html?nlid=PM -- Highlights from a story in today's Wall Street Journal, As Telecom Reels From Storm Damage, Ham Radios Hum: With Hurricane Katrina having knocked out nearly all the high-end emergency communications gear, 911 centers, cellphone towers and normal fixed phone lines in its path, ham-radio operators have begun to fill the information vacuum. . . . In an age of high-tech, real-time gadgetry, it's the decidedly unsexy ham radio -- whose technology has changed little since World War II -- that is in high demand in ravaged New Orleans and environs. The Red Cross issued a request for about 500 amateur radio operators -- known as hams -- for the 260 shelters it is erecting in the area. The American Radio Relay League, a national association of ham-radio operators, has been deluged with requests to find people in the region. The U.S. Coast Guard is looking for hams to help with its relief efforts. Ham radios, battery operated, work well when others don't in part because they are simple. Each operator acts as his own base station, requiring only his radio and about 50 feet of fence wire to transmit messages thousands of miles. Ham radios can send messages on multiple channels and in myriad ways, including Morse code, microwave frequencies and even email. Then there are the ham-radio operators themselves, a band of radio enthusiasts who spend hours jabbering with each other even during normal times. They are often the first to get messages in and out of disaster areas, in part because they are everywhere. (The ARRL estimates there are 250,000 licensed hams in the U.S.) Sometimes they are the only source of information in the first hours following a disaster. No matter how good the homeland-security system is, it will be overwhelmed, says Thomas Leggett, a retired mill worker manning a ham radio in the operations center here. You don't hear about us, but we are there. While the Wall Street Journal Web site is by subscription only, the article is also posted on Boston.com at http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2005/09/06/as_telecom_ reels_from_storm_damage_ham_radios_hum/ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Guys, realize that Motorola is taking a lot of heat from this article, especially from in-house hams. There are many. Ham radio has been important to Motorola for many, many years. There are quite a few hams at Motorola - a few years ago the list even included the CEO (George Fisher). Motorola has made many excellent technical contributions to ham radio and I know that ham radio technology has flowed in to Motorola on many occasions. So, they are well aware of the importance of hams and the things we are quite capable of doing, and how much we have contributed to the success of the company. I understand that the article's author took the Screeden quote out of context, which seems par for the course, especially in the coverage of this disaster. Motorola has already issued an apology and correction. So give Motorola a break. They really are good guys, trying to do the right thing. On Sep 7, 2005, at 9:51 PM, EricJ wrote: Your post didn't include this quote from Mr. James Screeden who is a Vice President at Motorola working in the field, drawing a salary, and tending to the needs of his commercial accounts, NOT the suffering people of New Orleans. The hams also get little respect from telecommunications-equipment companies, such as Motorola Inc. Something is better than nothing, that's right, says Jim Screeden, who runs all of Motorola's repair teams in the field for its emergency-response business. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing. Mr. Screeden says ham radios can take a long time to relay messages and work essentially as party lines, with multiple parties talking at once. I think Mr. Screeden owes an apology for demeaning the hard work and dedication of those hams who go unpaid and unreimbursed to help in this and other disasters. Mr. Screeden should be ashamed, Motorola should be ashamed, and this mean-spirited insult should not go unanswered. You can contact the following person to let your views be known: Media Center Steve Gorecki Motorola, Inc. 847-538-0368 [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think the ARRL should demand a formal apology from Mr. Screeden and his superiors at Motorola, but I think every amateur radio operator should contact Mr. Gorecki and express your own thoughts. Eric KE6US - Jack Brindle, W6FB - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
On Wed, 7 Sep 2005 22:12:47 -0700, Jack Brindle wrote: So give Motorola a break. No way. Hit them hard. If the in-house hams have sounded off and we don't raise hell, they look bad. The Motorola comments were very bad, and a strong reaction is in order. Jim Brown K9YC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] News covering Ham operations on Katrina damage...
Then gripe at the writer who misquoted the guy. It is the press who are creating a LOT of misinformation about what is (and has) happening down there. This includes information about a Governor that doesn't know what she is doing and a mayor who is committing criminal acts and pointing fingers at others for his wrongdoings... OK, maybe we can get back to Elecraft issues? On Sep 7, 2005, at 10:18 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Wed, 7 Sep 2005 22:12:47 -0700, Jack Brindle wrote: So give Motorola a break. No way. Hit them hard. If the in-house hams have sounded off and we don't raise hell, they look bad. The Motorola comments were very bad, and a strong reaction is in order. Jim Brown K9YC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com - Jack Brindle, W6FB - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
