ARRL Oregon Section Manager Everett Curry, W6ABM, has told the Section’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service Emergency Coordinators that Oregon ARES/RACES will continue to work with the Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OOEM). Curry’s statement comes nearly a week after the OOEM severed its working relationship with Oregon Section Emergency Coordinator Vince Van Der Hyde, K7VV. Van Der Hyde remains as SEC.

“Nothing that OOEM has done alters your commitment to your served agency — in most cases your county — and the commitments of Oregon ARES/RACES to work with you in meeting the commitments made to your county,” Curry told the ECs. “I will work with OOEM for the present.”

State Communications officer and Oregon RACES Officer Terry Pietras, W7JOC, wrote Van Der Hyde on November 9, informing him that OOEM had decided to sever the relationship between Van Der Hyde and the OEM Amateur Radio (ARES) Unit. Pietras cited Van Der Hyde’s decision not to participate in a November 12 OOEM drill to test RACES emergency communications capabilities and operations.

In a November 16 joint OOEM/ARRL Oregon Section statement, the OOEM stressed that its relationship with Oregon ARES/RACES continues. “We…are committed to work with and develop this relationship to enhance emergency communications capabilities throughout Oregon,” said the statement, signed by Curry and OOEM Manager, Operations and Preparedness Section Matthew T. Marheine.

Curry said he plans to meet with Marheine this week. “It is my expectation that we will achieve the mutual and respectful working relationship that we desire,” he said. He said he hopes to appoint an Emergency Coordinator for the OOEM Amateur Radio Unit soon.