About Us
Who we serve | Why CARES works | Membership | Applications | Leadership Team | Contact us
Updated: 20 July 2024
Who we are
- We are a volunteer organization made up of licensed amateur radio operators with ties to Cupertino who have registered our qualifications and equipment for public service
- More than 60 of your neighbors who have formed an organized pool of amateur radio operators to provide reliable primary and backup communication links for the City of Cupertino and other agencies when needed.
- CARES was formed to serve the public. We serve the community without compensation of any kind.
- We vary in age (high school students to retirees), interests, and occupations.
- The only requirement for CARES membership is an Amateur Radio license and an interest in serving the community.
Our Mission
The mission of Cupertino ARES is to recruit, maintain, and train Amateur Radio volunteers capable of providing professional emergency communications, increasing the City's emergency response effectiveness, and speeding the recovery effort.
Our Objectives
- Planning: understand the risks to, and needs of the city, and align our activities to address these needs.
- Preparedness: that the necessary personnel, training, equipment, and procedures are in place and exercised.
- Response: provide backup and emergency communications to our city and served agencies in times of need.
What we do
- Provide backup emergency communications when regular communication systems break down or are overwhelmed.
- Handle message traffic for CARES' served agencies.
- Support the community with two-way communications.
- Establish ad-hoc communications links between officials who may not have a radio system in common.
- Provide communications for community service events and activities.
- Conduct training and drills as necessary to accomplish our objectives.
Who we serve
CARES has formal agreements with its Served Agencies. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been completed, reviewed, and signed with the following organizations:
- City of Cupertino, MOU
- Santa Clara County Fire Department, MOU
- Cupertino Sanitary District, MOU
- San Jose Water Company, MOU
Why CARES works
CARES members pride themselves on their professionalism. We are "amateurs" only by virtue of volunteering our time, skill, and equipment at no cost to Cupertino residents to help our city, community, and neighbors in time of need.
CARES is open to all Cupertino residents holding a valid FCC-issued Amateur Radio license. There are no annual dues or fees. The only requirement for CARES membership is an Amateur Radio license and an interest in serving your community.
Membership
CARES members are also Cupertino Citizen Corps Volunteers. As City Volunteers, we align our volunteer policies with that of the City.
Criteria to become a Cupertino Citizens Corps Volunteer
- Must be 16 years of age.
- Must be sworn in as a City volunteer or Disaster Service Worker.
- Must be able to follow instructions.
- Must be able to work in teams toward a common objective.
Criteria to become a CARES Member
- Registered Cupertino Citizen Corps Volunteer, at least 18 years old.
- Have a valid FCC-issued amateur radio operator license.
- Have your own radio equipment (2m/440 HT minimum) necessary to support the CARES mission.
- Complete the CARES Field Responder qualification.
Criteria to become a CARES Associate Member (under 18 years old)
- Registered Cupertino Citizen Corps Volunteer.
- Have a valid FCC-issued amateur radio operator license.
- Under 16 years: Participates in classroom meetings and training only.
- 16-17 years: Participates in meetings and training; exercises with parent or guardian.
Criteria for Active Membership
- Maintain a valid Disaster Service Worker with the City, AND
- Participate in 2 general meetings per year, AND
- Participate in 12 weekly nets per year, AND
- Participate in 1 drill, public service event, or activation per year
Active Members are familiar with the risks the City faces, CARES operations, how we perform, has the tools needed for a field response, and are ready to be successful with a field assignment.
Criteria for Reserve Membership
- Maintain a valid Disaster Service Worker with the City
Reserve Members may not have the time to devote to CARES to meet the Active Membership requirement. In the event of an activation, Reserve members may need time to refamiliarize themselves with CARES policies and procedures before receiving an assignment.
Applications
Interested in joining CARES? If you meet the requirements for membership above, then please review, fill out, and bring these 2 applicatons to one of our next General Meetings:
| City Volunteer Application | The Disaster Working Application (DSW) registers you as a Cupertino Citizens Corps Volunteer. This is required for CARES membership. |
| CARES Membership | This application gets you signed up with CARES. |
CARES Leadership Team
| Jim Oberhofer KN6PE |
Emergency Coordinator (EC) |
| Ken Foot KR6CO |
Assistant EC |
| Judy Halchin KK6EWQ |
Assistant EC, Training |
| Steve Hill KK6FPI |
Assistant EC |
| Tae Kang N6TAE |
Assistant EC |
| Marcel Stieber AI6MS |
Assistant EC, Comm Engineering |
| Brian Tanner AG6GX |
Assistant EC |
Contact Us
| cares@cupertino.org | |
| U.S. Mail | Cupertino ARES/RACES c/o Jim Oberhofer KN6PE 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 |
| Phone | Emergency Coordinator, Cupertino ARES/RACES 408 839 8798 Cupertino Office of Emergency Management 408 777 3335 |
| Radio | CARES Net every Tuesday night, 7:45pm to 8:00pm PST * Most Tuesdays: 440.150 MHz, + offset, PL=100.0, W6TDM (or 442.000 MHz + offset, PL=100.0 WW6HP) * Forth Tuesday: 147.570 MHz, PL=151.4, Simplex |
| In Person | General Meeting is the 1st Thursday each Month, 7:30pm to 9:00pm, located at: Quinlan Community Center, Social Room 10185 N Stelling Road Cupertino, CA 95014 NOTE!! Due to Covid-19, meetings will be held by Zoom teleconference until further notice. Members will receive the zoom link the week of the meeting. NOTE!! no meeting in July or August. Check the weekly net to confirm meeting agenda and schedule. |
Upcoming Activities
5 Dec 2024, General Meeting
Topic Year End Review, St Jude Parish Hall,19:30 to 21:00
2 Jan 2025, General Meeting
Incident Action Plan, Loc: TBD, 19:30 to 21:00