I hope Rancho Bernardans will appreciate and thank the members of the RB Emergency Preparedness teams for their exercises last week. We have a safe and secure community as compared to other San Diego neighborhoods; much in part due to the efforts of the RB Amateur Radio Services (RBARS), RB Emergency Preparedness teams, Citizens Band radio operators, and Neighborhood Watch block captains.

Each year, there are exercises every quarter by the RBARS group - nothing out of the ordinary, just their usual testing of equipment and personnel, of which most people are not even aware. Last week, Seven Oaks and its Emergency Preparedness team headed by Ralph Stewart, and Oaks North and its EP team headed by Frank Terschan, joined the effort. Neighborhood Watch people were encouraged to join in. The exercise lasted two hours. The exercise was declared successful. A RBARS team will be sent to the Centers to test and repair any faulty equipment.

What does this tell us? We’ve got incredibly dedicated men and women in Rancho Bernardo, whose first priority is your safety in any emergency or disaster. We owe them a lot. They also need your help. There are many areas where more volunteers are needed. Do you need any special training? No, just your desire to help people in time of need. There is, of course, training given to Citizens Band (CB) radio operators, as well as first aid courses. Volunteers who want to help in media relations, safety and security, evacuation center management, and many other facets of resident aid, call Jim Harmon, Emergency Preparedness Director at 451-9550. To become a 2-meter amateur (ham) radio operator, call Jim Scanlan at 485-0879.

Now, this was not a Country-wide or City-wide exercise like the one last November. This was Rancho Bernardo volunteers training to help all Rancho Bernardo residents. We are proud of our volunteers, and we should tell them how much we appreciate their help.

RBARS personnel on duty last Thursday: at Westwood, Jim Scanlan and Basil Frank; at Casa, Wally Thompson; at Eastview, Everett Harris and Stan Shaut; at Oaks North, Bruce Leonard and Irving Pregozen; at Swim and Tennis, Howard Ehlers and Jim Baker; at Seven Oaks, Claude Owens and Vern Sylvester; at Bernardo Heights, Bob Bleiweiss and Jerry Bobian; at High Country West, Bill Lakemann; and at Headquarters at the RB Library, Sam Miller and Dick Beym.

The Emergency Preparedness/Neighborhood Watch volunteers who played an integral part, as well, in this exercise: from Seven Oaks: Ralph Stewart, Ralph Parris, Esther Hayden, Ed Christensen, Bob Fritz, Joyce Gage and Ralph Fink. From Oaks North: Frank Terschan, Jerry Riordan, Raul Garcia and Bob Lindquist. Next time, can we put your name on this list? Your help is needed greatly.

Thanks to thousands of ticket sales last July, the RBARS team has purchased much-needed batteries; the EPP teams in Community Centers have purchased first aid supplies and replaced outdated equipment for helping residents. This is because of your generosity during our much-lauded and very successful Fifth Of July Giant Drawing at Webb Park.

Check www.RBernardo.com for the latest news.