ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, was recognized by the Guayaquil Radio Club (GRC) of Ecuador for coordinating the work of the ARRL and of several other radio amateurs to provide Ham Aid equipment to Ecuador this past spring, following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in April.

“It was quite a surprise and honor,” said Corey, who was quick to share the credit. “The recognition really goes to the team that made it all happen — here at ARRL Headquarters, Ken Bailey, K1FUG; Sean Kutzko, KX9X, and Tom Gallagher, NY2RF — In South Florida Jeff Beals, WA4AW, and Kenny Hollenbeck, KD4ZFW — and most of all, Gunter Chanange, HC2CG, and the members of the Guayaquil Radio Club, who did the real work.”

Presenting the award during the IARU Region 2 General Assembly in Chile was GRC President Lorenzo Lertora, HC2BP, who is also Ecuador’s deputy defense minister. Lertora said the equipment provided through Ham Aid allowed Ecuadorian Amateur Radio volunteers to help a Venezuelan Air Force plane carrying search-and-rescue personnel and equipment to land safely at an airport that had lost all power and communication.

Some 400 pounds of Ham Aid Amateur Radio equipment valued at more than $7500 was shipped from ARRL Headquarters to Ecuador in early May to support relief and recovery efforts under way in the wake of the major earthquake that struck the South American nation on April 16. The disaster had destroyed or compromised electrical power and commercial telecommunication systems and rendered many roads rendered impassable due to earthquake rubble.