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The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. (AARA) is a non-profit organization, 501(c) 3, and a Special Service Club of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). AARA serves the Acadiana area, the State of Louisiana, and the nation in times of disaster, and exists to further the education and promotion of the science and technology of Amateur Radio. AARA participates in many public service activities by preparing for and providing communications for both Civil and Federal Government emergencies. Organizations supported by AARA include, but are not limited to the American Red Cross, Fire Departments and Las Enforcement Agencies. AARA has established this mobile communications system to serve the community as part of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. In non-emergency times, the vehicle will be used for demonstrations and promotions at schools, city and parish events. The AARA van project was undertaken recognizing the need for mobile communications in emergency situations when electrical power, telephone and cellular services are not operational or overloaded as in 1992 during Hurricane Andrew. It has been demonstrated that amateur radio operators provide reliable and dependable forms of critical communications that augment existing emergency services. From remote site radio support, to the passing of health and welfare information, we hope to enhance this service with the completion of the Mobile Communications Center. The AARA van, as envisioned, will be a self-contained multi-mode communications facility. It would have capabilities of operating from different power sources (commercial, generator, battery and solar). It would be able to monitor all amateur frequencies, local commercial media, NOAA weather, Civil Defense, Citizen Band and any other communications, which we are authorized to monitor. It would also be capable of communicating on all Amateur frequencies. Some of these frequencies are used for short-range local communications, while others are used to directly contact people in other parts of the country. It would also have access to some of the many Amateur satellites that are in orbit. The van would also have on-board food and water storage for operator sustenance. The van would be manned and operated by amateur radio operators who have licensed by the Federal Communications Commission under Part 97 of Title 47 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations). Acadiana Amateur Radio Association, Inc. Board of Directors