[CC-ARES-RACES] Station Grounding and Other Topics

[Flick, Darryl L.]

Dear CCARC and ARES Members,

	Rarely do I get excited about anything I read on eHam or QRZ (because I get a downer feeling when I read licensed operators making themselves feel good by publicly trying to make others feel bad), however I gotta tell you about a wonderful site featured on eHam.  I tried to capture the link and post it here, but was not successful.  Go to eHam and look at the area where they review and rate websites relating to amateur radio.  It is on the lower right side of the page.  One of the sites relates to grounding of radio stations, including surge protection.  The site is terrific and I learned a lot. 

	 As some of you know, I have always feared lightning (duh), and my property was actually hit 2 times in the same season while at our home in Issue, MD.  I am fortunate enough to report that I suffered no damage other than a few rattled nerves. Tide with bleach works great !!  Sharon (KB3GHI) was actually within about 20' of a strike, but was not injured.  Since then, I have been nervously cautious.  And then I hear those stories from Tom (W3TOM) describing his plasma balls, exploding TVs, and phrases such as  "...and when I woke up, I was on the floor 10' away with a nasty tingling and numb feeling across my left jaw and over my head."    

	In closing, does anyone have interest in a "CCARC Club House"? Or possibly referred as "CCARC Ready Room", or "CCARC Comms Center".  Could be our own place for meetings, training, parties, and with an actual operating station?  It would be great if we were able to do demonstrations and training on equipment that is CCARC owned, already in place, hooked up and able to be in operation within five minutes of opening the door.  This topic has been raised before however with our new concerns regarding a monthly meeting place, it may be a good time to think about this topic and how to make it happen.  I have always thought that the Radio Station Road Tower Building (that brick and CMU building at the base of the tower that houses the CCARC repeater) would be ideal.  Does anyone have any info or suggestions as to how we may inquire about use of this building?  Or with whom?  Or any other locations? Or if there is any interest at all?  During emergencies, there is only one place to report, which is ready to go. I feel our services would have a greater impact and a obvious value to the Charles County Government had we a central mustering post capable of being on the air immediately.  That is the general nature of emergency response. And with possible availability of grant money through the Department of Homeland Security/Office of Domestic Preparedness, this has the potential to evolve into a tremendous asset for our Club, the County, and for Southern Maryland. 

	While I had the podium, I thought I would take this opportunity to throw this one out to the masses.  I guess you will never know the answer unless you ask the question.

73 to all
Lee Flick
N3YWZ