[DCART] Monthly Nevada Section News Summary

[Dick Flanagan]

Nevada Section News Summary on February 10, 2006

See the Nevada Section website at http://nv.arrl.org for the complete
stories.

February 10, 2006 - ARES Monthly Report for January'06 SEC Summary - It
looks like the Nevada Section is hitting the ground running as the new year
begins. Many activities, mostly surrounding generating new hams and training
is on the drawing board all over the state. Planning also continues for
EMCOMMWEST 2006. The venue has been set, and the conference will be held at
the Atlantis Hotel and Resort in Reno. Publicity, website activation and
online registration will all be up and running during February. Forms have
already been sent to the ARRL so that this will become a league sponsored
special event. Invitations have been made to Director and Vice Director of
the Pacific Division, and other speakers and presenters are being arranged
for.

Having accepted the invitation, I plan on speaking to the SIERA Club in
Minden on February 16, and plans are being made to get together with the
Southern District folks on March 18 in Las Vegas. Our focus will be on goals
and plans for 2006 as a section and within the 3 districts. Doug KA7FOO
(Northwest DEC) is also planning a trip to Vegas sometime in April. Other
than that, the years first month got off to a fairly quiet start.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORT: January was mostly a slow month. Planning being
made and an agenda being formulated for meeting with SEC in March (already
noted). Also, Bruce, K7LAF ran a signal check using his 5 element beam
directed toward the 147.150 repeater on Mt. Rose. Hopes are to be able to
tie into the the Northwest District nets held on that system. Noisy signals
initially, but work will continue. Two day class held on ICS, provided by
the office of Emergency Management from Nye County. 4 people attended. More
upcoming training on the way provided again by OEM. Nye County ARES will be
having a drill in March which is being planned. Clark County General meeting
held on January 28 which included a tour of Emergency Communications Center.
Meeting chaired by AEC/Ops and training, Very, K0EGA.

NORTHWEST DISTRICT REPORT: January started off with a flood, as mentioned in
the December report in the Reno/Sparks area. Skywarn was activated at NWS.
Many members helped with the event. Many members also helped with the one
day Ham Cram class in Reno, held at the Washoe County EOC. Of the 34
students who took the course, 30 passed, including one 10 year old girl, the
daughter of Andy, KD7ZEV, PIO for the WADG club. Andy, together with Bob,
WA6MTY (AEC) and Frank Walsh, KE7AJO were lead in putting the class together
and organizing the effort, and did a spectacular job. First week in February
they are planning a forum for the new hams to teach them about how to get
started in the hobby. We wish to offer a tremendous thank you to Dick
Creley, KJ7UK, who stepped down as Douglas County EC. He is one of those
from whom you learn a great deal, and is an outstanding leader. Dick will
remain as ASEC for the Nevada Section, supporting the SEC. Thanks Dick! New
EC for Douglas county is now Glenn Thomas, WB6W, who is also ACC for the
section. Glenn is former SM for SCV Section and also DCART leader now, as he
takes the reins from Mr. Creley. Glenn is also responsible for caring for
the Nevada Section website, so he has his plate full. DEC is now working on
summer events and activities, races and etc. Also plans are being formulated
to fill vacant EC spots in the district.

NORTHEAST DISTRICT REPORT: DEC met with new licensee in Ely (White Pine
County) who is interested in cultivating a new organization there, which is
a much needed commodity. Link installed to the Elko Amateur Radio Club s
linked repeater system at the Barrick Goldstrike Mine s Emergency Operations
Center. The 146.85 frequency has been installed in the same radio utilized
for communications with the local public service agencies. This center will
be activated during Level 3 incidents where the formal incident command
structure would be utilized such as the recent coal mine disasters in West
Virginia. It is also activated for drills with the mine rescue team and
local agencies. Several licensed amateurs are employed at the mine, and
would act as control operators should this radio ever need to be put into
amateur service. Nice job Joe!

February 3, 2006 - Quartzfest06 Report - Yours truely (WB6W) ventured down
to the Quartzfest06 happening in late January. I didn't originally plan to
bore y'all with my vacation pictures, but the demand on the Northwestern
ARES net was dramatic. I've finally got the thing built, such as it is, so
enjoy my Quartzfest in Quartzite AZ pix and descriptions!

January 31, 2006 - Change of Venue for UNR Breakfast - the UNR Breakfast
will be moving to Denny's on Wells Ave just off I-80. It will still be at
7am.

January 28, 2006 - New Ham Swap e-mail list started - Paul Cavnar, NN7B
reports, "This is to introduce the ECNV ham radio regional e-mail swap list.
The list is for 'regional' coverage of be Northern Nevada, Northern
California, Southern Oregon and Southern Idaho. That way it is more
practical than a nationwide net since it also allows someone the ability to
travel a reasonable distance to pick up material for deals made within the
area. Of course, small items can be shipped for a lesser amount due to most
everything being within one or two days shipping time.

January 21, 2006 - The Ninth Circuit Court has ruled in a case involving PCS
towers, SPRINT PCS ASSETS V CITY OF LA CANADA, that a city may not deny a
telecommunications company a permit to construct and to install a wireless
antenna based on aesthetic considerations. I'm not a lawyer and it is not
clear to me that the legal basis of this decision would apply to an Amateur
radio tower. IMHO the basic principle may be applicable though. - de WB6W
(tnx to NG1Q for pointing out this case!)

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ARRL Nevada Section
Section Manager: Dick Flanagan, K7VC
k7vc at arrl.org
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