[DCART] ARES SEC Monthly Report (FSD-96)

[Dick Flanagan K7VC]

ARES SEC Monthly Report (FSD-96)

1. Section: Nevada (NV)

2. Month: April

3. Year: 2008

4. Total ARES members: 374 Reported

5. Changes since last month: +6

6. Number of active nets: 15

7. Total Sessions: 51

8A. Number of ECs/DECs reporting this month: 3DEC/9EC's

9A. Number of nets, drills, tests & training sessions: 45

9B. Number of volunteer hours: 551.5

10A. Number of public service events this month: 1

10B. Number of volunteer hours: 20

11A. Number of emergency operations this month: 0

11B. Number of volunteer hours: 0

12A. Total number of ARES/RACES events this month: 63

12B. Total volunteer hours: 665.5

Northwest District I DEC: Reported

Carson City: Reported

Churchill County: Reported

Douglas County: Reported

Humboldt County: Reported

Lyon County: Not Reported

Mineral County: No EC

Pershing County: No EC

Storey County: Not Reported

Washoe County: Reported

Northeast District II DEC: Reported

Elko County: Reported

Eureka County: No EC

Lander County: No EC

White Pine County: No EC

Southern District III DEC: Reported

Clark County: Reported

Esmeralda County: Not Reported

Lincoln County: Reported

North Nye County: Reported

South Nye County: Reported

Comments: SEC's GENERAL REPORT  (April 2008)

April seems to have been much more active than March. Had the pleasure
of 2 great road trips this month. The first was a visit to the
Northeast District in Elko, where ASEC Dick Creley KJ7UK and I enjoyed
visiting their breakfast meeting. They are planning great things for
Field Day this year in June, and are still working to strengthen their
skills and capabilities following the Wells earthquake awhile back.
Great team and good people there!

I also went down to visit with our members in Southern District, where
I was joined for dinner by Section Technical Coordinator and NARRI
director Kent Johnson W7AOR and DEC Glenn Hale KB7REO. Was able to
attend the Clark County ARES/RACES meeting where they are gearing up
for a very busy summer event season. Many activities going on down
there. Also attended the NARRI sponsored VoIP/IRLP conference at
Circus Circus. Learned a great deal about how this technology is being
put to good use for amateur purposes in wide area linking. Thanks to
all for the great hospitality!

We are still gearing up for EMCOMMWEST and are planning a special
meeting for all section DECs and ECs. Dennis Dura K2DCD from the
League will be joining us as we make future plans and get to see each
other face to face for the first time for many. Full report next
month.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORT- Glenn Hale, KB7REO, DEC Southern:

Met up with NV SEC Don KQ6FM this past month. Don traveled to Vegas to
meet with Clark County ARES/RACES members, and discussed what
activities were occurring with Northern NV and the upcoming EMCOMMWEST
conference. Been some concern over the Reno earthquakes within the
State. Southern District ECs were advised to monitor the situation and
be ready to provide any needed relay assistance.

South Nye Co. EC Report by Jerry KC6ILH - B2V (Baker to Vegas Race)
went well, getting ready for Field Day. Also planning for an active
fire season. Hope that it does not happen, but ready just in case.

Clark County EC Report by Charlie AA5QJ - Members, working with other
organizations, supported the ADA Tour de Cure Bike Ride on Apr 5 in
Henderson and Lake Mead area, and the Baker to Vegas Law Enforcement
Run on Apr 19-20.

New Icom VHF and UHF commercial radios and B&W HF antenna installed in
Emergency Communications Center at the Clark County Government Center.
Quarterly meeting was held Apr 12. Don Carlson KQ6FM SEC briefed on
upcoming section-wide events including a full-scale Health Dept
Exercise in Oct or Nov, Vigilant Guard exercise in June, EMCOMMWEST in
Reno May 3-4, and plans to update the State ARES Plan. Glenn KB7REO
DEC discussed a proposed MOU between ARES/RACES and REACT. Vern K0EGA
AEC Ops/Training said that Kentucky ARES (www.kyham.net) will process
any tests and provide certificates to members completing their
Emergency Communications online courses. We will accept the KY
training as fulfilling the requirement for the ARRL Emcom Level 1
course.

Jay KE7EGO AEC Henderson stated that the Clark County School District
is considering amateur radio equipment at several locations. Charlie
KH6AB AEC Mesquite briefed on their Open House on May 16, their
station at Mesquite Lutheran Church, and his encouraging members to
take CERT and ARRL Emcomm training. Jay KE7EGO, Gary KK7LV and Bruce
KY7B formed the committee to further Jim O'Brien's request to
formalize support of Deaf/Hard of Hearing persons in an emergency.
ARES/RACES pagers are still available from Glen WA7ZNT. Frank KL7IPV's
article on cabinetizing ham radio equipment in hospitals is now on
eHam. http://www.eham.net/articles/19032

Charlie AA5QJ EC briefed on the current state of Winlink and the new
RMS Pactor, RMS Packet and PaclinkMP software. He also reviewed
Outpost software as a simple email interface to packet mailboxes,
BBS's and Winlink. Tim W9AYK suggested we add more information to our
Monday night net checkins to include what repeater we are using,
equipment/antenna/power, and current location. This will increase
member familiarity with system capabilities, and entice members to try
new configurations to test their own systems. This will be implemented
in future nets. There were 41 checkins to the GMRS Emergency Net in
March.

NORTHWEST DISTRICT REPORT (Don Carlson, KQ6FM Acting DEC:

April has been a very shakey month around Northwest, especially in the
west side of Reno. A large swarm of earthquakes have plagued the area
almost daily. The largest was on Friday night 4/25 which was a 4.7. It
was felt as far away as Minden to the south and Fallon to the east.
Several of our hams in the area sustained some internal damage to
things inside their homes, but no injuries or call outs around Washoe
County. It has prompted more preparedness on the part of many of our
members and is keeping us on our toes.

More prep for EMCOMMWEST which will be here by the time this gets
submitted, May 2-4. The banquet has been sold out for several days,
and well over 200 pre-registrations have been received, so it should
prove to be a great year. A full report coming next month.

Churchill County Paul Wilcoxen - KE7CRZ: We are having ongoing
meetings regarding the Vigilant Guard 2008 exercise. So far we have
found some potential problems with communications but most have been
dealt with. The group here in Churchill has been on standing by in
case the Reno area experiences further quakes. We are monitoring the
situation in case our help is needed. Our meetings will now be
regularly scheduled for the third Saturday of each month, 10 A.M. at
Round Table Pizza in Fallon. I would once again like to thank
Otto-KV7J and Cynthia-KB7BZE for attending our meetings. We really
appreciate their attendance and the knowledge they share with us. I
would like to welcome Leo Lewis-WA6ZFV and Rachel Lewellen-KB6LHR to
the ARES group here in Churchill County. Leo and Rachel have extensive
experience with amateur communications as well as a long time
affiliation with the Red Cross. It s a pleasure to have you both in
the group! The Fairview repeater, 145.35 is still down and we hope to
have it operational in the next few weeks. Until then, we are
operating 145.35 simplex in the Fallon area.

Carson City/Douglas County Acting EC, Dick Creley, KJ7UK: Very quiet
month with no activities to report. Training continues with packet
communications abilities for many who are interested in being able to
interact with Washoe and other counties who are active in this mode.

Washoe County Bob Miller, WA6MTY EC: Training session Steve Matles
KC7FEN, Safety Officer for Renown Medical gave a presentation on
HIPAA, Kevin KE7BQX video taped the training session. Continued
attending Broken-Wing and Vigilant Guard planning meetings. Attended
NVOAD meeting. Performed packet and communication tests from Northern
Nevada Medical Center hospital EOC. Performed Amateur TV tests from an
area near scene of simulated airliner crash to the Airport EOC and
Regional EOC in preparation of Broken Wing exercise. Attended hospital
evacuation exercise and mega-shelter conference at the convention
center.

Humbolt County Ski Woytowicz, AF7NB: April was a very busy month. Lost
one member. Picked up two new members KD7MIO (Dick) and KD7ZJY (Gary)
as a result of our weekly UHF net. Remember - if you broadcast ...
they will come! New AEC appointments are WO7I (Tom) for Winnemucca and
KH6QAJ (Karen) is our net manager. Tom (WO7I) produced a coverage map
for the UHF repeater and announced that a new 2 meter machine (146.73
- PL 88.5) will be operational in approximately 6 weeks. Discussion on
the IRLP machine is still active with trying to find a home for it.
Harry Bell committed to attending EMCOMM's Technician licensing
session. Large interest by all to attend EMCOMMWEST. Field Day
planning on track. Pavilion planned for WalMart parking lot to run 3
stations. Technician license class planned for Humboldt, Lander, and
Pershing counties in Winnemucca. Date and time to be announced. Have
three people signed up for potential class.

Attended Winnemucca Safety Fair on 26 April 2. Good turnout. Recruited
3 more members for Humboldt ARES. Welcome to N6ZEM(Pat Henigin),
Michael Michaelsen (ham in training - reporter with the Humboldt Sun),
and Rob Johnson (ham in training - Instructor Trainer for American Red
Cross). One additional person showed interest and we may pick him up
next month. Thanks to ARRL for their support with brochures and flyers
(sent by FEDEX) for this event. Humboldt ARES now has huge durable
banner for future events.

Pictures were taken at the Safety Fair and also by the Humboldt Sun
for a story in the local Winnemucca paper. Communications demos
provided by KH6QAI (Michelle) and AF7NB. KG6JOF was busy assisting
American Red Cross at this event. KH6QAJ (Karen), KE7QHM (Ed), and
AF7NB (Ski) manned the booth. KH6QAI and KH6QAJ have also applied to
USAF MARS and were accepted. They are now in training as AFT6MK and
AFT6KY respectively. Tom Bunch (WO7I) has also expressed interest in
joining the MARS program. Discussion occurred around having more
meetings. Meetings are now scheduled for 5-10, 5-24, 6-14, and
6-21-2008. One can plainly see that we have become RADIO-ACTIVE! Stay
tuned for more next month.

NORTHEAST DISTRICT REPORT Joe Giraudo, N7JEH DEC: This was a month of
planning. Plans include the upcoming Field Day operation and
communication support for the numerous annual high speed open road
races to be held this summer. SEC and ASEC Don Carlson and Dick Creley
visited the Elko Amateur Radio Club on April 5 at their Saturday
morning breakfast and on monthly business meeting. DEC Joe Giraudo was
out of state for a large portion of the month. The Elko Volunteer
Examiner Team held an exam session on April 19. Five new licenses and
upgrades were earned. No one walked away empty handed. This session
included two upgrades to General and one to Amateur Extra. The Section
HF net on Saturday continues. Jerry, KC6ILH filled in as net control
for the majority of the month as Joe, N7JEH was out of pocket.

14. Signature: Don Carlson, KQ6FM - SEC

15. E-mail: kq6fm at charter.net
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc at arrl.org