[K3CAL] Pictures from CF Bike event

Wed Oct 23 06:02:35 EDT 2013

Any paperwork is better than none.  Basic information such as arrive time,
first cyclist of each route at your assigned location or SAG vehicle
locations and instances during the event and secure time.  Our main
objective is get our ARES group prepared to fill out logs.  After an
actually activation of ARES or R.A.C.E.S. these log are required.  Another
reason we keep pushing for our members to complete NIMS 100, 200, 700 and
800 class offered online from FEMA.  Remember, training, training and more
training will make us a successful ARES organization.

Since the beginning of time, ARES Public Service Events are training
exercises.  One of the purposes of Cycle-for-Life was to  get ARES Stations
to get use to keeping records with ICS-213 General Message, ICS-214 Activity
Report and a SITREP forms.  

Personally, in the past two years with this event are depending on the
Repeater which totally unnecessary.  Generally,  operating procedure to use
Simplex for cycle events that are 100-miles or longer is quite normal.  Our
coverage area cover such a small foot print that there is no need to use a
repeater.  Generally, everyone is so excited at the end of a PS Event using
Simplex mode that they never want to use structured communication
(repeaters) again.

We made the Cystic Fibrosis organization happy with our service however we
were the 'Keystone Cops' behind the senses.  

*        Too many NCS Stations.  Generally there is just ONE which was
PLANNED that way.  However, CALV ARES has a member that continuity
interjecting his way or the highway method which is not a good our customer
or us.

o   We have procedures, rules, and organized methods to what we do.  

o   One station with an out-of-control ego issue can ruin an entire group of
people.  The rotten apple agony.  

*  Now is the time  for all CALV ARES/R.A.C.E.S. Stations to realize their
importance and relationships of EmComms and PS to remain a close net group
with one purpose in mind.  That is; We are PROFFESSIONAL COMMUTUNICATORS.
That is it.  It is not complicated.  Matter-of-fact, it is very easy for
everyone to remember.  

*  We are not rich boys with toys.  We are not amateurs!  We have taken our
FCC Amateur Radio License very serious and have a desire to help our
neighbors with our  skills and equipment.

*  A week earlier, a slide-0f-hand was attempted to take the PRAD Parade
away from CALV ARES and give it to CARA.  Why?  CARA is club not a EmComm or
PS organization.  Again, it is just egos without knowledge of the way the
Amateur Radio community do things in Amateur Radio.  This was a typical CB
Radio Club move, very unprofessional!  So silly and unnecessary yet very
damaging to EmComm in Calvert County.

*  CALV ARES/R.A.C.E.S members are strongly encouraged to become ARRL
Members.  The ARRL supports ARES.  Each issue of QST Magazine has articles
of ARES groups throughout the country and what they are doing.  

*  TRAINING is KEY:  If CALV ARES Stations know their role in EmComm & PS
Events such foolish methods occurring lately would not occur.  Hence, we
need to ensure  goals, training, value of Professional Amateur Radio needs
and overall objective are well known.  Otherwise, let's just stay a CB
organization like some people want us to be.  Doing so requires no work or
effort, an easy way where it is all talk and no cattle.

*        We had stations showing up not equipped.  We need to fix that.  We
need to teach the importance to be self-contained when we arrive on scene.
If a Hurricane Sandy had hit our county do we wait to be provided shelter,
electricity, foul weather gear, or anything else.  No, of course not.  We
arrive at our assigned area with proper equipment so we can be
communicators. There is much more involved doing PS or EmComms for us

o   If the repeater is inoperative do we pack up and go home.  Of course
not.  We are Professional Trained Radio people and need to learn things to
get to that level of providing value all the time. Are we there?  No, but
doing PS events with PLANNED purposes will get us to a level where we are a
huge asset for whatever is needed to be done.  That is,  communication
related.

*        We had people just leave there post without NCS permission or
knowledge.  Never a good thing.  Much more needs to keep this from
occurring.

o   At the PRAD Parade all three hams left their assign location during
preparation for the parade left to go eat.  Finally, one a fourth ham
arrived with an HT barely readable and was able to pass traffic with event
official recently coping the message.  More reasons we need more training.

*        We had the NCS leaving the NCS position at the Cycle-for-Life Event
to discuss matters with organizer officials.  Yet there was a second person
assigned with the NCS that left.  He went out and picked up bicycles - so
much for following the plan..  How did that happen?  And why?  What happen
to our objective of being Communicators?

*        We had Rest Stop people leaving to go to S/F without NCS telling
them they could.  All the while,  we had other stations that had just one
person assigned at Rest Stops that could have used a second person at their
location. Why do people just do whatever without calling and asking NCS
first?   A serious process needing fixed asap.

*        We did not start with enough personal but we had enough personal if
people could have been more cognitive of the comm needs elsewhere. There
were ARES Stations at home waiting to be called if needed.

*        WE ARE PROFFESSION COMMUNICATORS.  That is what we do.  We are not
free labor to organizations.  In other words, we are NOT janitors,
announcers, people who direct vehicle traffic, use our vehicles to pick up
stranded cyclist and their equipment.  Our sole purpose is to receive a
message and to transmit a message.  We do not care if it is the same message
over and over.  Our job is to communicate.  PERIOD > KISS RULE

There is a lot I left out but we seem to miss opportunities to teach EmComms
and PS Events.  If we had our scheduled ARES Meeting this month then maybe
some of these issues would not have happen.  You and I have talked about
this and WE need to fix the meeting issue asap!  The more PS Events we can
do will improve our skill set.

I have sent you one email addressed to you only where our objective was to
do ICS forms for this event.  Sent on 10/16 at 1:42 P.M.  There is a lot we
need to learn so that it becomes seconded nature.  We are ALL learning
together.  We need everyone's input to gain the synergies needed to our job
top notch.  We need to stop being the Keystone Cops! 

Remember, it is all practice till it is not.

From: k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of David Hardy
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 2:00 AM
To: k3cal at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [K3CAL] Pictures from CF Bike event

Duh. Station log? I'll cobble something together. Nobody said nuttin' about
a log. Did they?

David Hardydavehardy0101 at aol.com <mailto:Hardydavehardy0101 at aol.com> 

-----Original Message-----
From: n3qhc at verizon.net <mailto:n3qhc at verizon.net> 
To: 'Calvert Amateur Radio Association - K3CAL' 
Sent: Tue, Oct 22, 2013 1:19 pm
Subject: Re: [K3CAL] Pictures from CF Bike event

David  can send me some pictures or include them with your station log.

73,Dennis

From: k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
[mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net?> ] On Behalf Of David Hardy
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 4:40 PM
To: K3CAL at mailman.qth.net <mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net> 
Subject: [K3CAL] Pictures from CF Bike event

Not sure if this will accept pictures. But will try to attach one.  If it
works will attach more.  If not, who wants the pictures?

Dave Hardy

KB3RAN

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