[K3pzn-board] Services info and Use statement for communications vehicle

[Frank Rodski]

Steve
Please use and or change as necessary. Let me know if I can help further.
Frank K3MTT


The Carroll County Amateur Radio Club provides the following services:

1. 	Training of prospective new Amateur Radio operators (students can be any
age).

2.	 Certified Volunteer Examination Team to test applicants for FCC
licenses.

3.	Youth program to interest and train young folks in basic electronics and
communications skills with emphasis on becoming FCC licensed.

4.	 Health and welfare fixed/mobile communications for the many fund raising
events held by charitable non profit organizations in Carroll and
surrounding counties. It is estimated that the Carroll County Amateur Radio
Club has provided free health and welfare communications for over 600 events
in the last 25 years involving thousands of man hours. No charge was ever
made to anyone for  our services.

5. Carroll Amateur Radio Emergency Team (CARET) provides communications when
needed by the Carroll County Emergency Services Coordinator and is part of
the Carroll County Emergency Plan. The CARET group also runs the SKY WARN
network for Carroll County and works with the National Weather Service and
other counties and States to track and provide alerts of severe inclement
weather during tropical storms, hurricanes, tornado warnings, flooding etc.
Services may also be provided to any other county and/or State if needed.

6.	CCARC Emergency Communications operators provide their  own vehicles and
equipment at no taxpayer expense.

7.	A fixed high power shortwave station and several towers and numerous
antenna are maintained at the Emergency Services Center In Westminster. Its
purpose is to provide a base where both short and long distance
communications capable of connecting Carroll County government and welfare
agencies to like groups if needed. The station is maintained in a state of
readiness and is constantly being improved. It is capable of world wide
communications on all FCC authorized and Military Affiliate Radio System
frequencies at HF. VHF and UHF capabilities are also available.

8.	The CCARC also supports and maintains shortwave repeater systems capable
of handling emergency communications in the 145, 53, and 450 megahertz
bands. In addition, digital communications are supported through our Packet
Radio Digi-peter and Packet Radio BBS.

9.	The CCARC also maintains an Internet site  along with an Internet
Reflector System to disseminate information as needed.

10.	The CCARC also maintains a large generator mounted on a trailer capable
of being setup immediately on a disaster site to provide power for
communications and/or short term support until power is restored or county
officials set up more robust solutions.



Use of Communications Vehicle

A communications vehicle would be outfitted to provide instant
communications capability on as on needed basis to support the services
provided by the Carroll County Amateur Radio Club and explained else ware.
The capability of raising VHF/UHF antennas to s suitable height thru a built
in mast is especially appealing since this vehicle is likely to be called on
to go to low spots in the county were communications coverage is difficult
with repeaters let along simplex. There are numerous locations located up
and down the Patapsco Valley which have had major flooding and storm damage
over the years.

Although we depend on Club members to instantly provide working equipment
and emergency power, it would be even more prudent to have a known resource
ready to go in a moments notice. This vehicle would also be outfitted as
necessary to pull the generator trailer which is already setup with breaker
boxes and extension cables etc.