[MDC-ARES] January 2010 FSD-96 Maryland-DC ARES Section Report

[Steve Beckman]

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
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ARRL Section: 
Maryland-DC               Month:   January                Year: 2010
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE


Total number of ARES members: 641
Change since last month: -8

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 9
Number of ARES nets active: 31
Number with NTS liaison: 7

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KB3FMJ, W3JCT, KA8YPY, WR3F, KB3ENU, K3UEZ, 
AJ3X, N3SEO, and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 29
Person hours: 248

Number of public service events this month: 7
Person hours: 91

Number of emergency operations this month: 1
Person hours: 24

Total number of ARES operations this month: 37
Total Person hours: 363

Comments:

Maryland-DC Section: Plans are being made to hold an all-digital 
communications test in late April. Modes will include MT-63, PSK-31, 
Olivia, EasyPal, Packet, etc. on both the HF and VHF/UHF bands. This test 
will help us understand how we can integrate the different digital modes 
being used locally, into an effective digital network at the Section or 
Division level. It's also being designed to encourage casual operators and 
beginners to participate, as well as seasoned ARES communicators. We'll 
have several training sessions to allow people to get their radios, 
computers, and software set up. Both Webinar training, as well as hands-on 
training/Digital Workshops at the Maryland State Convention on March 27th 
and 28th are being planned.

Garrett County: The Garrett County ARES net is held weekly on Sunday 
evenings at 8:00 PM on the Outback Repeater System (primary repeaters 
146.805 and 145.33 dup PL 123) all traffic is FM voice. Our monthly 
meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM

Wicomico County: Wicomico County RACES Activation  Activated during the 
search for the missing 11 year old child on Christmas Eve and Christmas 
Day. RACES members manned the Wicomico County Mobile Command Vehicle MC 1. 
This was technically a RACES activation, but ARES members helped in the 
search. This was a tragedy for our community, but the support from all over 
the state was heartwarming. Delmarva Emergency Net: Sundays at 6:30 PM 
using 3.905 MHz - Primarily stations on the Virginia, Maryland, and 
Delaware Eastern Shore. Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH, Net Control, Sussex County 
Emergency Coordinator, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Local Net: 
Delmarva Amateur Radio Enhancement Net every Monday night at 9:00 p.m.  The 
DAR Net is sponsored by the Delmarva Amateur Radio Club which is now an 
ARRL Affiliated group operating a repeater on 146.820 MHz PL 156.7 Hz. 
RACES/ARES/PROS (Peninsula Radio Operators Society)  Amateur Radio Course 
hosted by the Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) was completed with 
testing held on January 25. We have 3 new Technician Class and 1 upgrade to 
General Class. The class has decided to spend the next four weeks studying 
for the General Class with testing to be held at the Holly Center in 
Salisbury on Saturday, March 13. Boy Scout Merit Badge College  ARES 
members will be giving Radio Merit Badge course for the Boy Scouts at the 
Merit Badge College hosted by Salisbury University on February 6 with 
hands-on amateur radio on March 6. Last year we had 4 radio positions with 
a number of volunteers helping.

Prince Georges County: 1/5/10 - Hospital Training Net consisting of 14 
check-Ins on VHF, 11 Check-Ins on UHF and 8 Stations Check-ins with WL2K 
Airmail. 1/12/10 - Monthly Meeting with 14 members @ EOC. 1/19/10 - VHF 
Training Net, 7 Check-Ins. 1/26/10 - WL2K Airmail Training session @ EOC.

Kent County: On January 19th KARS had its monthly Tuesday night drill. Had 
4 Shelters, Hospital and EOC on the air. Fifteen (15) ARES/RACES personnel 
participated. All equipment tested OK. Also, sent and received 4 messages. 
All went well. On January 29th, a KARS member called for assistance from 
ARES/RACES to help locate two (2) Greyhound dogs, which were lost in 
Smyrna, DE. Three (3) ARES/RACES personnel answered the call; dogs were 
found unharmed but cold and returned to their thankful owner. (I understand 
that breed cannot take cold very long).

Baltimore County: The installation of the W3DHS D-Star repeater system, 
voice and data is underway. The repeater will by operational on or about 
the 20th of February. Frequencies 145.140 (-) 442.1125 (+). 1282.7000(-). 
Training opportunity open to all personnel all jurisdictions: An Emergency 
Communicator I class will be held on March 6, 2010 from 0900 to 1300 hours 
in Baltimore or Harford County. Course cover the following topics: 1) What 
is Emergency Communications 2) Roles of the Emergency Communicator 3) 
Essential Knowledge, Elements, Skills and Abilities 4) Technologies 
available to the Emergency Communicator 5) Protocol, Policy and Procedures 
6) Traffic Handling (formal and tactical). Registration opens February 1, 
2010 and closes on February 28, 2010. To register fill out the secure form 
located at the following address, 
https://bacoacs.info/addinfo/events/calendar/register.asp?CalendarID=10579.

Anne Arundel County: The BSA Klondike Derby public service event was 
supported by N3SEO, W3NI, K3TED, KA2JAI, K3RUP, AB3AC, W3MC, KA1FFO, & 
WB4APR on January 16th.

Signature: Steve Beckman
Call sign: N3SB
Email - n3sb at qis.net

Please send to ARRL HQ, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by 10th of the month
FSD-96 (1-04)