[MDC-ARES] Maryland-DC Section FSD-96 SEC Report

[Steve Beckman]

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
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ARRL Section: Maryland-DC               Month:   July           Year: 2011
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 643
Change since last month: 8

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

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KB3ENU, N3SEO, N3QHC, KB3FMJ, WB3KAS, KB3LJB, 
and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 13
Person hours: 295

Number of public service events this month: 3
Person hours: 280

Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Person hours: 0

Total number of ARES operations this month: 16
Total Person hours: 575

Comments:

Kent County: Thanks to Bob Lovell KB3ENU for his service as EC in Kent 
County. Bob is stepping aside to make room for "new blood and new ideas." 
Kent County has one of the largest populations of ARES members, due in part 
to the efforts that Bob has put into the organization. Thanks again Bob!

Anne Arundel County: ARES Members KA2JAI, K3TED, K3YLW, K3WD, WA2ILU, 
WA5VHU  & N3SEO supported the county Fourth of July Parade.

Calvert County: SKYWARN and SKYWARN Net Control classes are being planned. 
A MDC QSO planning meeting was held on 7/30 @ 0800 at iHOP in Prince 
Frederick for upcoming event on August 13 & 14. Field Day was held at the 
Drum Point Emergency Communication Center with several CERT volunteers. We 
were visited by State Delegate Anthony O'Donnell and Regional Administrator 
Kelly McGuire of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

Garrett County: Pam Viner (N3HFC) reviewed the protocol for the N7NMS 
monthly HF test of Winlink 2000 with use of RF only. The group reviewed 
upcoming September activities (home school presentation at Library and the 
Savageman Triathlon). We discussed lessons learned from the 2011 Field Day 
event, took a written survey of topics for future GCARES meetings, and 
reviewed an article from the Sydney Morning Herald "Ham Radio Far From Over 
and Out", which presented examples of Hams helping in emergencies. We then 
shared how we got started in Amateur Radio. Member Dick Bolt (W1DGA) 
presented his experiences constructing a portable HF antenna built out of 
leftover materials. The Garrett County ARES (GCARES) monthly meeting is 
held at the Garrett County Southern Rescue Squad located on route 135 east 
of Oakland Maryland. The next meeting will be Monday July 11th at 7:00 PM. 
The GCARES net is held weekly on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM on the 146.805, 
dup PL 123 and is linked to the WAN and Target Link Repeater Systems. All 
traffic is FM voice.

Prince Georges County: Held four regularly scheduled training VHF nets on 
146.61MHz on Tuesdays at 1930L. One Hospital HF net on 3.8205MHz on July 
20. July 5 held our Third Quarterly Hospital Drill. Five hospitals, and the 
health dept were staffed by ARES operators: N3WYG, KB3NJK, WA3YTK, N3ADF, 
NX3SS, KB3SEL, WB2IFS/3, WI3N, N3WSG, W3WFM, WB3KAS. KA3AHI as IC, 
providing instructions and directions for the drill. July 8 represented 
ARES at the monthly Prince George's County Citizen Corps Council meeting. 
July 11, held a special one-on-one training session for our Vice Director, 
W3TOM on the "way of Winmor!" July14, represented ARES at the State's 
Attorney Crime Victims 5K Walk in preparation for providing communications 
for the event scheduled for October 8. July 23, held a Winlink 2000 
training session on Paclink and Winmor: attending were NX3SS, WA3YTK, 
KB3NJK, W3CB, WB3KAS July 27, presented a "What is Ham Radio" presentation 
to the American Red Cross at the Hyattsville office. Over 30 ARC volunteers 
in attendance and 10-15 expressed interest in obtaining an Amateur Radio 
license. July 28, ARES attended a special planning meeting for October 19 
Annual Capital Shield Exercise. ARES will provide communications at all 
county hospitals and the committee is looking for communications support 
from outlining counties who will also be participating in the exercise.

Cecil County: After a two-year hiatus, we were again asked to provide 
communications support for the Diamond In The Rough Triathlon being held in 
Perryville, MD. This event took place on Saturday, July 9. We had 12 hams 
volunteer. They were Ken, KX3B, Jasper, KB3WCD, Lynn, K3TKE, Jeff, KB3LFG, 
Don, K3DON, Glen, N3YJ, George, WA3IGC, Bill, KB3JME, Henry, KB3NYW, Craig, 
NW1A, Bob, KE4RDK, and George, KB3LJB. We were able to get assistance to 
riders who crashed and received high praise for the assistance we provided. 
We even got a very nice write-up in the Cecil Guardian 
(www.cecilguardian.com July 14, 2011 issue). Also, again this year, we have 
been asked to provide communications support at the North East Maryland 
Triathlon being held in North East, Maryland on August 14. We are also 
looking for volunteers to help support monitoring the bicycle courses at 
this event. This is a wonderful way to learn/practice your EMCOMM skills 
during an actual event that simulates communication requirements during an 
actual emergency. If you can help at either, or both, please contact me via 
e-mail (kb3ljb at arrl.net). The Cecil County ARES group holds a weekly net 
every Sunday evening at 2000 local on the WA3SFJ repeaters (146.850- PL 
107.2, 449.825- PL 167.9, and 53.830- PL 94.8). Primary will be the 2-meter 
repeater. All within earshot of the repeaters are invited to join in 
regardless of ARES membership. Following the net we have a Swap Shop "net" 
where hams are invited to list their ham-radio-related items for sale or trade.

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)