[MDC-EC] 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:   April          Year: 2010
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE


Total number of ARES members: 640
Change since last month: +2

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 8
Number of ARES nets active: 30
Number with NTS liaison: 7

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: K3UEZ, WR3F, N3SEO, KB3ENU, KA8YPY, KB3LJB, 
KB3FMJ, and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 24
Person hours: 160

Number of public service events this month: 5
Person hours: 142

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

Total number of ARES operations this month: 29
Total Person hours: 302

Comments:

Maryland-DC Section: The MDC Section conducted a Digital Exercise on 
Saturday April 24. It was geared towards encouraging those who haven't 
tried any of the digital modes to get on the air and check into one of the 
many local digital nets that were being held that day. During this exercise 
we simulated a "call for help" from an adjacent Section, gathered volunteer 
information, and put together teams and schedules for providing ARES 
support. We also tested Winlink to determine how well it would serve as a 
method for tying all the local nets together to exchange digital 
information across the Section. The lesson from this exercise is that more 
needs to be done to get the word out about how Winlink works, and how to 
use it. If any clubs / groups are interested in hearing more about Winlink, 
please let me know  I'd be happy to give a presentation on the topic.

Allegany County: For the monthly drills we also emphasize simplex 
operation, both VHF and HF. Of the 16 check-ins (plus W3YMW at EOC) we had 
13 check-ins on VHF simplex (3 by relay) and 6 check-ins on 10 meter SSB (1 
by relay).

Howard County: This month's one public service event was the annual MS Walk 
held at the Howard Community College. Participating ARES members were 
Alan-NG3B, Dan-N3LDC, Burt-N3NFV, Dan-N3YQ, and Rich-WR3F.

Anne Arundel County: Supporting the Cherry Pit 10-Miler were KA2JAI, N3WOF, 
N3HKJ, K3YLW, K3RUP, W0NQW, KG7XD, N3YSA, N3CK, K3NHT, KB3KWT, KA1FFO, W3NI 
& K3TED.

Kent County: KARS Tuesday Night Drill; All went well, worked Rock Hall 
Shelter Simplex for the first time; conditions must have been just right.

Anne Arundel County: ANAR County held 3 VHF Training Nets, 1 UHF Training 
Nets,  2 "AirMail" Training Sessions,  1 Antenna making Session,  and 2 
Staff Meetings in April.

Garrett County: Mark K3EE gave a presentation on DX operations and Shaun 
KB3CXQ gave a demonstration and presentation on using Logbook of the World 
at the April monthly meeting. 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

Carroll County: The Carroll Amateur Radio Emergency Team supported the 
Westminster MS Walk on Sunday April 11. Stations participating were Tony 
KF3AK, Joe KB3LNM, Chuck N3TOT, Phil KE3FL, Bill W2EGL, and Steve N3SB. We 
had very good luck with portable MT-63 digital communications  our first 
attempt at this during a public service event.

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)