[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:   May            Year: 2011
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AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 652
Change since last month: -4

Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 9
Number of ARES nets active: 38
Number with NTS liaison: 8

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KB3ENU, W3JCT, N3SEO, WB3KAS, KB3LJB, K3UEZ, 
N3QHC, WR3F, and N3SB.

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 20
Person hours: 305

Number of public service events this month: 7
Person hours: 597

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

Total number of ARES operations this month: 27
Total Person hours: 902

Comments:

Maryland-DC Section: Field Day is right around the corner. It combines all 
the basic "4F"s of our hobby: Food, Fun, Friends, and Frequencies! Don't 
forget that Field Day is also about demonstrating and practicing our 
emergency preparedness as well. Be safe and enjoy Field Day!

Here's a reminder about the new Monthly Winlink Tests from Mike Liller N7NMS:

Starting June 14th, we will hold a monthly Winlink "net". It will be a 
monthly test that allows users and sysops to ensure their equipment is 
working. The test will be held on the second Tuesday of each month to 
coincide with the RACES COMMEX since most EOC's are manned during COMMEX 
and folks won't need to make a special trip to the EOC for another test.

The first Section-Wide Winlink test will be on June 14th. Winlink operators 
will have 24 hours to send me (n7nms at winlink.org) an email VIA RF ONLY. 
Telnet and web connections do nothing to test the system. Please do not use 
telnet/web unless you are reporting a problem with a gateway station you 
cannot access.

Please include the following info:
1) Call
2) Name
3) Type of station: Private, EOC, or other types
4) County and City
5) Winlink gateway and any digis or nodes used to access the system
6) Any issues or problems you had connecting to the system

EOC's and stations with RMS Relay capability are requested to simulate an 
Internet feature and forward some traffic via Pactor III to test their HF 
equipment as well. Stations With HF and soundcard capability are also 
encouraged to use Winmor to connect to the System. ALL operators are 
encouraged to participate in the test, so everyone dust off those TNC's and 
HF rigs, get involved and have fun!

73 de Mike Liller, N7NMS, ARRL Maryland/DC Section, Assistant SEC

Kent County: Ten ARES members supplied communications for the Chestertown 
Lions Poker Run Bike Event, on May 1, 2011. Held a Tech Class on May 14 & 
15, 2011 and tested on May 21, 2011. Had 4 pass Tech Test. Nineteen 
personnel supplied communications for the Chestertown Tea Party Committee 
on May 28, 2011. All operators received a lot of practice passing traffic. 
All went well!!

Wicomico County: RACES/ARES Communications Drill was held on May 10. This 
COMEX drill was the last exercise before the summer break. Wicomico ARES 
support for the Lower Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross is a high 
priority for this area. Wicomico ARES members attended the April 13 meeting 
of the Lower Shore Chapter. Wicomico County RACES/ARES found a 50 Foot 
tower for the Lower Shore American Red Cross. We plan to take the tower 
down by mid-July and relocate the tower to the Red Cross building in 
Salisbury. Delmarva Emergency Net: Sundays at 6:30 PM using 3.905 MHz - 
Primarily stations on the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Eastern Shore. 
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.

Anne Arundel County: ARES members KA2JAI, KB3VAQ, KB3RFX, N3USP, KB3QOU, 
WB3IGW, WA5VHU, KD5CCB, & KB3TEW supported the 2011 SPCA Walk for the Animals.

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 May 18. 
W9WHN HF NCS. On May 3, PRGE ARES participated in the Maryland Statewide 
Pandemic Flu Exercise. PRGE ARES supported five county hospitals and the 
County Health Department. The County Emergency Operations Center was 
activated for the exercise. ARES operators supporting the exercise were: 
AA3WS, KA3AHI, KB3BXT, KB3IIE, KB3NJK, KB3US, KB3VWG, N3ADF, N3WSG, NX3SS, 
W3CB, W3WFM, WA3YTK, WB3KAS and WI3N. On May 7, provided communications for 
the traditional, annual Marlborough Day Parade in beautiful downtown Upper 
Marlboro. Operators included: KA3AHI, KB3IIE, KB3NJK, KM3DR, N3JBX, W3WFM, 
WA3YTK and WB3KAS. On May 15, PRGE ARES members spent the morning surveying 
the 2011 Field Day site at the American Legion Youth Camp in Cheltenham, 
MD. We have arrangements made for bunk house facilities, indoor plumbing 
and showers, and unlimited places to hang sky hooks. This is an open 
invitation to all looking for a place to go for Field Day if you haven't 
already decided. Contact us if you are interested in attending: 
FieldDay at pgares.org. On May 26, the MDC Section Manager, WI3N, the County 
RACES Officer, KB3IIE, the AEC for the Hospital Project, KA3AHI and I met 
with Prince George's County's Director of Homeland Security, Mr. Brian Moe 
and his staff for purpose of enlightening him and his staff of the 
capabilities ARES brings to the table. . .When All Else Fails. A very 
fruitful meeting.

Cecil County: 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.

Calvert County: Special Recognition to Vince Thrasher/KB3FS to be given at 
breakfast meeting June 18 at Dreamweaver Restaurant @0900 for 57 years of 
Amateur Radio service. CARA has supported EMCOMM since it was founded in 
1954. Vince is a Charter member who continually supports CARA, RACES and 
ARES activities.

Howard County: On Saturday, May 7th, Howard County ARES supported the 
Diabetes Associations Tour De Cure event in the county. The event featured 
three courses of various lengths running through western Howard County and 
was supported by 22 hams. On May 22nd, HoCo ARES supported the Columbia 
Triathlon with 15 members providing communications.

Carroll County: On May 9, Joe KB3LNM gave a presentation to the CCARC on 
The National Traffic System, and how to handle NTS messages.

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)