[MRIC] Proposed Agenda for April 26

[brettham at aol.com]

All MD RACES Officers:

Our next MRIC meeting is scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2008 from 
10:30 until 14:30 in Frederick County. Our host will be James 
Devilbiss, Frederick RO. James, sometime in the next week or so, please 
forward the address of our meeting place so everyone can MapQuest it to 
get directions and travel times from their location. For the meeting, 
we will need a phone number for a local pizza delivery service to order 
lunch. Anyone that does not want pizza should plan to bring a bag 
lunch. Drinks will be provided.

Also, if you haven't done so already, remember to update your calendar 
to change the following MRIC meeting to November 15, 2008 in Queen 
Annes County. It was originally scheduled for a week earlier, but we 
changed it at our last meeting to accommodate more ROs.

As a refresher, to date we have:

1. Coordinated RACES frequencies.
2. Compiled contact information for all MD RACES Officers.
3. Standardized on a message form for inter-jurisdictional voice 
communications.
4. Established the Maryland RACES HF Voice Net.
5. Established the Maryland RACES Digital Net (MRDN) utilizing Winlink 
2000 email.

As set by the group, our objectives for this meeting are to finish 
specifying the architecture of the MRDN and specify equipment required 
so we can finish with the MRDN and move on to other MRIC objectives. 
Please find below a proposed agenda for our next meeting. Please let me 
know ASAP if you think there are any other items we need to add.

AGENDA for April 26, 2008
-------------------------
Welcome
Attendance
Review Agenda
Approval of Minutes
Updated MD RO Contact List
Updated MD RACES Frequency List
Update on Yahoo group for file sharing - Fred Bader
Coordinate HF voice net
Presentation on when to use 40/60/80-meter bands by Chuck Hodel
Demonstration of Winlink operating from Brett's truck.
Lunch
MRDN Network Architecture
Existing Winlink Equipment and Cost
MRDN Recommended Equipment List and Cost
MRDN Technical Support Group - Call for volunteers
EOC Recommended Equipment List and Cost
Next Meeting Agenda
Adjourn


You will note that I have added an agenda item to recommend EOC RACES 
equipment. This is a subject that several members have been requesting 
for over a year, and that we have been putting off until we can 
complete our HF voice and Winlink specifications so we know what 
equipment is required for those modes.

Here is what you need to do to prepare for the April Meeting:

1. Check your email daily for updates. I will send out the RO contact 
list, and frequency list shortly for your comments to include any 
changes since our last meeting. Do not reply via email, but bring your 
comments to the meeting and they will be incorporated at that time.

2. Review the attached minutes, and bring your comments to the meeting. 
They will be incorporated at that time.

3. Be prepared to let us know how you plan to implement the MRDN 
(Winlink) in your jurisdiction. MRIC voted last meeting that, as a 
minimum, you should have an HF station at your EOC. We need every 
jurisdiction to contribute so we can complete our network architecture.

4. In the next few days, I will email the recommended equipment list 
that the MRDN technical working group compiled a few months ago. Please 
review it and provide your comments to MRIC via email so we can address 
everyone's concerns before the meeting. Since our next meeting is not 
until November, it is very important we complete and vote on the 
equipment list at this meeting so jurisdictions can being procuring 
funds and equipment over the summer.

5. To the same end, it would also be a benefit to many if we could also 
complete work on specifying EOC equipment. I'll send an email regarding 
this shortly.

6. Please come with names and contact info for anyone you know that 
would be willing to work in the MRIC MRDN technical support group. This 
will be the people to contact when you have a problem with your Winlink 
system and need help from someone more technical. Note that they will 
only be obligated to support those jurisdictions that are using the 
recommended equipment as specified by MRIC. We need folks that are IT 
types to help with computer issues, HF RF experts, anyone experienced 
with Winlink, and anyone that can help with administrative work.

7. Please email to me a list of your current Winlink equipment so I can 
compile that for presentation at this meeting.

8. Assuming we complete work on the MRDN at this meeting, we will need 
to set our next objective and priorities for the November meeting. 
Please come prepared to contribute to this discussion. The only item 
still not completed from our original charter is: "Propose 
interoperability exercises". Please also come with other issues you 
believe we should work on. There was also a request earlier to look 
into Amateur TV.


Thank you again for your time, dedication to service and continued 
support. The last two meetings have been exceptionally enjoyable, 
positive and productive. I look forward to another such meeting in a 
few weeks. Drive safe.

Brett Hammond
Chairman, RACES Interoperability Committee (MRIC)