[NevadaARES] ARES SEC Monthly Report (FSD-96)

[Dick Flanagan]

1. Section: Nevada (NV)

2. Month: March

3. Year: 2008

4. Total ARES members: 379 Reported

5. Changes since last month: +4

6. Number of active nets: 14

7. Total Sessions: 86

8A. Number of ECs/DECs reporting this month: 3 DEC/10 EC

9A. Number of nets, drills, tests & training sessions: 69

9B. Number of volunteer hours: 551.5

10A. Number of public service events this month: 1

10B. Number of volunteer hours: 15

11A. Number of emergency operations this month: 0

11B. Number of volunteer hours: 0

12A. Total number of ARES/RACES events this month: 66

12B. Total volunteer hours: 517.5

Northwest District I DEC: Reported

Carson City: Reported

Churchill County: Reported

Douglas County: Reported

Humboldt County: Reported

Lyon County: Reported

Mineral County: No EC

Pershing County: Reported

Storey County: Not Reported

Washoe County: Reported

Northeast District II DEC: Reported

Elko County: Reported

Eureka County: No EC

Lander County: No EC

White Pine County: No EC

Southern District III DEC: Reported

Clark County: Reported

Esmeralda County: Not Reported

Lincoln County: Not Reported

North Nye County: Reported

South Nye County: Reported

Comments: SEC's GENERAL REPORT (March 2008) March has been pretty
quiet, but much on the horizon. A couple of major training exercise
events are being planned for May and June this year. Please see Washoe
County EC report in NW District Report for some of the details.

The first weekend of April will find ASEC/Douglas Co. EC Dick Creley,
KJ7UK and I heading out on a road trip. We will meet with Ski, AB7FB
Humbolt County EC in Winnemucca and our NE DEC Joe Giraudo, N7JEH and
his team in Elko. Then on April 11-13 I will head to Las Vegas to
attend the Clark County ARES/RACES team meeting. Looking forward to
seeing everyone down south again. Report on these trips coming next
month.

With the recent earthquake in Wells and recent swarm of small quakes
near Reno, please remember to be prepared as these shakers can strike
at any time without notice or forecast. We just need to keep these
things in mind as we plan to protect our homes, families and
communities. 73 Don Carlson, KQ6FM SEC.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPORT - Glenn Hale, KB7REO, DEC Southern: Not much
news from here this past month. Bruce AL7LS has coordinated with Jack
K6JAC of central CA to set up an auto-forwarding messaging service.
The Packet messages are routed through an HF Packet link to K6JAC.
Messages from there can be routed to the Reno/Carson City area through
various VHF packet ports. The network supplements the WinLink network.


South Nye Co. EC Report by Jerry KC6ILH - Picked up more members from
the HAM-cram class and testing. Starting with some training for new
people and getting ready for the B2V run and field day. Had a great
Easter as I hope you all did. See you next month

Clark County EC Report by Charlie AA5QJ - Quiet month - no activities
other than nets, and no meetings! There were 65 check-ins to the GMRS
Emergency Net in March.

NORTHWEST DISTRICT REPORT (Don Carlson, KQ6FM Acting DEC: March has
been a fairly quiet month, with no callouts or major events which
involved amateur radio. More planning continues for EMCOMMWEST which
is getting ever closer, with the scheduled dates of May 2-4 at Circus
Circus in Reno. If you have not registered for the conference and/or
the banquet, please do so as quickly as possible. Check online at the
website at www.emcommwest.org. New items are being added all the time,
so check frequently.

Finally, from our SM Dick Flanagan K7VC the following: It is with
extreme sadness that I announce the passing of two local and
well-loved hams. Both Al Bertone W1LVN and Jack Jones KC7OCB became
Silent Keys this morning (3/30). Al and Jack were frequent
contributors to club activities in the area and were always available
to help a ham in need. There will not be any services for Al and any
arrangements for Jack are not known at this time. Please keep Al and
Jack's friends and families in your prayers.

Churchill County Paul Wilcoxen - KE7CRZ: We are still without the
145.35 repeater on Fairview Peak and it has been sent in for needed
repairs. We are monitoring 145.35 simplex until the repeater is back
in operation.

I am still trying to deal with the programming of simplex frequencies
which seems to be difficult on some radios. Mark Beadle-KD7ZPP and I
have been working on the Fallon Police Department's SGC 2000 HF radio.
It would seem that the antenna tuner at the P.D. has a problem and
that will be addressed soon. The SGC 2000 at the Churchill County EOC
was tested on Tuesday April 1st and is now operational.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Fallis-KE7BFD, for
his valuable help in programming and repairing the Motorola radios for
us. Al worked hard to do this for us and we really owe him big time.
Thanks Al!

Lyon County Patti Polish, KE7JIV - Not much to report this month as
things have been relatively quiet. We are currently developing a
manual of definitions for words used by some of the agencies we have
served. We felt that we can pass on information better if we
understand what it is we are "repeating." We are reviewing procedures
in anticipation of "Vigilant Guard" and discussed what will be
expected of us during this exercise. We also discussed the assistance
we will be providing Search and Rescue during Memorial Weekend at Lake
Lahontan. Our next meeting will be April 28th at the Silver Stage High
School Library at 1900 hours.

Carson City/Douglas County Acting EC, Dick Creley, KJ7UK: Training was
held at Douglas Co. training room, subject was Helo recovery and
launch. The varied aspects of this type of work due to our mountains
valleys and the safety of personnel were covered. Easter Sunday a crew
of 3 members of DCART, Sheila and Leroy Clement working with Dick
Young (landing control officer) actually recovered and launched a
CareFlite Helo for demo at the Jacks Valley Vol. FD Easter egg hunt.
There were about 50 adults and kids present. It was well recieved
event as the Easter Bunny was the passinger of the Helo.

Washoe County Bob Miller, WA6MTY EC: ARES TRAINING SESSION - With 18
members in attendance. I presented more detailed information regarding
Broken Wing and Vigilant Guard and ARES participation in both. Bill
AA7WB (Hospital AEC) and I attended the Inner Hospital Coordinating
Council Meeting, some discussion about Broken Wing. I did an ARES
presentation for Red Cross Shelter Managers. I met with Cheryl Curtis
at Airport REOC to discuss the details of ARES goals for Broken Wing.
I continue to attend the Vigilant Guard Exercise and Broken Wing
planning meetings.

Humbolt County Ski Woytowicz, AB6FD 1. Monthly meeting (mixer) - 3
hours on 15 March 2008. Six members in attendence.

2. Conducting VHF nets on Wednesdays at 1900 hours. Average net length
is 0.5 hours. Using WO7I repeater on 442.825 (PL141.3). Also conduct
simultaneous HF check-in during scheduled net time.

3. Mapped repeater coverage to the south. WO7I machine from Winnemucca
has good copy along I-80 from Winnemucca to Mile Marker 134. Copyable
at Exit 129 (Rye Patch - Humboldt River Ranch) depending on antenna
orientation (very weak). Test conducted by AF7NB, KH6QAI, KH6QAJ, and
KE7QHM.

4. KH6QAI & KH6QAJ expressed desire to enter USAF MARS to gain
interoperability skills. Getting more info for them.

5. KE7QHM acquired new linear amp. Good copy into Humboldt from
Pershing County.

6. Tested 10 meter copy. Marginal within county on simplex. No copy
from Humboldt into Pershing County.

7. 10 meter repeater proposal being considered.

8. KG6JOF acquired new dual band handheld.

9. No reply yet from National Guard concerning IRLP repeater
installation.

10. One NTS message (#1179) handled by AF7NB from the Nevada Section
ARES HF Net for Winnemucca. Service message provided back to
originator, Loren, N1IQI. Time invested not included in this report.
If counted, add approximately one hour for delivery attempts,
research, and follow-up service message. CC copies to N7JEH and KQ6FM.


11. As a result of item #9 (above), new owner of property where ham
had lived, was impressed with efforts taken to deliver radio message.
She and her husband will try to attend Humboldt ARES Field Day event
to view in person how traffic is processed. They may become hams.

12. Training classes are in planning stage. Want to start ham class
for new Technician class hams. Still in planning stage. Time seems to
be an issue. Most candidates want to do a one day class. A weekend
class was recommended. Training for new hams will obviously still be
under further consideration/discussion.

13. Two new candidates accrued for planned training class. Potential
for more prospective hams is definitely there from American Red Cross
youth group and Humboldt County Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

14. Members reminded to attend EMCOMMWEST in May in Reno and the Field
Day event at WalMart.

15. Next Humboldt ARES meeting will be at 1300 hours on 19 April 2008
at the American Red Cross Office on Traders Way in Winnemucca.

NORTHEAST DISTRICT REPORT (Joe Giraudo, N7JEH DEC). Winter weather is
still slowing field activities such as mountain-top repeater
maintenance. Seismic aftershocks continue to rock the City of Wells,
some in excess of magnitude 5 on the Richter Scale. Additional seismic
activity has also been felt near Carlin, approximately 70 miles west
of Wells. Recovery efforts continue but no communication support has
been needed.

The Elko Amateur Radio Club is planning for the upcoming Field Day
activities in June as well as communication support for the open road
races held in this area. The Section HF Net continued through the
month. Propagation between the southern and northern halves of the
State continues to decline on 75 meters. Communications are decaying
around 8:15 AM. Participation continues with visitor station from
surrounding States checking in.

14. Signature: Don Carlson, KQ6FM - SEC

15. E-mail: kq6fm at charter.net

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc at arrl.org