[Oremem/Idamem] Oregon Army MARS Members

[leo]

Greetings, All,

If you haven't been checking into our nets lately you have missed some
important issues and developments.

1.  We have replaced the old Foxtrot nets with Oregon Digital Training Nets
where all the members get experience in conducting and participating in
digital nets.  Mondays we use RTTY mode, Wednesdays we use AMTOR, and
Fridays we use PACTOR.  The nets are the same time as the old Foxtrot nets,
1701Z on KDD + offset, LSB.  We are all learning the Q codes all over again,
plus a few of the Z codes, while we get practice in participating in a
digital net.  We have passed exercise traffic, relays - well, everything we
do on voice nets. Everyone is encouraged to join us and get the experience
in digital nets we may need in any emergency - you may recall that one of
our stations used AMTOR to receive traffic from a CA. station during Grecian
Firebolt, last year.

2.  We are keeping our voice traffic skills honed by sending our
participation reports on voice mode on our nets.  AAR0CJ is the station who
is taking all reports, so we hope you will get on one of our nets ( the 1st
to the 10nth of the month) and pass your participation report on voice.
Remember, what skill you don't use, you lose!  It's a law of nature.

3.  Our Training Officer, Bob Franklin/AAM0TOR has included his training
sessions on our Wednesday and Sunday 5 PM (PDT) nets to keep us up with the
Western Area Training requirements, and also keeps his usual 8 PM (PDT)
training nets for those who can't make the 5 PM nets.  This added work load
now gives more members the benefit of our training program.  Don't miss
these nets - they are very important and a wonderful means of keeping our
skills frosty in procedures, traffic passing, and net techniques.  With the
release of our new BTC and Operator's Guide things have changed.  These nets
are a good way to keep current.

4.  The Oregon Gateway has a multitude of training materials posted, and all
the CAM and WAMC bulletins.  We also have traffic for Portland, Roseburg,
and White City much more regularly now, so anyone with PACTOR capabilities
has access to much material to help them stay in  touch with Army MARS.

All in all, Oregon Army MARS is moving ahead, improving our skills, and
serving our communities and state with efficiency and professionalism.  The
only way we can maintain our skills is to use them - so make a point to put
our nets high on your priority list!  You gain by doing so, and so does our
country - and the need for Army MARS has never been greater.

73's
leo
AAR0NH
Oregon Army MARS Gateway AT0TOR
Sysop