[PBARC] 2005 07 24 - ARES/RACES Meeting

[E. Glenn Wolf, Jr.]

W5RXU's notes from the meeting - more complete than the ones I took.

ARES-RACES QUARTERLY MEETING

7-24-05

Arkansas ARRL SEC J. M. Rowe, N5XFW opened the meeting at 2:00 PM and
announced that a Memorandum of Understanding between The Arkansas Department
of Emergency Management and The Arkansas Section of the American Radio Relay
League, Inc. outlining the terms of the mutual agreement that will serve as
a framework to coordinate their services, has been signed by both parties.

During the discussion, Bruce Jones N5JBJ was thanked for an antenna he
donated to ARES-RACES to go on the Win Link system at Arkansas Department of
Emergency Management.

Regarding the re-location of ADEM from Conway to Camp Robinson, North Little
Rock, it was announced that the new ADEM headquarters would be located
between the golf course and the lake at Camp Robinson.  Time frame for this
move is roughly January 07, give or take a year or two.

SEC N5XFW passed out the Arkansas ARES-RACES Plan and the Arkansas
ARES-RACES Standard Operating Procedures which will be on the ADEM web site
soon, if not all ready.

SEC N5XFW encouraged everyone to take the ARRL Emergency Communications
Course, no longer free as the grant expired, but still worth the money.

SEC N5FXW feels like the annual SET is important to those ARES-RACES groups
that don't have any other events annually.  However, those groups that
perform Public Service Events numerous times throughout the year don't
necessarily "need" to hold a SET.  One or all their Public Service Events
accomplishes the same goal.

It is important for EC's and DEC's to turn in their Monthly Reports.  These
reports are tabulated by the ARRL to quantify the man hours Ham Radio
volunteers annually for use by the ARRL to justify our continued use of our
frequencies with Congress.

September, this year, is National Preparedness Month.  SET will coincide.

SEC N5XFW has been appointed to the Arkansas Exercise Task Force.  All
Emergency Practice Exercises will be listed on the ADEM Web Site.  All EC's
& DEC's should look for exercises in their area, contact the Exercise
contact person and volunteer Amateur Radio participation.

The State Health Department is writing a grant which if received will place
2 meter and 440 radios in Arkansas Hospitals.  The Health Department was
very pleased with the Simulated Test in SW Arkansas.  EC's and/or DEC's need
to develop a relationship with Hospital Safety Officers and all other
Emergency Managers with Served Agencies.  All Served Agency but especially
hospitals are responsible for ID access during Emergency Activation.

A test was suggested:  Pick a morning, say 9:00 AM, call on your local
repeater for a simulated activation and see how many stations you could
contact.  Then 4 or 5 hours later do it again and continue doing it until
evening.  The test is to see how many folks monitor the repeater during the
day.  Information important to EC's and DEC's in case of an actual
activation.

Another suggested test:  Test you telephone call out list by calling the
list and advising it is just a simulated test.  Count this test in your
Monthly EC/DEC Report.

Arkansas ARRL Section Manager David Norris, K5UZ complimented Arkansas ARRL
Section Emergency Coordinated J. M. Rowe, N5XFW, for the fine job he is
doing.  David announced the Arkansas ARRL Section Leadership meeting in
North Little Rock at the North Little Rock Baptist Hospital on Springhill
Drive just East of McCain Mall at 10:00A.M. Saturday, July 30.

August 6 is the White River Water Carnival.  The ARRL will have an up front
slot at the event.  They are planning on using a tower trailer for a special
event station and a winlink demonstration. ALL ARES-RACES groups are
strongly encouraged to look for opportunities for special event stations at
such public events.

David announced the Section Net, July 25, 3987.5, following the Arkansas
Razorback Net.  David advised the recent W1AW/5 did very well, competing
favorable with the other stations, Nationally.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:21 P. M.

W5RXU