[SFDXA] SFL Section Update

[Bill Marx]

For those not otherwise receiving this. - Bill W2CQ


Southern Florida Section News for August 2002 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTHERN FLORIDA: SM, Phyllisan West KA4FZI, SEC KD4GR, 
STM WA2YL, ACC/TC WA4AW, ASM/PIC W4STB, OOC N4QPM, 
BM KC4ZHF, SGL W1XO, DEC W4SS, ASM W4WYR, DEC/ASM 
N4LEM, K9SHT, AA4BN.  SFL WEB PAGE: http://www.sflarrl.org.   
See photos on ARRL's SFL Web page. (So far: PB County's Ft Pierce 
Hamfest and Wellington honors, Collier's new station.)   
Melbourne Hamfest Schedule at the end of this Section News. 

Congratulations to SM Elect, Sherri Brower, W4STB, well known 
along our East Coast for her work in public relations and emergency 
communication.  She has been a great ASM for me, attending the 
East Coast hamfests and clubs that I cannot get to.  It was my 
pleasure to nominate her for the ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial 
Silver Antenna Award for her PR efforts. The award will be presented 
to her at the ARRL/ARES Forum, Sept. 14, at the Melbourne Hamfest 
(1:30 PM at the hotel meeting room). Plan to stop by the ARRL booth 
and congratulate her in person.  Sherri's term as Section Manager 
begins October 1. 

Those who sent reports, news items, and newsletters to me for the 
section news articles will send them to Sherri beginning this month.  

Your SAR, PSHR and net manager reports still go to STM, Jan 
WA2YL.  She expects to be home about Sept. 25 and looks forward 
to picking up the reports on our FL nets again. 

My sincere thank you to my outstanding cabinet members and 100+ 
exceptional, supportive, SFL appointees.  We could not have rebuilt 
our section without your involvement, dedication, and willingness to 
serve in every needed capacity.  I appreciate the special cooperative 
spirit of all our SFL hams and will miss the many on-air, personal, 
and e-mail contacts.  Please give Sherri the same great support 
you provided me.   

A reminder to keep encouraging your representative to sign on as a 
cosponsor of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications 
consistency Act of 2002, HR 4720.  This expansion of PRB-1 to 
deed restricted areas is very important.  Thanks to those of you 
who have done this. 

AROUND THE SECTION 

Brevard is concentrating on the Big Melbourne Hamfest this month   
(Hamfest program also on our Web pages through Sept. 14). I hope 
to see many of you there.  Meetings will be held in the hotel as usual.
Congratulations to the Platinum Coast ARS for their official renewal 
as a Special Service Club. Club members are listed with NWS in 
Melbourne for Skywarn activation; maintain a club station at the Red 
Cross building; work with the Salvation Army; maintain a variety of 
portable emergency equipment; support various local government 
agencies; maintain a backup packet system; assist police with a 
variety of tasks; operate installed equipment from the police 
communications center as well as fire department HQ; and maintain 
3 repeaters in the area.  They sponsor the Melbourne hamfest each 
year.  They regret reporting Capt. R. Shore, USMC(ret), AD4PC 
became a silent key in July. He was a popular Jr. high teacher, 
sponsored a radio club at one time, and was a long time IRARC 
member. Our best wishes to Roy Hill, W6QCM, on his retirement 
as EC of the IRARC.  I'll miss all those interesting articles in the 
newsletter, Roy. 

Broward County's hams had an excellent rehash of Hurricane Andrew 
by members who were there and continued their technical studies, 
"Antennas 101." TS, KT4XK, finished a UHF transmitter for NASA 
audio and will complete a 300-watt UHF power supply for the FSTV 
repeater system. The Palmetto Amateur Radio Club received a donated 
repeater from KF2GV. Their new 70cm IRLP club repeater should be 
operational later this month with a temporary ID of KD4JDE.   

Collier has established a new mail server for the members. Work was 
performed on the repeater link at Carnstown and the IRLP operation 
has been simplified.  They plan to add an antenna and station to a l 
ocal school for emergency operations.  They will take part in the 
"Memorial for 911" at Cambier Park, displaying the club's Tower 
Trailer and banner behind the Red Cross ERV. 

Indian River reports a total of  812 volunteer hours put in this month.

Way to go! They are continuing their NTS training. 

Lee County hams living on Sanibel Island had a chance to enjoy a 
morning on the air as they facilitated communication for a parade that

set records for attendance.  No emergencies.., just a good time. 

Martin County Hams keep busy with the heavy summer thunderstorms. 
Work continues on the remodeling and renovation of the EOC, replacing 
furniture, and coordination of computer networking for the 
ARES/RACES office and remotely operated FT-847 HF/VHF/UHF 
transceiver, which will be controlled by a fiberoptic link.  They have

4 positions: one tied to the EM2000 network used by all Emergency 
Support Functions, one for UHF Packet, one operating the FT-847, 
and one for general use/admin/database. Local repeaters located 
on the tower behind the building should be accessible to Palm Beach, 
Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Indian River.  Testing will begin when 
installation is complete.  Best wishes for a smooth and successful
completion! 

Miami-Dade County conducted a SET Aug. 23-24 in remembrance 
of Hurricane Andrew victims and to take a look at current emergency 
preparedness. KD4OZY lost his life providing communications after 
Andrew, which reminds us that lighting can also be deadly. 

Osceola's emergency team is still growing with 2 new members last 
month and one this month. The regular repeater took a lightning 
strike so they are operating on alternate freq. 145.150 - no tone.   

Palm Beach PBC ARES is just finishing a Beginning Ham Radio 
Class. EC, Dave N4QPM will be leaving his short lived position at 
the County Red Cross (5 weeks) as their Logistics Coordinator ... 
to start a new position at the County EOC as the Supervisor of 
their Communications Center. This month's ARES meeting will 
feature a visit from the NEW Sheriff's Command/Communications 
Bus. It will be open for tours to members. 

August Traffic by STM WA2YL: WA9VND 402, KA4FZI 145, KD4GR 140, 
KC4ZHF 140, K4VMC 66, KG4EQY 64, KG4CHW 51, KG4MLD 51, 
K4FQU 49, WB4PAM 48, KE4UOF 46, WA4EIC 43, KG4ILJ 42, 
KG4QIP 38, AA4BN 36, KT4XK 35, KG4MLC 35, WA4CSQ 22, 
AF4NR 18, KF4OMB 13, KN4JN 8, W3JI 5,  W4PPG 4, K4ENA 2. 

Thank you for sharing your activities with the section! Digital 
photos/captions of activities are always welcome.   
73, Phyllisan West, KA4FZI, Section Manager, Southern Florida 


MELBOURNE HAMFEST SEPTEMBER 14, 2002 
PROGRAM UPDATE from Clayton Bennett as of August 26, 2002 

AT RYAN'S FAMILY STEAKHOUSE: 
3299 South Babcock Street 
(South of Rt. 192 and the FL Institute of Technology) 
8:00 - 9:00 AM    SFL Section Appointee Breakfast/Meeting 
      7:45 AM  Parking lot - Sign by your name on the 
       appointee roster to get your breakfast ticket. 
       Club presidents see WA4AW to sign in. 
       (Sorry that our budget can't cover non-appointees.) 
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM    CFDXA Meeting and Luncheon 
!:00 - 3:00 PM    SouthCARS 
6:30 - 9:00 PM    Informal dinner for anyone 

AT THE HOTEL LAFITTEF RESTAURANT: 
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM FPTN Luncheon 

AT THE HOTEL MEETING ROOM: 
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM  MARS 
12:00 - 1:30 PM  FADCA 
1:30 - 2:30 PM  ARRL/ARES/RACES 
3:00 - 5:00 PM  FL Repeater Council

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Phyllisan West, KA4FZI
ka4fzi@arrl.org