[South Florida DX Association] Monthly Southern Florida Section News Summary

[Bill Marx]

Hi Everyone,
There is a lot to cover in this allotted 120 lines so I will get right to 
the
points.

TRAINING
All ARES and NTS members must obtain ARECC Level 1 certification and 
ICS-100.
2) ICS-200, 700 & 800 will be necessary for those who wish to deploy out of
their counties.
3)RACES folks may need ICS-100, 200,700 & 800 if their county desires to be
NIMS compliant.
This training certification is necessary in order to heighten the state of
readiness of Amateur communicators and increase the level of professionalism
of Field Volunteers so as to meet more effectively the needs of the served
agencies.  All training requirements must be met by January 1, 2007 for all
ARES members and appointees of record as of 7/22/06.  OES, EC, DEC, and HF
Net Managers need higher levels of training.

Level one ARECC EMCOMM training can be done in a variety of ways:
Online with a mentor and completion of exercises (the most in-depth way) or
registered classroom setting with Certified Instructor, for $45.
Buy the book, about $20, and study it, think about the exercises and do some
of them but receive no feedback, then take the exam for $10.
Buy books in a group to save some shipping costs, study the material and
complete the exercises in a local classroom or on a local repeater, provide
group feedback, then take the exam.  Some groups hold a one-day question and
exercise session and then offer the exam.
Borrow or share a book to study, listen to others discussing the material on
local repeaters is another option.
Whatever way you choose, it will cost $10 to take the exam.  You will get 
from
the course what you put into it.  Everyone reviewing the material and taking
the exam will learn something.
Currently Okeechobee ARES is conducting EMCOM Level 1 class on the 
Okeechobee
repeater on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7:00 till....3 to 4 sections per
night.

ICS-100 will take between 2 and 3 hours of your time.  The DHS server is 
very
prompt and even with a 26.4K dial up I completed the course in less than 3
hours.

If you have an ARRL appointment remember that you need to report on your
activities. ARES appointees and OOs should report monthly, others at least
quarterly.  When reporting net activities and meetings include only those
ARES related if you are an EC or OES.  All appointments will expire on
9/30/06 unless I receive an e-mail from you indicating that you wish to
continue to serve.  I have signed up for another 2-year term beginning
10/01/06 and I am asking appointees to do the same.

===============
REPORTS
ARES Report for July 2006:

ARES Members 594, in counties reporting, Change -17
There were 14 Nets, 57 Sessions, and 5 nets have NTS Liaison.
ECs reporting: WA4GUK, AG4AN, N1XC, AD4RZ, AA4BN, N5KFR, WA4ASJ, KF4MJJ,
KA4HLO and N4LEM
There were 5 drills, tests and training sessions and 62 total ARES 
operations.

OESs Reporting: N3HOE, W4RCL, KE4UEI, W4DKB, N6USP, KG4EXA, and N3HN

=================
SAR July 2006: KA4FZI 443, KE4UOF 117, N3OZP 93, KI4JRT 92, WA4EIC 87, AA4BN
67, K4FQU 58, AF4NR 16, W4WYR 12, K4OVC 10, K3QC 8
=====================
PSHR July 2006: W4DKB 138, KE4UOF 130, AA4BN 125, K4FQU 120, KA4FZI 120, 
N3OZP
105, WA4EIC 100
=====================
SFL NETS July 2006
Name of Net, Abbrevation, Sessions, QNI, QTC, Managers
All Florida CW Traffic Net, QFN, 62, 688, 323, NY4E/W8IM
Florida Amateur Sideband Traffic Net, FAST, 31, 184, 54, K4SCL
Florida Medium Speed Net, FMSN, 31, 221, 72, AG4RJ/AB4XK
Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group, JTRG, 5, 46, 10, AG4BV
Palm Beach County ARES Net, PBCAN, 4, 43, 12, KG4PFY
Saint Lucie Repeater Association, SLRA, 5, 34, 5, KE4UEI
Southern Florida ARES Net, SFAN, 2, 23, 1, AF4NR
Southeast Florida Traffic Net, SEFTN, 62, 718, 125, AG4RJ/AI4GE
Southwest Florida Traffic Net , SWFTN, 24, 354, 59, K4FQU
====================
Bulletin Report from David Smith KE4UEI: Recd 21, Sent 5, Total 26
====================
Your local ARES group should be represented at Citizen Corps and VOAD
(Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) as an organization, not just
via EOC/Emergency Management.  Many of these groups meet during weekdays
since they have paid staff.  Representing your ARES group at these meetings
is a way for retirees to get involved without committing to leave your home
and work at a shelter. (Of course we need shelter volunteers, but that
assignment is not compatible to everyone).

Are there licensing classes in your area?  Are the instructors registered 
with
ARRL?  Registered instructors receive a discount on textbooks and the 
savings
can be passed to the students.  Classes can also be registered at the ARRL
web site -- offering another way to advertise your classes.

September is National Disaster Preparedness Month.  This is a good time to
publicize your club, Skywarn, and your ARES group.

Till next time stay safe, stay on the air, keep an eye on the tropics.

73
Sherri, W4STB


--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southern Florida Section
Section Manager: Sharon T. Brower, W4STB
w4stb at arrl.org