[South Florida DX Association] Monthly Southern Florida Section News

[Bill]

Hi everyone,

I wrote my first monthly section news in October 2002, limited to about
45 lines and it was published in the December QST.  Since then Section
Managers have been able to send  the section news at various times
during the month with  unlimited lines.  I hope I have been able to
keep you informed on a more timely basis.

I have had the pleasure of promoting club and ARES® activities,
meeting and working with many hams and non-hams, representing the ARRL
at hamfests, clubs, and social events, and helping many who needed ARRL
assistance.

In just a few weeks my fourth term as Southern Florida Section Manager
comes to an end.  Effective October 1st David Fowler, K4DLF will assume
the position of Section Manager.  I have worked with David for several
years on various projects and I know he will do a great job.  If you
have an ARRL appointment it effectively ends with my term.  If you wish
to continue your appointment contact David via e-mail at
k4dlf at arrl.net.

Thank you, gracias, merci, grazie, mesi, tak, hvala vam, danke,
koszonom, kiitos, obrigado, dank u, salamat, asante, ddiolch 'ch.  No
matter what language it is the same.  Thank you to all of the
appointees, club officers, volunteers, and family members that have
made this such an interesting and rewarding eight years. Thanks for all
that each of you do for Amateur Radio every day.

==============
And now reports and news:

Station Activity, Traffic, and Nets reports:

SFL SAR for AUG: WA4BAM  469, WD4DNC  439,KA4FZI  171, KE4CB 133,
KB9ABX  23, N8BGJ 6, W9MSS 4,  N4ZAW 3,  KJ4WXH 2,  NC3F  2.

SFL PSHR for AUG: KA4FZI  120,  KE4CB  110

SFL NETS
NET     SESS   QNI    QTC     QND   MGR
QFN          62, 508, 433, 1120, WD4DNC
FAST    31, 324, 62, ------ , NY4E
FMSN    31, 235, 131, 688, AG4RJ/AB4XK
JFCERT   8, 55, 21, 240, AG4BV/W4FK
JTRG  12, 75, 28, 410, AG4BV/W4FK
PBCARES 8, 117, 21, 205, AG4BV/W4FK
SFAN   4, 45, 2, 65, N5KFR
SEFTN    31, 667, 128, 1522, AG4RJ/KI4IQZ
SWFTN    27, 525, 128, 2238, KE4CB/N9WS

July QNI  2471    Aug QNI 2551 (up 80)  :-)
July QTC  892    Aug QTC  954 (up 62)   :-)
Our QNI (Check-ins) and  QTC (traffic)  numbers shot up again this
month.
Congratulations to all the reporting nets at a  time when many members
were taking vacations!

Early alternate frequencies:  FMSN 7113 KHz,   QFN 7105 KHz,  and
FAST net 7242 KHz.
73/88,  Phyllisan  "Phil"  KA4FZI ,  ka4fzi at aol.com
239-574-3467
===============
ARES® Reports
Total reported ARES members in the 13 counties reporting: 1205
ARES Nets: 16, Sessions: 108, NTS Liaison: 7
Calls of DEC/EC reporting: N4LEM KJ4AWB  KJ4MJJ  AA4BN WA4ASJ W4LWZ
K8KB KA4HLO K4NNX AD4RZ N4ZIQ  K4DWF N4SGL
No report from Glades County
Number of drills, test&  training sessions: 44 Person Hours: 460.28
Number of public service events: 1 Person Hours: 2
No Emergency Operations
Total number of ARES operations:45, Total Person Hours: 462.28

SFL ARES Net report  QNI 45 QTC 2 QND 65 Min
3940 khz Sat. 0800

Comments
Palm Beach: 5 minute training sessions on the net included a four part
training series on simplex communications for VHF/UHF.  There will be a
simplex drill scheduled for the Wednesday evening net shortly.

On July 19th, the ARES meeting was held at the Palm Beach County EOC.
About 25 people were in attendance.  A good number of Amateur Radio
CERT folks were invited and present at the meeting.  The presentation
was on what it takes to be a good emergency communicator with an
emphasis on using amateur radio between emergencies to stay up to
speed.  Palm Beach County ARES is now actively encouraging CERT
licensed hams to become members and participate in ARES training,
drills, and events.

The Frank Stark Ride (sponsored by the Boca Raton Bicycle Club) was
held on Sunday, July 12th.  About 15 Amateur Radio operators
contributed 75 hours of volunteer time for the event.  The route was
changed this year and ran from Boca Raton up to West Palm Beach so
repeaters were used.
----------------------------------------
We have completed an MOU between the South Florida ARES and the
Disaster Recovery Ministry of the United Methodist Church.  Their need
for our communications capabilities would be primarily after a storm
has passed in order to coordinated relief supplies and teams in and out
of an affected area.  The plan is to encourage hams who are members of
the church to get involved in their local ARES group to add to our
ranks, which will benefit both groups. Signatures should be completed
in a few days.
-------------------------
As I compile this news my in-box is filling with messages from counties
in our section about the annual SET which traditionally takes place the
first weekend in October.  Is your ARES® group participating?  Contact
your county Emergency Coordinator to learn SET dates in your area.
===============

Silent Keys:
John Hayden,  KG4BFG of Osceola county.  John's passion was to assist
people when ever he could.  He played a great role in Emergency
Communication and Emergency Preparedness in Osceola County for many
years, assisted with public service events in Osceola and Orange County
and was a dedicated D.E.A.R.S  (Disney) Member who committed himself to
the success of this organization for many years.

John Scheuchenzuber, a.k.a. Jack Richards, W4QVA  of Palm Beach County.
For the last year Jack courageously fought a battle with cancer.  Jack
first got his license in 2006 so that he could legally have a scanner
in his vehicle.  However, he quickly became active with both the
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the West Palm Beach Amateur
Radio Club.  He had been one of the Area Coordinators for ARES and more
recently was made Assistant Emergency Coordinator for CERT.  Jack was
one of the first ARES leaders to reach out to CERT licensed amateur
radio operators and he participated in several EOA drills a few months
ago.  Jack was president of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club in
2008 and had been serving on the Board of Directors.  He modified the
club logo and helped with club shirts.  He recently designed the new
club banner.  Jack was also an ARRL Public Information Officer.

==================
The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club and the South Florida Science
Museum (located at Dreher Park in West Palm Beach) have worked out a
Memorandum of Understanding today for a significant partnership.  The
Museum is providing a room (24' by 13') for a permanent club station
and Amateur Radio exhibit.  Club members will have access to the
station when the Museum is open and hopefully within a few months, when
the Museum is closed via an Internet remote base.  In return, the Club
will man the station during the Museum's weekend hours and school tours
during the week with volunteers to demonstrate Amateur Radio and get
visitors (mostly kids) on the air.
===================
This article is from a Volunteer Manager reflector that I subscribe to.
  It points out the benefits of training:

Well prepared volunteers playing a crucial role in Canterbury

      The extraordinary contribution by the many teams of volunteers in
the Canterbury earthquake is attributable to the preparation, training
and good management of those teams said Tim Burns, Executive Director
of Volunteering New Zealand.
      "Volunteers, both those who are members of formal emergency
response teams and those who have spontaneously helped in their local
neighbourhoods, must be thanked for all they have done to support and
care for those who have lost homes and so much more," said Tim Burns.
      The work of the civil defense personnel and the emergency response
teams from Red Cross, Salvation Army and other community agencies did
not just happen by chance.
      That they were able to swing into gear so quickly and so well was
the result of preparation by those who manage the volunteer teams and
the many training hours they put in to ensure they were ready when they
were needed.
      "This highlights the need for effective management of any
volunteer programme - good volunteer programmes just do not fall out of
the sky," said Mr Burns.
      More volunteers from the Canterbury region, especially those with
building and related skills and social support abilities will be needed
now and in the weeks and months to come in the immediate clean up,
making premises safe, longer term repair work and providing support to
those worst affected by the earthquake.
      Helping neighbours with their needs is also very much needed.
      Volunteering Canterbury, the local volunteer centre, is playing an
important role in connecting requests for volunteers with those willing
and able to help.
      "This is despite not being able to use their offices in central
Christchurch. They are using Facebook as a posting place and can be
contacted by phone," he said.
=====================
If you have friends in Brevard County who would to obtain an Amateur
license:
The Indian River Amateur Radio Club (IRARC) and Platinum Coast Amateur
Radio Society (PCARS) are holding FREE Amateur Radio classes.
In Melbourne, PCARS will be hosting classes beginning October 12. The
7-week class lasts through November 25. A testing session will be
December 4. The location for the classes and testing is the Salvation
Army, 1080 Hickory Street, Melbourne. Class times are 7 pm.
IRARC will hold classes for the entry-level, Technician Amateur Radio
License starting Wednesday, September 29, at the First United Methodist
Church of Cocoa Beach, ¼ mile south of Ron Jon’s.  Classes start at 6
pm. Theory starts at 7:30. The course concludes with a license testing
session on December 15. For more information, please contact Don Winn,
AF4Z in Melbourne, at 254-9495 or visit www.pcars.org, or Rick Watson,
KF4FNZ in Cocoa Beach, at 783-6572 or 432-4733, or email
rwatson916 at aol.com.

For friends in Palm Beach county:   Ham Radio Class in West Palm Beach
October 2nd and 3rd. Contact: Albert Moreschi Phone: 561 746-7421 or
e-mail: ag4bv at jtrg.org

===============
That's all I have for this month.   I will leave you with a few
thoughts:

Get on the air and make a contact.

Keep your ARRL membership current.

Talk up Ham Radio.

Please stay safe.
Very 73,
Sherri, W4STB

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