[SMCARA] Fw: ARES E-Letter for March 20, 2008

[Ray]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <Arbyone1 at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 01:21
Subject: ARES E-Letter for March 20, 2008


> The ARES E-Letter
> March 20, 2008
> ================= 
> 
> Rick Palm, K1CE, Editor
> 
> <http://www.qrz.com/database?callsign=K1CE>,
> 
> ===================================
> ARES reports, other related contributions, editorial questions or
> comments: <k1ce at arrl.net>;; 
> ===================================
> 
> + The View from Flagler County
> 
> As this issue is being composed, I am checked into the Northern
> Florida ARES Net on 3950 kHz, as I am on most mornings. The net has
> been in operation for years, and functions efficiently on a
> roster-based system of check-ins. The regulars are leaders in ARES
> across the peninsula north of the I-4 corridor, and the panhandle.
> Check-ins include State EOC staffers positioned at the Amateur Radio
> station located in the rear area of the huge operations room there at
> the Tallahassee facility. The net was designed and effected to
> represent the interests of northern Florida in liaison with the State
> EOC. 
> 
> It is reassuring to listen to, on a daily basis, the incredible
> amount of support the net receives and generates for local, county,
> regional and state levels of ARES, and its clients - the various
> emergency management agencies, both governmental and
> non-governmental, at each of these levels. Only by daily activity,
> training and preparedness, will we be able to fully meet the
> emergency communication needs of clients when it hits the fan here in
> disaster-prone northern Florida.
> _______________
> In This Issue:
> 
> + The View from Flagler County
> + A Model of MARS-ARES-RACES Cooperation in Oregon Storm Response
> + ARRL EmComm Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, On Line Seminar April 19
> + EMCOMMWEST '08 - Coming Back To Reno 
> + 2008 GAREC Slated for June in Germany
> + Palm Beach County Preps for Hurricane Season
> + Michigan Amateurs Team Up With State 
> + LETTERS: Please Include Bands and Modes in Reports
> + LETTERS: No Red Cross/ARRL Agreement At Present
> + LETTERS: More on Certification
> + ARRL Media Relations Form Released for ARES PR 
> + ARES Training Recommendations 
> + Mutual Aid (ARESMAT) Concept
> + RESOURCES: New EmComm Packet Terminal Software
> + Resources for ARES Ops
> + K1CE For a Final
> ________________
> 
> 
> + A Model of MARS-ARES-RACES Cooperation in Oregon Storm Response
> 
> When the Pacific Northwest was battered by hurricane-strength winds
> and torrential rain last December, Joe Johnston, N7HAE, of Knappa,
> Oregon, operated for five days, serving as a model of ARES, RACES,
> and MARS working together with state and local authorities during
> crunch time.  
> 
> "I was sitting here [in northwest Oregon] with no power, no phone, no
> cell phone, no Internet and for a time, no water," recalled Johnston,
> a retired National Weather Service staffer. "All roads were closed
> due to mud slides and fallen trees. Clatsop County ARES/RACES
> activated a net of which I became a part. I switched back and forth
> between Amateur frequencies and MARS frequencies many times, and
> spent the next five days on generator power relaying traffic from the
> Clatsop County EOC [in Astoria] to the OEM Center in Salem, while
> keeping the Department of Homeland Security informed via MARS
> Elements of Essential Information (EEI) reports."
> 
> Two crucial messages handled by Johnston were Clatsop County's state
> of emergency declaration and the local government's appeal to the
> governor for assistance. With telephones out, the two text files
> traveled the first 16 miles by Pactor from Astoria to Johnston's
> shack just up the Columbia River. Propagation was extremely poor and
> fading, but after a search he was able to connect with the amateur
> WinLink PMBO operated by William Rohrer, W7IJ, near Ft. Lewis,
> Washington. WinLink carried on from there. Johnston later got message
> receipt confirmation from operators at W7OEM, the Oregon Emergency
> Management Amateur Radio Unit station. 
> 
> Johnston signed up with Army MARS as AAR0PY/T in 2005, three weeks
> after Hurricane Katrina. His years in the weather service gave him
> experience with emergency situations and Amateur Radio. In 2006 he
> logged over 500 hours of MARS on-air time. And in late 2007 when
> MARSgrams started flowing again to and from American troops overseas,
> Johnston relayed them via the Army MARS WinLink messaging system as
> AAT0TOR. 
> 
> During the December storm, Johnston filed his MARS information
> reports (EEIs) via an Air Force MARS PMBO, AFD5WA, in Puyallup,
> Washington. Within a few hours of the initial EEI, federal
> authorities released emergency resources at Camp Rilea, the Oregon
> National Guard training base on the coast near Astoria. 
> 
> At one point, Johnston couldn't find a digital connect due to the
> poor conditions, so he put out a voice call for relay assistance on
> the 80-meter amateur band. Mark Beadle, KD7ZPP, responded from Reno,
> Nevada, who assisted with the coordination of traffic for Clatsop and
> other coastal counties in distress.  
> 
> In summary, Johnston filed reports via the MARS WinLink messaging
> system, used amateur Pactor and WinLink for communication with the
> EOCs, handled traffic via the ARRL National Traffic System, VHF voice
> and Packet, and finally 80-meter daytime phone to find contacts. His
> after-action report to MARS listed 60 pieces of record traffic
> processed.
> 
> Chief of Army MARS Stu Carter said in his bi-weekly broadcast, "I
> take great pride in sharing the story of this operation with our
> membership. He leaves with us a great example of dedication and
> initiative." - Bill Sexton, AAA9PC/AAR1FP/N1IN, Army MARS Public
> Affairs Director, <n1in at arrl.net> 
> 
> + ARRL EmComm Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, On Line Seminar April 19
> 
> Meet with ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, Dennis
> Dura K2DCD, on an April 19 on-line seminar hosted by the ARRL
> Atlantic Division. Dura will present information about the ARRL's
> EmComm program and what he's been working on. 
> 
> This webinar/teleconference is designed for any club members, ARES
> members, and anyone else interested in emergency communications. You
> do not have to be a member of the Atlantic Division to register and
> participate. This is a free on-line presentation and teleconference.
> (The telephone call to the conference center may be a toll call,
> however). There will be a question and answer period after the
> presentation. Interested amateurs can register for this
> webinar/teleconference at:
> <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/874893521> -- Bill Edgar,
> N3LLR, ARRL Atlantic Division Director
> 
> + EMCOMMWEST '08 - Coming Back To Reno 
>  
> Reno, Nevada -- EMCOMMWEST 2008 will be held May 2-4 this year at a
> new venue: the Circus Circus Hotel Resort in downtown Reno. Main
> speakers include Dennis Dura, K2DCD, Emergency Preparedness and
> Response Manager of the ARRL Headquarters staff who will deliver the
> keynote address, and host a forum. 
>   
> Special guest for the Saturday night banquet is Gordon West, WB6NOA,
> from southern California. West will present a forum on an
> introduction to emergency communications, and will have a display
> booth with his mobile communications unit. Banquet seating is
> limited; reservations should be made early. A video presentation by
> Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, special counsel of the FCC's enforcement
> staff will also be featured. 
> 
> Registration is open on-line via the Web site
> <http://www.emcommwest.org>. Special room rates are available from
> Circus Circus, via a link on the Web site.    
> 
> Forums covering leadership, served agencies, MARS, the latest
> technology, and many new presentations will highlight this year's
> event. A special event station on HF, UHF and VHF will be active in
> commemoration of the event. For more information, contact
> <info at emcommwest.org> 
> 
> + 2008 GAREC Slated for June in Germany
>  
> The fourth annual Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
> (GAREC) Conference
> <http://www.iaru.org/emergency/GAREC2008Program.pdf> is scheduled for
> June 26-27, 2008 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, just prior to HamRadio
> 2008 <http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.de/html/en/>. That event,
> called "the Dayton of Europe," is scheduled for June 27-29. GAREC's
> schedule is continuously being updated and is subject to change.  
>  
> Dr Hamadoun Toure, HB9EHT, Secretary General of the International
> Telecommunication Union (ITU), is scheduled to present the opening
> remarks at GAREC-08; Dr Toure received his Amateur Radio license in
> 2007. Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, President of IARU Region 1, is also
> scheduled to participate in the opening remarks.
>  
> GAREC participants will assess the state of EmComm preparedness in
> each of the IARU regions, as well as discuss experiences of the 2006
> and 2007 EmComm Parties-on-the-Air and the future of the Global
> Simulated Emergency Test (SET). Delegates will also discuss
> implementation of the WRC-03 modifications to Article 25 of the Radio
> Regulations, in respect to third-party traffic during emergencies and
> exercises. The part of Article 25 concerning Emergency Communications
> states "Amateur stations may be used for transmitting international
> communications on behalf of third parties only in case of emergencies
> or disaster relief. An administration may determine the applicability
> of this provision to amateur stations under its jurisdiction" (RR
> 25.3), and "Administrations are encouraged to take the necessary
> steps to allow amateur stations to prepare for and meet communication
> needs in support of disaster relief" (RR 25.9A). 
>  
> GAREC delegates will also discuss the Memorandum of Understanding
> (MOU) between the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and the
> International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),
> as well as the MOU between the IARU and the ITU. IARU Vice President
> Tim Ellam, VE6SH, with assistance from IFRC Secretary General Markku
> Niskala and IARU International Coordinator for Emergency
> Communications Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP, will lead the
> discussion. A representative from the ITU will also be on hand. 
>  
> Each of the three IARU Region Presidents will speak on the status of
> EmComm in their respective region. Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, and Juha
> Hulkko, OH8NC, will present on the possibility of Emergency
> Communication Centers around the world. There will also be a talk on
> D-STAR in emergency communications. Case studies of emergency
> communication practices will also be presented. 
>  
> Those wishing to attend GAREC-08 are encouraged to register on-line
> <http://www.korkee.net/Garec2008/>. For those registering prior to
> June 12, the fee is 55 euros; after June 12, the fee is 75 euros.
> GAREC will take place in the Conference Center of the Friedrichshafen
> Messe in the Oesterreich Room. Travel and lodging information for
> GAREC and HamRadio 2008 is available on-line at the HamRadio 2008 Web
> page.
> 
> + Palm Beach County Preps for 2008 Hurricane Season
> 
> In preparation for the 2008 hurricane season, Palm Beach County (FL)
> has been making a number of upgrades to its VHF RACES repeaters,
> including Project 25 (P25) digital compliance on their coordinated
> 145.390, 146.880, and 147.360 MHz frequencies with associated antenna
> system upgrades. In addition to replacing the 15 year old equipment
> of differing makes with identical latest model equipment, the County
> also added a satellite receiver network to its primary 147.360 MHz
> repeater located in the middle of the 2,500 square mile county to
> improve coverage for those hams using hand-held radios. 
>  
> All of the repeaters are geographically separated on locations that
> also house the County's 800 MHz trunking system, are on integrated
> UPS/generator back-up systems, programmed for "mixed mode" that allow
> for both analog and digital transmissions, and are also capable of
> all of the other P25 digital features to include unit paging, Soft ID
> (call-sign transmission), SMS, conventional talk-group capabilities,
> and unit emergency alert. The repeaters are managed by Mark Filla,
> KS4VT, who is the County Radio Manager/RACES Officer and maintained
> by Rudy Gibson, KI4IZI, David Case, KI4IZJ, and Ken Denker, KI4IZL,
> who are all employed full time by the County in the Electronic
> Services and Security Division. 
>  
> Filla stated "These open repeaters are in our complement for our
> volunteer RACES operators when we activate and are otherwise
> available for any ham in the area to utilize for either narrow band
> digital or wide-band analog QSO's. The interest in P25 in the South
> Florida area has been growing and we have new users with digital
> capabilities checking weekly from all over SE Florida." 
>  
> In addition to the County upgrading its repeaters to P25, other
> Florida repeater owners have decided to replace their equipment with
> like technology that can be found on the Florida Repeater Council Web
> site: <http://www.florida-repeaters.org/apco25proof.pdf> and a
> nationwide Amateur Radio P25 repeater map can be found on this Web
> site: <http://www.frappr.com/P25AmateurRepeaters> 
> 
> + Michigan Amateurs Team Up With State 
>  
> ARRL Michigan Section Manager Dale Williams, WA8EFK, and Michigan SEC
> John McDonough, WB8RCR, have been working with the Homeland Security
> Division of the Michigan State Police Emergency Management office to
> align the capabilities of the Amateur Radio Public Service Corps
> (ARPSC) more closely with the communications needs of the state's
> public service agencies. 
>  
> ARPSC -- Michigan's integrated ARES/RACES program -- also
> participates in the Michigan State Department Emergency Management
> Coordinators Quarterly meetings at the State EOC. It is here,
> Williams said, that discussion of the Public Safety communications
> grants are discussed and their investment justifications are
> detailed. "We have been afforded the opportunity to discuss Amateur
> Radio's involvement with communications interoperability, as well as
> our ability to fill gaps in disparate networks and outages. As a
> result of these conferences, I was asked to include a list of ARPSC's
> needs for the next three years." 
>  
> To further that end, Williams said that they have been successful in
> incorporating the ARPSC program into the Michigan State Preparedness
> Priorities. Michigan intends to develop the ARPSC into a fully
> integrated communications team operating under common standards and
> procedures, including maintaining and enhancing the statewide Amateur
> Radio communications system; establishing suggested standards for
> Amateur Radio capabilities in local Emergency Operations Centers; and
> developing a public awareness and education program to bolster the
> ranks of Amateur Radio participants. The hope, Williams said, is to
> have all of this implemented by 2010. 
>  
> Williams said, "Since the early 1980s, Michigan has operated an
> integrated ARES, RACES and NTS program referred to as the Michigan
> Amateur Radio Public Service Corps. By combining the forces of these
> normally separate structures, these valuable resources are pulled
> together to form an active trained and unified organization. The SEC
> also holds the positions of Section Traffic Manager and RACES Radio
> Officer. Membership in ARPSC is open to all amateurs and is
> structured to allow a beginning ham to progress from an entry-level
> position to a RACES-qualified operator by meeting specific training
> milestones." 
>  
> "There is no doubt that by presenting a unified organization, the
> Michigan ARPSC has demonstrated the effective use of resources,
> training and our unique capabilities so that we have become a well
> respected public service organization in the state," Williams said. -
> ARRL Letter
> 
> + LETTERS: Please Include Bands and Modes in Reports
> 
> ARES operators reporting ARES activations, please include the bands
> and modes employed. I expect that 2-meters, 440 MHz, and voice will
> be reported most often, but this information is helpful to us in
> knowing what others use as models for the rest of us. Please also
> emphasize the need for good voice and traffic handling skills.
> Although the newer modes are impressive, in preparing for our April
> exercise at the local nuclear power plant, I am training on the
> basics of voice communications using 2-meters. 
>  
> Sharing lessons learned and preparing for interoperability is the
> function of ARES newsletters. It helps ECs to know and understand
> what bands and modes get the job done in the field. It also helps
> those who may be called upon to respond, and what they need in their
> "go bags" to hit the ground running. -- Joe Tokarz, KB9EZZ, EC
> LaSalle County, Illinois
> 
> + LETTERS: No Red Cross/ARRL Agreement At Present
> 
> In light of my experience as a RACES volunteer in the past year and a
> half, and not knowing how much either side may have contributed to
> the hold-up, I must stress how bad it is that there has been no
> resolution of the ARRL/Red Cross MOU apparent impasse at this time.
> Delaying the renewal of the MOU can only degrade the ARRL-ARC
> relationship at every level. 
>  
> Since it is unlikely that hams, or the ARRL, will stop participating
> in Red Cross activities, it seems to me that the decision is not
> whether to have an MOU, but how to write it in a way that respects
> the ARC's concerns for its clients, and the concerns of ham
> volunteers for their own privacy. AND, to make that decision and act
> on it as soon as possible. -- Mike Harla, N2MHO, AEC, Cumberland
> County, New Jersey
> 
> As one personally who went through the benign Red Cross background
> check procedure, it is the League that stands to lose the most from
> this. It needs to recognize that it is the junior partner in the
> agreement when it comes to Disaster Relief.  
>  
> From what I saw at Dayton last year, it looks like the Red Cross is
> not changing its background check policy (mandated on it by Congress)
> to accommodate the overwrought concerns of a few hams and is starting
> to create its own cadre of ARC hams outside of ARES. SATERN also
> requires background checks on its volunteers. -- Gary Wilson, K2GW,
> Southern New Jersey SEC 
> 
> [Editor's note: The ARRL President and staff have made resolution of
> the issues surrounding the Red Cross Statement of Understanding (SOU)
> a top priority, and I expect that the document will be renewed soon.
> - K1CE]
> 
> + LETTERS: More on Certification
> 
> In the last issue, Steve Fleckenstein, N2UBP, nails down a problem
> that is growing in the whole of Amateur Radio not only with
> certification but with licensing itself. With the publication of the
> license question pool we are now getting all classes of license
> holders who have memorized answers and passed a test without gaining
> any knowledge of Amateur Radio at all. The ARRL's rush to make the
> license ever easier to obtain is going to take a toll on the
> knowledge base as time goes on. No organization ever improved its
> stature by lowering requirements for membership.
>  
> If you want to make an entry level license easy to obtain to get
> people in the door, that is fine, but there needs to be some "time in
> grade" and a different kind of testing for advancement to assure that
> there is an ever growing knowledge base in the hobby. If not, we are
> doomed to have the same kind of knowledge base that is exhibited in
> the Citizen Band ranks. The ARRL needs to take a serious look at
> this. -- Bill Stietenroth, K5ZTY, Houston,TX
> 
> I appreciate the comments on certification by Fleckenstein, although
> I think he has cast a very wide net. Speaking as an individual, not
> as an employee of Oracle USA, I have to take exception to his
> characterization of validation being limited to one's test-taking
> ability. Oracle Database Administration certification, at its highest
> level, offers a 2-day practicum (usually run from 8 AM to 7 PM both
> days), that throws anywhere from 8-10 real-world scenarios that do
> not test your ability to memorize a list of questions, but test your
> ability to get the job done when things don't go perfectly! Needless
> to say, there are not many who pass it...making it a very rare feat,
> but one I'm convinced is valued by employers (many employers pay for
> the OCM testing for their top guys!)
> 
> I would like to see a practicum-based certification process for
> emergency management folks, similar to the Oracle Certified Master
> program. We could brainstorm ideas for what such a test might
> constitute. -- Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ, <n2gj at arrl.net>, Assistant
> Section Emergency Coordinator, Southern NJ Section
> 
> + ARRL Media Relations Form Released for ARES PR 
> 
> Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Media and PR Manager of the ARRL Headquarters
> staff, has released the following report form to be used by ARES
> leaders for reporting ARES activations to the media:
> ________
> 
> The _______ Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES(r)) has been
> activated to assist with primary/auxiliary emergency communications
> for this event. The group is coordinated by _____(name of EC or
> acting EC).
> 
> _______________ ARES is working with the ______________
> county/city/town Office of Emergency Management and the following
> agency(ies): ___________
> 
> The group is providing communications links between: _________
> 
> Amateur Radio operators are stationed at the following locations to
> provide communications assistance:
> ___ (#) of Amateur Radio operators are at the sites
> ___(#) of additional Amateur Radio operators are on standby for
> additional communications needs.
> 
> Insert boilerplate paragraph about the local ARES group here:
> 
> For more information contact:
> ________________________ (name of acting PIO)
> ________________________ (e-mail)
> ________________________ (phone and cell numbers)
> 
> _________
> 
> For more information on the new form, contact Allen Pitts, W1AGP,
> <w1agp at arrl.org> at ARRL Headquarters.
> 
> + ARES Training Recommendations 
> 
> All ARES operators should periodically review their training and
> qualifications. Now, is a good time to do so as we look ahead to the
> start of hurricane season just a few months away.
> 
> First and foremost, ARES operators should take Level One of the ARRL
> Emergency Communications courses, progressing to Levels Two and Three
> when possible. Here are some links to find out more about the ARRL
> Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Courses:
> 
> - Frequently Asked Questions <http://www.arrl.org/cce/faq.html>
> - CCE Course Syllabi <http://www.arrl.org/cce/syllabus.html>
> - Registration for Online Courses <https://www.arrl.org/forms/cce/>
> - Listing of Classroom Courses and Exams
> <http://www.arrl.org/cce/activity-list.php3>
> - CI/CE Search Page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/cice-search.php3>
> - Discussion Forum (Members Only)
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/forums/w-agora.php3>
> - CCE Student Page (Members Only)
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/cce/>
> - Course Listing <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html>
> 
> In addition to the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses, field
> operators should also complete certain formal training courses: 
> 
> -- Red Cross combined course in Adult CPR/First Aid Basics
> -- Red Cross online Introduction to Disaster Services
> <http://www.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01/>
> 
> -- FEMA IS-100 (Introduction to Incident Command System)
> -- FEMA IS-200 (ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents)
> -- FEMA IS-700 (National Incident Management System)
> <http://training.fema.gov/IS/>
> 
> Except for the first two, all courses are free of charge, and
> CPR/First Aid may be free to members of the Red Cross. CPR/First Aid
> is the only course that requires periodic refreshers and the only
> course that must be taken in person rather than on the Internet. The
> American Heart Association (AHA) also offers Basic Life Support (BLS)
> courses. Where FEMA courses exist in more than one current version -
> aimed at somewhat different audiences - any of the
> currently-available versions will suffice.
> 
> + Mutual Aid (ARESMAT) Concept
> 
> Most disasters are local and of relatively short duration, which is
> why the traditional county and Section-based ARES approach is
> appropriate most of the time. However, disasters do not conform to
> state and ARRL Section boundaries. Disasters that are truly
> national-level catastrophes require national-level coordination.
> Regional disasters of less magnitude than, say, the 2005 Gulf coast
> hurricanes, do not require national coordination but may need
> well-organized responses from several adjacent ARRL Sections.
> 
> At the present time, relatively few ARRL Sections have formal,
> written agreements with neighboring Sections spelling out how
> emergency communications cooperation would be structured and managed.
> The ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee (NERPC)
> recommended that Section Managers should consider developing such
> agreements with one or more neighboring Sections, depending on the
> disaster hazards likely in their parts of the country. These
> agreements would become appendices to existing Section emergency plan
> documents.
> 
> The NERPC suggested that the following points should be among those
> considered in the mutual aid planning process and the development of
> formal agreements:
> 
> 1: Share current phone numbers, postal addresses and e-mail addresses
> for the Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator and Section
> Traffic Manager in each adjacent section.
> 2: List major likely hazards in each Section.
> 3: List available resources Sections have that can be used to assist
> adjacent Sections. If ARESMAT are available, then list locations,
> points of contact, and capabilities.
> 4: If ARESMAT resources are needed, then Section leadership should be
> familiar with and utilize ARESMAT information and requirements in
> EC-003 and the PSCM.
> 5: List the major served agencies in each Section, whether or not a
> written support agreement exists, and the point of contact for each.
> Identify any volunteer insurance coverage, credentialing, and expense
> reimbursement which may be available from these agencies.
> 6: Describe the activation authority and the process for requesting
> and providing out-of-Section mutual assistance in each Section.
> 7: List or summarize Section currently-installed emergency
> communications capabilities and points of contact.
> 8: List Sections' major VHF and HF routine, operations and traffic
> net frequencies.
> 9: List Sections' Web site addresses.
> 10: It is suggested that the agreement should specify that mutual
> assistance can be invoked only by Section Managers, Section Emergency
> Coordinators, or specific designees.
> 11: It is recommended that the agreement should require certain
> documentation be kept when the agreement has been invoked. For
> example: daily documentation and logbook for SITREPS (situation
> reports), after-action reports, and notes on future needs.
> 12: It is recommended that the agreement should require each Section
> Manager who requests or provides mutual assistance to prepare a
> written after-action report which summarizes each mutual assistance
> activation. This report should be sent to the involved SMs and to the
> ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager no later than 30 days
> following the stand-down from each mutual assistance activation.
> 13: Plans should be reviewed by each SM, SEC and STM annually, and
> updated as necessary.
> 
> + RESOURCES: New EmComm Packet Terminal Software
> 
> I have written a new Packet Radio terminal program, which serves
> emergency communications interests, called "EcomSCS." EcomScs has 2
> neat features: One, it can send and receive any type of file, Binary
> or Text, without the use of any special protocol. The second feature
> is message formatting, making it easy to keep vital information. More
> info at: <http://www.qsl.net/kb2scs> -- submitted by John Blowsky,
> KB2SCS <kb2scs at arrl.net>
> 
> + Resources for ARES Ops
> 
> FEMA National Incident Management System: <http://www.fema.gov/nims/>
> IARU Emergency Communications: <http://www.iaru.org/emergency/>
> IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications: <http://www.iaru-r2emcor.net>
> Major Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Nets:
> Hurricane Watch Net: <http://www.hwn.org/>
> Maritime Mobile Service Net: <http://www.mmsn.org/>
> Salvation Army (SATERN) Net: <http://www.satern.org>
> Waterway Net: <http://www.waterwayradio.net/>
> VoIP SKYWARN/Hurricane Net: <http://www.voipwx.net/>
> ARRL/Served Agency Memoranda of Understanding:
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/>
> National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster:
> <http://www.nvoad.org/>
> American Red Cross: <http://www.redcross.org/>
> National Weather Service: <http://www.nws.noaa.gov/>
> Department of Homeland Security - Citizen Corps, FEMA:
> <http://www.citizencorps.gov/>, <http://www.dhs.gov/>,
> <http://www.fema.gov/>
> Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials- International:
> <http://www.apcointl.org/>
> National Communications System: <http://www.ncs.gov/>
> National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers, Inc.:
> <http://www.narte.org/>
> Salvation Army: <http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf>
> Society of Broadcast Engineers: <http://www.sbe.org/>
> Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc. <http://www.QCWA.org/>
> Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams:
> <http://www.reactintl.org/>
> SKYWARN: <http://www.skywarn.org/>
> 
> + K1CE For a Final
> 
> An ARES E-Letter QSO Party is planned for this coming Fall season.
> The exchange will be Name, ARES Title, and Jurisdiction. For
> examples: Rick, Assistant SEC, Northern Florida; or George, EC,
> Middlesex County, Eastern Massachusetts. Bands are 80, 40 and 20
> meters, phone only. One point each per QSO. Bonus points for
> emergency power, and operating from an EOC or Served Agency facility.
> More information to follow. With more than 25,000 subscribers to the
> ARES E-Letter, a QSO Party should generate a lot of activity,
> training exercise, and just plain fun!
> 
> Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc. 
> All Rights Reserved
> 
> ======================================================================
> The ARES E-Letter is published on the third Wednesday of each month
> by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For
> Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200;
> fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN,
> President.
> 
> The ARES E-Letter is an e-mail digest of news and information of
> interest to active members of the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
> Service (ARES). 
> 
> Material from The ARES E-Letter may be republished or reproduced in
> whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit
> must be given to The ARES E-Letter and The American Radio Relay
> League.
> 
> Editorial questions or comments: Rick Palm, K1CE, k1ce at arrl.net
> Delivery problems (ARRL direct delivery only!): ares-el-dlvy at arrl.org
> 
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail delivery:
> ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site,
> http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
> registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of the The ARES E-Letter,
> W1AW bulletins, and other material. ARRL members may subscribe to The
> ARES E-Letter by going to the Member Data Page at:
> http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html?modify=1
> 
> Note that you must be logged in to the site to access this page.
> Scroll down to the section "Which of the following would you like
> to receive automatically via email from ARRL?" Check the box for
> "ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications
> news)" and you're all set. 
> 
> Past issues of The ARES E-Letter are available at
> http://www.arrl.org/ares-el/. Issues are posted to this page after
> publication.
> ======================================================================