November, 2011    

Our next meeting is Tuesday, November 1, 7PM at the EOC Training Room at Linwood. Please attend as we have some items to discuss relative to the Club and also quite a few EMA activities upcoming.

While I’m thinking of it I’m still carrying around 2011 membership cards for Tim, KC9GBL, Jeff, K9DYR, and Doug, KB9DXO. Since our Newsletters are distributed by email rather than regular mail I haven’t attempted to mail them out….I’d much rather hand them in person at a regular meeting.

We are accepting dues contributions for the 2012 year ($20) at any time. This is the 43rd year of our Club. You can bring it to the meeting (preferred), drop it off at our Treasurer’s, Tim (Anderson Automotive Color), or mail it to the PO box (Anderson Repeater Club, Inc. PO box 615, Anderson, IN 46015). We have become a bit more frugal since we no longer have a phone line expense but our treasury doesn’t tend to grow. Your continued support for the Club is greatly appreciated.

We will be opening the floor for nominations for Officers for 2012. If you would like to be an officer make your interest known. We are always glad to have new blood in the leadership positions.

If you would like to nominate a ham for the Ham-Of-The-Year award let the President or Secretary know (privately). If we get a sufficient number of nominations for a particular ham we will make that award. See the Web site for information on HOTY (and also the listing of Officers).

The Fort Wayne Hamfest is upcoming on November 19 and 20. This is a great hamfest and is only an hour drive away so plan to attend and stock up on parts for your wintertime projects.

Our monthly VE Testing sessions continue to be productive. We have one or more people at each session. This last session had a person pass his Technician license (new ham) and we often have one or more attendees upgrade. Thanks to Paul, KC9BKZ, who continues to lead this important activity and also to the other VE’s who are there regularly to provide the test session. There must be at least three VE’s to hold a testing session. We also thank Dick, K9FOI, and Tom, KA9SYP, for making sure that the door is open for us at the City Dispatch Center conference room.

We have many EMA activities upcoming and since most of our membership is also active in the Communications Division I’d like to review what we have upcoming. For those of you who are not members we’d welcome your application to actively participate in the Communications Division. If you do not have the time to participate regularly but see an activity that you’d like to help with we welcome your assistance. We welcome all of our local hams UNLESS there is an official activation that requires EMA membership only. In that case we’ll have to limit your participation. Remember, however, that the ARES is an important resource for our County communications. All low-band communications from our EOC will pass thru the “Communications Annex” (MCARC Club Room) and ARES members. Dale, KV9W, our County EC, continues to improve the ARES activity in Madison County. In fact, we are working on an exercise that will more effectively test our message handling capability.

EMA Activities upcoming:

Tuesday, November 1 – ARC Meeting. We will be asking all EMA members (and new applicants) to fill out a new/updated Application and also take new ID Card pictures. Plan to attend this meeting. I’ll attach the membership application with this mailing. If you can fill it out ahead of time it’ll save us time at the meeting. For renewals fill in just the items starred (we don’t need references, for instance). We are doing this because Dick has a new ID card printer and new software so it’s a good opportunity to update the records. As many of you know getting a current ID card has been a problem over the last year because our ID card maker died. We want all active members to have an updated ID, so make a special effort to attend.

Wednesday, Nov. 2 to Friday, Nov. 4. The MCU is being activated at the Jail in support of the dispatchers as the dispatch center is being moved from the Jail to the consolidated Dispatch Center. As you know this is a short term solution until a new dispatch center for the entire county is built. Alexandria and Elwood dispatchers are moving in also. Anyway, we will be supporting the MCU for the 3 days, 24 hours. One MCU Driver will be on-site at all times to make sure everything is operating correctly. If any of you would like to stop by you are welcome. We are all excluded from the actual dispatcher area, however, due to the requirements of their computer information system.

Sunday, November 6, Run-The-Mounds Communications Exercise. We’ll provide not only an opportunity to test our communications capabilities but also oversee the safety of the runners for this annual event (our 18th year). All amateurs are welcome to join us for this fun time. Dress for the weather and be at the Mounds Park by 1PM for the 2PM start. We’ll be done by 3:30PM. Communications will be on two meters. We need a minimum of 15 communicators. Those who have volunteered so far are: KC9NCR, KC9PWS, KD9DR, WA9CWE, KC9JWO, N9EOT, KC9IYF, N9JJK, KC9AOM, KC9RAX, KB9SCC, KB9VE and K9FOI. Bring a clip board and stopwatch if you have one.

Wednesday, November 9, EAS National Test. At 2:00PM the national Emergency Alert System will be exercised. This is the first ever nationwide test. All information networks will be tested and we’ll be activating our alerting networks too. Be sure to monitor and check in when/if we call a net.

Wednesday, November 16, VE Testing. 7PM at the City of Anderson Dispatch Center. Use this local opportunity to upgrade your license. We’re usually ready to administer by 6:45PM.

Saturday/Sunday, November 19 & 20. Fort Wayne Hamfest. Use this as an opportunity to stock up on the parts you need for the portable antennas, station, or other emergency situation.

Tuesday, December 6, Communications Division Meeting. We’ll be finishing out the year and getting more ID card pictures taken. Be there.

Saturday, January 14, 2012, State RACES Test. This date isn’t confirmed yet, but it should be this day. Plan to respond to the EOC and/or check in to our net at 9AM.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012, StormNet Training. Our Warning Officer, Tom, W9EEL, has confirmed this date, time and location (same as last year) for our training. Mark your calendar now.

As you can see there are a number of activities upcoming that relate to our hobby of amateur radio and show the importance of our skills to the emergency preparedness of our county and state. Your support is vital to these efforts. Plan to help us out.

Hope to see you on Tuesday.

73,
Steve, WA9CWE
Secretary, ARC