I have several important items to share this time. Some are fun stuff and some are too much business stuff. We are supposed to be having fun so let’s get the business out of the way first.
The AEC team has worked very hard to come up with a new and simpler ARES ID process. Our old process had many steps and required the EC signature, photo, processing and laminating. Since we meet face-to-face infrequently, if someone missed a meeting it could literally be months before the ID was in their hands. So, beginning in our November 25th ARES training meeting the new process will be implemented, and it will continue thru the January meeting. The new cards are plastic and automatically expire three years after issue. They will contain your name, photo (either the one we have on file or one taken at the time of printing), your call, license class, and information about your training level as contained in our member database. These new ARES IDs will replace any that exist out there which have an EC signature from me or any of the past ECs on them. They can be printed on the spot and handed to you so long as your application has been processed and your information is current in our database.
These IDs will give ARES and other amateurs useful information at a glance when we are involved with ham radio communications assistance, either here or in other areas. It is important we have an efficient and common way to identify each other in those situations, so please make the effort to come in and get your ID updated.
I mentioned information about your training. If you have not done so, please complete the Training Task Book. To find on the site go to the menu bar and select Training / Emergency Communications / ARES Training, then scroll down the page to Additional Training Materials and Resources. Under that look for ARES North Texas (NTX) Section Training Task Book (of course, if you are reading this on the site you can also just click on the link). Once you have filled it out on screen, print it and bring it to a training session for processing. As it is a good record of your experience and capabilities for ARES purposes, it should be kept with your Go Kit. You will find there are levels of training to be accomplished at your discretion, and it will help you and your leadership identify where you might best fit into an operational situation.
As you can imagine this is taking some of the AECs a great deal of work to keep up. Data, printing, processing and planning, this has all been their effort. We are doing this to help provide the best operators we can in times of need, to assure our served partners we have prepared our operators for just this work and to coordinate with the Section and State level organizations regarding training and fitness for operations. We need to understand incident command protocols, operational procedures and common methods of communication used, thus better enabling us to fit into their operations and not be a stumbling block to their process.
Now for some fun.
Our training session in November is planned to be out at the Sherman Municipal Airport. We will have a chance to see and tour the new Sherman FD communications trailer. Chief Jones N5GRL is using this opportunity to bring the trailer out and set it up as a practice for the FD and for us to see how they will use the tool to serve their community. I understand there is a station set up in it for Amateur use. It should be a good opportunity to see and learn about this tool prior to having to press it into service.
At the January meeting, Brad KE5UMJ will bring us another session on APRS and an Operations SET plan. Wade KF5AUD is preparing for us a Situational Exercise Training (SET) which he will go over with us in preparation for an event in early February. This would include some field set up and logistical experience to enhance our usual nets and communications.
Over the course of the next several nets we will have some meaty topics about winter preparedness, message traffic handling and such, but we will have some fun too. We will have no ARES net on December 14th in preparation for our Santa Net which will be on Dec 21st in cooperation with the GCARC net that night. On the 28th we will have a more relaxed net talking about “WadjagetforXmas” to allow you to share (brag) about what fun radio equipment you found under the tree.
A Final – as we approach this holiday season I want to take a few lines and thank you for your work this past year. We have a great gift in Amateur Radio, and we should share it. There are several ham radio groups out there all with the same goal, to have fun. I appreciate the GCARC giving us this space to share ARES info. I also appreciate the work done by all the local ham groups to enhance the art and science of our hobby. Testing, education, weather, or operations, it’s all about the fun and sharing the hobby. I am honored to serve as your ARRL County EC, and there is no doubt in my mind that when all else fails, together we will be ready to serve our community.
Have a Joyous Holiday Season,
73
Rick
K5ECX