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The HOTLINE |
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What's happening at the meeting? Discuss Field Day?
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
Safety in Amateur Radio
During this time of year, it seems that everybody is trying to put up new antennas or repair the old ones. We all need to pay close attention to what we are doing and how we are doing these tasks. If you have questions about a particular project and need to ask a few questions, don’t forget our email service covers all club members. If you don’t feel comfortable with email, then check the member’s page for our phone numbers.
And don’t forget HamCom and Field Day is coming next month. These are two events you don’t want to miss! Check the HOTARC website for additional information.
Thanks again to those who participated in the RDD (Radiological Disbursal Defense). Everyone did an outstanding job.
Rodney
Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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It’s almost here! Mark your calendars: June 27-28, 2009 …and plan to participate! |
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
April 23, 2009
HOTARC’s April Meeting was called to order by Rodney Baden K5YKC Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 7:37 pm at the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco campus. Wayne Branscum KD5SMC opened the meeting with a prayer.
Present were 22 full members, 1 family member and 1 visitor. Our visitor was Steve Vaughn KE5RKR from Waco.
A motion to approve the Minutes for the March meeting as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Ed Hynan KC5KNI, with second by Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW. The motion was approved by the members.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 5,863.86 Income Dues 405.00 Interest 0.25 TOTAL Income $ 405.25 Expenses 145.15 Kenwood Rptr Repair 27.40 Trailer registration (tags) 80.85 TOTAL Expenses $ 428.25 Ending Account Balance $ 5,840.86 Outstanding (as of 5-23-2009) Submitted by |
A motion to approve the March Treasurer’s Report as published in the HOTLINE was recognized from Jerry Tollison KD5JML, with second by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT. The motion was approved by the members.
Committee Reports:
· ARES: Ed Hynan KC5KNI reported that volunteers will be needed for the May 21st Disaster exercise at the EOC, Incident Command, Bledsoe Miller and Health Department locations. The FEMA website has been having some issues. Note: IS-700a is replacing the IS-700.
· Trailer: Mike Ross N5MVL reports that the trailer steps need some grit applied to them to reduce the chances of slipping. A motion was made by John Chamberlain AC5CV to approve $50 for fixing the steps, with second by KD5UEW. The motion was approved by the members.
· Repeater: Norris Martin KB5SLI reported that the 440 is still not on the air. We have a location at the Waco water tower on Ritchie Rd. but need to purchase some feed line. A motion was made by KD5UEW to approve $300 for the purchase of the feed line, with second by James Jud KA5QKL. The motion was approved by the members.
· D-Star: No news.
· Web page: No news.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported that everything is working well.
· Education: K5YKC reported that we still have some Gordon West Technician License Study Manuals available for $20.
· Public Relations: No news.
· Special Events: James Jud KA5QKL reported that the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure went well and we’re getting ready for the upcoming 2009 ARRL Field Day in June. The Trailer Cleanup Day will be on May 16th at Roger Miles house.
New Business:
· A motion was made by Roger Miles WB5MBO to approve the annual ARRL Liability Insurance bill for $320, with second by N5MVL. The motion was approved by the members.
Motion to adjourn was recognized from WB5MBO at approximately 8:18 pm.
Tonight’s program was presented by McLennan County’s Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Vaughn who went over some details about the upcoming May 21st Simulated Terrorist Attack in Waco.
Submitted by:
Jeremy Neal KE5PRG
HOTARC Secretary
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by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI |
After some technical difficulties, the FEMA courses are
now back on-line. While not required by ARRL to qualify for ARES membership,
completion of the four primary courses listed below are requirements of
supported agencies to participate in disaster response. Current buzz words
heard on many nets and in conversations between amateur radio operators include
NIMS, ICS and NRP. These are the acronyms for courses offered by FEMA (Federal
Emergency Management Agency).
Are volunteers required to be National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliant? The short answer is, Yes. In a response scenario that extends beyond local government, everyone must follow a common terminology and doctrine so that personnel and resources are feathered in a seamless manner. This is especially true for radio communications. Radio operators need to understand what is being said and asked of them during an incident so that they can convey this information effectively and efficiently.
FEMA courses are FREE. The three courses available online are described below. Course descriptions are taken from the FEMA web site. http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp Updated versions of the course are denoted with a lower case letter suffix (for example, “700a”). If you have previously completed one of the older versions of the course—no lower case letter—you do not have to retake the course. Once you complete a course, forward your certificate or a copy of the e-mail you receive that confirms successful completion to KC5KNI@arrl.net in order to receive credit for course completion.
© IS-700.a - National
Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
This course introduces NIMS and takes approximately three hours to
complete. It explains the purpose, principles, key components and benefits of
NIMS. The course also contains “Planning Activity” screens giving you an
opportunity to complete some planning tasks during this course. The planning
activity screens are printable so that you can use them after you complete the
course.
©
IS-100.a
- Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS).
Introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation
for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and
principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It
also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management
System (NIMS).
©
IS-200.a - Incident
Command System (ICS) for Single Resources and Initial
Action Incidents
ICS 200 is designed to enable
personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the
Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200 provides training on and resources for
personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS.
©
IS-800.b -
National Response Framework (NRF), An Introduction
This course introduces you to the NRF, including the concept of
operations upon which the plan is built, roles and responsibilities of the key
players, and the organizational structures used to manage these resources. The
NRF provides a framework to ensure that we can all work together when our
Nation is threatened.
Recommended:
©
IS-271—Anticipating
Hazardous Weather and Community Risk
This course will help emergency communicators involved in
weather nets to recognize potentially hazardous weather and flooding
situations and how they may affect your community, become familiar with National Weather Service (NWS) products to understand
how to use and interpret forecasts, and to develop a partnership
with the NWS well in advance of a threat. Note: This course
is on a non-federal government website
operated by the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and
Training (COMET).
What Does This All Mean To McLennan County A.R.E.S.?
We have added training course completed to the back of the current ID Cards. ARES Members will be asked to provide copies of these certificates when updating their data. While non-completion of the courses will not prevent you from becoming a member of ARES, not completing the courses may have an impact on your access to specific areas during an emergency. In addition, completion of the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses are highly recommended.
The HOTLINE is the monthly newsletter of the Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club (HOTARC), Inc., a nonprofit corporation, chartered by the State of Texas and principally located in Waco. It is permissible to use any of the original material contained herein, provided proper credit is given to the source.
Edited and Published by John Chamberlain AC5CV, AC5CV@arrl.net
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2009 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2009 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: Jeremy Neal KE5PRG, 881-2123, JeremyLeeNeal@gmail.com
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
Director (2009): Mike Ross N5MVL, 836-1083, N5MVL@juno.com
Director (2010): Ed Hynan KC5KNI, 666-4873, KC5KNI@arrl.net
Director (2011): Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, D-Star)
442.875 MHz (input at +5.0 MHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session is scheduled for Saturday June 27, 2009 at about 2 PM. Location: HOTARC’s Field Day site at Hewitt Park, Hewitt, TX. Bring: 1) testing fee of $15 (cash only); 2) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees); and for already licensed amateurs: 3) current license and photocopy of it; and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe next Meeting of HOTARC Members will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday May 28, 2009 in the Kultgen Automotive Center of the TSTC Waco Campus. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Talk to the world without commercial electricity?
That’s Field Day!