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The HOTLINE |
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Special September Meeting Location! |
by Terry Williams, KD5KJU |
Well, it’s September and finally the 100°+ temperatures have been rolled back to a respectable 85° to 95° during the day and really pleasant during the evening. We still are way behind on rainfall, but finally getting some hints of rain. So, while the weather has been fairly quiet during the summer, it is beginning to pick up a bit. There were several watches put up this past week north of us, and it is only a matter of time before we get some weather here. Remember: we had a pretty active spring this year.
I said all that to lead up to our program this month.
Our speaker this month will be Rusty Garrett, KWTX-TV (Channel 10) chief
weather anchor. So, that means that our meeting will
take place at KWTX studios, at 6700 American Plaza.
This is next door to the American Bank on West Highway 6. As you know from
watching Channel 10, Rusty is a good speaker. I hope that we will have a
good turnout and you all will bring some good questions for him.
Also, let me remind you now about our next month’s meeting: we call it “Home Brew Night.” That’s when you all bring those great projects you’ve been cooking up and “show ’n tell” us about them. It could be a custom-made special tool or even a story of your experiments, successes, and failures. It’s just an informal night for anybody that wants to tell us about something they have been working on. It doesn’t have to be big or fantastic. It might even be something that didn’t work, but you know? sometimes we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes. So, I’m looking forward to hearing about some nifty projects next month!
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President’s Corner |
by Rodney Baden, K5YKC |
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Rodney, K5YKC |
Emergency Communications and Operations
This week several departments in the Heart of Texas Council of Governments Region took a class on WMD Threat and Risk Assessment for Local Jurisdictions. We had sheriff, police, fire, CERT, COG and emergency management departments learn how to plan and address vulnerabilities that will help all of us deal with WMD incidents. It was also pointed out that the lessons could also apply to everyday issues that each of us face.
Amateur Radio was mentioned several times. During one of these times, someone (not me) said “Amateur Radio was the ultimate backup to all radio communications.” This person told the group “If your jurisdiction doesn’t have an agreement with the local amateur radio group, it would be worth your time to look into getting those (guys) on board.” When it was time to express my involvement with the subject, I explained to the group how they could “tap” into the system.
This proves again that we, as amateur radio operators, are very well thought of in the Central Texas Area. All I can say is keep up the good works that we have started. The special events and weekly Nets, no matter what time of day or night, are just stepping stones and practice to handle communications in difficult times. Don’t ever give up on a bad situation, be the one that makes the difference. Help is always close to you.
Thanks for all you do to help your fellow citizens.
“Live long and prosper.” (Spock)
Rodney A. Baden, K5YKC
HOTARC President
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For the Record... |
HOTARC Meeting of Members
August 27, 2006
The August meeting was called to order by President Rodney Baden K5YKC at 6:59 PM at the Kultgen Automotive Center in Waco. Present were twelve full members and one associate member.
Wayne Branscum KD5SMC opened the meeting with a prayer.
The Minutes for the July meeting were approved as published in the HOTLINE, on a motion by Bill Cox W5JRM, second by KD5SMC, and unanimous vote by the members. The July Treasurer’s Report was also accepted as published in the HOTLINE following a motion by Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, second by Rusty Keyes AD5JY, and unanimous vote by the members.
Announcements
· Congratulations: Sam Alexander (accepted as new Club member last month) passed his Technician exam and already has a new vanity call sign: KX5SAM.
· Nominating Committee: We need to form a this Committee next month to be ready for elections at the Annual meeting in December. Please contact K5YKC if interested in serving.
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The Treasurer Reports... |
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Heart O’ Texas Amateur Radio Club Beginning Account Balance $ 4,623.84 Income Interest 0.98 TOTAL Income $ 0.98 Expenses TOTAL Expenses $ 0.00 Ending Account Balance $ 4,624.82 Outstanding (as of 9-18-06) Submitted by |
Committee Reports
· ARES: Gary Woodall (from NWS office in Fort Worth) sent a message that other alerts (e.g., Hazmat, Amber, etc) will now be heard on NWS radio, too. K5YKC encouraged all to read and heed Ed’s HOTLINE article about assembling your own “go-kit.”
· Trailer: W5NCD reported that the completion of the mini-trailer is pending arrival of cooler weather.
· Repeater: KC5NT reported that the 145.15 repeater seems to be performing well since he was hearing someone checking in from Bell County with an HT. K5YKC reported no more news regarding the DPS station, so we are still waiting on purchase of an antenna.
· Web page: John Chamberlain AC5CV reported that all is well.
· ATV: David Bush KC5UOZ reported some power supply problems on the ATV repeater were fixed.
· Education: No report.
· Public Relations: No report.
· Special Events: AC5CV noted the WWWC event was coming up at the end of September.
Old Business
· None
New Business
· None.
Motion to adjourn heard from KD5UEW at approximately 7:36 PM.
HOTARC member Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW gave a very interesting presentation and slide show summarizing his recent visit to ARRL HQ in Newington, CT to attend the ARRL Teacher’s Institute on Wireless Technology.
Submitted by:
John Chamberlain AC5CV
HOTARC Secretary
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Who Are You?? |
by Ed Hynan, KC5KNI, |
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What if a major disaster occurs and communications are disrupted? The ARES ID Card provided to all registered ARES members might be all you need to gain access to the site and begin to help in the recovery efforts. Local emergency personnel have been briefed on the capabilities of ARES and are aware that all registered members have been provided ID Cards. Know where your ID Card is—keep it with you or in your vehicle. The card is valid with your signature on the reverse. You may be asked to show additional ID to verify who you are. This card documents your amateur status and your willingness to help. As indicated in the letter you received with the card, you may add your photograph and laminate the card.
Well this used to be the case. What follows below is from the latest ARES E-Letter.
RED CROSS REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS
The Red Cross said their national policy requires everyone that works in a Red Cross Shelter to have a background check on file. This includes persons that are signed up at the last minute. The Red Cross has a contract with an on-line company that performs background checks. There is a fee for each background check and the Red Cross is currently picking up the cost. The results are only sent to one local Red Cross office. The Web site is <http://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/arcvts> where you must select the state map and then the local chapter.
After requests for clarification on this policy from ARRL HQ, Red Cross supplied this statement:
BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AMERICAN RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS AND EMPLOYEES
In the aftermath of a huge visible disaster such as Hurricane Katrina there are several post-evaluations that occur looking at systems, procedures, protocols and overall response to determine what systems could be more efficient. Recently, the American Red Cross established a policy mandating that all volunteers undergo a criminal background check, just as their employees have done in the past. The intent of this policy is to safeguard the clients, volunteers, and employees. The organization has contracted with a private company to perform these background checks and has provided a means for their volunteers to apply for the background checks without disclosing any confidential information to a Red Cross volunteer or employee.
Prospective volunteers can go to a secure online website and only need to submit their full name and social security number to the contracted company. No additional information is needed.
The overall results of the background check are not shared with the Red Cross. The only information provided is that a person has successfully completed the background check with no adverse information or that a person has potentially adverse information and that additional research is required. When additional research is required the contracted company will notify the prospective volunteer and will address the issue with no Red Cross intervention.
Several people have indicated the desire to go to their local law enforcement agency rather than use the private contracted company. Because the American Red Cross is not a governmental agency, as required by their guidance of impartiality, it is unlawful for a law enforcement agency to share this information with the Red Cross. This requires them to use the private, contracted firm. Also, many have expressed concern about the use of their social security number, however this is required to be assured that the background check is being performed on the right person. The Red Cross has gone to great lengths to make sure the prospective volunteer is not giving out their social security number to anyone other than the contracted company and then only through a secure, encrypted website.
Unfortunately, in this day and age it is critical that the American Red Cross and other agencies, employers and organizations perform due diligence in researching the people who will represent them. We hope volunteers, who have provided blood, sweat, and tears in helping fulfill the mission of the American Red Cross will understand the importance of performing this due diligence.
Any questions regarding this program can be directed to backgroundchecks@usa.redcross.org or 1(800)507-3960.
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RDF Medal for USA! |
from ARRL Letter Online |
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Bronze Medalist, Nadia Scharlau |
The US Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) team brought home its first medal from the ARDF World Championships. Nadia Scharlau of Cary, North Carolina received bronze in her age/gender category at this year’s world foxhunting trials, which concluded September 16 in Primorsko, Bulgaria. Nadia is the wife of Charles Scharlau, NZ0I, who also competed. Nadia and Charles were co-chairs of the the Sixth USA National ARDF Championships last April in North Carolina. “Thirteen radio-orienteers from eight states traveled to Bulgaria for this year’s world championships,” reports ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV. “With radio gear, maps and compasses, they took to the forests to face the best on-foot transmitter hunters from 30 countries in separate competitions on the 2 meter and 80 meter bands.” The Bulgaria competition marked Team USA’s fifth trip to the World Championships, which take place in even-numbered years. There’s more information about championship foxhunting and ARDF Team USA on Moell’s Homing In web site. Moell says he’ll report more details on the ARDF World Championships in his ARDF Update column on the ARRL Web site.
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NASA Image of the Day: Concluding mission STS-115, Atlantis and her crew return to Kennedy Space Center and approach a landing before sunrise on Runway 33. (Photo by NASA/Kim Shiflett) |
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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2006 Board of Directors |
HOTARC 2006 Board of Directors
President: Rodney Baden K5YKC, 857-9760, K5YKC@arrl.net
Vice Pres: Terry Williams KD5KJU, 662-2438, pumpman_rpss@yahoo.com
Secretary: John Chamberlain AC5CV, 855-7731, AC5CV@arrl.net
Treasurer: Norris Martin KB5SLI, 829-2138, KB5SLI@flash.net
Past-Pres.: Ed Middlebrook KC5NT, 826-4053, KC5NT@arrl.net
Director (2006): Scott Shafer KD5MLY, 848-5888, ScottShafer@clearchannel.com
Director (2007): Bill Feltenberger KD5UEW, 756-1397, bfeltenb@swbell.net
Director (2008): Wayne Branscum KD5SMC, 857-3964, wbscum@grandecom.net
145.15 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
146.88 MHz (input at –600 kHz)
146.98 MHz (input at –600 kHz, tone 123 Hz)
ATV: 421.25MHz (Cable 57), input 439.25 MHz (Cable 60)
Next session is Saturday October 28, 10:00 AM. Location: Baylor’s Rogers Engineering and Computer Science Bldg (#63 on the map), Room 109. Bring: 1) testing fee of $14 (cash only); 2) current license and photocopy of it; 3) a photo ID (two for first-time licensees), and 4) photocopy of any relevant CSCE. Contact: Linda Hynan, AC5QQ at 666-4873 or Linda.Hynan@UTSouthwestern.edu.
Meeting NoticeThe monthly meeting of HOTARC will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday September 28, 2006 at the KWTX studios, at 6700 American Plaza. Meetings generally last about 75 minutes consisting of fellowship, general Club business, and an interesting program. Visiting hams, family members, and prospective hams are welcomed! |
Have you told a
friend?
Ham radio is cool!