Jim Duarte N6SSB has been appointed Emergency Coordinator (EC) for the Oakland and Piedmont area.

As EC, Jim will direct the local activity of ARES®, the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service. He will coordinate emergency responses to local served agencies by ARES members, manage relationships with those served agencies, collaborate with other Amateur Radio entities such as RACES and local clubs, promote ARES membership, and coordinate and encourage operator training.

Here in the East Bay Section, Jim joins other Emergency Coordinators, each of whom has jurisdiction over a geographical area. John Rabold KS6M, as District Emergency Coordinator (DEC), coordinates the ECs in Alameda County. The four DECs in the section report to Herbert Cole AI6AT, Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC).

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization, is eligible for membership in ARES. The only qualification, other than possession of an Amateur Radio license, is a sincere desire to serve.

Any amateur can register in ARES (or update an earlier registration) by printing the ARES registration form and giving it to the EC for his or her area or other ARRL official. The ARES registration form, FSD-98, is located at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/fsd98.pdf

In the East Bay Section, ARES members are encouraged to hold certificates of completion in certain FEMA and ARRL courses, to be proficient in the handling of radio message traffic, and to participate in local Amateur Radio training and public service activities.

Congratulations and thank you, Jim!

John Rabold KS6M
District Emergency Coordinator for Alameda County, East Bay Section
ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio™
http://www.arrl.org/

EMCOMMWEST 2010 will be held April 30 - May 2, 2010 at the Grand Sierra resort in Reno, Nevada.  This annual event is a forum for Amateurs to discuss the latest emergency communication techniques, learn what our served agancies are up to, hear about success stories, and pitfalls from speakers who come from around the US.

If you would like to speak at this event, please send an e-mail to speakers@emcommwest.org.  You will be sent a speakers application and memorandum of understanding which outlines what is to be supplied by the event organizer and what is expected of speakers.  The application
allows for a short description of your proposed talk, an opportunity for you to categorize it if you wish and the ability to let the organizers know how much time you might like as well as your desired speaking time.  Your application will be reviewed by the EMCOMMWEST Speaker’s Committee.  Successful candidates will be notified during the early portion of the first quarter of the new year.

The event’s website is located at http://www.emcommwest.org.  There isn’t much information there yet, but it will grow as information becomes available.  Again, please send requests to speakers@emcommwest.org.

EMCOMMWEST is recognized by the ARRL as an Operating Speciality Convention.
EMCOMMWEST® is a Registered Service Mark of EMCOM

Thanks and 73

Joe - N7JEH

The Benicia Amateur Radio Club conducted a 10 hour drill on Oct 15th as part of the “Great California Shakeout.” Launched at 1015 hrs, stations from Solano, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties checked in hourly simulating their availability. As directed by the Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS) of Solano County OES, Amateur Radio Operators are not to self-deploy but rather, to check in on their ACS repeaters and await assignments. This drill was intended to provide a typical resource list of such available stations.

The initial activation of the Benicia EOC Amateur Radio room began just after 1000 hrs with two Division Fire Chiefs observing. Following the first of eleven hourly nets, the Fire Chiefs expressed how impressed they were with the wide ranging turnout. Newspaper coverage announced the planned event for some very positive coverage.

Averaging 18 to 20 Amateurs each hour resulted in a total of over 200 checkins operating from batteries, vehicles and generators proving that loss of commercial power would not present a problem as 100% of the participants were using alternative power sources. The drill concluded at 2008 hrs.

Thanks to members of Satern, MDARC, Benicia CERT (BERT) and Benicia ARC for their participation.

Congratulations to all on a successful drill.<

Art Mayoff, AB6HB, ACS Team Leader

Attention All Amateurs…

FCC Issues Public Notice on Amateur Service Communication During Government Disaster Drills (Oct 20, 2009) — On Tuesday October 20, 2009 the FCC released a Public Notice clarifying the Commission’s rules relating to the use of Amateur Radio by licensed amateurs participating in drills and exercises on behalf of their employers. Entitled Amateur Service Communications During Government Disaster Drills, the Public Notice addresses participation by paid employees of organizations taking part in drills. Full Story