It’s that time of year again — time to start gearing up for ARRL Field Day, June 23-24, 2012! ARRL’s flagship operating event — always held the fourth full weekend in June — brings together new and experienced hams for 24 hours of operating fun. Field Day packets are now available for download (http://www NULL.arrl NULL.org/news/2012-field-day-packet-now-available) from the ARRL Web site.

June 3, 2011

In accord with our Memorandum of Understanding with The Salvation Army, we are looking for volunteers to aid them in their work in Joplin, Missouri at this time.  There is a specific process to be followed in doing this, so please read this information carefully.

The Salvation Army continues to provide food, drink and other items of basic care to survivors and rescue workers in the impacted areas of Joplin, MO.  While cell phone coverage is no longer much of a problem in Joplin, amateur radio continues to be important in certain operations such as those of the Salvation Army where the ability for several persons to hear what is going on at the same time is an asset.

As a SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) operator, if deployed, you will be asked to go out on Salvation Army vehicles into the areas impacted by the Joplin tornado to supply logistical support.  The Salvation Army vehicles supply basic human needs (particularly food and drink) and you will play a big part in the operation.  You will relay information as to inventory, requests for food and drink, maintenance problems that develop, etc.   It may surprise you, but at certain periods of the day the radio traffic has been almost constant.  The Salvation Army Disaster Response Operations are now running from 7 a.m. to as late as 9 p.m.

DO NOT SELF_DEPLOY!

Wait to be contacted for possible deployment and assignment.

The qualifications for being assigned are:

ü  Technician or higher Amateur Radio license.

ü  Good health – you will encounter 100 degree heat, exertion and long hours.  You need to be in good shape!

ü  Ability to take on a 3 to 5 day deployment in the field.

ü  Have an HT and a mobile (VHF/UHF) radio – also having APRS is a big plus.

ü  Experience with disaster responses.  ARES leadership experience a plus.

ü  NIMS/ICS training with a minimum of IS-100, IS-200 completed.

The process to volunteer is:

1.  Send an email to emergency@arrl.org (http://us NULL.mc810 NULL.mail NULL.yahoo NULL.com/mc/compose?to=emergency null@null arrl NULL.org) (Include name, call, contact information (phone & email), location and specific information on how you meet each of the criteria above)

2.  Your information will be checked against the current needs

3.  If cleared, your contact information will be sent to our liaison with SATERN field leadership.

4.  If assigned, you will be contacted by SATERN directly and given further instructions.

The Salvation Army will try to supply you with some type of lodging, if available.  If deployed, you should consider bringing a sleeping bag or make other sleeping arrangements should you need to be housed at the Salvation Army.

SATERN operations in Joplin are being held on the 147.00 (positive offset) repeater.  If you are deployed, you will need at minimum a 2-meter handheld radio with a spare battery pack (or cigarette lighter adapter) and a magnetic mount antenna.  Due to some communications problems experienced on 2-meters within the impacted area, a 2-meter mobile radio with magnetic mount antenna would be desirable.  Additional information will be furnished to you.

No reimbursement for travel or any other expenses has been authorized at this time. Therefore, I would recommend that you record your mileage and save your receipts.  You may be able to deduct your mileage from your taxes (consult your tax preparer). The Salvation Army will of course provide you food and drink while on duty.

=========================================

Thank you!

73,

Steve Ewald, WV1X

Supervisor, Field Organization Team

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™

860-594-0265

sewald@arrl.org (http://us NULL.mc810 NULL.mail NULL.yahoo NULL.com/mc/compose?to=sewald null@null arrl NULL.org)

Amateur operators are needed to staff communications positions for the Grizzly Peak Century bicycle ride on Sunday, May 2, 2010. Shifts are available throughout the day. Aid station communicators, SAG vehicle communications, and SAG drivers are needed. Please contact Randy KA6BQF ka6bqf@arrl.net, Texx KG6ATH texx@delong.org, or Stanton KD6SWU stantong@yahoo.com, to volunteer.

Randy Jenkins, KA6BQF
ka6bqf@arrl.net (http://us NULL.mc810 NULL.mail NULL.yahoo NULL.com/mc/compose?to=ka6bqf null@null arrl NULL.net)
510 526.4089

Secretary & Public Events
East Bay Amateur Radio Club
www.eastbayarc.org (http://www NULL.eastbayarc NULL.org/)

VE Liason & Public Service Co-Coordinator
Marin Amateur Radio Society
www.w6sg.net (http://www NULL.w6sg NULL.net/)

Please note the following news announcement on the ARRL Web that was posted today (Saturday, January 23).

The referenced link:

http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9397 (http://www NULL.arrl NULL.org/?artid=9397)

Haitian Officials Announce Contact Information for Amateurs going to Haiti to Provide Disaster Relief

CONATEL (Haitian Telecomm regulator) has setup temporary offices and has released a public notice which may address it.  Amateurs wishing to operate in Haiti to assist with disaster relief need to formally contact CONATEL to get formal reciprocal operating clearance.

The text of the CONATEL public notice is as follows:

CONATEL NOTICE

The National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL) hereby notifies the general public, and those particularly impacted, that, following the widespread damage caused by the violent earthquake of January 12th, 2010, a satellite office of CONATEL was installed at the Number 97 of the Avenue Panaméricaine in Pétion-Ville with the goal of assuring the continuity of its work.  This arrangement will allow, among other things, better coordination for establishing a temporary emergency telecommunications network in Haiti .

Consequently, all concerned are asked to contact CONATEL at the above mentioned address between 9 AM and 1 PM and throughout the day at the following telephone numbers (509) 3454-0541 – on 2516-0000 – 3702-1414 or at the electronic addresses : techommunication@yahoo.fr – info@conatel.gouv.ht, before any use of telecommunications equipment or the spectrum resources, in hopes of avoiding the problems of interferences and possible conflicts between the incumbent operators established in Haiti and those who are newly operating in this unusual circumstance.

The National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL), while thanking the telecommunications service providers for all their efforts to keep their networks operational, despite the widespread damage that has been noted, CONATEL takes this opportunity to offer its sympathies to the families of the victims of the earthquake.

Port-au-Prince , January 20th, 2010

Montaigne Marcelin
Directeur Général

=========================

Thank you for your attention.

73,

Steve Ewald, WV1X

Supervisor, Field Organization Team

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio™

860-594-0265

sewald@arrl.org (http://us NULL.mc810 NULL.mail NULL.yahoo NULL.com/mc/compose?to=sewald null@null arrl NULL.org) 

I am once again, after a year or two off, coordinating communications for the Bay Area Ultra Runners’ Dick Collins Firetrails 50. This is a 50 mile race run (mostly over East Bay Regional Parks land) from Castro Valley (Lake Chabot Marina) to Berkeley (Lone Oak picnic area in Tilden park) AND BACK. There’s also a “mere” marathon run concurrently. The event is coming up fast and we need help again. This is a great chance to work with a terrific communications team to support a truly class event. (You can read all about FT50 at http://www.firetrails50.net/ (http://www NULL.firetrails50 NULL.net/) ) It never fails to be a learning experience, even for those of us who have been doing public service and emergency communications for years.

This is a before-dawn to after-dark event (though only the insane work all those hours.) There are posts where a hand-held easily does the job, and others where some laws of physics must be strained to secure communications. Most posts can be driven to. One is a hike, or a run, or a bike ride. There’s something for everybody!

There will be further mailings, but if you want to get in on the fun please let me know as soon as possible. If you already know where/when you want to work, tell me. If you have time/travel restrictions, tell me that. If you need more information, tell me that. Please respond to ft50communications@sbcglobal.net (http://us NULL.mc810 NULL.mail NULL.yahoo NULL.com/mc/compose?to=ft50communications null@null sbcglobal NULL.net).

Neil Fullagar, K6NCX
for 2009 Firetrails 50 & Golden Hills Marathon Communications
Alameda County Sheriff’s Communications Team