The latest ARES E-Letter has been released.

In This Issue:

• Puerto Rican Earthquake, Aftershocks Continue with More Predicted — ARES Supports Red Cross
• Australian Bushfires Causing Major Telecommunication Outages, Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Groups Asked to Remain Alert
• Winlink Development Team Members Awarded Tennessee Military Department Patriot Medals
• FEMA Updates Community Emergency Response Team Training
• Spotlight: Digital Modes Focus of Connecticut’s Simulated Emergency Test 2019
• New State Driving Laws Take Effect
• Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to the FCC Files Recommendation, Reports on Amateur Radio Disaster Communications Capability
• K1CE for a Final
• ARES Resources
• ARRL Resources

Beginning with the 15 January 2020 net, the Net Control Operator for the weekly District 3 ARES net will be using the callsign of KD3WCO (K-District 3 West Central Ohio).

The National Weather Service in Wilmington has posted their upcoming 2020 Spotter Training schedule for our area. The class provides a basic understanding of thunderstorm structure, spotting techniques, reporting criteria, safety information and procedures.

The advanced class will be held in Dayton this year on March 14, 2020 from 1:30pm-5pm. (Note: Dayton Section SKYWARN hosted classes will be held at the University of Dayton this year. See the NWS schedule page for details)

Classes are FREE and open to the public of all ages. You do not need to be a resident of the county in which a talk is being held in order to attend.

Each class lasts about 2 hours and is led by a National Weather Service meteorologist who will discuss techniques and safety for severe weather spotting, with a brief overview of the Amateur Radio Network.

Once you attend a class, you are an officially trained spotter and can report severe weather to your NWS office.

The 2020 Spotter Training schedule is available at https://www.weather.gov/iln/spottertrainingschedule

Note: You may need to click “look for more events” to see the calendar.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of John Massie, WX8JDM, as the new Net Manager (NM) for the West Central Ohio District 3 ARES Weekly Net, effective today 15 March 2019.  John serves in the regular rotation of Net Control Operators (NCO) and spent a number of hour as one of the several NCO’s during the District 3 Snow Net Saturday/ Sunday 19/20 January.

I also want to recognize and express thanks and appreciation to retiring co-Net Managers Keith Burnette, KB8GYB, and Randy Allen, KAØAZS, for their respective many years of service to and support of the D3 Weekly Net.  They have expressed desire to be replaced for some time now and we finally are able to accomplish that for them.

The current Net procedures and guidelines will be maintained for the present time but the D3 EC’s and I are considering future changes to make the weekly net more interesting, efficient and effective.  I welcome and encourage Net Control Operators, Net participants and ARES personnel within the nine District 3 counties to email me any ideas and suggestions you may have for accomplishing these goals.  We also need your regular participation in the weekly Net as often as you can make it!

A “purpose and mission statement” for the D3 ARES Weekly Net and a “Position Description for D3 ARES Net Manager” will be published/distributed soon and also posted on the D3 ARES website—which Randy will continue to maintain as webmaster.

My “door” always is open so don’t hesitate to email me any time with any questions, idea and suggestions.  Thank you for your continuing participation in and support for West Central Ohio District 3 ARES.

73,

Fred Stone W8LLY

District Emergency Coordinator

West Central Ohio District 3 ARES

From Ohio ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL:

Gang, the enclosed news release has the details, but the short version is twofold: the EC-001 course is back on a new hosting system. It appears to be the same course as before.  The good news is in part two: the course is free.

If you have volunteers new to ARES  this is a good basic course for readiness and expectation.  Feel free to pass on this information to your members!

Here is the official release:

EC-001 Launch 2019

ARRL’s Lifelong Learning Department is excited to announce the launch of the recently revised Introduction to Emergency Communications (EC-001) course. As part of this new initiative, the course has been updated, beta-tested by a group of course mentors, and transferred into a new online learning platform.

With the closing of the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) in mid-2018, EC-001 lost its virtual home and was taken offline. At that point ARRL’s Emergency Preparedness staff started working with the new Lifelong Learning team to explore short and long-term alternatives for offering the course. After a period of careful evaluation and review, the decision was made to move the course from the previous Moodle platform to a more modern Learning Management System called Canvas, which will be used while the new Lifelong Learning Initiative program is being developed. The EC-001 course will eventually become part of this new, comprehensive online learning environment.

EC-001 is designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. We hope this course will be the starting point for you in your service to your community as radio amateurs and inspire you to think outside the box and look at new and useful ways the radio amateur can lend a hand to the public that has given us the trust of our spectrum of skills. With the online format, students can access the course at any time from anywhere during a 9-week period, so you may work according to your own schedule.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer Introduction to Emergency Communications EC-001 once again” states Kris Bickell, ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager. “The Emergency Preparedness staff at ARRL has been incredibly helpful while we’ve worked together to get the course back up and running. And the input from previous EC-001 mentors has been an invaluable part of the testing phase. The timing is right to put the course back online.”

As in the past, students will be able to register and take the course entirely online. The Canvas platform is also mobile-responsive, meaning that students can view the course materials, interact with fellow students, and complete assignments from any mobile device.

Each course will run for nine (9) weeks, with a group of up to 30 students who will be supported by an experienced mentor. There will be no cost for the course, although students must meet certain pre-requisites to be eligible to participate, which are listed on the registration page.

To view the 2019 course schedule and to register:

http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration

Emil Constantine, KC8HYK, became a Silent Key on February 3rd, 2019

Emil served many years as a Net Control Operator for the Ohio District 3 ARES Net.

He was a long time member of the Kettering Medical Center Amateur Radio Association (KMCARA) and was a founding member of the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association (WCOARA) when it was formed from the KMCARA in 2000.  He served on the WCOARA Board of Directors, was Chairman of the Science and Education Committee and held several other positions.

He was also active in supporting Public Service Events as well as the Amateur Radio point of contact for the Kettering Medical Center.

A memorial service for Emil has been scheduled to occur at 4pm on Saturday, 2 March 2019, at the Centerville Seventh-Day Adventist Church,  456 W. Spring Valley Pike.

The International Radio Amateur Union (IARU)  Emergency Telecommunications Guide (1 September 2016) is available online.

You can download it as a PDF here.

Thanks to Fred, W8LLY and Jim, W8TSN for pointing out this link on the CQ Magazine website.

As authorized by Fred Stone, W8LLY, the Ohio District 3 ARES DEC, the 26 April 2017 Ohio District 3 ARES Net, will be held on the Miamisburg Wireless Association, WA8PLZ, 146.820 MHz (PL 77.0) repeater.  Furthermore, the Ohio District 3 ARES Net will continue to be held on this frequency, each Wednesday evening, at 8:00pm, until you are notified of a change back to the WCOARA, WC8OH, 145110/224.160 MHz repeater system.

For your information, the Ohio District 3 ARES has been informed, by Butch Kovacs, WD8EOL, the Vice-President of the Miamisburg Wireless Association, that, by a vote of their membership, on Saturday, 8 April 2017, they have agreed to allow the Ohio District 3 ARES, the use their repeater in the future, as the primary backup frequency for conducting the Ohio District 3 ARES Net.

On behalf of Fred, the Ohio District 3 ARES, and myself, I would like to accept and express our gratitude to the members of the Miamisburg Wireless Association, for their gracious offer.

Keith, KB8GYB
Ohio District 3 ARES Net Co-Manager

Fred Stone, W8LLY,  has been appointed as the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) of Ohio District 3.

Fred has many years of ARES experience, having served as the Greene County EC and a Deputy DEC for District 3.

Fred’s contact information is listed on the DEC page.

Edited to Add: The following was published in the Xenia Daily Gazette on 20 Dec 16.

BELLBROOK — Bellbrook resident Fred Stone has been appointed the district emergency coordinator (DEC) for District 3 of the Ohio Section of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

Stone, whose amateur radio call sign is W8LLY, will coordinate ARES activities in Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties.

Stone had served as an assistant district emergency coordinator under Bob Rhoades, whom he replaces. Rhoades, who had served in a variety of local, district and state emergency service positions, died in an automobile accident in November.

ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for auxiliary communication support in the public service when disaster strikes. District 3 has more than 300 active amateur radio operators participating in ARES. All ARES positions are strictly voluntary, complying with the FCC requirement that amateur radio operators not receive any pay for their services.

The DEC has responsibility for coordinating the training, organization and emergency participation of emergency coordinators in the nine county West Central Ohio district and the deployment of available amateurs radio personnel and equipment resources during a disaster or communication emergency.

Stone, who has served as Greene County ARES (GCARES) emergency coordinator, will resign on Feb. 1 after completing 20 years in the position. During that time, he has overseen the development of county-wide emergency communication plans and networks with assistance from the three county amateur radio clubs, Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club, Upper Valley (Fairborn) Amateur Radio Club and the Xenia Weather Amateur Radio Network. He also serves as EC for Bellbrook and Sugarcreek Township.

He helped to establish memorandums of understanding with a number of Greene County public service agencies including police and fire departments, hospitals and the health department, the emergency management agency and served on the Greene County Emergency Preparedness Committee. A ham for 64 years, he was involved in several disaster incidents including the 1974 and 2000 Xenia tornadoes.

Content provided by Greene County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.