The latest ARES E-Letter has been released.

In This Issue:

• Urgent Need for Mentors for Updated New ARRL Introduction to Emergency Communications Course
• Don’t Miss the 2019 ARRL National Convention at Dayton Hamvention® Programs
• Ohio ARES Musters for January Snowmageddon
• Comments Due Friday on Proposed Updates to the National Emergency Communications Plan
• Letters: On Doing Double Duty for Public Service and Personal Health
• Letters: On Possible Role in Opioid Crisis, Response
• ITU Teams with Americas’ Telecoms and IARU, Promotes WinLink
• Iowa Water Utility Assisted by ARES for RFI Issue
• FEMA Releases IS-0200.c Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
• More Street Sense for Emergency Communication
• New Books: Energy Choices for the Radio Amateur, from ARRL
• K1CE For a Final: Anderson Powerpoles, GoVerticalUSA Products

An Audio Version is available on the ARRL Website

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

The latest ARES E-Letter has been released.

In This Issue:

• ARRL Board Meets in January: ARES Plan Adopted, National Traffic System Embraced
• Florida Emergency Communications Conference Features Major Exercise “Viral Duo”
• Editorial: Do Double Duty for Public Service and Personal Health
• Want to Make a Good Impression? Wear the Professional-Appearing ARES Polo Shirt
• Section News
• K1CE For a Final: Get a WinLink Call Sign and Operating Experience

An Audio Version is available on the ARRL Website

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 Wilmington Office of the National Weather Services has published it’s Spotter Training schedule for 2019:

https://www.weather.gov/iln/spottertrainingschedule

Please note that while the site states it is the 2018 schedule, the dates posted are correct.  The site will be corrected after the Federal government shutdown.  There may be more classes added once that occurs.

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.