The “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - 24 APR 01 - No. 51
TO: OR-NorCAL-NV ARES and other EMCOMM Stations, ARRL Officials, other EMCOMM
and Public Safety Officials; in Oregon District 5, California SV Section
Districts 1, 2...and BEYOND.
FROM: D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ, ARES SEC, SV Section (North), and editor.
Assistant ACS Officer MAR III California OES
INTERNET: www.qsl.net/k6soj E-MAIL:
k6soj@arrl.net
CA OES ACS INLAND REGION WEBSITE: www.acs.oes.ca.gov/Inland/
SHORT CIRCUITS - Brief (important) announcements:
+ SPECIAL REPORT: RILEY HOLLINGSWORTH “TELLS IT LIKE IT IS” -
If you don’t read anything else in this bulletin...at least read the
special report at the bottom of this newsletter. Or go to:
www.breezeshooters.net/new_page_1.htm
+ DATE SET FOR EMCOMM 2002:
April 20-21 2002 at Bishop Quinn High School
Palo Cedro, CA for EMCOMM 2002 is now confirmed! Mark your
calendars and
let the countdown begin. Only 361 days to go!
+ EMCOMM 2001 PICTURES NOW AT
- www.qsl.net/k6soj
+ EMERGENCY AND ALTERNATIVE POWER
link via: www.qsl.net/k6soj
+ ICS COURSE SET FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY,
OREGON - Douglas County Emergency Management will sponsor a new
course entitled: "Incident Command System (ICS)Series". The course
will be conducted in Roseburg May 14-18, 2001.
Class will be 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. There is no registration fee for this
course. FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO REGISTER, CONTACT: Wayne Stinson, Douglas
County Emergency Management at: 541-440-4448
+ ICS COURSE SET FOR JACKSON COUNTY,
OREGON - Oregon Emergency Management will sponsor a new course
entitled: "Incident Command System (ICS) Series". The course will be
conducted in Medford, or July 23-27, 2001. Class will be
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. There is no registration fee for this course.
There is limited funding to assist applicants with lodging and per diem. Please
note on your application if your attendance would be contingent on receiving
funding assistance.
Contact Kelly Jo Jensen at telephone: (503) 378-2911 or e-mail: kjensen@oem.state.or.us
+ NET REMINDER - 5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
AND NWS NETS
DAILY:
1200 to 1230L: Jefferson Noon Net on 7232 LSB (3987 LSB alternate)
WEDNESDAYS:
1915 to 1930L: NWS WX SPOTTER NETS (see section # 3 below)
1930 to 2000L: A.R.E.S. LEADERSHIP NET on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate)
+ ARES and other EMCOMM NETS)- (updated March 19, 2001) are listed at:
www.qsl.net/k6soj/nets/index.htm
+ FEEDBACK -
From...“RADIO NEWS”: “The amateur is doomed unless something is done to
get
him out of the present rut.” “The amateur today is not recognized in
the community.” “There is to-day no real purpose for the radio
amateur.” In an editorial, the ARRL has responded. Read the League’s
response to these assertions on page 43 in the November issue of QST...1922!
Contrast what was said in 1922 with the SPECIAL REPORT at the end of this
bulletin.
+ TRAINING: The article: “DISASTER / MAJOR EMERGENCY --
WHAT CAN WE
EXPECT? by Lt. Dan Blackston, Chula Vista Police Department” appeared in
its entirety in BULLETIN # 36 (January 9) and is archived at www.qsl.net/k6soj.Below are excerpts from
that article with comments.
33. “Many injured people will have to find their own way to medical
treatment facilities.”
COMMENT: It is important that all EMCOMM operators keep familiar with
their
local emergency plan. And during the event learn where field medical
stations may be located. This fact underscores the value for all emergency
personnel having basic first aid knowledge and skills. Knowing what to do (or
NOT do) may save a life or prevent complications in an injured or ill person.
Also, YOU may become injured or ill, and may find yourself in a situation
where you are the only person present with any first aid knowledge, and may need
to instruct your rescuers in YOUR care! If you have never taken a class,
or your skills are “rusty”, call your local American Red Cross office or
community college and enroll in a first aid course.
TRAINING BULLETINS that appear in this bulletin are also archived at: www.qsl.net/k6soj
(PLUS A “PLETHORA” OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING MATERIAL)
+ SKYWARN NEWS
Jim Reynolds, KD7MLO, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Medford NWS
Gary Pederson, N7GK, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ, Asst. Medford SKYWARN Coordinator
NEW MEDFORD NWS SKYWARN PAGE IS NOW
ONLINE AT:
http://www.qsl.net/wx7mfr/SKYWARN/index.html
CURRENT NWS WEATHER BULLETINS AND WARNINGS ARE AVAILABLE VIA A LINK AT:
www.qsl.net/k6soj
SKYWARN is the National Weather Service program of trained volunteer
spotters reporting severe weather The ARRL/ARES has a national “memorandum of
understanding” (MOU) with the NOAA/NWS.
MEDFORD NWS WX SPOTTER NET HAS MOVED TO
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
The Medford NWS WX SPOTTER NET is now on Wednesdays at:
1915L on 147.26+ (Mt. Ashland repeater - WX7MFR/R); SIMULTANEOUSLY ON: 146.55
SIMPLEX (Siskiyou and Klamath Counties); AND 146.97- the Likely repeater (Modoc
County).
FROM 1920 to 1929L: on 3987 LSB (1982 LSB alternate), relays and other check-ins
will be accepted and forwarded. ALSO, a packet WX SPOTTER NET is being developed
to run concurrently SKYWARN will be activated on these frequencies during severe
weather events.
The NWS PACKET NODE ON MT. ASHLAND IS
NOW OPERATIONAL on 145.030 MHz, ID is: skywrn. NWS is asking for SKYWARN
and ARES packet stations to connect and let them know your location, the type of
antenna and power you use to access the Mt. Ashland node. The “connect” to
NWS packet bbs (direct) is 145.090 and the ID is NWSMFR. Then connect to
NWSBBS, e.g., c nwsmfr. Then, c nwsbbs. The NWSMFR at nws mfr is a node.
Questions? contact Gary, N7GK < gpederso@orednet.org
>
UPDATED (23 April 01) - NWS WEATHER
SPOTTER CLASSES: (EMERGENCY COORDINATORS please announce these on
your local nets, in your local newsletters, etc.)
COOS COUNTY: May 1, 6-8 PM , Emergency Operations Center, 360 E. 2nd St.,
Coquille, OR.
CURRY COUNTY: April 30, 7-9 PM in the Blue Room in the County Annex
Building , Gold Beach., OR.
DOUGLAS COUNTY: May 2, 7-9 PM Ford Room of the Douglas County
Library ,
Roseburg., OR
JACKSON COUNTY: May 10, 7-9 PM, Jackson County Public Works
Auditorium,
200 Antelope Dr., White City, OR (Just north of Medford.)
KLAMATH COUNTY: April 24, 7-9 PM at the Walker Range Fire Patrol building
in Crescent.
LAKE COUNTY (OR): April 25, 7-9 PM at the Community Center in Christmas
Valley.
LAKE COUNTY (OR): April 26, 7-9 PM at the Senior Center in Lakeview
MODOC COUNTY: May 24, 7-9 PM, Modoc County Office of Education Conference
Room, Alturas, CA
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 17, 7-9 PM Forks of Salmon Community Hall
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 22, 7-9 PM Mount Shasta City Hall (upstairs)
SISKIYOU COUNTY: May 23, 7-9 PM Yreka (CDF Training Room)
The NWS/Medford “service area” consists of nine counties: Coos, Curry,
Douglas, Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Lake, (OR); Modoc and Siskiyou (CA).
If you have any questions about the SKYWARN program, contact: Gary/N7GK gpederso@orednet.org via e-mail or on
147.26+ (Mt. Ashland).
REGIONAL ARES WEATHER AND ROAD NETS (ARESWARNS) for SV Districts 1 and 2 are on
the MUTUAL AID FREQUENCIES of 7232 LSB (daytime) and 3987 LSB
(nighttime). 1982LSB (nighttime alternate). Up/down QRM. OREGON
District 5, and all ARES stations elsewhere, are CORDIALLY INVITED to
participate.
During a SEVERE WEATHER EVENT, the HF WARN meets hourly AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
HOUR, until all information and traffic is passed, (more often as needed).
LOCAL ARESWARNS are activated by a local EC or AEC per your local plan. Check
with your EC for more information about your area. It is recommended that
they meet at the TOP OF EACH HOUR, and include a local HF - VHF station for
relay / interface duty with the regional net.
Check in to the JEFFERSON NOON NET daily at 1200L on 7232 // 3987 LSB for
announcements regarding anticipated severe WX.
IF YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO REPORT about your ARES
team or other EMCOMM unit...and would like it posted in the 5-1-2
BULLETIN...send it to: k6soj@arrl.net
+ COMING ATTRACTIONS ...
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? THE SERIES CONTINUES
HOW PREPARED ARE YOU? - A FUN QUIZ
+ FIELD DAY 2001 - JUNE 23-24.
NOTE: Announcements of field day sites sponsored by EMCOMM groups and special
service clubs will listed below. (Send the name of the sponsoring group, the
approximate location of your FD site, a contact person, and an email, web
address, or phone number.) Listed below are some of the FIELD DAY sites
sponsored by EMCOMM groups.
+ CALIFORNIA OES/ACS:
WHO: “Anybody and everybody from any ACS/RACES/ARES/VIP/REACT
organization statewide.”
WHERE: El Dorado N.F. (5 miles from Silver Springs Campground )
CONTACT: Bill Pennington, WA6SLA <Bill_Pennington/OES@oes.ca.gov>
+ The SOJOURNERS (State Of Jefferson Operators United Relay Network and
Emergency Radio Service) www.qsl.net/w6soj
WHO: Members, (guest operators by permission only), visitors welcome.
WHERE: Klamath N.F., Goosenest R.D., Juanita Lake.
CONTACT: D. W. Thorne, K6SOJ <k6soj@arrl.net>
+ Sierra Foothills Amateur Radio Club
WHO: All operators are welcome
WHERE: Nyack, CA. I-80 @ Nyack across from the Nyack general store.
CONTACT: Matt Diridoni, KC6RUO, President SFARC at: 916-632-4084;or, Wayne
Mikel, KE6DJE, Placer County ARES EC at: 916-645-0565
+ Lassen Amateur Radio Club, <www.qsl.net/k6lrc/>
WHO: All visitors are welcome, operator training rotations.
WHERE: Highway 139, Antelope Summit Day Use Area.
CONTACT: Terry L. Cobb SR, K6ME <k6me@arrl.net>
+ The “5-1-2 BULLETIN” - Copyright (c) 2001 - D.W. Thorne, K6SOJ
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and re-circulate items from this
bulletin providing appropriate credit is given to the “5-1-2 REGIONAL ARES
BULLETIN” and/or the author or originator of the material. Send
corrections, updates, etc. to: k6soj@arrl.net
+ PLEASE REMEMBER TO CONSERVE ENERGY!
-------------------------------------
+ SPECIAL REPORT +
Pleasant Hills, PA, 14 April 2001 -- The FCC Enforcement Bureau's Special
Counsel for Amateur Radio, Riley Hollingsworth K4ZDH, spoke for over 45 minutes
to a crowd of over 50 Amateur Radio operators at the Blue Flame restaurant on
Route 51 this morning. It was one of two talks he was scheduled to give today in
the Pittsburgh area, the second being that evening in Monroeville at the Palace
Inn hotel.
Hollingsworth covered a wide variety of topics involving the FCC and the Amateur
Radio Service, covering enforcement issues, possible International regulatory
changes, and some of his views for the future of the Amateur service. He
emphasized several times the importance of "how we sound on the air"
both domestically and internationally, and how critical that was at upcoming ITU
conferences with other countries - conferences where the rule was, large or
small, that "one country (has) one vote -- just like we do." He warned
the crowd that there was a good chance that the 40 Meter Amateur band would be
reduced by 1/3 (from 300 to 200 kHz wide) at the next World Administrative Radio
Conference, and that it was very important that we conduct ourselves well on the
air. "Operate as if the whole world is listening!"
On cases of interference and other enforcement issues, Hollingsworth emphasized
the need for vigilance against the "proliferation of all that junk out
there," citing some specific cases. He urged amateurs to "hear
it, document it, and notify the FCC," and that while it may take 3 to 5
years to get back up to full enforcement levels of years past, enforcement IS
back but we should not become complacent about it. He also reminded the audience
that enforcement alone won't save Amateur Radio, as "there is no rule
against being stupid" on the air.
Hollingsworth compared the existing Amateur Radio spectrum to New York's Central
Park, reminding the audience that it was "worth billions" and would
become a target if the Amateur service did not manage itself properly. He
pointed out that the new demands for spectrum today compared to as little as 15
years ago, and emphasized the need for the Amateur Radio community to have a
strong National voice and presence - and that the American Radio Relay League is
all we have.
Hollingsworth also discussed briefly the growing problem of restrictive zoning,
deeds and covenants, mentioning some of the "horror stories" that the
FCC had heard about CC&R's only disclosed at the closing or settlement, when
it was too late for the home buyer to do anything about it. And he brought up
some recent legislation in Texas that would have essentially prohibited all
towers (including Amateur) over 25 feet high throughout the state, that the ARRL
was able to resolve in our favor. He emphasized that the FCC would only take
action to strengthen PRB-1 over deed restrictions if the Amateur community
continued to provide the FCC with factual information and insist that action be
taken.
Hollingsworth also had praise for the Amateur community in their efforts to
innovate new communications techniques, specifically mentioning the new digital
PSK-31 mode as something "amazing" and a "big draw for
people." He urged the audience to "spark your own enthusiasm" on
this and other new communication modes. "Amateur Radio is at a crossroads
right now," and Hollingsworth added that with the convergence of computer
and radio technology, we have "the greatest potential" to grow in the
last 20 to 25 years. He pointed out that while it was important to try and draw
younger people into the Service, we should remember that Amateur Radio appeals
to all age groups. He also urged the Amateur community to continue to train and
educate incoming amateurs, stating that "we have a duty to teach new
operators everything we know."
But he also urged us to "stay away from the negative operators" and to
not "give them a safe harbor "as the survival of Amateur Radio was at
stake. "Negative operators need to learn that Amateur Radio is not the
training ground for "the next Jerry Springer," and that with the
technology now available to the FCC monitoring stations (despite the closing of
many local field offices) that they "can and will be caught, sooner or
later."
He also urged Amateurs to get more publicity out about themselves and what they
do, stating that "we're not equipped to give ourselves credit." He
cited the publicity following recent pirate attacks on shipping in the Caribbean
as an example of what we should be doing, and singling out ABC's
"20/20" program for getting the story right - "the best publicity
we've had in 20 years." But the lack of publicity of the importance of
Amateur Radio to the Hurricane Watch and other events of that scope is something
we need to do more about.
On the matter of the Amateur Service restructuring, Hollingsworth emphasized
that it was "done" and that we would look back on this at the end of
the decade as a "stroke of brilliance." He also pointed out that a
side effect has been an upswing in the use by Amateurs of Morse Code
communication. More Amateurs are turning or returning to the mode since higher
speeds are no longer mandated, citing the analogy "the best way to kill a
good book is to put it on the required reading list." He felt that this
showed that it wasn't the code speed that was important, but the code itself.
Hollingsworth also touched briefly on the positive relationship that the ARRL
President is developing with the FCC commissioners, and that the ARRL and that
the ARRL will be giving a presentation and demonstration to the FCC
Commissioners once all of the new members have been seated. He brought up that
FCC Chairman Powell is very enthusiastic and thinks very positively of the
Amateur service. But he also brought up that without Senator Barry Goldwater or
FCC Commissioner Lee in Washington any more, we have "no built in safety
mechanism" or "insurance policy" and that it is up to us. He also
discussed the ARRL's upcoming Big Project to try and put an Amateur station in
every elementary school in the country, and the great potential that AMSAT-OSCAR
40 will present to us, even with all of it's problems.
He concluded by reminding everyone present that we need to realize "what a
great gift (Amateur Radio) is," but that like any great gifts, it comes
with great responsibilities too.
----------------------------------------
This message was originated by MARS member Mr. Charles Lassiter, AAR6HX.
Bob Sutton, AAA9A, passed it along to all the members of Army MARS. The original
item was written by Ron Notarius, WN3VAW of the K3BRZ Breezeshooters' Amateur
Radio Club in PA. The original article (complete with pictures) can be found at:
www.breezeshooters.net
