| President: | Jack Reed | WA4FXX |
| Vice President: | Dennis Bodson | W4PWF |
| Secretary: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| Treasurer: | Mike Ingles | KG4RKL |
| Activities Chairman: | Alan Bosch | KO4ALA |
| Editor: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| April 2004 FINAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Meetings: | Usually Third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 P.M., Red Cross, 4333 Arlington Blvd. (US 50), Arlington,VA. Nonmembers are invited to attend. |
| Net: | Tuesday (except meeting nights) at 7:30 P.M., 144.87/145.47 MHz FM |
| WWW: | http://www.w4wvp.org/ |
| Roster: | http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.censored.txt |
| Affiliate: | ARRL, FAR |
| Information: | Jack Reed, WA4FXX, wa4fxx@amsat.org (e-mail), (703) 685-7933 (phone). |
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By arrangement of Deputy Chief of Police Stephen L. Holl, Office of Emergency Management, the Police Department's Mobile Command Center (MCC) will visit the Arlington Red Cross building, so that ARES Members can familarize themselves with the equipment from 1915-2030L (and so that Citizens Corps Members can do so before that, from 1800-1915L). ARES members helped select the ham radio equipment installed on the vehicle. Captain Tom Panther will be on hand to explain the vehicle's features and how it is used for special events or major incidents. President Jack Reed, WA4FXX, has asked Members to make a special effort to attend. Please arrive early--1915L--to get a front-row seat!
But, wait--there's more! Jim, K9AUC, is assembling an AARC scrapbook. He's asked KO4ALA and KR4MU to bring specific materials related to Arlington County ARES/AARC assistance in 9/11 disaster relief. He also said, "Also needed for the scrapbook, if they are not already in a club scrapbook, are copies of good photographs or articles relating to the prior club field day activities, support for boy scout activities, Arlington Fair, etc." Can you help?
--Mike, NW3V
President Jack, WA4FXX, called the meeting to order at 1935L. Also attending were Dennis, W4PWF, Mike, NW3V, Mike, KG4RKL, Alan, KO4ALA, Ian, KI4DTP, Jim, K9AUC, Mike, KA8OPJ, George, KR4MU, Chuck, KI4DHW, Paul, KA4KUU (briefly), and visitors Ed, KE4SKY, Jack, KB3KKY, and, later, Sally Cooney, ACC.
President Jack, WA4FXX, asked Members and visitors to introduce themselves. After introductions, Jack asked whether there were additions or corrections to the Minutes of the February meeting published on the web. Dennis, W4PWF, replied that the phrase "Commissions's office" should read "Commissioners' office." It was moved, seconded, and passed to approve the Minutes with this amendment. Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, presented his financial report.
ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis, W4PWF, looking at Jack, WA4FXX, said "I saw you at WinterFest, and I went to the Charlotte, North Carolina, hamfest last weekend. People are hung up on the idea that 'I took the code test, so you should take the code test.'"
Foundation for Amateur Radio Representative Alan, KO4ALA, said that he didn't go to the last meeting. He said, "You all got a February Auto-Call; the next one will be out probably in May." Jack, WA4FXX, said, "There's a mailing list to keep up to date. [KO4]ALA sent it out; contact him if you want it." Then he said to Secretary Mike, NW3V, "Instead of sending Minutes, let's executize and send out planned activities, not meeting-by-meeting but for the coming quarter." Alan said "I volunteered to abstract the League newsletter for Auto-Call; what do you guys want to see?" Ian, KI4DTP, asked, "Where do I sign up?" Someone answered, "On the web." NW3V added, "There's a link on our web page."
Jack, WA4FXX, said that W4PWF participated in the ARRL International DX (Phone) Contest. Dennis, casting a sidelong glance at Jack, replied, "some operator tried to beat me out!" Jack added, "coming events include the CQ WW WPX [CQ Magazine World-Wide Worked All Prefixes] phone contest, March 27-28."
Arlington County EC Alan, KO4ALA, had several announcements:
Ed, KE4SKY, noted that there would be anew RACES training course in Charlottesville on April 3. "We want outsiders, to fill the place up. See the VA-ARES website for details."
Jack, WA4FXX, said "Back to the testing of AM radio: I wonder what they meant by low-power?"
There followed some discussion of BPL.
Jack asked for old business, and Mike, KG4RKL, noted that voting on acceptance of membership applications was in order. It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept the membership applications of Jack, KB3KKY, and then Chuck, KI4DHW.
Ian, KI4DTP, said that he saw the County Mobile Command Post in front of the County Courthouse. Jack, WA4FXX, said he'd like to know for sure what they put in it. Alan, KO4ALA, said "They put in whatever you told them to put in--Chief Holl told me at the CCC meeting." He added, "The County wants to push 'Arlington Alert.'" Jack said, "Ask Lisa about when we can use the Mobile CP." Alan added, "Also about the antenna." There followed some discussion of KO4ALA's difficulty tuning the M-squared antenna. Finally Jack noted, "remember the 2m SSB net the last Wednesday of the month."
Jack said there was some "semi-new business." "The Manassas Hamfest will be the first Sunday in June. We could use some people to go through the junque in the shack and dispose of it at Manassas." NW3V added that computers could be recycled at the recycling day, April 17, at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Jack, WA4FXX, said, "Well, it's an idea. Otherwise we could dispose of non-operational stuff."
There followed some discussion about the susceptibility of the burglar alarm to EMI.
Jack said that at Field Day, we'd probably operate Class F again. Ian said the Arlington County Chapter would probably run a Disaster Action Team drill that day, and that Keith [KG4UIR] is looking for addresses of GMRS licensees for a possible mailing. Another possibility is recent CERT grads, by email. Jim, K9AUC, noted there would be a Radio Night at the Chapter May 11, 7 pm. George, KR4MU, noted that the ARC National Headquarters is laying people off, and that the ACC will attrit.
For our program, we were honored to have Ed Harris, KE4SKY, Deputy State RACES Officer for Safety and Training, and Emergency Response Planning Coordinator, Fairfax County Department of Public Works, describe the Incident Command System (ICS). Ed presented some slides adapted for VA RACES, based originally on the FEMA IS-195 course, and updated to describe the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which was established by Department of Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5. When the presentation ended, Ed told us he had presented a three-hour course in 45 minutes. We certainly felt our time was well spent, and we thank Ed for his time.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Callaham, NW3V
AARC Secretary
ARB013: FCC okays RF identification tags at 433.5 to 434.5 MHz
ARB012: FCC proposes wide-ranging changes to Amateur Service rules
ARB011: ARRL Requests Filing Deadline Extension in BPL Proceeding
ARB009: W1AW 2004 Spring/Summer Operating Schedule
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
The Arlington ARC Roster is online at http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.censored.txt. Do we have your info correct? If not, please contact the Treasurer (Mike, KG4RKL) or webmaster (Mike, NW3V).
The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203