Monday, February 20, 2017

The Ohio Section News Update – February 20, 2017 Edition


Inside..

- NIMS / ICS
- Licensing Survey
- Handbook Giveaway
- Getting this Newsletter
- 1 Question Survey
- Final
   
************

NIMS / ICS Training

Hey Gang, get those oh – so important ICS certificates in to me and to your Emergency Coordinator!!

Every Ohio ARES member needs to have at least these 4 basic courses completed. Why are these courses so important? The simple answer is this - we need these courses as part of our requirement for our state credentialing system. As you know, the State of Ohio has a credentialing system that we are a big part of, and to obtain your credential when the time is needed, means that you need to have these courses completed and turned in to the database. So, without these courses being completed, you won’t be able to get credentialed!

Here’s the latest count we have on everyone.. Members included in the database 631, Members completing NIMS 418, and Total Courses taken 4,131 

These are fantastic statistics for sure, and they just keep growing. These numbers were from yesterday and they are already outdated with more coming in. This is the way it should be, but PLEASE, make sure that you get these certificates to your local Emergency Coordinator too.

************

Licensing Survey
(from Tom Delaney, W8WTD & The Listening Post)

The following article appeared on the ARRL webpage a week or so ago. Many, though maybe not all of you, know that I am a member of the Entry Level License Committee. So I have a special interest in finding out what you think. Our committee has researched this topic thoroughly. We’ve looked at licensing in other countries, we’ve examined the “readability” of the language used in exams, we’ve researched the latest in educational techniques, and we’ve looked at privileges granted by license class and how they do or do not offer incentives to upgrade. And now, we’re at the point of asking for member feedback. If you have questions, feel free to contact me. And please take the survey!

An Entry Level License Committee was established by the ARRL Board of Directors and appointed in September 2016. As part of its ongoing work, the committee is gathering member input and will make recommendations to the Board for possible rules changes to submit to the FCC.

The result could mean changes to the Technician license, but it could also be an additional, but simpler, license with privileges that would give a newcomer a taste of most facets of ham radio from HF to VHF and UHF.

The committee has created an online member survey. Please complete and submit the survey no later than April 7, 2017. Survey results will be published.

Here’s a link to that survey..  http://www.arrl.org/license-1

************

Handbook Giveaway
 
Did you see..  The NEWEST “Handbook Giveaway” drawing is now back on the website!!

To enter the drawing all you need to do is fill in a couple of boxes on the form.. (your name and email). That’s you need to do to be entered into a drawing to win a 2017 ARRL softcover Handbook. There’s nothing else required (Oh.. You do need to be a resident of Ohio to win..) 

The winner will be mailed the Handbook at my cost. This is being offered just to see how many folks are really checking in on the website. Got the idea? Best of luck to you!!


************

Are you getting those emails from me? If not, all you have to do is to “Opt-In” to receive them.

Heck, just send me an email:  n8sy@n8sy.com and let me know that you want to be added. It’s really just that easy.

Are you passing this newsletter on to others? Please, if you know of anyone that would be interested in this information, feel free to pass it on to them. You don’t have to be an ARRL member or even a ham to receive these emails.

You can always  “Opt-Out”  at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting.

************
 
1 Question Survey

There’s a BRAND NEW – one question – questionnaire on the Ohio Section Website! This question is just something that would be interesting and fun to know... It will only take about 2 seconds for you to answer it, and you can see how your answer stacks up with others instantly. If you haven’t done it yet, please do..

This latest question actually comes from Steve, NQ8T.  How’s about it, got a question that YOU would like to see asked? Send it to me, n8sy@n8sy.com

************

Finally..  ? Today is Presidents Day.

Like Independence Day, Presidents’ Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance. In its original incarnation as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday gained special meaning during the difficulties of the Great Depression, when portraits of George Washington often graced the front pages of newspapers and magazines every February 22. In 1932 the date was used to reinstate the Purple Heart, a military decoration originally created by George Washington to honor soldiers killed or wounded while serving in the armed forces. Patriotic groups and the Boy Scouts of America also held celebrations on the day, and in 1938 some 5,000 people attended mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City in honor of Washington.

In its modern form, Presidents’ Day is used by many patriotic and historical groups as a date for staging celebrations, reenactments and other events. A number of states also require that their public schools spend the days leading up to Presidents’ Day teaching students about the accomplishments of the presidents, often with a focus on the lives of Washington and Lincoln.

Remember, life is short, go have FUN..!!
 

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..