The Ohio Section News Update – Almost Groundhog Day Edition

Inside..

- Handbook Giveaway Winner

- School Roundup

- NEW 1 Question Survey

- NIMS / ICS

- Getting this Newsletter

- Final

   

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Handbook Giveaway Winner!!

 

And the winner is……  

We had a fantastic response this month with well over 2,000 entries, but I’m sure you’re more interested in knowing just who won the Handbook this month.. Well,  it’s    Thomas Hayner, KD8PUA of Toledo!

I do want to thank everyone that participated this month. There will be another drawing coming soon so keep a sharp eye out for it on the Ohio Section Website. Look for the big RED arrow on the left side of the page.

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School Roundup for Dresden Elementary

(info from Charlie, KB8PXM)

 

The Dresden Elementary Amateur Radio Station club will be participating in the ARRL School Club Round-Up on February 13th thru 17^th. Give a listen for them on 40 and 20 Meter General Phone / PSK 31 and 2 Meter Simplex 146.550 MHz FM

Operation will begin around 2:30 PM each day and conclude at 7:30 PM. Check DX Summit if you need help finding us, as we are often spotted.

Want to learn more about the D.E.A.R.S. check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KD8NOM/ or Twitter at https://twitter.com/KD8NOM

These kids are looking forward to contacting you on the air. We hope that you enjoy making contact with these kids as they learn and enjoy this great hobby of ours!

Want more information about the School Roundup?  Here’s a link http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup

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One Question Survey

There’s another 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..

Do you have a question that you’d like to see posted? This latest question actually comes from Mike, N8GBU.

How’s about it, got a question that YOU would like to see asked? Send it to me, n8sy@n8sy.com

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NIMS / ICS Training

Hey Gang, I want to thank everyone that has forwarded your certificates to us. Please, get them to me, and to your Emergency Coordinator too!! Every Ohio ARES member needs to have at least these 4 basic courses completed, and copies of your certificates entered into our database, and to your Emergency Coordinator for his records.

Want to take more? Fantastic!! Remember, this training is FREE, and you do most of it from the comforts of your home!

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!

Let’s not let that happen. These courses are about 1 1/2 hours long each and YES, they are boring as all get out, but they do give you a lot of information about how Incident Command works, and that after all is what it’s all about.

Let’s keep it going for 2017!!   

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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.

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Finally..  It’s Almost Groundhog Day

Here’s a little FUN history for you about this infamous day..

European Roots

(Adapted from "Groundhog Day: 1886 to 1992" by Bill Anderson)

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

So.. whatcha’ think.. Will the groundhog see his shadow, or not!! Take a guess and just jot it down on a piece of paper today and let’s see who guesses it right tomorrow. My prediction is that he’ll see his shadow and we’ll have six more weeks of winter for sure!

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

 

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..