Friday, February 3, 2017

The Ohio Section News Update – Super Bowl Weekend Edition


Inside..


- Rookie Roundup Changes
- NIMS 100 Training
- NIMS / ICS
- Getting this Newsletter
- Hamfests
- Special Events
- Final
   
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New Rookie Roundup Rules Will Mean More Rookies on the Air
(from ARRL Newsletter)

Changes to the rules for Rookie Roundup will make it possible for more radio amateurs to qualify for the "Rookie" category. Rookie Roundup is a 6-hour operating event aimed at radio amateurs licensed for 3 years or less. Operators first licensed in 2015, 2016, or 2017 already qualify as Rookies for the next Rookie Roundup, which will be the SSB event on April 17, 1800-2359 UTC.

Starting with the SSB event in April, operators licensed before 2015 may enter as Rookies if they made their first Amateur Radio contact during 2015, 2016 or 2017 -- or if they have never before made a contact using the mode of the upcoming Rookie Roundup (i.e., SSB for April, RTTY for August, and CW for December). These operators should send 2017 in their exchange, and those qualifying for either of these reasons will be Rookies only for 1 year.

Rookie Roundup is the third Sunday in April (SSB), August (RTTY), and December (CW). Stations send the year they were first licensed as part of the exchange. Rookies attempt to make as many contacts as possible and may work everyone. Non-Rookies may only work Rookies. Mentoring is a big part of this event, multioperator teams can compete, and veteran operators are encouraged to participate!

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Canton Amateur Radio Club to Offer NIMS-100 Training
(from the Monday Morning Message)

The Canton ARC in co-operation with Stark County EMA's Steven Foss will be conducting a NIMS-100 training and certification class at an upcoming meeting.

The date is February 15, starting at 5 PM at Stark County EMA. Attend ICS-100 training facilitated by Steve Foss of the EMA. In 2.5 hours, we should be able to review the course and complete an online test, resulting in a certificate. This session is open to the general public, space permitting.



Immediately following at 7:30 PM, the CARC regular meeting will be postponed so that we may receive introductory MARCS radio system training.

This class is oriented towards people who are already in ARES or interested in ARES membership.

Here’s a link to their website for details and information on where their meetings are held

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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.

Here’s what we have on file as of February 1st - Members logged - 613, Members ICS complete - 399, Courses logged - 3,975   I have to tell ya, this number is growing every day. 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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Upcoming Hamfests

02/19/2017 | Mansfield Mid Winter Hamfest
Location: Mansfield, OH
Sponsor: Intercity Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://W8WE.ORG

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Special Events

02/18/2017 | WRARC 7th Anniversary
Feb 18, 1500Z-2300Z, W8WRC, New Springfield, OH. Western Reserve Amateur Radio Club. 21.300 14.305 7.200. QSL. Western Reserve Amateur Radio Club, 2050 East South Range Road, New Springfield, OH 44443. www.wrarc.net

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Finally..  It’s Almost Super Bowl

Hey Gang,

How’d you do with guessing whether the groundhog would see his shadow or not. I got it right. Now, let’s see how you do with Super Bowl 51.. Will it be the New England Patriots or the Atlanta Falcons.. Personally, I am rooting for New England. So let’s see how it goes. Jot down your pick before Sunday night and see if you guessed it!

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

73,

Scott, N8SY..
eof..