The Ohio Section News Update – Cinco de Mayo Edition

Inside..

- NIMS / ICS

- Handbook Give Away

- NETS

- Getting this Newsletter

- Field Day

- Upcoming Hamfests

- My Final    

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NIMS / ICS Training

The numbers are continuing to grow!  Here’s the count to date.. Members in database:  732; Active members:  718; Members NIMS complete:  519 and finally the total courses taken:  4849  

We need these courses, and we need to continue our education. It doesn’t stop just because we got our Amateur Radio license. In fact, it just starts there! Stan and I have added a new wrinkle to all of this by joining forces with Ohio Responds. Now by doing this we have an obligation to fulfil a requirement which is to have these 4 courses completed, and entered into our database. Now, what is Ohio Responds you ask? And how does this affect me? It will provide you with a Limited Liability Protection under the Ohio Revised Code. This is something that is really a big plus for all volunteers working in this field. More information will be coming as we spin it up.. Right now we are working with the folks from Ohio Responds to get the system up and working as WE need it to be. So, there’s still some tweaking going on, so please don’t try to register just yet.. I’ll make sure that you know when we are ready to go full tilt on this.

Here’s the link so that you can find out if your name is on the list. This list is being updated pretty regular, so if you don’t see you name on it, and you have just submitted your certificates, please be patient.   

http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/special/nims_roster.html 

For those just starting out, we have a webpage with all the information about how to get started..  http://arrl-ohio.org/SEC/training.html. This page contains a lot of information about what is needed. Each course takes about an hour or so to take, that’s really not much to ask now is it? You spent way more than that to get your Amateur Radio operators license!

Now here’s a link that Ed, KE8ANU found that breaks it all down for you as to what the classes are:

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource/trainingmaterials.htm     Thanks Ed..!!

And here’s an additional link to the FEMA First Responder Catalog  www.firstrespondertraining.gov  Thanks Michael, N8QHV

I want to announce that our database guru Jim, W8ERW will be at the Ohio Section Booth at Hamvention with his computer. He’ll be able to look up you NIMS records right from there. Also, if you want to load up a disk or flash drive with your certificates on it, Jim will be able to upload that into the system right from there. You’ll need to scan your certificates either as a picture or as a .pdf and put them on a flash drive or disk. Jim will not be able to do any scanning from there, so please have that done before you get to the Hamvention.

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Handbook Give Away

We love to celebrate special occasions, and with the Dayton Hamvention coming up in a few short weeks, I am planning a very special drawing just for Dayton this year!! Now, to get entered in this drawing you WILL have to attend the Dayton Hamvention. That’s right, all you need to do is stop by the Ohio Section Booth in building 2 and get signed up!!

This drawing will be for a lot more than a Handbook. I will have a bunch of other goodies to give away too! I even have some ARRL Gift Certificates as well!

Here's our latest winner..  Becky Boban, KD8UAE

Congratulations Becky!!

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NETS

 

Sunday night net on 6-meters, from Fred, KD8GYS in Sterling, Ohio.

The Net is on every Sunday Evening at 19:00 Hrs. on 53.170 with a input of 52.170 and Pl’s of 107.2 Akron, 110.9 Loudenville, 123.0 Stone Creek and 136.5 Richfield as well as Echo link, All Star and 440 W8WKY Doylestown, Oh.

It’s also linked with N2KEJ in New Jersey. As of now we cover 27 counties in Ohio, 3 counties in Pa. My goal when I was asked to run the net, was to get 50 check ins 4 years ago.

We have a Trivia question each week as well, to keep the mind sharpened (lol).

The repeater also has the NWS weather alert system connected to advise all listeners of Alerts from Ashland, Wayne, Holmes, Medina, Stark and Summit counties.

Keep 6 Meters going strong check in join the net when possible.

Here is another net that you may want to add to your list of nets. It’s the South Eastern Ohio Ragchew Net 28.485 MHz, 2100 every Sunday -  we thank Lyn, N8IMW for that information…

           

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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. 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 are always free to “Opt-Out”  at any time if you feel this is not what you were expecting. Just send me an email with the email address that you used to opt-in on, and you will be removed. It’s that simple.

Also.. are you viewing the Ohio Section Website on a regular basis? You should, it changes all the time. Here’s a link to it.  http://arrlohio.org

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Field Day

Hey Gang,

I know that a lot of you are already deep into planning your Field Day activities as well as getting everything ready for that big weekend, well I have some additional goodies for you.. I have the Ohio Governor’s Proclamation posted on the website.. Thanks to our State Government Liaison, Bob Winston, W2THU we have it and it’s posted on the website.

There’s also a suggested Press Release there as well as a lot of other information about Field Day too.  Go take a look:  

http://arrl-ohio.org/FD_Message.html

Now.. How do you find those Field Day Sites?  Easy, with the Field Day Locator. Clubs, make sure that you get your Field Day site location registered with the League, this way folks will be able to find you quickly and easily.  Here’s a link for the locator..  http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Oh, and don’t forget to have someone assigned as a photographer! You’ll want pictures and so do I.. Please, let’s have as many pictures of our Field Day sites as possible. Remember, I use a lot of these pictures for the Ohio Section Banner that’s displayed everywhere! So, get the dusty old Brownie Box Camera out of the closet and get it all tuned up and ready to take a mountain of pictures of your site and all the people at it having FUN!!

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Upcoming Hamfests

May

05/19/2017 | Ohio State Convention (2017 Dayton Hamvention)
Location: Xenia, OH
Sponsor: Dayton Amateur Radio Association

Website: http://www.hamvention.org

June

06/03/2017 | Fulton County Amateur Radio Summer Swap
Location: Wauseon, OH
Sponsor: Fulton County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://k8bxq.org/hamfest

06/10/2017 | Union County ARC TailGate & TrunkFest
Location: Marysville, OH
Sponsor: Union County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://ohiohams.net

06/17/2017 | Milford Hamfest 27th Annual
Location: Milford, OH
Sponsor: Milford Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.w8mrc.com 

Hey Gang.. Did you know that you can quickly find any ARRL approved Hamfest by simply clicking on this link?   http://arrl-ohio.org/hamfests.html

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My Final..    

Today is May 5th Cinco de Mayo Day!!! I don’t know where you’re reading this at, but where I am today it’s cold, wet and absolutely miserable outside, what a great excuse for going to my favorite Mexican restaurant and having a Margarita - or two, or three…  Oh, what the heck.. Just bring the pitcher!!

I also want to say this.. GO CAVS!!!!  Just 2 more games to put away the Toronto Raptors!! And then on to the finals!!

Amateur Radio has its serious side, but it can also have a FUN side too. I hope that this News Update has been informative and fun for you to read.

So, as we go through our training and exercises, learning from the past and from those who are willing to take the time to teach us, let’s remember to have FUN too.. It’s what keeps us alive and vibrant..!!

73,

Scott, N8SY..

eof..