Yolo County ARES Meeting Minutes

Yolo ARES Meeting Minutes for 1/20/2009

Yolo ARES Meeting
January 20, 2009

The Yolo ARES meeting was called to order at 19:00 hours at the Yolo County Red Cross.

Attendees:
KG6FJL
K6KN
K6LAV
K6WLS
KG6GNI
KG6SJT
WS6Z
KE6GCV
KI6OBF
N6KIX
N6KLB
W6KJX
WA6TQJ

Note: Dan (KF6HHH) has resigned from ARES.

CLUB AECs:
ARES EC Darrin (KG6FJL) introduced three new AECs: LaVonne (K6LAV), Bill (K6KN), and Wes (WS6Z). The AEC appointments are for two years. The areas of responsibility for each of the ARES AECs will be as follows:
•  Greg (KG6SJT) will be responsible for training, Web site maintenance, digital communications exploration.
•  Ken (K6WLS) will be responsible for antennae installation at the Davis Fire Department, digital communications; and will be the liaison with other area radio clubs.
•  Bill (K6KN) will be responsible for the monthly newsletter, coordination of guest speakers and activities.
•  Wes (WS6Z) will be responsible for the county-wide mapping project, and will be the liaison for CERT joint training.
•  LaVonne (K6LAV) will act as the club’s secretary, public information officer (PIO), and will be responsible for the monthly section EC (SEC) reports, and for communicating information to Bill (K6KN) for the monthly newsletter.

Bill (KG6GNI) will be stepping down as an AEC but will continue his help with the Yolo ARES; he will be working with Wes (WS6Z) on the Capay Valley part of the mapping project. The members commended Bill for his service to Yolo ARES.

CLUB EC POSITION:
Discussion was held regarding the replacement of the Club EC when Darrin (KG6FJL) steps down. It was motioned, seconded, and carried to form a nominating committee that would be charged with developing a ballot by November 2009; the club would vote on the ballot on December 2009, and the new EC will take office at the time of the January ARES meeting. Darrin will continue as EC through 2009.

LaVonne (K6LAV) will head the Nominating Committee with assistance from Ken (K6WLS) and Bill (KG6GNI).

NET CONTROL ASSIGNMENTS:
Greg (KG6SJT) has posted the sign up sheet on the ARES Web site for net control, back up net control, practice message and back up for practice message. Each member is asked to sign up for two net controls and two practice messages annually, and to sign up where possible as back up to these activities (unless personal circumstances such as work schedule prohibits). In this way, all ARES members can be adequately trained. The sign up sheet was circulated at tonight’s meeting and will be posted on the ARES Web site. (Members can access the sign up sheet on the Web site and sign up there, also.)

WEEKLY NETS:
Discussed the feasibility of conducting sideband, HF, and CW nets. Since many club members don’t have these modes, possibly do this at 7:45 p.m. on Mondays and rotate through the various modes and frequencies. This will be explored.

It was agreed that, in the future, the practice message would be a part of the net rather than closing the net first then having the practice message. The net control script will be updated accordingly. The content of the practice messages should be in line with the type of message that we would use for emergency communications.

Discussed whether club members would be interested in conducting practice messages in CW, PSK or teletype. If so, this would have to be done on a different night than the regular net. This option will be explored.

YOLO ARES EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN:
Greg (KG6SJT) will e-mail the updated Yolo Ares Emergency Communications Plan to club members for review. Several changes were made including updating frequencies, liaison responsibilities, the use of the ICS-213 form.

Discussed the feasibility implementing mutual memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with other repeaters, such as the Yuba Sutter repeater and the Downtown Sacramento Repeater. Wes (WS6Z) will followup. Darrin (KG6FJL) will look into the possibility of a cross band with UC Davis or possibly a repeater installed on Sprout Hall at UC Davis.

MAPS:
LaVonne (K6LAV) provided club members with AAA maps of Woodland & Davis; the maps also include Knights Landing, Winters, Esparto, El Macero, and Yolo.

EDUCATION TOPICS:
Suggestions for possible educational topics for future meetings included Sky Warn, Taping for Strength (Wes, WS6Z, can present this topic), and mapping.

Wes (WS6Z) will conduct a program on mapping at the next ARES meeting.

Bill (K6KN) and Ken (K6WLS) are working with BARK to host an amateur radio fair in two to three months. The plans include representatives from HRO to give demos of radio equipment, hands-on activities, exhibits, training programs, possibly a swap meet of radio gear only. As plans are finalized, announcements will be made on the area radio club nets (ARES, YARS, WEST net, BARK etc.)

Greg (KG6SJT) noted that FEMA’s program on the 700 A NIMS (National Incident Management System) is online. Expect to take 2 to 3 hours to complete the course, after which a certificate of completion is issued.

Northern California Emcomm University is Saturday, March 14, 2009 (0800 – 1700 PST) at the San Joaquin County Ag Center, 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton CA 95206. For info and to register, go to
www.emcommuniversity.org

Woodland CERT Refresher Course will be on February 26, 2009, at Fire Station 3 (1556 Springlake Court, Woodland) from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

LIFESCAN
Club members who have not yet done so are strongly encouraged to get the Lifescan at the David Police Department.

NEXT MEETNG:
The next Yolo ARES meeting will be held February 17 at 1900 hours at the Yolo County Red Cross, 120 Court Street, Woodland, CA.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Yolo County ARES