Yolo County ARES Meeting Minutes

Yolo ARES Meeting Minutes for 9/20/2010

Yolo ARES Meeting
September 21, 2010
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

PRESENT
Greg (KG6SJT)
LaVonne (K6LAV)
Lu (W6KJX)
Rob (N6KIX)
Bill (K6BIL)
Gary (WA6TQJ)
Todd (KE6GCV)
Rick (N6KLB)
Bryce (K7DWO)

Greg (KG6SJT) chaired the meeting in Darrin’s (K9RTY) absence.
Introductions were conducted.

Bill (K6BIL) will not be attending meetings for the next couple of months as he will be having Knee surgery. ARES members wish Bill a speedy recovery.

Greg (KG6SJT) reported that the ARES Website is now on a new server due to problems with the old server. Initial difficulties in accessing the new Website have been resolved.

Todd (KE6GCV) discussed problems with digital radio equipment; limited sight range is noted especially in the 800-900 MHz range. Analogue equipment tends to work when digital will not. This problem was discussed in an article describing how Ham Radio operators assisted in the September Colorado wildfire relief efforts.

Darrin (KG6SJT), Ken (K6WLS), Lu (W6KJX) and Greg (KG6SFJ) met recently and discussed possibilities of a coordinated effort with the local CERT; however, at this time the CERT program has no funds.

Discussed the status of the Yolo County EOC and ARES. Noted that the EOC has the ARES members’ identification documents.

Training Exercises:
Discussed ideas for ham radio training exercises that can be scheduled over the next several months included scheduled community events and other ideas as follows:

1)  Princess Promenade on Oct 3rd. Gary (WA6TQJ) reported that about twenty have signed up to assist as crew, including 9 on bicycles. Promenade starts at 8:00 a.m. and should be concluded by noon.
2)  The Foxy Fall on Oct 16th
3)  The California International Marathon on Dec 5th.
4)  Suggestion was made to contact Kyle at Yolo County EOC and invite him to join ARES in a multi-faceted exercise, perhaps using one of the camp sites in the Capay Valley as a staging area. This is a high risk area due to the rafting in Cache Creek.
5)  Cross band practice
6)  WinLink radio messaging service (see winlin.org for info and instructions)
7)  TNC operations

If ARES members have other suggestions for training and practice, please send ideas to Greg (KG5SJT) and Darrin (K9RTY)

Red Cross Re-Organization
Noted that the Red Cross is undergoing organizational changes. The Yolo County Red Cross Chapter will combine with the newly named Capital Region Chapter. This new chapter will include 11 counties. The Lake County Chapter will combine with the Mendocino Red Cross Chapter. The Red Cross chapter in Sacramento has a ham station (KA6ARC) operated by Joseph (KI6LOL).

The next meeting of Yolo ARES is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on November 19th at the Red Cross Chapter, 120 Court Street, Woodland.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Minutes submitted by
LaVonne (K6LAV)

Yolo County ARES