HILLSBOROUGH_COUNTY ARES

Christmas 2009

We are half way through the Holiday season and Christmas is almost upon us. It comes quicker every year. It has been a busy year in many respects. The HCARES activity list for 2009 will be up shortly. There may be some absent information so let me know and it will be updated. I would appreciate your thoughts on possible topics of training, meeting agendas etc. We have confirmed the AV room at the library for our use next year but, other venues are not out of the question.

We signed an official MOU with ARC our main served agency. The new G5RV dipole went up in October and it works great.

Some HCARES members took advantage of free winter jackets donated by a local Security company. We thank Fletch, N1MEO for making it happen. I hope they keep you warm.

At home I was able to raise an 80mtr. dipole with the help of Bill, AB1AV and John, K9AEN. It works great. Thanks guys. My Airmail is operational (internet only) as is my Echolink and Skype of course. Now if I could just get the Kam +3 cables made and/or the Rigblaster Plus working.

Our members took part in several Public service events this year and we are very proud of them. They always do a great job. Thanks to Bill-N4COY, Marc-KB1DFE and Dick-W1ZC for coordinating events this year.

A few members took the ICS courses online and we thank them very much for that. They are free and you can do them at your own pace. Most take approx. 3 hours tops.

We have changed the format of our weekly net a “little bit” and hopefully it will go a little smoother and quicker while getting more training in. We still need you participating.

I hope your year went well and that next year will be even better. I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season.

Wishing you the love, peace, and joy that the true meaning of Christmas brings.

73,

Jim, WD4JZO

First Tuesday of each month will be a simplex net on
147.405 at 8 PM

ARRL Continuing Education Online Course Registration
-- Registration remains open through Sunday, Dec 27, 2009,
for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, Jan 8, 2010:
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1

The Hillsborough County ARES net meets on Tuesday night at 8pm local on the N1IMO system.

HCARES FREQUENCY LIST

Net Control Operators Wanted!

We are currently seeking new individuals in HCARES as Net Control Stations. No experience is necessary, although a reasonable RF signal into the repeater is recommended and you do need to be a member of ARES.
This weekly net can be a good way to learn and practice this important skill. If interested please contact Fletch N1MEO for a listing in the next NCS rotation. (hint: 1 rotation as NCS is required per year for all members)
Thank you all for volunteering!
Please check into and participate in the weekly HCARES NET on the N1IMO repeater system Tuesday Evening at 8 pm.

HCARES NH

hills_map

NET PARTICIPATION

Our nets are designed to be an excellent source of information about each district, their activities, and any pending changes. They also give us an excellent opportunity for training (some a bit better than others). Can you find the time to participate in at least one out of every four of your nets? On average, that works out to less than thirty minutes per month. Think about that. If we can get everyone to check into just one out of every four of their own nets, that would be a twenty five percent participation - per net, over all.

Many people complain that "times are tough". Yes they are. Does anyone actually remember any times in the last twenty five years that were not? With twenty twenty hind sight we can see that several of those times were not as tough, but as we moved through them they were just as tough as now. During the ramp up for Y2K many people made time for training and practice because the potential for disaster was perceived to be so great. After 9/11/01 who says today's threat is any less? What about “Katrina”? That got everyone hyper for a few months. Who can say the Telephone company building in down town Manchester will not be the next target? We all hope not, but none can say.

Net participation and traffic handling, unlike riding a bicycle, where once you learn you don't forget - require regular participation to maintain proficiency. To those of you that participate regularly - thank you, thank you, thank you. That level of commitment makes it much easier to field a group of well trained people during times of need. To the others, can you find thirty minutes per month? Remember, this is part of what you volunteered to do. Regular training is what keeps you a valuable resource for ARES!

-73-

updated Aug 25,2009