Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corp (ARPSC)
W8OAK Repeater – 146.900 MHz/100pl
Weekly Net 8 pm every Thursday
Hospital Radio Net – 7:30 pm last Thursday of month
W8OAK Repeater – 444.325 MHz/107.2pl
Packet 144.950 MHz/1200 baud
W8OAK-3 BBS and W8OAK-7 KA-Node
APRS – 144.390 MHz
Web Site: http://www.arpsc.com
Meeting Minutes for 4 February 2009
On 4 February 2009 at 6:45 pm, Joel Goldberg – W8HIU, Emergency Coordinator (EC) for the Oakland County ARPSC, called the General Membership Meeting to order in the Oakland County Executive Building. The order of business included:
(I). Report from the
outgoing Emergency Coordinator (EC), Joel Goldberg – W8HIU:
Tonight, it is not easy to pass on the Emergency Coordinator position. The date of Joel's original application was over 22 years ago. When the county ARPSC started, amateur radio was assigned a tiny area in the basement of the county jail. When activated for an emergency, equipment had to be moved into the hallway for operation. In 1992, we moved to a new location formerly occupied by O-Comm in today's EOC. The county helped us to buy equipment and hang an antenna on a nearby tower. OCARS donated their frequency of 145.250 MHz. However, channel 3 TV interference caused many problems. Our antenna was then moved to a higher tower on Bald Mountain and we obtained our present 146.900 MHz. Various governmental agencies have increased their assistance to us.
Today, we now have 250 to 260 members on our rolls, although not all are active. Joel thanks everyone for their help in the ARPSC, its Board, AEC's, specialty officers and members of the Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P) – including Gail Novak, Mike Lopar, and Steve Iannucci.. Without them, all this would not be possible. In the future, Joel would like to see a beam antenna put up. A location to place it continues to be a problem.
Joel has purchased a house in Montana and will be alternating between there and his home in Michigan. He expects to continue to contribute to the Oakland County ARPSC.
John Fleming – K8UP, Barry Kaufman – WD8JWM, ARRL Section Manager Dale Williams – WA8EFK thanked Joel and presented a plaque in recognition of his 20+ years service to Oakland County ARPSC.
Gail Novak and Steve Iannacci also presented Joel with an Oakland County service award plaque in appreciation of his services, and signed by L. Brooks Patterson. When Steve was first hired by the ER&P eight years ago, he didn't know what a ham was. During the next years, he worked closely with Joel and came to know him in both a professional relationship and as a friend. In addition, the ER&P presented Joel with a mist colored jacket having an Oakland County logo.
(II). Report from
John Fleming – K8UP, District 2 Michigan Section APRSC Emergency Coordinator:
John, his crew, and the ER&P had to find a new Oakland County Emergency Coordinator. John announced that the new EC is now Larry Hornsby – KB8POD and the meeting was turned over to him. Welcome, Larry Hornsby!
(III) Report from
the new Oakland County Emergency Coordinator – Larry Hornsby – KB8POD:
Larry has worked with Joel Goldberg – W8HIU for the last 13 years. He does not expect to be a Joel. He looks over the county ARPSC record and sees much progress. Our job is that of a team working together to succeed. We have a training staff, digital staff, many other staff, and a county behind us for help. Larry is here to direct and coordinate county ARPSC operations. He wants us to continue improving our knowledge and to come to him about concerns and needs. His first efforts will be to set up useful manuals for procedures and equipment.
(IV). Presentation
of Michigan Section ARRL Efforts with PRB-1 Antenna laws by Bobby Corr, N8CY.
Last year, Bobby Corr – N8CY was requested by ARRL Section Manager Dale Williams – WA8EFK to head up a Michigan PRB-1 Committee. Bobby is a member of the ARRL, GMARC, and USECA.
This committee has the goal to pass or modify current Michigan laws with PRB-1 legislation. The committee has 11 members, including Allan Koch – KA8JJN, who is the Secretary and Assistant Chairman. Their website is http://www.prb1michigan.org/
PRB-1, otherwise known as "Amateur Radio Preemption" is a limited preemption of local zoning ordinances intended to reasonably accommodate amateur radio communications and their antennas. PRB-1 is a compromise between hams and community zoning boards to permit air space for effective antennas. Deed covenants and restrictions, often called CC&Rs, are a special case. PRB-1 has little if any effect on such restrictions. PRB-1 also seeks to work with Emergency Communications Act of 2006 - which takes steps to ensure that our nation's first responders are able to communicate during an emergency. Already six states have enacted laws for antenna height and 28 states have PRB-1 type provisions.
The Michigan PRB-1 Committee has already 196 ham supporters signed into their data-base and their goal is to sign up another 500. When such legislation is ready for a vote, hopes are to have more than 1000 ham supporters.
Query: Could your website link cases coming out of the court system for one to review? Answer: This could be useful.
Query: How many Michigan legislators have amateur radio licenses? Answer: There are 3 or 4 legislators. It is hoped that PRB-1 sub-committees can be set up in various counties. Amateur radio clubs would be needed to accomplish this.
Query: Do CC&R restrictions cover every antenna type or only certain antennas? Answer: CC&R restrictions do not separate out emergency antennas. They protect the builder of lots and subdivisions. Joel Goldberg – W8HIU noted that some home owner associations will allow an application for variance to their rules. This way, a variance sometimes can be obtained.
Query: Are there sample letters on the website? Answer: Yes, a sample to legislators and a letter to editors of newspapers. The speaker does not know if there has been contact with newspapers at the State Capitol. Such contact(s) would come from a public information coordinator.
Query: Would it be helpful to have an engineer on the board to answer technical questions? Answer: Yes.
(V). Report from
Steve Iannucci, Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P):
Members need the new Oakland County ARPSC identification card with the blue stripe. If you don't have this, see Steve Iannucci at the meetings.
Lorretta Pethick, in our EOC office, will be retiring soon.
(VI). Report from
Mike Smith – N8GUZ, Training:
Wednesday, 11 February 2009 at the EOC, IS-100 Class – An
Introduction to Incident Command System. Please
register at the EOC by phone 248-858-5300.
On Saturday, 14 February 2009, Waterford Fire Department will have additional CPR and First Aid Classes. If interested, please contact Mike.
On Wednesday, 25 February, there will be a Net Control Operator's Class. A new structure for Net Control Operators is being worked on so that one can choose which type of net to work.
Also coming up but not yet scheduled will be a CERT class. If interested, contact Mike Lopar at 248-858-5300. A prerequisite requirement needed before this class will be IS-317 – Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams. This greatly reduces the time needed to teach this CERT class.
The following SkyWarn classes have been scheduled in Oakland County. If interested, please call 248-858-5300 to register.
1. Monday, 2 March 2009 6-8 pm, Southfield Civic Center Library, 26300 Evergreen Road, Southfield
2. Monday, 16 March 2009 7-9 pm, Groveland Township Fire Department, Station #1, 14645 Dixie Highway at Grange Hall Road, Groveland Township.
3. Thursday, 26 March 2009, 7-9 pm, Rochester Hills Fire Department, Station #1
4. Saturday, 28 March 2009, 10 am to 12 pm, Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P), Executive Office Building, 41W, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford.
5. Saturday, 28 March 2009, 1–3 pm, Oakland County ER&P, same location
6. Wednesday, 1 April 2009, 7-9 pm, Oakland County ER&P, same location
7. Tuesday, 7 April 2009, 7-9 pm, Covert Center Auditorium, 1150 Scott Lake Road, Waterford
(VII). Report
from Maury Davidson – K8SJD: W. Bloomfield Library Display and Assistant NTS
Liaison:
Details and pictures of last year's West Bloomfield Library amateur radio display will be in QST sometime in the next few months.
(VIII). Report
from Joe Miller – KJ8O on Special Events:
The Michigan QSO Party will be coming up in April. Check their website for details.
(IX). Report
from Mike Nebel – N3BEL on Sirens:
Certificates of participation are being handed out to volunteers. Saturday, 7 March 2009 will be our first siren test for this year.
(X). Report
from Bill Bond – W8WRB on Hospital Radios:
Last week, we had 100% check-ins for our Hospital Radio Net.
This excludes Providence Park and Oakland Regional Hospital whose radios
are not in operation at this time.
(XI).
Report from Gary Sklar – K8IKW on Public Service Information:
The following amateur radio swaps are coming up:
15 February 2009, Livonia Amateur Radio Club Swap-N-Show. Info at http://www.livoniaarc.com/
15 March 2009, Hamfest and Computer Fair – Toledo Mobile Radio Association. Info at http://www.tmrahamradio.org
18 April 2009, Milford Swap and Shop.
Info at http://www.qsl.net/w8ydk
(XII).
Report from Randy Love –WF5X, AEC and Repeaters:
Our 2 meter repeater still has issues. Until fixed, it is otherwise running okay. Our BBS has a problem that Randy is still trying to find the cause. Some stations can't hear it and he thinks a new switch might help.
(XIII). Report
from Gary Bouwkamp – N8HMP, Web Master:
Our siren list has been revised. The new 2009 Skywarn classes have been added.
(XIV). Other
Items of Interest:
The GM club is having an amateur radio day where hams come to demonstrate ham radio to the public and see what we can do. In interested, please let Bill Bond – W8WRB know at w8wrb@arrl.net.
Respectfully submitted,
James R. Murphy, N8SML
Secretary, Oakland County, ARPSC
5 February 2009
Corrected and approved by Larry Hornsby – KB8POD on 6 February 2009