Oakland County Amateur Radio Service Corp (ARPSC) Weekly Net: Thursday at 8 pm on 145.250 MHz/100pl Web Site: http://www.qsl.net/w8oak Meeting Minutes for 2 February 2005 On 2 February 2005 at 7 pm, Joel Goldberg, W8HIU, Emergency Coordinator (EC) for the Oakland County ARPSC called the meeting to order in the County Emergency Operation Center (EOC). The order of business included: (1). Comments from Joel Goldberg, W8HIU, EC: Our goal is amateur radios in all thirteen Oakland County Hospitals. This includes antenna, coaxial cable, and a functional radio. A team of three to four amateur volunteers would be prepared to serve each hospital radio. During the widespread electrical blackout of 2003, Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak had only an amateur radio communication link to the EOC. Recently, when government funds were made available to county hospitals for these radios, someone at a higher level purchased seven Yaesu radios. The problem was we had already chosen the ICOM 2720 as the county standard. After conferring with the party, the Yaesu radios were returned to the vendor and replaced with the desired ICOM 2720H units. Our repeater has moved from the Bald Mountain site to the Oakland County Social Service Building, which is slightly north of Pontiac's downtown center point. The tower now has two ham radio antennas. The change was necessary because: (1) the Bald Mountain tower will be sold, (2) the repeater will be on county property, (3) access will be easier for maintenance, (4) and has an emergency generator backup. Coordination for the new site needs approval. Additionally, the Repeater Coordination Council has lost its records on our link frequencies. A new remote link/receive site is being installed on a tower in Milford. This, hopefully, will improve reception/transmission in the area. ARRL Michigan District Two - South consists of Wayne, Washtenaw, and Monroe Counties. On 11 May 2005, they will participate in an exercise called "Operation Perfect Game." At this time, our role for Oakland County is not known. The exercise involves three steps: (1) table top exercise, (2) mass casualties exercise in Detroit, and (3) exercise driven elsewhere by mass casualties. The cancelled CERT (Citizen's Emergency Response Team) training class will be rescheduled for a future date not yet determined. Those interested should call the EOC at 248-858-5300. More information is available at the website: http://www.co.oakland.mi.us/ems/info_pub/CERT_mission.html. The CERT program assists the citizen to be better prepared to survive and recover from all hazards, to help themselves, their families, neighbors, and co-workers in the event of a disaster. Members will be receiving a newsletter soon. Please pass the word to members with on-going activities, duties, reports, and assignments to be prepared for the next and future meetings. Decisions are needed on future training; on whether we go with FEMA training programs or with ARRL programs. We need make sure that if some emergency does happen outside Oakland County, we are ready and properly trained to assist. Additional help is requested to assist current personnel. Updated information is requested on members who change phone, fax, pager, and e-mail addresses. (2). Comments from Barry Kaufman, WD8JWM, DEC: Reports and plans from AEC's would be appreciated, so that District Two Coordinators can be informed on what we are doing. On Saturday, 5 March 2005, we will have out first Tornado Siren Test for the year. Jim Walden, N8DHZ requested a siren subnet operators meeting, and will contact them when a date and time is set. 2005 Tornado Siren Test Calendar – Oakland County Saturday, March 5, 2005 at 1 pm Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 10:30 am for Severe Weather Awareness Week Saturday, 2 April 2005, cancelled, due to 22 March test 1st Saturdays, May through November 2005 at 1 pm. 2005 Skywarn Class Schedule – Oakland County Wednesday, 2 March 2005, 7-9:15 pm at EOC, Building 47 West, Campus Drive South. Saturday, 12 March 2005, 10 am to 12.15 pm, same location Saturday, 12 March 2005, 1-3:15 pm, same location Thursday, 7 April 2005, 7-9:15 pm, Grove Township Fire Department, Station #1, 14645 Dixie Highway at Grange Hall Road. Thursday, 21 April 2005, 7:30 – 9:45 pm, Highland Senior Center, 205 North John Street, Highland, Michigan For reservations, please call 248-858-5300 or e-mail to kenneyb@co.oakland.mi.us (3). Comments from Bob Kusk, N8LPS, Novi Representative: The Novi Amateur Radio Club is giving away its three band antenna on the tower, because the property is for sale. There will be some difficultly climbing up into the tower, since the base is attached part way up on a building side located on Grand River, close to Taft Road. In interested, please contact Bob at n8lps@usol.com. Ralph Greenberg, K8CAR suggested mentioning this information on the 10 meter band at 28.600 MHz at 10:30 am (morning) and the 20 meter bank at 14.760 MHz on Monday night at 8 p.m. George Schutte, K8GEO also suggested USECA club's newsletter could help. (4). Comments from Gary Sklar, K8IKW, Public Service Information (with George Schutte, K8GEO, USECA member: Up-coming Events Saturday, 5 February 2005: USECA "Freeze Your Butt Off QRP Contest. Contact Dave, W8RIT at w8rit@k8uo.com and http://www.azqrp.org/azqrp/FYBO2005.htm Sunday, 13 February 2005: Livonia ARC Swap at William Costick Activity Center, 28600 West 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 8 am -12:30 pm. Info: http://www.larg.mi.org (website down at time of writing) Saturday, 19 February 2005: EC-001 ARRL's Beginning Emergency Communications course at the Salvation Army DHQ in Southfield, Michigan from 10 am to 2 pm. Contact Al at ka8jjn@arrl.net or Ann-Marie at k8amr@arrl.net. This course will be given again on Saturday, 12 March 2005. Saturday-Sunday, 19-20 February 2005: Ham University - a two day intensive course for Tech Class test at Bldg. H. on the Macomb Community College Campus, M-59 & Garfield. Contact Scott, WN1B at wn1b@k8uo.com Saturday, 19 March 2005: ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention at the Toledo Holiday Inn. Info: http://greatlakes.arrl.org/division_convention.htm Sunday, 20 March 2005: Toledo Swap, Toledo Mobile Radio Association at Lucas County Recreation Center. 8 am to 2 pm. Info: http://www.tmrahamradio.org Saturday, 16 April 2005: Milford ARC Swap, Milford High School, 2380 Milford Road, Highland, Michigan. Info: http://www.qsl.net/w8ydk Friday-Sunday, 20-22 May 2005. Dayton Hamvention. Info: http://www.hamvention.org/ Friday-Sunday, 5-7 August 2005: Special event radio operation at Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Park , Port Hope, Michigan at the tip of the thumb of Michigan. Info: Gary at k8ikw@aol.com (5). Comments from Ralph Greenberg, Hospital Radios: A volunteer is needed for the Providence Hospital Amateur Radio. Living close by would be useful. The Hospital Net may restart by the end of this month. (6). Comments from Jim Poehlman, K8ABZ, Vice-President of the Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club: Please be aware that 1 May 2005 is a date requiring considerable amateur radio assistance for two charity functions in our area, which are: March of Dimes 2005 Walk America, Troy Civic Center at 9 am. Multiple Sclerosis 2005 Walk, Birmingham Seaholm High School, registration at 8 am and walk at 9 am. Respectfully submitted, James R. Murphy, N8SML Secretary Oakland County ARPSC 3 February 2005