Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corp (ARPSC)
Weekly Net Thursday at 8 pm on 145.250 MHz/100pl
Hospital Radio Net on the last Thursday of each month
Web Site: http://www.qsl.net/w8oak

General Membership Meeting Minutes for 2 August 2006:

 On 2 August 2006 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:

(I). Keynote Speaker – George Miller, Oakland County Health Division Officer/Manager:

  Mr. Miller's work with Oakland County involves public health welfare.  His duties include analysis and
  planning for disasters and emergencies at a local, county, and state-wide level.  Current plans now include
  an avian/human flu pandemic.   

  A widespread Avian flu pandemic will strain all medical services and resources beyond their limits. 
  The main objective will be to keep the health care system functioning at its best level.  Patients would be
  encouraged to stay at home for isolation and quarantine, but would have access to temporary neighborhood
  emergency help centers (i.e. in Summit Place Mall).  The neighborhood help ER could then triage the sickest
  patients to a hospital emergency room center.   Options would include moving certain patients to an
  alternate care or palliative health center, but such centers would probably not have respiratory ventilators
  or oxygen.  The county now has the capability to add 650 to 850 emergency beds in 50 bed mobile units for
  a disaster or a pandemic.  The public needs to be educated on how to use these emergency services - where
  they are located, what these centers can and cannot offer, and when not to use them. .  During such an
  emergency, information will be found at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ and http://www.oakgov.com/health/.   

  A simulated test exercise (SET) called the Vigilant Guardian Exercise is coming up on 22 August 2006 to
  help emergency workers identify planning problems and practice coordination.   This SET will include Macomb,
  Oakland, and St. Clair Counties and needs additional volunteers.  The Oakland County ARPSC will be involved 

(II). Comments from the Emergency Coordinator (EC) – Joel Goldberg, W8HIU:

  New orange colored RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) cards were passed out to members. The
  old card expires soon.  In addition, the Oakland County Emergency Management Identification Card for ARPSC
  members must be current.  Both current cards have the signature of Steve Iannucci.   For those who still
  have old cards, a photographer will be available at the meetings.  A membership list was passed around to
  update phone, e-mail, and home addresses.  A training course certification list was passed around for 
  members to update.  Copies of class certification achievement can be faxed to 248-858-5550 or mailed to: 
	Lorretta Pethick
	c/o ARPSC
	1200 North Telegraph Road
	Building 47 West
	Pontiac, Michigan, 48341 

(III). Comments from Steve Iannucci, Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P):

  There will be different ID's for different vests.  For those issued by the county, ID's should be RACES
  and County Cards placed in the clear plastic pocket.  For members with their privately purchased vest at a
  non-county sponsored event, some other identification must be used.  Private vests have arrived and
  George Schutte, K8GEO is passing them out.  

(IV). Information About Training Classes, ARPSC Activities, Ham Radio Participation Events from 
   (1) John Fleming, K8UP, District Two Michigan Section ARPSC Emergency Coordinator; 
   (2) Joel Goldberg, W8HIU, EC; and 
   (3) Jim Thompson, DEC, Training, and 
   (4) others:

  Training certification for Oakland County ARPSC members shall include the following FEMA courses:

	IS-22 Guide to Citizen Preparedness
	IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System (ISC)
	IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
	IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction.
	IS-800 National Response Plan (NRP), an Introduction
	Those persons with old IS-195 certification will be grandfathered to both the IS-100 and IS-200
        classes.  The old IS-2 class will count as the newer IS-22.

  Up-coming ham radio activities:

    Friday, 18 August 2006 Berkley CruiseFest Classic Car Parade.  Jim Walden, N8DHZ requests two additional
    hams for this event.

    Saturday, 19 August 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise.  Jim Walden requests 4 additional hams to volunteer and
    if interested, call him at 248-649-8910 or email at n8dhz@sbcglobal.net.  Steve Iannucci, ER&P requests
    hams NOT to park in any business parking lots because these people get up to $100 per slot.   Another
    member confirmed one corner of 11 Mile Road – Woodward NE does have interference, said to be from a water
    department telemetry device. 

  Up-Coming ARPSC activities:

    Tuesday, 22 August 2006 - Vigilant Guardian Exercise 2006

    Saturday, 21 October 2006: Annual Flu Shot Clinic with ARPSC to assist communications 
    (from Joel Goldberg, W8HIU). 
	    
    FEMA Courses offered at the EOC (per Jim Thompson, N8USP):

    Saturday, 16 September 2006, IS-100 at the EOC from 9-12 in the morning
    Saturday, 14 October 2006, IS-22 Guide to Citizen Preparedness, at the EOC from 9-12 in the morning.
    Saturday, 4 November 2006 (tentative date), IS-200, same time and place. 

  Up-coming regular ARPSC activities:

    Every Thursday Night at 8 pm on 145.250 - Oakland County ARPSC Net:	Larry Hornsby, KB8POD, net operations
    stated that during these nets, W8OAK-3 will run packet on 145.050 MHz for anyone wanting to practice and
    test their equipment.   Part of the State Emergency Communication plan is to be able to communicate with
    Lansing by packet.  

    First Saturday of Each Month at 1 pm – Oakland County Siren Tests. There will be another Siren Test this
    Saturday, 5 August 2006.   Joel Stanley, KC8DHQ stated he had several sirens that needed coverage in the
    NE corner of the county.  If interested, please contact him.

(V). Comments by Randy Love, WF5X, Repeater and Radio Operation

  Our 440 repeater still has a desensitization problem.  It is easy to key up and identify, but harder to put
  voice over it.  

  By 1 September 2006, the W8OAK two meter repeater will change frequency to 146.900 MHz/100pl from the
  current 145.250.  There will be no dual frequency repeater operation.  This change will occur over a single
  day.

  We are losing the Bald Mountain receive site.  Joel Goldberg, W8HIU added that the county still owns
  Bald Mountain and may put up another tower there.  Plans exist for receive sites at Berkley and Milford. 
  Steve Murphy, N8NM, County Radios does much of the repeater work and is still limited at work from an injury.

  There are three new wireless computers with XP software at the ARPSC center.  It is possible for someone to
  bring in his or her wireless computer and link to this system.    Eventually Randy hopes to do the same for
  the packet system.    

(VI). Comments from Bill Bond, W8WRB, Hospital Radios:

  The July Hospital Net had 100% participation.  

  Hospital radios will be utilized on the up-coming 22 August 2006 SET.  So far, two hospitals have not
  replied to Bill's query about participating - Botsford and Huron Valley.   Pontiac Osteopathic is still yet
  questionable and Pontiac St. Joseph is expected to take part.  If part of a single hospital's team can be
  used elsewhere, please let him know.  All the hospitals have been requested to furnish lunch.  There will
  be NO regular Hospital Net on Thursday night, 31 August 2006 due to this SET activity.

  Troy-Beaumont Hospital has been requested to change the hospital radio antenna from the 1st floor site to
  the fifth floor.  Huron Valley –Sinai Hospital has installed a new antenna.    

(VII). Questions from members:

  Query: What is happening with the wireless Oakland County Computer Link System?  
         Steve Iannucci responded that the county is negotiating with a private company which will furnish
         a 128k system. Higher speeds will be available at an extra cost.  With increased use at higher
         speeds, it is expected that slowest speed could increase by a factor or 2x or more.  

  Query: What is happening with amateur radios for the PSAP System (Public Safety Answering Point or 911)?
         Steve Iannucci replied that this is on hold, in part due to the greater personal coverage required
         and changes in grant money that require six counties to be considered.  

  Query: What is happening with the 800 MHz county-wide communication system?  
         Steve Iannucci noted that it is still in the testing mode with some hardware in operation. 
         So far, reports indicate strong coverage.  October 2006 is said to be the operation date.

  Query: Do we have a broadband system operating in the county?  
         John Fleming, K8UP stated the answer is no.  However Genesee County has one with a Motorola System
         which said to cause little or no interference.  

Respectfully submitted,
James R. Murphy, N8SML
Secretary, Oakland County ARPSC
3 August 2006