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NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

2009

1st Quarter Newsletter 2nd Quarter Newsletter 3rd Quarter Newsletter 4th Quarter Newsletter

2008

2010 meeting minutes and notes

Present: Ed, AF2N; Dave, AC2CM; John, N2MKH; Karen & Don, W2VIV; Nellie & Brien, KA2AON; Judy, KC2SUM; Bob, WA2AFF; Rheta Jenks; Mark, WB2PKO; Henry, KC2SUL; Redd, AI2N; Tim, KC2SKG and Lyn,KC2SN; Jeff, KB2ZTX; Fred, K2HPG; Ken, N2GFG and John, K2QQY.

This is the meeting where we recognize a member for his or her contribution to the success of the OCEC/RACES agenda. This Year Mark., WB2PKO stood out in his participation and contributions to this goal. The following is from the Director of Emergency Management, Pat Egan.

Left to right John Darling K2QQY, Mark Chamberlin, WB2PKO and Pat Egan, Director, Emergency Management.

Fulton – The Oswego County Emergency Communicators/RACES (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service) provide a valuable community service both during emergencies and year-round, said Patricia Egan, Director of the Oswego County Emergency Management Office.

“You are an invaluable resource to the county,” she said during Appreciation Night for the group recently. “Your dedication and service cannot be matched.”

The 30-plus members of the all-volunteer service provide amateur radio communications site-to-site during drills and exercises for the Emergency Management Office, the Oswego County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Oswego County Local Human Needs Committee – and are ready to provide them during a disaster. During severe weather, the communicators group acts as weather spotters, radioing storm reports to the National Weather Service – Buffalo Forecast Office through the Skywarn program to help pinpoint storm locations so the NWS can issue accurate warnings. In their spare time, the group provides communications during CROP Walks, parades, and similar events.

“You are dedicated to the health and safety of the people of Oswego County,” Egan told the group. “You have taken what could have remained a personal hobby and taken it to the level of a valuable community asset.”

A special Director’s Award of Excellence was presented to RACES Radio Officer John Darling, K2QQY, who has held the post for about 15 years. “John has been a dedicated partner of the Emergency Office for many years,” Egan said. “John always has RACES’ best interests at heart.”

Darling has represented RACES on the Oswego County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the Oswego County Local Human Needs Committee, and other groups since he became Radio Office and has encouraged other RACES members to become active. Under his leadership, the emergency communicators have become an essential component of hazardous-materials and emergency-medical drills sponsored by the LEPC. “RACES has provided communications among drill controllers for every LEPC drill since at least 2002,” Egan noted. “They are now an oft-requested and appreciated resource.”

Darling and then-Skywarn Coordinator Brien Mathews, KA2AON, raised the possibility of the county’s becoming StormReady through the National Weather Service and spearheaded the application process in 2004. Darling continues to support the county’s weather safety programs as well as the efforts of new Skywarn Coordinator Judy LaMay, KC2SUM.

Darling and Mathews were instrumental several years ago in obtaining a mobile communication van to provide emergency communications in any area of the county when needed. The RACES van is equipped with state of the art radio equipment along with on board power sources. In 2009 Emergency Management purchased a 30-foot tilt-up trailer to provide expedient antenna set up.

“The quality of membership of this group is due in large part to John’s commitment and persistence,” she continued, noting that he conceived RACES Appreciation Night “as a way to acknowledge some of the individuals who give their time and talent to the efforts of keeping the people of Oswego County safer. No one does this more than John himself.”

Also during the Appreciation Night, Egan presented the 2010 RACES Service Award to Mark Chamberlin, WB2PKO. A member of RACES since August 2000, Chamberlin has been very supportive of the organization and the county.

“Mark has maintained a high participation level in all RACES activities, including meetings, nets and drills,” Egan said. “His association with the Jefferson County Radio Club and the Liverpool Amateur radio Club brings ideas and views that make him a good sounding board for ideas that might not be readily obvious in our operations. Having heads-up on how others view us allows us to better prepare for inter-county mutual aid events.

“His sharp observations are greatly valued and have helped to refine our operations by keeping us aware of what is happening around us,” Egan continued. “Mark approaches new adventures and assignments in stride as though it were an everyday happening.”

The first and third Sunday of the month finds the members of the Oswego County Emergency Communicators meeting on the air to practice message handling and discussing better ways to operate during emergencies. A monthly meeting on the third Wednesday is held at 7 p.m. at the County Building in Fulton where other training programs, such as Skywarn by the NWS and Radiological by the EMO, are given and communication topics are discussed. This meeting is open to anyone interested in emergency communications and/or ham radio.

Darling said members have been active in achieving Incident Command System (ICS) training that meets or exceeds the First Responder level. This training is part of the Homeland Security mandates to have a common knowledge among responders of how to use the guidelines to manage an emergency. “RACES ranks among the highest of agencies in its effort to complete the training,” Egan said. “They are one of a very small group that has chosen to exceed the minimum training requirements.”

Through the generosity of Constellation Energy, OCEC/RACES have a growing web site at www.oswegoraces.org, which features the projects the group is involved in. They are also linked to the Emergency Management Office page at www.oswegocounty.com/emo.

Constellation and Entergy Nuclear also expressed their appreciation for RACES, which provides an invaluable service for nuclear power plant emergency planning, with small gifts for the members during the April RACES Appreciation Night.

Anyone interested in the group may e-mail Darling at jdinosw@twcny.rr.com or leave a message for him at the Emergency Management Office at 315/591-9150.

April 10th Mark, KC2JNI; Mark, WB2PKO; Henry, KC2SUL; Judy, KC2SUM; Tim, KC2SKG; Dave, AC2CM; Bob, WA2AFF; Ken, N2GFG; Ed, AF2N met at the repeater site for some maintenance and upgrading of the van. The two new P25 compliant radios were installed and preliminary wiring done. A grounding system for the shack radios, antennas and electrical service was installed. We were lucky to find a double ought cable at what looks like a well casing that was long enough to go over to the shack. We still have to install a couple of bugs to finish tying in the rest of the grounds. Great work.

Present at the meeting were: Tim, KC2SKG; Judy, KC2SUM; Bob, WA2AFF; Dave, AF2CM; Henry, KC2SUL; Redd, AI2N; Mark, KC2JNI; Dave, N4UAR; Mark, WB2PKO; Ed, AF2N; John, N2MKH and John, K2QQY. Note-Dave, N4UCR was N2PBK.

This was our yearly Radiological Training and was presented this year by Renee Ingham of the Emergency Management Office. All emergency workers are required to have this yearly training and we have continued to have a good turn out. Because we do comms from the PMC it is in our interest to understand and be cognizant of dosimeter readings.

May 12. Ed, AF2N; Bob, WA2AFF; Henry, KC2SUL; Tim, KC2SKG and John, K2QQY assisted Resource Officer Steve Lunn with the Mock DWI event held at the G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton. We did dispatching of the responding units unburdening the regular methods of dispatch. The students were exposed to a very realistic setting and consequence of drinking and driving. Judy, KC2SUM, took 60 pictures at the event and copies went to the EMO, Oswego County Ambulance, Fulton Fire Department and the Resource Officer. Our help was appreciated by the school authorities.

May 15. The van went to the Boy Scout Camporee at the County Fair Grounds in Sandy Creek. Tim, KC2SKG led the contingent that provided the visiting Scouts with information and a chance to see a little ham radio activity. Dave, AC2CM dazzled a few with his digital communications, one that the youngsters did not see on their IPods or phones. The RTTU-1 was put to use for the first time and it is quite an asset. Taking part in this event were Tim, KC2SKG; Bob, WA2AFF; Judy, KC2SUM; Dave, AC2CM; Ed, AF2N; Fred, KA2HPG and Henry, KC2SUL. Great job!

May 22. Dave, AC2CM, Dave, N4UAR; John, N2MKH and John, K2QQY met at the airport where the van is kept and a major clean out was accomplished under the leadership of Dave, AC2CM. John, mkh, checked the operation of the packet equipment while John, qqy programmed the drivers dual band radio. Now the chore is to keep the van in proper shape for the public's inspection at any time.

May 29 Memorial Day parade in Fulton. Bob, WA2AFF; Judy, KC2SUM and Henry, KC2SUL piloted the van through the parade route. Well, actually Bob did the piloting and Henry and Judy were walking out in front. Got good reports back about being out in the public.

This has been a catch up page as time has become hard to find recently. We are involved with the planning of a table top exercise involving the sewage plant in Fulton. It is an interesting subject. Judy, KC2SUM and i have been meeting with the EMO to get the StormReady classification renewed which is close to being done.

Got some busy times coming up in June and we can use all the support we can get.