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ARRL Michigan Section (MI)Section Manager
Dale R. Williams, WA8EFK 291 Outer Dr Dundee, MI 48131-1014 734-529-3232 wa8efk@arrl.org |
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News last updated: Mon, November 17, 2008 at 3:18 PM ET
Michigan now has its own Section Web pages at http://www.arrl-mi.org/ Check these pages regularly for the latest happenings and news.
Greetings Michigan Amateurs:
This month I am going to deviate a little from the usual general news format to a more directed piece of information. We have an ARRL Section level appointment called the Official Emergency Station (OES). It is defined at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/oes.html. Michigan currently has 13 hams appointed to this position. The appointment has been in the Field organization for many years. However, despite several attempts, it has not been successfully promoted.
To better promote the OES functions, the SEC, DECs and I met in 2005 and drafted some added guidelines for the holders of this position. Those were then attached to the referenced guidelines. They are: "For Michigan Section Appointees, the following provides additional detail and clarification to the appointment requirements and qualifications:
"A Station/Club applying for the position of OES shall be capable of operations without a commercial power source for a period of 8 hours. (Applicants will need a verifiable alternative power source whether it is batteries or a generator or other form of alternative power.)
"Appointees shall be capable of transmitting and receiving on applicable bands in line with their function assignment and respective license class. As a minimum, phone operation is required with CW and Digital forms of communications being highly desirable.
Appointees shall file monthly SAR (Station Activity Reports) with the SM and the local EC.
"Participate yearly in the Michigan SET.
"Participate yearly in at least 2 Public Service Events
"Appointees shall maintain a normal liaison with one of the recognized NTS Traffic Nets in Michigan (Defined as participation in two nets monthly as reflected both in the SAR and station records.)"
These guides are not intended to be overly strict, but to more clearly define the basics of the position. The functions and duties of each OES are to be set by agreement between the OES and his local EC. As an example, the OES could serve as the local net's manager, or operate the group's web page, or be an assigned liaison to a served agency. Like all ARRL Field appointees, each OES is to file a report on a monthly basis.
There are very few OES stations who appear to be active. So here are some of the items to be considered: Is the appointment valid? Shall we consider altering the qualification requirements? Shall we give time for the local ECs to promote the position? Shall we close the position to new appointees and remove the position from service? At the meeting of Michigan ECs Saturday November 13, these options were presented and a consensus was established to establish a 6 month period and allow our ECs across the state to promote the position with their local organizations. If this meets with success, we will keep the appointment in the organization structure. So this is a heads up to all interested parties as well as ECs and DECs. This is an appointment to give recognition to your team members, it need to be utilized.
Back to the news: Dan Romanchik KB6NU has served the hams of the Michigan Section very well for the past several years as our Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC). Dan has decided it is time to pass the torch and Scott Bicknell W1BIC has accepted the post as our new ACC. Scott's plans for our work with clubs are exciting and I look forward to his getting entrenched with the new post and bringing his plans to all of our Michigan ham clubs. Of course, Dan will remain busy with his blog, the ARROW Club in Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum plus a few other ham-related projects. Thanks Dan, for your efforts and best wishes for continued success.
Station Activity Reports (SARs) for October, 2008: WB9JSR 680, AC8AR 350, K8LJG 227, AB8SY 210, KC8MLD 156, K8KV 151, W8RNQ 150, K8RDN 146, KD8AAD 127, K8AMR 124, K8AE 88, KD8FNN 72, WB8RCR 57, KD8HPF 47, WD8USA 29, WA8OOH 10, KC8NTE 9, KC8BMV 6, KC8ZGB 3, AB8WF 2, KC8LXS 2, KC8RTW 2.
Public Service Honor Roll Reports (PSHRs) for October, 2008: KC8NTE 554, WB8RCR 272, WD8USA 169, AC8AR 125, K8AMR 120, W8RIT 112, WB9JSR 110, K8RDN 105, K8AE 100, K8KV 80, AB8SY 80, KJ8O 76, WF5X 70, KE6YRC 70, KD8FNN 69, K8VFZ 67, KD8HPF 51, N8NTC 50, WD8JWM 50, N8ZSA 40, W8BHF 40, KA8PEH 40, K8ABZ 40, AK8I 40, KD8CMD 40, N8LBS 40, KD8GYY 40, KE8UD 40, KE8UM 40, KB8POD 40, N3BEL 40, N8GUZ 40, AB8JR 40, N8USP 30, W8HIU 20, KC8RTW 17.
Michigan ARES/RACES programs reported 5954 operator-hours for September, an in-kind contribution of $107,832 to the citizens of our state. The NTS team contributed 5489 Operator-hours for a $99,406 in-kind contribution to our citizens.
October OES reports arrived from KC8NTE.
Michigan nets reporting for September (in order of traffic count): UPN, WSSBN, GLETN, QMN, MiTN, SEMTN, MIVHFTN, NLEUP, Motor City, MACS, MiARPSC, Hiawatha, NMARES, Chelsea ARC, Knet County ARPSC.
All nets are encouraged to report and this especially includes your local ARES and RACES nets. Here is the way to way everyone know your net is alive and active. To include your net's monthly activities, contact wb8rcr@arrl.net. Complete monthly net report details are at http://www.mi-nts.org/netreport.php.
PSHRs and SARs should be filed monthly with WB8RCR. You can access a simple reporting form at: http://www.mi-nts.org/PSHR_entry.shtml to provide your reports to John. In all cases, reporting by radiogram is encouraged -- let's keep the NTS busy. Packet messages can be routed to wb8rcr@wb8rcr.ampr.org and wa8efk@wa8efk.ampr.org .
73,
Dale WA8EFK
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