FCARC Meeting Minutes for October 10, 2006
Members & Family Present: 21 Guests Present: 1 Total Present: 22
Don Bollman, KB8LNV
Kelly Boswell, KA5MGL
George Carroll, KB5HE
Ken Chafin, N5RKC
Bill Fill, KD5IC
Dora Anna Fill, NI5D
Daniel Gladstone, KE5ERL
Jim Grinder, N5TSG
Gerald Hogue, AE5GH
Wayne Johnston, KD4TA
Brian Kessler, N1WNC
Marlene Kessler, KE5HQU
Craig Mangrum, N5CTM - Secretary / Treasurer
Jon McFadden, N6VC
Irene McFadden, KA6BUP
Will McFadden, KB5DDX, son, Matthew, and daughter, Lauren
Dan Merry, KC5WMN
Frankie Parks, K5FRP - Vice President, and his wife, Hannah
Chester Robinson, N5MEF - President
Roger Williamson, N5QNA
Kathy Williamson, NB5RMY
Guests:
Georgia Seward, KB5VJA
Call to Order
President, Chester Robinson, N5MEF, called the meeting to order at 18:26.
Treasury report is $1771.28
Old Business
Jacksonville Hamfest
Several club members attended the Jacksonville, All-State, hamfest on September 16, 2006. Everyone had a great time. The club brought in a total of $585 from the donated equipment that was still left. Thanks to Frankie Parks for taking care of getting the table and for selling the equipment.
Big Dam Bridge Bike Race
Several of the club members volunteered to help the C.A.R.E.N. club from Little Rock with the Big Dam Bridge bike race. There were about 1100 riders in the race. The longest leg of the race was in Faulkner County. About a dozen club volunteers had 5 aid stations setup throughout the county. Thankfully, there were no major problems or injuries. There is talk that this could be an annual event. Chester Robinson said if so, then the club would need to have more volunteers. The communications for the race was conducted over the 146.940- C.A.R.E.N. club repeater. Chester also has T-Shirts for those helping with the bike race were passed out to those volunteers present.
Faulkner County Fair Parade
The club once again helped with the Faulkner County Fair Parade. There were about a dozen club members that volunteered this year. The weather cooperated this year and there were no major problems or medical incidents.
Frankie Parks mentioned that he felt that this year the interaction with the Conway Police Department was better. Last year the police department was stretched to its limits with the Hurricane Katrina evacuees. The club did a great job demonstrating our skills last year, which was noticed by several emergency agencies.
Arkansas Traveler 100
The Arkansas Traveler 100 mile foot race was held most recently. This is another event sponsored by the C.A.R.E.N. club from Little Rock. Our club had a two members that helped out with this race this year, Wayne Johnston, KD4TA, and Will McFadden, KB5DDX.
The race was a 3 day, 2 night race. There were a total of around 180 runners, with around 50 to 60 dropping out through the race. There were 35 plus hams working a total of 15 aid stations.
Wayne took his communications setup and camping gear that he had at Field Day this year. He said it was a very well organized event with a really well put together communications manual. But he felt that this was not one of the best communications exercises that he had participated in. This was the C.A.R.E.N. club's Simulated Emergency Test exercise.
C.A.R.E.N. Club Recognition
After the meeting, Craig Mangrum checked into the C.A.R.E.N. club's Tuesday night net. Dale Temple from the C.A.R.E.N. club recognized the FCARC club for their help and participation in the Big Dam Bridge and Arkansas Traveler 100 races. Dale said the C.A.R.E.N. club is willing to help us with any events we need additional help for. Dale also said that this kind of cross-club help and participation was needed more and more and was a great thing.
Also, a letter of appreciation was received, October 2, 2006, by Chester Robinson from Mark Barnhard, the President of C.A.R.E.N. Club.
Chester,
The Big Dam Bridge 100 Mile Bike Tour was a success! About 1100 riders started the four-milage groups - - I think that easily makes it the largest ride around. The combination of communications systems worked very well, with ham radio playing a major part.
I want to thank the members of the Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club for your assistance - - it was much needed and greatly appreciated. The event organizers and Emergency Managers had nothing but good things to say about our operations. We had 28 ham operators involved and a dozen of them were from the Faulkner County group!
Not only did you assist with the BDB100, but you also participated in a valuable mutual assistance exercise for our two counties in District A. And, we were part of an Interoperability Exercise for a number of the public safety agencies involved. In addition to their regular radio systems, three AWIN channels were used for event command & control - and of course, there was ham radio.
We'll see what the future holds for the BDB100 - at the moment, they are looking at making it an annual event. But, regardless, this year's event was good for ham radio and hopefully will lead to more mutual assistance opportunities.
Again, THANKS !
Mark
President, 2006
CAREN
Simulated Emergency Test
The SET for this year was October 7. Six of the club's members participated in this event at ADEM. One piece of traffic was passed by Frankie Parks from the Conway MEMS headquarters and relayed to the Little Rock MEMS headquarter located at I-630 and Chester Street. Both MEMS stations made a direct simplex contact a week ago, but could not make a direct contact during the SET. There were also a few messages passed on the Winlink system this year and several on the HF band.
JOTA
The Jamboree On The Air event is coming up on October 21 and 22. Jon McFadden spoke tonight about what they want to do this year. They will have around 300 to 350 Webloos attending this year's event.
Jon said they wanted to have 3 stations this year, but were going to only have 2 stations. Georgia Seward, KB5VJA, said that the communications tower was going to be there again this year. Jon said the operating hours this year were going to be from noon to 4:30pm Saturday.
For more information or to volunteer, please see the Arkansas JOTA group setup on Yahoo at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AR_JOTA/
New Business
Faulkner County Simulated Emergency Test
Chester mentioned that Faulkner County was going to have its own SET this year on Monday, October 23. The scenario for this SET will be a tornado. This event will take place at the City's Communication Center. Details are still being made and Craig Mangrum will send out further details, as they are made available.
Jim Grinder Tower Moving
On Saturday, October 21, Jim Grinder will need to move his tower. Jim said he was thinking those that are going to help need to meet between 7 to 8 am that day. More details will be available at lunch on Friday, and Craig will also pass these details along via email.
Club's 2-Meter Net
As mentioned below, please remember the club has a 2-meter net every Thursday starting at 7:30pm on 145.210 (tone 114.8). The club needs volunteers each month to be net control operator. This is a great way to train for the possibility of an emergency or for a large event such as the fair parade. All members are urged to do this at least one month. Please contact Frankie through the club's website, www.w5auu.org, to volunteer.
The net control operator for October is Daniel Gladstone, KE5ERL. Jon McFadden, N6VC, will be filling in October 12 and Glenn King, N5GK, will be filling in October 19. Craig Mangrum, N5CTM, will be net control for November.
Gerald Hogue, AE5GH, made a motion to adjourn and was seconded by Kelly Boswell, KA5MGL. Meeting adjourned at 7:14pm.
2-Meter Net Reminder
The FCARC net meets each Thursday night at 7:30pm on 145.210MHz PL 114.8Hz. The Net Control Operator for October is Daniel Gladstone, KE5ERL, and Craig Mangrum will be Net Control for November.
Don't forget about lunches at Smitty's BBQ on Fridays at around 11:00 am till we leave.
For more information about the Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club, including news and upcoming events, go to http://www.w5auu.org/
Minutes taken and typed by Craig Mangrum, N5CTM, Secretary/Treasurer