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ALERT: Sat, November 22, 2008; 5:29 PM ET
COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN - Attention Federal Employees: The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) has started and will run though December 15th. One of the organizations that you may make a tax deductible contribution to is the American Radio Relay League, (ARRL). The ARRL, the national organization of Amateur Radio, provides volunteer emergency communications, education in wireless technology, plus scientific and technical research. All you have to do is write in the five digit charity code, "10099," the name of the organization, "American Radio Relay League, Inc." and the amount you want to contribute on your CFC Pledge Form. Your contribution may be made by a small payroll deduction each payday during 2009 or in a lump sum. Please consider the ARRL when making your annual contribution to the CFC. And don't forget to tell your federal colleagues who are amateur radio operators about this opportunity. |
News last updated: Fri, November 14, 2008 at 8:03 PM ET
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Welcome to the Maryland-DC Section News Page |
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*********************** MDC Section News Vol. 3 No. 11 November 14, 2008 *********************** |
IN THIS EDITION:
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* HAMFEST * COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN * SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET * ARRL AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE (ARES®) REPORT * NCAC NET * MARINE CORPS MARATHON * SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT * FINALLY . . . . AND SADLY |
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==> HAMFESTS
On October 5th, the Columbia Amateur Radio Association (CARA) held their annual CARAfest at the Howard County Fair Grounds. There was a nice turn out with plenty of tailgaters. Three people renewed their ARRL membership and received free new ARRL Repeater Directorys. |
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==> COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) will run though December 15th. One of the organizations that you may make a tax deductible contribution to is the American Radio Relay League, (ARRL). The ARRL, the national organization of Amateur Radio, provides volunteer emergency communications, education in wireless technology, plus scientific and technical research. All you have to do is write in the five digit charity code, "10099," the name of the organization, "American Radio Relay League, Inc." and the amount you want to contribute on your CFC Pledge Form. Your contribution may be made by a small payroll deduction each payday during 2009 or in a lump sum. So, please consider the ARRL when making your annual contribution to the CFC. And don't forget to tell your colleagues who are amateur radio operators about this opportunity. |
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==> SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET
Friday, November 21st (the third Friday of the month) at 8:00 pm is our monthly section-wide Echolink Net. Everyone is welcome to join in and discuss subjects for the good of the MDC section. The net is hosted on the Echolink "WASH_DC" node '6154' server courtesy of John (WB3GXW) Creel. If you would like to install the Echolink software on your computer or learn more about it, please click on: <www.echolink.org> You may join us via RF through several local repeaters whose control operators may have a net announcement on the repeater. The following repeaters were linked for the last session: KA2JAI, W3ICF, W3SMD-L, N8YIB, N3HF, WB3GXW. So, if you can hit one of them, you can check in via RF. |
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==> ARRL AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE (ARES®) REPORT
Steve (N3SB) Beckman, the Section Emergency Coordinator files a monthly report to the ARRL on ARES activity in MDC. His report included: 13 of our Section ARES groups reported the following numbers for the month of October, 2008: Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: K3UEZ, N3SEO, AJ3X, N3QHC, KB3LJB, KB3FIO, KB3FMJ, WB0EGR, WR3F, KB3ENU, KA8YPY, KB3FWW and N3SB.
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 31
Number of public service events this month: 5
Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Total number of ARES operations this month: 36 - Allegany County: Allegany County ARES members supported a DHMH Flu Clinic Exercise. - Anne Arundel County: 12 ARES members (N3SEO, N3HKJ, K3TED, N3VAR, KB3DCA, KA2JAI, N8MOY, N3WOF, N3PPJ, KB3NJT, K3RUP and WM3O) supported a marathon. 14 ARES members (N3SEO, KB3CPV, KB3KWT, N3KNP, K3YLW, K3RSJ, N3ZOC, W3NI, AA3FB, KB3DCA, KA2JAI, N3HKJ, WB3KDB, & K3TED) participated in the SET. - Baltimore County: Baltimore County reports that stations have been set up in the command centers of the following organizations: Towson University, CCBC Essex, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Franklin Square Medical Center, St. Joseph Medical Center, Northwest Hospital, Department of Health, Sheppard Pratt, Spring Grove, Baltimore County EOC, Department of Human Resources, and Baltimore County Public Safety Building. Additionally, D-Star radios have been installed in the EOC, and a repeater is scheduled to be on the air in 2Q09. - Carroll County: Carroll County tested a complete list of existing VHF repeater and packet infrastructure during their SET. Voice links were established on simplex using temporary antennas. Liaison was established with MEPN and Frederick County. - Cecil County: Cecil County ARES tested WL2K communications between Maryland and Delaware during the SET by passing three messages. - Garrett County: Garrett County also tested a complete loss of existing VHF repeater infrastructure during their SET. VHF links were set up and tested between key sites, and HF links out of the county were tested successfully. - Howard County: Howard County ARES participated in a Dept of Health drive through flu clinic exercise, simulating a response to a pandemic related need for mass vaccinations. The Howard County ARES/RACES net was activated using the Columbia ARA repeater, K3CUJ, on 147.135/735 MHz. Three simplex frequencies were utilized as well, one at each of the three vaccination locations (146.430, 146.460, 146.490 MHz). Additionally, the Chesapeake Amateur Television Society (CATS) provided ATV video from all three sites, using simplex from the two Columbia locations to the Incident Command Center and providing a Skype Internet video link from the West Friendship location. This is the third annual drive through flu clinic sponsored by the Howard County Department of Health. County ARES/RACES were requested at the first one, but not requested last year. We were missed and our participation was highly desired by the organizers this year. CATS provided one ATV feed for the first exercise, learned a lot from that experience and provided three higher quality feeds for this year's exercise. The Health Department's goal was to administer 5000 doses. [The total number of doses administered was] between 1000 and 1400 and fell short of that goal. - Kent County: On October 21st KARS conducted their monthly Tuesday night drill. Communications (including simplex) were tested between the EOC, Rock Hall Firehouse shelter, Millington Firehouse shelter, Galena, and Betterton Fire House Shelters, Chester River Hospital, Kent County Health Dept, and Heron Point Continuing Care Facility. KARS also participated in the Annual Kent County Fall Fest by setting up an HF station and a VHF station. KARS provided handouts, demonstrations of how ham radio operates, etc. The general public was quite impressed with the capabilities of amateur radio. - Prince George's County: ARES held a regular monthly meeting and conducted a training day on "basic operation of your radio." ARES provided 15 radio operators in support of a DHS shelter drill in Laurel, Md on Thursday, October 2, that served as the SET for Prince George's County. Operators acted as shadows, evaluators, served on the drill planning committee and provided exercise and shelter communication. |
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==> NCAC NET
You are invited to check in to the regional ARES net on the 146.91 repeater in Northern VA on Sunday night at 9:00 pm. You do not need to be a registered ARES member to participate. |
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==> MARINE CORPS MARATHON
Over 100 amateur radio operators provided support for the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 26th. There will more information in the next "Section News." |
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==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT
Thanks to Al (W3YVQ) Nollmeyer for providing the STM Report. Emergency Coordinators should be providing an NTS liaison to the Maryland Emergency Phone Net and/or the Baltimore Traffic net. If you are available to check in to one of those nets as a liaison from your jurisdiction, please let your EC know. MDC NTS NETS:
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PSHR: K3CSX 195, KK3F 150, AA3SB 140, W3YVQ 135,
W3CB 107, WB4FDT 100, N3ZOC 90, KB3LNM 90, K3IN 83,
KB3MXM 82, KB3LFG 63;
TFC: KK3F 1930, AA3SB 132, W3YVQ 103, N3ZOC 99,
WB4FDT 93, KB3MXM 60, K3CSX 55, W3CB 46, KB3LNM 34,
K3IN 33, KB3LFG 18, KC3Y 9; * Late reported. |
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==> FINALLY . . . . AND SADLY
I must sadly report that Florence S. Cross, our Section Manager Jim (WI3N) Cross' mother, suddenly passed away on the morning of November 11th in Laurel, Maryland. She was 87 years old. Upon hearing the news, ARRL Atlantic Division Director Bill (N3LLR) Edgar wrote, "Our thoughts are with Jim and his family." ARRL Atlantic Division Vice-Director Tom (W3TOM) Abernethy wrote, "Jim's mom was a very special lady." I agree. She was special to all of us who knew her. God bless Jim's mother, 'Flo' Cross. May she rest in peace. |
73,
Al Brown, KZ3AB
<KZ3AB@ARRL.net>
ARRL MDC Assistant Section Manager
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