New DEC: Don Parker KB8PSL

As the newly appointed West Central Ohio ARES Emergency Coordinator for District 3, I want to thank Fred Stone for his assistance as I transition into this new position. It goes without saying; Fred’s guidance leading District 3 has benefited the organization moving it forward.

I want to introduce myself and provide some background. Many of you know me as a Dayton SkyWarn Coordinator assisting with the NWS/SkyWarn weather spotter classes, Hamvention Security Chairman, Montgomery County ARES – AEC Logistics/PIO, or Montgomery County EMA EMCOMM team leader/EOC staff.

I have over 40 years experience in Public Safety involved with a variety of emergency incidents, disasters, planning drill exercises, and instructing public safety courses.

Over the past years, I’ve been a first responder to the major emergency incidents in the Miami Valley region. I’ve been to the Xenia tornadoes 1974 and 2000, Miamisburg train phosphorous incident, blizzard of 1978, and many other incidents.

As an EMCOMM member, in 2019, I worked the water emergency, KKK rally, Tornado outbreak, and the mass shooting with the EMCOMM team/EOC staff members at the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management.

I have years of experience organizing and participating in public service events as a net control operator for area ham clubs and organizations. I’ve been a ham radio operator for 27 years, I enjoy the hobby including being a Volunteer Examiner and experiencing the excitement of students receiving their Technician ham radio license or moving up to the next level.

My years of experience involved in the many aspects of ham radio communications, disasters, planning, and executing drills made my decision to apply for the District Emergency Coordinator.

I’m looking forward to working with everyone and moving ARES into the future. It takes the cooperation of team work to move forward.

Don Parker KB8PSL
District Emergency Coordinator
West Central Ohio District 3 ARES

February 11, 2020 by ARRL General

D3 Net Callsign KD3WCO

Beginning with the 15 January 2020 net, the Net Control Operator for the weekly District 3 ARES net will be using the callsign of KD3WCO (K-District 3 West Central Ohio).

January 12, 2020 by General

New District 3 ARES Net Manager Appointed

I am pleased to announce the appointment of John Massie, WX8JDM, as the new Net Manager (NM) for the West Central Ohio District 3 ARES Weekly Net, effective today 15 March 2019.  John serves in the regular rotation of Net Control Operators (NCO) and spent a number of hour as one of the several NCO’s during the District 3 Snow Net Saturday/ Sunday 19/20 January.

I also want to recognize and express thanks and appreciation to retiring co-Net Managers Keith Burnette, KB8GYB, and Randy Allen, KAØAZS, for their respective many years of service to and support of the D3 Weekly Net.  They have expressed desire to be replaced for some time now and we finally are able to accomplish that for them.

The current Net procedures and guidelines will be maintained for the present time but the D3 EC’s and I are considering future changes to make the weekly net more interesting, efficient and effective.  I welcome and encourage Net Control Operators, Net participants and ARES personnel within the nine District 3 counties to email me any ideas and suggestions you may have for accomplishing these goals.  We also need your regular participation in the weekly Net as often as you can make it!

A “purpose and mission statement” for the D3 ARES Weekly Net and a “Position Description for D3 ARES Net Manager” will be published/distributed soon and also posted on the D3 ARES website—which Randy will continue to maintain as webmaster.

My “door” always is open so don’t hesitate to email me any time with any questions, idea and suggestions.  Thank you for your continuing participation in and support for West Central Ohio District 3 ARES.

73,

Fred Stone W8LLY

District Emergency Coordinator

West Central Ohio District 3 ARES

March 16, 2019 by Net Info

ARRL Emergency Communications Course EC-001 course is back

From Ohio ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Stan Broadway, N8BHL:

Gang, the enclosed news release has the details, but the short version is twofold: the EC-001 course is back on a new hosting system. It appears to be the same course as before.  The good news is in part two: the course is free.

If you have volunteers new to ARES  this is a good basic course for readiness and expectation.  Feel free to pass on this information to your members!

Here is the official release:

EC-001 Launch 2019

ARRL’s Lifelong Learning Department is excited to announce the launch of the recently revised Introduction to Emergency Communications (EC-001) course. As part of this new initiative, the course has been updated, beta-tested by a group of course mentors, and transferred into a new online learning platform.

With the closing of the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) in mid-2018, EC-001 lost its virtual home and was taken offline. At that point ARRL’s Emergency Preparedness staff started working with the new Lifelong Learning team to explore short and long-term alternatives for offering the course. After a period of careful evaluation and review, the decision was made to move the course from the previous Moodle platform to a more modern Learning Management System called Canvas, which will be used while the new Lifelong Learning Initiative program is being developed. The EC-001 course will eventually become part of this new, comprehensive online learning environment.

EC-001 is designed to provide basic knowledge and tools for any emergency communications volunteer. We hope this course will be the starting point for you in your service to your community as radio amateurs and inspire you to think outside the box and look at new and useful ways the radio amateur can lend a hand to the public that has given us the trust of our spectrum of skills. With the online format, students can access the course at any time from anywhere during a 9-week period, so you may work according to your own schedule.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer Introduction to Emergency Communications EC-001 once again” states Kris Bickell, ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager. “The Emergency Preparedness staff at ARRL has been incredibly helpful while we’ve worked together to get the course back up and running. And the input from previous EC-001 mentors has been an invaluable part of the testing phase. The timing is right to put the course back online.”

As in the past, students will be able to register and take the course entirely online. The Canvas platform is also mobile-responsive, meaning that students can view the course materials, interact with fellow students, and complete assignments from any mobile device.

Each course will run for nine (9) weeks, with a group of up to 30 students who will be supported by an experienced mentor. There will be no cost for the course, although students must meet certain pre-requisites to be eligible to participate, which are listed on the registration page.

To view the 2019 course schedule and to register:

http://www.arrl.org/online-course-registration

March 6, 2019 by ARRL Classes

New FCC Registration System

If you are not aware the ULS CORE system is changing to an new system on 1 March 2019. These changes affect ALL licensees.
  1. You need to re register on the new system then associate your legacy FRN to the new account.
  2. You must have an email to complete the process.
If you have any questions please send Chris Jebens  kz8xu@yahoo.com or  myself an email with the subject:  CORES Question. We will get you an answer.
David A. Crawford, KF4KWW 
kf4kww@sbcglobal.net
February 27, 2019 by ARRL General

Long Time D3 ARES Net Control Operator, Emil Constantine, KC8HYK, SK

Emil Constantine, KC8HYK, became a Silent Key on February 3rd, 2019

Emil served many years as a Net Control Operator for the Ohio District 3 ARES Net.

He was a long time member of the Kettering Medical Center Amateur Radio Association (KMCARA) and was a founding member of the West Central Ohio Amateur Radio Association (WCOARA) when it was formed from the KMCARA in 2000.  He served on the WCOARA Board of Directors, was Chairman of the Science and Education Committee and held several other positions.

He was also active in supporting Public Service Events as well as the Amateur Radio point of contact for the Kettering Medical Center.

Full Obituary here

 

February 13, 2019 by General

Dist 3 ARES NET Frequency Change: 146.820 (-) MHz (PL 77.0)

As authorized by Fred Stone, W8LLY, the Ohio District 3 ARES DEC, the 26 April 2017 Ohio District 3 ARES Net, will be held on the Miamisburg Wireless Association, WA8PLZ, 146.820 MHz (PL 77.0) repeater.  Furthermore, the Ohio District 3 ARES Net will continue to be held on this frequency, each Wednesday evening, at 8:00pm, until you are notified of a change back to the WCOARA, WC8OH, 145110/224.160 MHz repeater system.

For your information, the Ohio District 3 ARES has been informed, by Butch Kovacs, WD8EOL, the Vice-President of the Miamisburg Wireless Association, that, by a vote of their membership, on Saturday, 8 April 2017, they have agreed to allow the Ohio District 3 ARES, the use their repeater in the future, as the primary backup frequency for conducting the Ohio District 3 ARES Net.

On behalf of Fred, the Ohio District 3 ARES, and myself, I would like to accept and express our gratitude to the members of the Miamisburg Wireless Association, for their gracious offer.

Keith, KB8GYB
Ohio District 3 ARES Net Co-Manager

April 25, 2017 by Net Info

ARES Training Net

Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM on one of the following systems:

1st 2nd 4th and 5th Wednesday of each month:

145.11 /224.16 MHz (67.0 Hz tone) WC8OH  repeater system.

3rd Wednesday of each month:

146.820 MHz (77.0 Hz Tone) WA8PLZ repeater system.

For more info see the Net Repeaters page

The Net Control Operator will use the callsign of KD3WCO

District 3 County ARES Sites