Radio Hams from Iroquois County join in National Deployment

Public Demo of Emergency Communications June 27 – 28

Iroquois County “hams” will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide. During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham radio” – was often the ONLY way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to save lives and property. When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio’s people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. On the weekend of June 27 – 28, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Iroquois County  ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, hams from across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called “Field Day” is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, “Ham radio works when other systems don’t! ” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

June 2009 ICARC Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the June 11, 2009 Meeting

President Mike opened the meeting at 7:00 pm at the Glenn Raymond School in Watseka.  The May minutes were read and approved. The treasure’s report was read and approved.
Committee Reports

Incorporation and Non-Profit Committee—None

Technical Committee—Mike reported that on one stormy day he had trouble getting in
to the 2 meter repeater with HT while in Crescent City.

Program Committee—Work on field day prep.

Publicity Committee—Carl showed a sample press release from the ARRL field day packet.  Scott is going to use it for a press release from ICARC.

ARES Liaison—Roy is retiring on May 29 and will be going to southern Illinois soon after.  His house has been sold but plans to be here for FD.

Roy also reported that we will need a new EC for Iroquois county as he will resign as soon as move is started. The new person should have 1. ARRL membership 2. One of ARRL Emcomm classes 3. FEMA class IC 100 and IC 700.

Red Cross Liaison—Sam and Tim reported the Red Cross is moving again and would like our help in the move.

ESDA Liaison—ESDA is improving its radio system and ham frequencies have been added to the new radio system.

VE Liaison—Carl reported that VE testing will be done on July 19th 2009 at the Kankakee hamfest.  In our last test one person passed her Tech and has call sign KC9PWZ. Congrats to Milissa on her new ticket.

OLD Business

Mike is still working on the RFI antenna project.

Troy is working on the new control project—Roy came up with a printed certificate.

We plan to use W9RWX call sign in FD.

Field Day fever is planned for Glenn Raymond again this year. Field Day captains are Carl, Tim, Chris M. and Troy.

Operation is from noon to 6PM on Saturday June 27. Setup is from 9am to noon.  Sam is to buy food out of club treasury. Will use GRS radios and other to bring their radios.  We did plan our antennas at the June 11 meeting by meeting at FD site at 6:00 pm to look over and decide on antenna placement.

Troy and Justin bring tents. Phil has main generator with Rollie to bring back up generator.  Talked about have 80, 40, 20, 15, 2, and 6.

Field day 2009 garb is on sale on the ARRL web site.

NEW Business

Carl has a broken 6 meter beam and is ordering new parts for it. Club agreed that if the antenna worked well we would pay for parts and have it as our permenate field day antenna.

We plan to use Tim’s 30 ft tower with 6 meter beam and 2 meter quad.

Scott and Jake have a 10 by 20 tent. Troy ,Tim, Sam and Justin have tents also. Radios from Scott, Carl,
Troy, Chris and Mike.

Troy added our FD site to the ARRL web site.

If Glenn Raymond school is not available we might use the Firehouse in Watseka on Oak and Fifth for the July Meeting.

Snacks for this month were by Rollie. July snacks are to be brought by Benny

Net control for 6/15 Benny, 6/22 Jake, 6/29 Scott, 7/6 Melissa

Meeting was adjourned at 8:16pm.

Program was by more discussion on field day rules and plans.

Sam Ripple W9QKF Sec.

Members present Chris M, Carl, Tim, Troy, Mike, Rollie, Gery, Jake, Scott, Roy, Steve, and Sam

Sam Ripple W9QKF KAE7607