Ron Sokol, K4KHZ, SEC
| Total number of ARES members | 793 | Total active members | 530 |
| ARES nets active | 108 | ||
| NTS liason station callsigns | |||
| Number of Drills, tests and training sessions this month | 42 | Person hours | 258 |
| Number of Public service events this month | 4 | Person hours | 235 |
| Number of Emergency operations this month | 0 | Person hours | 0 |
| Total number of ARES operations this month | 41 | Person hours | 298 |
| DEC Drills, tests and training sessions this month | 14 | Person hours | 16 |
| DEC Public service events this month | 0 | Person hours | 0 |
| DEC Emergency operations this month | 0 | Person hours | 0 |
| Total DEC operations this month | 15 | Person hours | 24 |
| DEC Visits | 12 | Admin hours | 155 |
From the SEC
This past weekend [April 12-13, 2008], I had our first meeting with all the new Assistant SECs, the Section Manager, the webmaster, Dan Edwards, AG4YU, and Assistant Section Manager Christine Sokol, K4CES. We met in Charlottesville and worked together all day Saturday and ½ of Sunday. The new ASECs are: Dave Damon, K4DND, covering Districts 1,3, and 15; Bruce Freund, K7BC, covering Districts 2 & 4; Joe Safranak, K4JJS, covering Districts 6, 10, & 11; Bill Sprague, K4BW, covering Districts 5, 7, 8, & 9; Mark Jackson, KJ4Y, covering Districts 12, 13, & 14; and Earle Moore, KR4MA, covering digital. Tom MacMullan, KI4ONE, will also be covering Districts 12, 13, and 14, but was not present at the meeting due to family needs.
The Assistant SECs selected their own territories. They decided on changes in the on-line registration for ARES membership. Dan, AG4YU, will soon be making those changes so as to make ARES registration much easier for the new volunteer.
The ASECs were briefed on activation and deployment and their new role in this process. They will be sharing that with the DECs and members in the coming days. Further, they will be reviewing all the contact information on the ECs and DECs, as well as the served agencies to make sure that it is all current. They will be more directly involved in ARES development and training. They will assure that the routing of e-mails goes up and down the chain of command as it should. They will work with DECs and ECs to be certain that all ARES units understand they may well have to move to another jurisdiction to assist in an emergency. They will be working with the DECs to move the monthly report due date up for ECs to the 5th, DECs to the 7th, and ASECs to the 9th of each month so that the SEC will have some leeway in getting the final report together on time to the ARRL. They will be working with the DECs on readiness. The readiness database will be compiled by Assistant Section Manager, Chris Sokol, K4CES, along with Webmaster Dan Edwards, AG4YU. Job Descriptions for EC, DEC, and ASEC are in the hands of the ASECs and the final draft and will be going out to you all soon.
The SEC is working directly with ARRL regarding liability insurance for all ARES members. Information is incomplete at this time, but hopefully will be ready for information dissemination in a week.
The ASECs and SEC worked on the emergency operations plan and realize that this must be attended to annually. Things change and the EOP must change with them.
Finally, the agreement with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, which was still in its draft stage, was discussed at length. It was concluded that there were still some gray areas in the document and that a meeting is necessary between VDEM staff and the SM, SEC, and Earl Moore. That meeting will be scheduled shortly and we will advise you of the outcome.
I am well pleased with the new ARES officers and those that serve with them. I believe we’re off to a really good start and I appreciate the willingness of everyone I have been in contact with to move forward. Please note: ASEC Bruce Freund will be acting SEC from May 10 through the 17th. I’m going fishing!
73,
Ron Sokol, K4KHZ, ARRL ARES Virginia SEC
District 2 - Howard Cunningham, WD5DBC, DEC
March is behind us. A review of traffic handling procedures (ICS 213 and ARRL Radiograms) as a review of WebEOC to get ready for the new year was the highlight of the bi-monthly ARES training. April starts with a bang - MSWalk and 24 hour marathon are a great way to start the year!
- Dave Lane KG4GIY -
EC/RO Prince William County - I have identified a possible EC to replace Alan. We have started the planning process for the 32nd Marine Corp Marathon.
District 3 - David Damon, K4DND, DEC
- From AD6JV in Albemarle/Charlottesville - ARES members were prominent in the first spring public service event - The Jefferson Cup Bike Race. Our participation was instumental in conducting a safe event with about 500 riders.
- From N3DFS in Greene County - Activity very low. Sad to say, we lost one ARES member - KE4NHP, Jerry, the former EC for this county. I submitted his name to sk@arrl.org and got receipt.
- From WW4GW in Buckingham/Cumberland Counties - The 440 repeater has been installed in Buckingham County using a temporary antenna, and the final antenna will be installed as soon as WX permits. The Buckingham/Cumberland repeater system now has a WX alert system installed. In the event of a severe WX condition in this area, users of the repeater system will be alerted with a tone followed by the WX message. This alerting system has also been coupled into the Buckingham County emergency dispatch radio system.
- From K4MSR in Fluvanna County - no comments
District 4 - "Bart" Bartholomew, N3GQ, DEC
Bart, N3GQ also held his last District 4 meeting at the Golden Corral restaurant in Massaponax. District 4 has a tentative frequency plan, based on the plan written by Tom, AK1E when he was DEC-4. Thank you to all members of District 4 and the ARES leadership for allowing me to serve as your DEC-4; it has been a great learning experience. Please welcome Tom Lauzon, KI4AFE as the new District 4 EC!
- Bart, N3GQ, EC/RO, Stafford County: EC/RO Bart, N3GQ managed 3 Saturday VE exam sessions and brought in 7 newcomers to our magic world of Amateur Radio.
- Tom, KI4AFE, EC/RO, Spotsylvania County: We had two members participate in the DICE exercise. Several members participated in supporting the Virginia Special Olympics. Planning has started for the VOPEX drill schedule for July.
- Boyd, KO4WK, EC/RO, Caroline County: Nothing new to report.
- Dick, W6WLG, EC/RO, Orange County: Nothing new to report for March
- Tom, W4LLK, EC/RO Fredericksburg City: Again, a quiet month
- Steve, KD4KNR, EC/RO, King George County: Started Tech Class at KG Fire Company 1. Several people attended the first class; only time will tell how many new hams we will gStet. New local net has been delayed due to operational issues.
District 5 - Verlan Hall, AA4HQ, DEC
Had a meeting/training session with Lancaster County ARES in Kilmarnock VA. This group is making great strides in organizing emergency communications in the County. Headed by EC Sacha Bernstein (W2SJB) and Asst. EC Andy Anderson (W3UAL), They have gone from no EC and no equipment to 4 ARES members and an EOC equipted with HF, VHF/UHF voice and Packet w/BBS, as well as WL2K and a TELPAC node. They also have a station callsign, WE4LC, for the EOC. Well done guys!
AD4RG reported that the Health Dept. expects to receive a trailer mounted 55' motorized crank-up tower on which amateur radio ant's. will be mounted. This tower will be available for use by County Officials and the amateur radio community.
District 6 - Anthony Harbour KG4YXP, DEC
- K2QIJ (New Kent): This has been a growing and healing year under W4GHS. I hope we will continue to grow under the new section leadership.
- K4CMR (Chesterfield): K4CMR, K4MTK, AND KG4GLS cleaned and organized the COMMUNICATIONS CENTER at the RICHMOND AMERICAN RED CROSS on March 8TH. This included testing all amateur radios including packet radio that are currently in the communications center. A rooftop vertical antenna was also installed for use with the Red Cross frequencies on the new Vertex radios.
District 10 - Chris Hanslits, W4VX, DEC
Quiet month in D10. Not much to report.
District 12 - "Geep" Howell, WA4RTS, DEC
K4AZV, Jay, has been appointed to the Nelson County EC position. AS this was K4YCR's last month in office as SEC, I'd like to commend him for an excellent job. Thanks for your service, Henry
District 13 - Bill Wells, W4BOT, DEC
The 2008 District 13 kick-off meeting was held on the 29th with Power Point presentations delivered on 2008 challenges, Net operations, and an introduction to digital operations. Attendees were W4VHZ, EC Floyd County - N3KN , First Vice President of the ARRL - N3AO, who made an excellent PP presentation on WXSpots - AI4RC of Montgomery County - KS4XO , EC Montgomery County - KC5EJR , EC Pulaski County, and who will coordinate with a major SouthWest repeater group in support of the Roanoke Chapter's new Regional status - AE4YK , EC Henry/Patrick County who is planning a multi-jurisdictional SET this Spring in support of the American Red Cross - W4WDA , AEC Henry/Patrick counties - KC4SUE, president of PHARA. Special thanks go out to Paul Johnson , KD4TMB, for his support.
- Franklin: Thanks to the FCARC club president, KD4TMB, Paul Johnson's, excellent support the Franklin club provided a major assist to the technical presentation at the DEC13 EC meeting and our thanks go out to Paul.
- Montgomery: Attended an outstanding DEC meeting on the 29th.
- Floyd: The Floyd WINLINK Gateway is fully functional and we currently have 3 airmail stations and another coming. Coverage tests for served agencies were conducted with the help of W4RPI. No problems were encountered. Adopt-A-Highway cleanup is scheduled for April.
District 14 - "Tom" MacMullan, KI4ONE, DEC
Participated in DICE drill. Almost ready for testing for ARECC levels 1 and 2. Took and submitted VE test. Assisting Jeff Sexton, ki4tsk, Carroll/Grayson EC with installation of radios and antennas at various locations within the counties. We want to thank Audie Kennedy N4AUD for his service as EC for Wise and Lee Counties, and welcome John Ellington AG4WV as his replacement. John has previously been the EC for Hampton, Va. and brings a lot of experience to the job.
- From John Ellington AG4WV, EC Wise and Lee Counties: Having just been appointed EC for Wise I've not had much opportunity to work on projects. George Williams,W4GLW has agreed to remain AEC and will prove helpful in working with hams in both counties. An ARES/RACES net is scheduled to begin next Wednesday on 146.865 repeater.
I'm hopeful Larry Williams familiar with emergency personnel in the entire area will provide valuable assistance in the coming months. Since just becoming EC for Lee County I've not had opportunity to work there. April will see a net started and training meetings held. - From Jeff Sexton KI4TSK, EC Carroll and Grayson Counties: Skywarn was in service once. Also had a DICE drill. Myself and other hams are taking Emergency Communications Class Had SkyWarn back in FEB. Also had a DICE drill, and still working with the county on putting more of the rig in the EOC and other fire and rescue buildings.
- From Donnie Dotson KB4KTH, EC Dickenson County: I checked into and monitored the DICE operations. I checked on the Hosp. radio in Dickenson Co. and We had the power supply down again. I got up with the folks over the radio and order a power supply and have installed it and have it up and going again. I also checked in to the Russell Co. ARES Net.
- From Robert Jones KD4CZE, EC Washington County: March was not a very active month for MEARS. The regular meeting was held with good attendance. Plans were made to assist with the March of Dimes Walks in Abingdon and Marion. A work day is being planned to move the Red Cross antenna from the old location to the new location in Bristol. Check-ins on the Wednesday Night Net on the Club 443.0 KM4X repeater have really picked up.