ARES LogoMap of OhioAmerican FlagOhio FlagAMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE® - SANDUSKY COUNTY, OHIO N8SCA

David Gierhart W8DAG - Emergency Coordinator, Sandusky Co., Ohio (419) 680-2333 - Main Repeater 145.250 pl 110.9 - Alternate Repeater 146.910 no pl - Simplex 147.430

  

Gavel  Meeting Minutes   

ARES Sandusky County

 Meeting Minutes             November 1, 2008

1)     Discussed the recent calls made to all A.R.E.S. members.

a.      Deemed Successful due to attendance by members.

2)     Discussed red vests and did a size count.

3)     Talked about mailing post cards out to all hams in Sandusky County, inviting them to join A.R.E.S. or attend a meeting. Thanks Dale N8OHK for the help and idea.

4)     Learned the evacuation route from the EOC in case of emergency.

a.      Fire Drill was conducted during meeting.

5)       Watched a 15 minute video on preparing for natural disasters.

6)     Discussed what we can learn from the video.

7)     From what we learned from the video we discussed that all A.R.E.S. members should have a disaster kit and or a go-pack ready in case of a situation.

8)     If any members want to receive weather alerts via email or text messaging they should contact Jeff KD8ERV. Jeff reminds everyone that the alerts will go off 24 hours a day. There are no silent hours observed.

9)     Encouraged members to make a go-pack and bring it next month.

10) Encouraged all members present to bring a friend or fellow ham next month.

 

 Meeting Minutes             October 4, 2008

Dale Farmer N8OHK named Emergency Coordinator for Ottawa County.

Three red vests ordered, one of each size to determine how many of each size we need to buy.

ARES is back on 145.250 repeater. We are hoping improvements are made. If we have issues during an activation we will switch to 146.910.

David Gierhart will send in $300 of his own money to get the 501c3 application started.

All future ARES meetings will be held immediately after the club meeting, the first Saturday of every month.

ARES and Skywarn was represented by Owen Fritz KD8GSI and Jeff Herman KD8ERV at the Whirlpool Safety Day on September 22nd.

Owen will arrange a meeting with the new Sandusky County Sheriff to present ARES. David Gierhart EC Sandusky County will also attend.

The weekly ARES net originated at the Red Cross in Fremont. We will do this once per month to test he RC radio. The RC is a great backup location for ARES.

Gene Schumacher W8VMW is still working on getting radios in the county hospitals.

We are developing a calendar of community activities that ARES may be able to offer emergency radio communications. If you know of an event and the coordinator please notify David Gierhart W8DAG.

EMA training is coming in February and next spring.

NIMS course 700 will be completed as a group at the next ARES meeting. Others will follow.

We are proposing polo shirts for ARES members. A color will be selected and a logo will be embroidered on the shirt. They will be worn at ARES events so we have a professional appearance.

David Gierhart W8DAG will contact Dan Stahl, Seneca County EMA Director to have our contact list on the new activation system.

We will need 10 ARES members at the Davis Besse drill coming up this spring. Fire Departments need our assistance since their radios are not reliable in the buildings.

Advanced Skywarn training is being planned by our very active Skywarn leaders.

Coax

ARES Sandusky County Meeting Minutes             July 21, 2008

Attendees: Dave W8DAG, Owen KD8GSI, Dale N8OHK, Dave W8DPE, Gene W8VMW, Mike W8MAL

The 501(c)3 proccess has begun with our state paperwork sent in.

A new Asst. Emergency Coordinator appointed: Owen KD8GSI will be added which make us have a total of 5 A.E.C.’s.

A new way of communication and alerting for the A.E.C. and the E.C. will be put in place via alphanumeric text paging. This will give us information faster than text messaging on cell phones when the cell towers are busy or go down.

Dave W8DAG showed us the Ohio ARES © site and what we could check out.

We discussed using the radio at the Red Cross in Fremont for one of our monthly nets. This way the radio is check for proper operation.

A letter to the county commissioners was passed around for any corrections and approval. This letter will be given to the commissioners by Gene W8VMW in the next few days.

A grocery list is needed for  equipment and supplies when we get our 501(c)3 that we know what is needed for us to perform to the best of our ability.

A committee needs to form and make sure we have all documents and paperwork ready to go in case of an ARES© activation.

Owen KD8GSI discussed we need to get more member involvement and more attendance at meetings.  Suggested maybe and inactive or reserve list for members who don’t want to participate.

Discussion was held about what needs to be done at the E.O.C. for regular maintenance on equipment, ect.

We are still on the backup repeater of 146.910  until further notice. No update has been given from the technical committee on to what is the problem with the primary repeater of 145.250.

The next Sandusky County ARES © meeting will be held on August 18, 2008 at 7 P.M. in the E.O.C.

Coax

 

ARES® Sandusky County Meeting Minutes - April 21, 2008.

Attendees:

Dale N8OHK    Gene W8VMW    Bob KA8DWT    David W8DPE    John AB8VW    Daryl N8AGN     Jeff KD8ERV    Owen KD8GSI    Brian KD8CPI    Mike KD8GDH    Mike W8MAL  Dave W8DAG

 

Completion of the Pandemic S.E.T. will be May 10th, 4 pm at Dave's house.

The next ARES meeting will be Monday, May 19 at 7 pm in the EOC.

Coax

 

ARES® Sandusky County Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2008.

Attendees:

Mike W8MAL     Dave W8DPE      John AB8VW      Bob KA8DWT     Daryl N8AGN     Gene W8VMW    Dave W8DAG

 

We reviewed the 2008 survey. Talked about holding a picnic (steak fry) on field day and inviting family.

 

We reviewed the 2008 goals:

1.  Gene will schedule hazmat training.

2.  Completed 1st test activation. More to come.

3.  Davis Besse / EOC training tentative for June.

4.  CPR and first aid classes added to list.

We decided to move the meetings to the 3rd Monday of every month at 7 pm.

Bob KA8DWT distributed a signup sheet for those interested in the “Citizens Academy” by the Sandusky County Sherriff. If you have questions and are interested give Bob a call. This is an excellent way to partner our ARES group with the Sherriff’s office.

We talked about advertising Skywarn. Since it was cancelled we can do this in April or May when it is rescheduled.

WE discussed adding an alternate to the AEC listed on the call tree in case they are not available.

New ARES membership cards were given to members present at the meeting. Expiration is 12/31/08.

The next ARES meeting will be Monday, April 21 at 7 pm in the EOC.

Coax

ARES® Sandusky County Meeting Minutes - January 14, 2008

Attendees:

W8MAL Mike        AB8VW John        K8VCP Mike        KD8ERV Jeff

W8DPE Dave        W8LAF Larry        KA8DWT Bob      N8OHK Dale

W8VMW Gene      W8DAG Dave

 

The monthly ARES® Sandusky County meeting was held on January 14th 2008 at 6pm at the EOC.

  1. The ARES® Sandusky County Operations Manual was reviewed and will be published.

  2. The 2008 goals list, developed by the ARES® staff, was presented. I will email it to all that have Microsoft Excel and print it for others that attend the club meeting on Feb 2nd.

  3. “Go Packs” were reviewed and we ask that you bring yours (or ideas) to the next ARES® meeting on February 4th. Talked about bringing them to all ARES® meetings.

  4. Completion of the Health Department S.E.T. will be either February 9th or 23rd. I will email a notice and announce on the radio when plans are finalized.

  5. W8DAG Dave will arrange Davis Besse - EOC based training with Chris.

  6.  Talked about mandatory training for ARES® members.

  7. W8DAG Dave to clarify if a weather station and outdoor camera can still be purchased by the EMA for Skywarn.

  8. Skywarn training staffing was finalized. Skywarn training will be Tuesday March 4th at 6 pm at the Jobs and Family Services building.

  9. Owen KD8GSI appointed Assistant Skywarn Coordinator for Sandusky County. Gene W8VMW will also continue as an Assistant Skywarn Coordinator. This gives us great flexibility.

  10. Discussion about having portable repeaters. When All Else Fails.

  11. KD8ERV Jeff and KA8DWT Bob will form an exploratory committee to develop a back-up communications plan for the Sandusky County Sheriff using Amateur Radio.

  12. KA8DWT Bob will get more information on the Sheriff’s “Citizen Training” that may be open to some ARES® members.

  13. Mobile Skywarn spotters will be organized for the upcoming storm season. Need waivers.

  14. The RMRS project update was presented by W8VMW Gene.

  15. Continuation of the NIMS training. Need to have more training at ARES® meetings.

  16. W8DAG Dave to send out annual ARES® survey to find out what our membership needs.

Next meeting February 4, 2008 at EOC.

 

Coax

 

ARES® Meeting Minutes December 3, 2007, 6 to 7:30 pm

 

Attendees:

Owen KD8GSI    Dale N8OHK       Dave W8DPE      Larry W8LAF       Erv KA8CAS         John AB8VW

Mike KD8ERS    Dave W8DAG

 

We reviewed message handling and encouraged everyone to send messages during the Sunday night ARES® net.

 Erv, KA8CAS brought his direction finding antennas, told stories about past hunts and explained the finer points of fox hunting. We decided to setup fox hunts in the spring when the weather improves.

We reviewed the draft Operations Plan and ask everyone to review the plan and offer suggestions and corrections.

The next ARES® meeting will be Monday, January 14 at 6 pm in the EOC.

Coax

ARES® Meeting Minutes, November 5, 2007, 6 to 7:30 pm

11 members present

ARES® call sign from KC8QLW to N8SCA pending at FCC. Expect notification this week.

Cable TV interference update. EC will write letters to cable company and FCC.

Updated group on Ottawa County ARES® in need of EC and Skywarn Coordinator.

Reminder to AEC’s of the ARES® HF net the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month.

Encouraged traffic handling on ARES® 7:15 pm Sunday night net.

Talked about missing child reported on fire band. Discussed need to let police and fire know we are available to assist.

Gene presented a brief overview of the Health Department Pandemic S.E.T.

Will hold an unannounced weather S.E.T. in November. Dale N8OHK is organizing.

Pandemic S.E.T. planning meeting on November 9th at 5 pm at the EOC.

Next ARES meeting, December 3rd we will teach traffic handling and fox hunting.

Coax

ARES® meeting held on 10/1/07

By David Gierhart

Reviewed S.E.T.:

  1. Skywarn net
  2. Second net for EMA, Fire, etc.
  3. Red Cross secondary net, how do we get in the Red Cross building?
  4. Use back-up power on next S.E.T. Battery, generator, solar, etc.
  5. EOC handhelds need to be updated and charged.
  6. Hospital radio, Al Gorman. Gene will check.
  7. Clyde radio in city building.
  8. Compress S.E.T. time
  9. Next S.E.T. in November
  10. Pandemic S.E.T. needs to be planned
  11. KC8QLW to N8SCA
  12. When on simplex, net control to repeat information from others so all stations hear it.
  13. Need alternate net control operator.

Demo of StormLab and Interwarn software.

Will continue with 501c3 filling in clubs name.

Passed out new ARES® badges.

Updated master member list.

Will hold a planning meeting for ARES®/RACES written procedures on Friday Oct 8th at 5pm.

Need to get involved with community activites like Seneca club.

Need organization chart for our ARES® group.

Find out who completed NIMS 700?

Scott Rentz still needs to update the 440 radio in the radio room.

Next ARES® meeting November 5th 6 pm.

This page last updated 11-2-08.