Oakland A.R.E.S. Newsletter October 7, 1995


Minutes of the September 9, 1995 Meeting

The Oakland ARES meeting came to order at Oakland Red Cross at 9:00 AM. Present were:

Adele Bertaud KE6HKY
Chris Burgardt KE6SSW
Bernabe Calimlin III KE6JAW
Carl Carstensen KE6WPR
Elaine Carter K6SZT
Doug Faunt N6TQS
Curtis Floray KA6MJO
Tim Ingham KD6CTG
Roger Jung KE6STB
Edward Kilmantin KE6WPG
Bob Mayes KE6DVT
Jesse McPhail KB6LPB
David Otey WB6NER
Bob Ploss KD6YJS
Jim Ploss KB6MYV
David Pompa pending
Mike Pompa KD6PLN
Jim Porteous N6HZL
Deborah Reisman KE6MQV
Jim Tiemstra N6OIK
Matt Trail KN6CR
Brian Treusch KJ6LL
Mike Vandever KE6HCG
Mark Violet N6RCG

All meetings are normally held on the first Saturday of each month.

The next meeting will be Saturday, October 7, 1995 at 9:00 AM

at the Red Cross Headquarters, 2111 E. 14th Street, Oakland 535-2800

Announcements / Calendar

N6GWL Silent Key



As you may have aready heard Russ Bankson (Reb) N6GWL passed away on Sunday, Sept 24. In addition to his active participation in the Oaklan Ares group, he was a CAP Communications Officer, and taught code and ham radio to many. His presence will be missed at our meetings. At his request, no services are planned.

Station Installation



Fire Station #1 received new two new antennas and all new coax on 10/16 thanks to the assistance from Dale, KD6KMU and Chris, KE6SSW . A new 144/220 dual bander is installed which will provide linkage with the Police Communications Van.

RACES Report



Jim Tiemstra (N6OIK) announced the fire patrol manual is in late stages of editing.

The Oct 14 Simulated Emergency Test is expected to have more simultaed traffic from Chief Ron Carter, to make the exercise more interesting. We especially encourage the new hams to participate in this drill, as it is a valuable experience. The group earns points which are published in the May QST. We beat Berkeley last year.

Jim further described the Call Quick system, where the Fire Dept will automate phone calls to selected hams when the fire danger becomes critical or they need assistance. To verify they have reached you you must enter a 4 digit pin code within a certain amount of time before going on to other people, and to your alternate numbers. You'll be able to specify work time priority numbers different from nights/weekends.

Deborah Reisman (KE6MQV) was available for id photo shots.

Getting Organized


David Otey (WB6NER) is expected to report at our Oct 7 meeting on the work of two planning meetings held this past month regarding an organization chart for our group. Thanks to Steve Renton (KE6SAL) for getting the Montclarion article going. Did you see Mark Violet's (N6RCG) mug shot? Mark met with state insurance execs to show how Oakland has taken extra steps to make us prepared. Insurance premiums are escalating at an alarming rate, and Dick Spees is proposing affordable coverage for emergency prepared cities.

New Instructors Needed


Jim Ploss (KB6MYV) and Brian Treusch (KJ6LL) need a break from teaching the no-code tech classes and will train new instructors to carry on. They will remain guest lectureres. A suggestion was made to limit the number of times they run it to 2 or 3 per year.

Tidbits


Someone asked who wrote the Packet Primer last month. It was Mike Pompa (KD6PLN) . If there's no by-line, check the masthead on page 2 of each issue for who did what.

Kudos to the new net control operators sounding out last month after taking the class.

OES Fire Dept. News
by WB6NER

Oct 2: Jim, N6OIK, and David, WB6NER attended the monthly ARES/RACES meeting with the City of Oakland, Deborah Reisman and Battalion Chief Ron Carter. Items reviewed and discussed included:

(1) Design of new EOC Ham communications room: ARES/RACES representatives will have an opportunity to provide direct input. Some concern has been expressed that antenna specs had proceeded without consideration of Ham needs.The City's communications department (OCIS) will contact us this week.

(2) Issuance of an long awaited joint ARES/RACES and Oakland recruitment letter to local Hamsto be dated and mailed by October 15: .Volunteers will be needed to stuff envelopes. This is a key effort in our quest to generate sufficent support to operate Fire Station Ham Radios upon completion of the equipment installation program.

(3) Oakland Emergency Management Board retreat (10/5) at theCounty's new EOC in Dublin: Jim, N6OIK, will have an unique opportunity to get "on-site" and obtain fresh insight upon how cities expect to coordinate communications with the relocated function (formerly in San Leandro).

(4) Fire station radio installation schedule: David, WB6NER, is coordinating the review with Captain Mike Kelly. Site review of Station 20 will be completed this week. An antenna mast for Station 17 is being requested ASAP and is the next station for installation activity. Stations after 17 and 20 will be 8 and 10!