Minutes of the April 6, 1996 Meeting
Deborah, KE6MQV reports that the new badge system is on the way. We will be reissued permanent RACES ids then. Deborah also brought in a drawing of how the remodeled Fire Station 1 will look. Administration is moving out and dispatch will be expanded. OES offices will be added in a new wing with a media room, auditorium, and a situation room in a 3-story atrium. It will take about 2 years to complete. You can see a cutout of the new wing on the Web site. We had an exercise on April 18th where operators went to 7 of the 9 fire stations to participate in the net. We will do this on a regular basis to get the firefighters used to the idea of working with us. Details of the April 25 city drill will be presented at the May meeting.
Radios were installed into stations 3 and 20 after the April meeting. Stations 5 and 19 are up next, tentatively on May 11. Contact David, WB6NER for the exact date and time.
Training: Brian, KJ6LL reports that classes are done and Jim Ploss has retired from training. Doug and Kathy will be teaching future classes. Thanks to Tim for the radio poster. Everyone should bring in their Go Packs for the June meeting. If you had to go to a shelter site for one day, are you prepared to grab a bag of stuff and go? See the February 96 Newsletter for a list of items you might include.
Liaison: Tim, KD6CTG is compiling a list of groups to liaison with. On the subject of jackets, Tim brought in 10 for people to try on. Price is $53. Please place your order with him by the May meeting.
Operations: Chris, KE6SSW submits the following account: On a bright, sunny Sunday morning, a group of Oakland ARES/RACES operators provided communications for the annual MS Walk. The walkers followed a 15K course (with a shorter 5K option) though the streets of Alameda. Amateur operators staffed positions at three rest stops, the start/finish line, and three patrol/support vehicles. Jim Ploss, KB6MYV , was net control for the Alameda walk. We used a two meter simplex frequency for most communications. Traffic included requests for rides to the finish line, requests for extra snacks and water, and status report regarding the progress of the walkers. We contacted other MS Walk sites in Union City and Walnut Creek using the WB6NDJ 440 repeater. Lessons learned: we should have a "uniform" for easier identification; a parked vehicle with an installed radio is preferred for the rest stops; and you can never have too many Alkaline backups. Thanks to all who participated: Jose Diaz, KM6NY ; Robin Fraatz, KE6MRH ; Andrew Jung, KF6CDY ; Roger Jung, KE6STB ; and Paulette Leston, KE6CFW .
Administration: Debbie, KE6MRK reports that Jim, KB6MYV is still working on the new relational database. Please continue to give address changes to David, WB6NER until the switchover.
The ordinance is still in draft stage, but we have been assured thad ham radio antennas are exempt from the stiff use permits proposed, provided the antennas adhere to two regulations. One regarding building safety, and the other that it meets the planning commission zone requirements. VHF antennas pose no problem to these regulations. Care should be taken regarding HF antennas. Chris, KE6MQW promised to compile a summary list of antenna restrictions for each zone. For example: residential zone R10 has a 40 foot restriction.
Due to delays in getting the Oakland web pages online in a timely manner, I have made an alternate site for late-breaking news. Please look here first: http://ousd.k12.ca.us/~mpompa/ares/ This site will be updated weekly.
Brian, KJ6LL found a Radio Shack outlet where they sell refurbished items at discount prices. It's in San Leandro, off the 880 Davis exit towards the hills at Davis and Washington. He found the HTX-202 going for $150.
Remember, Mike's email address is now mpompa@ousd.k12.ca.us
Operators are needed on May 7 from 8-11am to staff radios in Alameda County hospitals in support of the annual Health Department's Emergency Medical Agency. Please contact David, WB6NER at 987-2867 who will give you an assignment.
The Oakland ARES meeting came to order at the Oakland Red Cross at 9:10 AM. Present were:
|
Le Roy Anderson |
KE6USF |
|
Roger Gilbert |
KE6STE |
|
Gerald Morris |
AC6GF |
|
Lisa Askew |
KF6BYI |
|
James Haggins |
KE6USN |
|
David Otey |
WB6NER |
|
Debbie Barragan |
KE6MRK |
|
Glenn Hammonds |
KE6YLT |
|
Juan Padilla |
KE6HCD |
|
Herbert Bowen |
WA6CUY |
|
Tim Ingham |
KD6CTG |
|
Chris Peeples |
KE6MQW |
|
Chris Burgardt |
KE6SSW |
|
Roger Jung |
KE6STB |
|
Bob Ploss |
KD6YJS |
|
Jim Carter |
K6LWA |
|
Marvin Kay |
K6GHE |
|
David Pompa |
pending |
|
Franklyn Choy |
KE6MRI |
|
Edward Kilmartin |
KE6WPG |
|
Mike Pompa |
KD6PLN |
|
Doug Cooper |
KE6ZYT |
|
Denise Kimball |
KF6BIO |
|
Deborah Reisman |
KE6MQV |
|
Willie Denninger |
KE6EMX |
|
Kenneth W Lem |
KE6CTC |
|
Donald Street |
K6EHQ |
|
Doug Faunt |
N6TQS |
|
Paulette Leston |
KE6CFW |
|
Brian Treusch |
KJ6LL |
|
Bob Firehock |
KE6IUE |
|
Bob Mayes |
KE6DVT |
|
Mark Violet |
N6RCG |
|
Richard Gabor |
KO6TI |
|
Cherie Morris |
KE6MRB |
|
Lalita Witt |
KE6WPI |
All meetings are normally held on the first Saturday of each month.
The next meeting will be Saturday, May 4, 1996 at 9:00 AM
at the Red Cross Headquarters, 2111 E. 14th Street, Oakland 535-2800