It’s been another fun year for our ARES-involved hams. As preparations begin for the year-end report to the Section leadership and plans are being made for 2015, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the work, activities and events we shared in over the past year.

Training is always a large part of our operations through the year. We held over 20 training nets over the past year. These are the twice a month nets we hold on 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings. We covered a variety of topics and activities including loss of the primary repeater, simplex operations and multiple net operations, as well as message handling procedures and operational procedures for SKYWARN, SAR and dealing with traffic issues. We have had great participation in the monthly HF ARES nets. Our face-to-face training sessions were held 6 times and covered topics such as dipole antennas, digital modes, HF Operations and a trip thru the Sherman FD communications trailer. Speaking of Sherman FD, we also participated in the Sherman siren test every time it was operated, providing feedback to the city. The annual SKYWARN training by the NWS and Grayson county OEM was well attended and added some new involved hams to our ranks. We continued to participate with the county OEM thru the LEPC meetings and CERT communications activities. Internally we have adopted the Section ARES Training Task Book as a tool to increase our abilities and provide coordinated mutual aid if requested.

Then there were the fun events we had through the year with various groups. The GCARC provided many chances to operate in various modes and on varying bands with their 20 year anniversary celebration, Field Day, several fun special event stations and community events. Our SET (Situational Event Training) held concurrently with the Eisenhower special event was a great opportunity to demonstrate and train for a field established HF station as well as local 2 meter operations. We also exercised our Winlink operations up through the state wide level, held coordinated communications with MARS operators and overall had a successful event in that we met all the goals set out for us by the Section.

Then there was the work portion of ARES. Your team of ARES AECs has met every other month this year to plan and then coordinate the nets, training and activities. We have streamlined our ID badge process which many of you experienced at our last session, so now you will know you have a badge that is current and received at the time of processing. Our support of ham radio though the teaching efforts or our educational team has produced over 25 new operators this past year and provided classroom training of basic electronics, test equipment use and basic diagnostics, leading some to attempt the building of a transceiver and learn CW. The training task book mentioned above was reviewed and our team provided input into its final form. We have paid close attention to the plans for the revisions to the 147.00 repeater thru our liaison. We also have coordinated the new repeater in the area into our operational plan. The AECs coordinated work with the various cities we serve as well as the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and both area Hospitals.

There is a great deal of work done to allow ARES to provide the communications capabilities it offers. Much of it is planned and coordinated by the AECs. But, I cannot overlook the most important people on the team: YOU, the operators “out there” who provide your equipment, vehicles, time and talent to make our operations successful. You make all these things happen by being involved and participating, and I thank you for your commitment over the past year to make our ARES group the respected and capable group it is.

Thanks for opportunity to be involved with you this past year. I look forward to bright and fun year ahead!

73
Rick
K5ECX