DELARANEWS

Training Coordinator

Jim Yoder, W8ERW

Could we be approaching some level or normalcy? I sure hope so. It’s been a long winter and after almost an entire year of cautious and planned avoidance, we might just see a Hamfest or two this year. I am not at all confident about our political situation and I am sure like me, most of you have had enough of the consternation throughout the last year and into this one. I’ve almost forgotten how much fun it is to sit down for a Saturday breakfast with fellow Amateurs. I’m not giving in though. There is hope and on a very positive note, I am hearing from all directions, we are growing and new Hams are being made. License classes are in progress and I’m fielding questions from several perspective new Hams. My imagination wanders a bit as I contemplate a bunch of new voices on the air and new associations to be made. Let’s all extend a warm welcome to these new folks as they join us in the greatest hobby. What a great time it is too for a new Ham. Propagation is on the upswing with Solar Cycle 25 showing it’s on the way. Perhaps this will indeed be a very positive time for making contacts and going after the DX. I well remember when I got my ticket back in late 1990. The solar cycle was peaking and I filled a logbook in just 3 months on 10 meters as a new technician. It has not been that good since, but it is coming back and it will be a thrilling experience for this newest crop of freshly minted Hams. We want to insure they get all the help they need to get on the air and experience the joy of making all those contacts. In a couple of days, the Seneca Radio club will be testing the recently completed Technician class. Let me congratulate everyone for another successful effort to prepare and make a fine group of new Amateur Radio Operators. Personally, I am looking forward this year to the warmer weather and the chance to get out in nature a bit with the new RV trailer. Kim found one she liked and we went for it. I can see some evening in the future with a campfire, the smell of the outdoors in the morning and breakfast with hot coffee as I set up a portable station away from the city noise in a perfectly relaxing environment. My dear XYL has been busily adding her touches to the RV and both of us are excited about the opportunity to take in some of the countryside and nature available. I bought a small trash can with an appropriate label on it, “Trailer Trash”. We must continue to build our skills and be diligent in our effort to be prepared, trained and ready when our served agencies call for our service. Since we embarked on this program to establish a formal training requirement, the groups and agencies we serve have also gone forward and have progressively made FEMA NIMS a requirement. Emergency Operations Managers across the state recognize the importance of training and a readiness posture that will enable us to step in as communicators when asked to do so. ARES members are in a unique position to step into the role of communicator while supporting a disaster response. I encourage everyone who participates in our ARES program to consider the importance and benefit of completing NIMS training. NIMS is designed to provide the background and structure required to enable an organized and effective disaster response. Your ability to perform a valued service will be greatly enhanced and you will be a respected and vital part of the team our served agencies both need and require. Even if you participate from the rear in a more supportive role rather than directly, this training will equip and prepare you with the tools necessary to respond with the best of your ability. NIMS training will make you an asset rather than a burden to those who will need us most. I am pleased again this month to report our training response continues to grow and improve. We have 1,910 Amateurs in the database. Level 2 members are at 732 and Level 3 at 204. Additionally, many have gone further and have completed the Professional Development Series of classes and others to meet specific requirements of our served agencies. The training database has registered 9,843 certificates from our ARES members. Although the momentum has slowed considerably as we are maturing in this effort, many still have not embraced initial NIMS training for Level 2. It is important to realize the significance of these numbers as we must also stand vigilant in protecting our access to spectrum. We must not become complacent in our effort and our ability to demonstrate through training, our commitment to public service as a vehicle to justify our access to spectrum. Thank you all for your continued support of ARES. Our Ohio Amateurs are the best!
DELARANews

Training

Coordinator

Jim Yoder, W8ERW

Could we be approaching some level or normalcy? I sure hope so. It’s been a long winter and after almost an entire year of cautious and planned avoidance, we might just see a Hamfest or two this year. I am not at all confident about our political situation and I am sure like me, most of you have had enough of the consternation throughout the last year and into this one. I’ve almost forgotten how much fun it is to sit down for a Saturday breakfast with fellow Amateurs. I’m not giving in though. There is hope and on a very positive note, I am hearing from all directions, we are growing and new Hams are being made. License classes are in progress and I’m fielding questions from several perspective new Hams. My imagination wanders a bit as I contemplate a bunch of new voices on the air and new associations to be made. Let’s all extend a warm welcome to these new folks as they join us in the greatest hobby. What a great time it is too for a new Ham. Propagation is on the upswing with Solar Cycle 25 showing it’s on the way. Perhaps this will indeed be a very positive time for making contacts and going after the DX. I well remember when I got my ticket back in late 1990. The solar cycle was peaking and I filled a logbook in just 3 months on 10 meters as a new technician. It has not been that good since, but it is coming back and it will be a thrilling experience for this newest crop of freshly minted Hams. We want to insure they get all the help they need to get on the air and experience the joy of making all those contacts. In a couple of days, the Seneca Radio club will be testing the recently completed Technician class. Let me congratulate everyone for another successful effort to prepare and make a fine group of new Amateur Radio Operators. Personally, I am looking forward this year to the warmer weather and the chance to get out in nature a bit with the new RV trailer. Kim found one she liked and we went for it. I can see some evening in the future with a campfire, the smell of the outdoors in the morning and breakfast with hot coffee as I set up a portable station away from the city noise in a perfectly relaxing environment. My dear XYL has been busily adding her touches to the RV and both of us are excited about the opportunity to take in some of the countryside and nature available. I bought a small trash can with an appropriate label on it, “Trailer Trash”. We must continue to build our skills and be diligent in our effort to be prepared, trained and ready when our served agencies call for our service. Since we embarked on this program to establish a formal training requirement, the groups and agencies we serve have also gone forward and have progressively made FEMA NIMS a requirement. Emergency Operations Managers across the state recognize the importance of training and a readiness posture that will enable us to step in as communicators when asked to do so. ARES members are in a unique position to step into the role of communicator while supporting a disaster response. I encourage everyone who participates in our ARES program to consider the importance and benefit of completing NIMS training. NIMS is designed to provide the background and structure required to enable an organized and effective disaster response. Your ability to perform a valued service will be greatly enhanced and you will be a respected and vital part of the team our served agencies both need and require. Even if you participate from the rear in a more supportive role rather than directly, this training will equip and prepare you with the tools necessary to respond with the best of your ability. NIMS training will make you an asset rather than a burden to those who will need us most. I am pleased again this month to report our training response continues to grow and improve. We have 1,910 Amateurs in the database. Level 2 members are at 732 and Level 3 at 204. Additionally, many have gone further and have completed the Professional Development Series of classes and others to meet specific requirements of our served agencies. The training database has registered 9,843 certificates from our ARES members. Although the momentum has slowed considerably as we are maturing in this effort, many still have not embraced initial NIMS training for Level 2. It is important to realize the significance of these numbers as we must also stand vigilant in protecting our access to spectrum. We must not become complacent in our effort and our ability to demonstrate through training, our commitment to public service as a vehicle to justify our access to spectrum. Thank you all for your continued support of ARES. Our Ohio Amateurs are the best!