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 ARES
is a public service organization coordinated by the ARRL. It consists
of licensed Amateur Radio Operators who have voluntarily registered
their qualifications and equipment to provide emergency communications
for public service events as needed.
ARES groups are dedicated to serving
the communities where they live, working hand in hand with the American
Red Cross, local and state governments. The central focus of ARES
training and activites are to keep its members well practiced in
providing emergency communications when normal means of communications
have failed.
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MARC personnel will again this year provide parade communications on Saturday, September 17th from 8:00 to 12: 00 AM. Anyone wishing to volunteer for parade communications, contact Dick, W6RFR.
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
December
2004 Report
The Mountain Amateur Radio Club's ARES
members provided radio communications to support the Mountain
Heritage Day Parade on Saturday, September 18th. There
were seven operators providing communications and giving
accurate information to those in charge regarding the
parade's sequence of floats, cars, and attendees. The
seven operators were John Bodwell WA6LTO, Dean Mason KG6MXZ,
Ed Schiller KG6UDT (Staging), Jeff Wandell KF6CNV (Fresno
Flats), Glen Eisley W6NDR (Announcer Booth), Skip Reymann
W6PAJ (Judging Booth), and Dick Rekart W6RFR (Radio Parade
Coordinator). A fine job was done by all. Thanks to all
for providing a professional image to the local public.
Please view the photos.
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
June
2004 Report
We presently have eleven antenna drops in Madera County, and plans are in progress to add two more, one in Yosemite Lakes Park, and the other one in North Fork. This will give us complete coverage of Madera County in Emergency situations.
The Communication System for Search and Rescue has been improved with additions of King HT radios, King Mobile radios, and D Cell Pack radios. SAR now has 14 HTs, 2 portable King Mobiles, 2 portable D Cell Pack, and an additional King Mobile in the SAR Van. The HTs have been equipped with 10 AA battery packs (clamshell) to produce a ready status. Thanks to the efforts of our own Don Pearson W6WWT's help, the communication system is now effective, reliable, and at a ready status. Thanks Don, you are the greatest.
Don Pearson W6WWT receiving the SAR certificate of appreciation.
Three new members have been added to ARES, Bill Parnell WD6HAL, John McGraw KF6SVI, and Joe Linderman KA6BUD. With the addition of the above three, ARES membership now has 40 members.
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
There have been no call outs since May. Skip
Reymann has a new call sign, it is W6PAJ, and is a new member
to our group. Three more members have completed the ARECC
Level 1 Class, and are Bruce Oatman, K6BWO, Chuck Banks, W6HYY,
and Skip Reymann, W6PAJ. We now have five members that have
completed this very informative course in Emergency Service.
Also, Chuck Banks, W6HYY has completed the ARECC Level 2 Course.
If you have not participated in the Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Courses offered through the certification and
continuing education part of the ARRL web page, please consider
taking the courses. The ARRL has received grant money to cover
the cost of the courses. Upon successful completion of the
course, your fee money will be refunded. If you have completed
Level 1, then you should take Level 2, then Level 3. The identification
and readiness project of all the antenna drops in the Oakhurst,
and Madera area has been completed, and will be published
in the near future. They will also be posted on MARC's Internet
site www.w6bw.org
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
We have experienced exciting times
in the last three months. The Sheriff's Search and Rescue activated
ARES to aid in operating their radios for a lost person in the
North Fork area in March. Our own Don Pearson, W6WWT, operated
for ten hours, and the event ended with a successful find of the
missing person. Search and Rescue was very impressed with Don's
radio skills. In April, ARES was again called to aid in another
lost person in Coarsegold. The event lasted four days. Bruce Oatman,
K6BWO, was in charge of the Radio Operation, and was aided by
Don Pearson W6WWT, Virginia McGowen, WB6BZZ, Dean Mason, KG6MXZ,
Ken Cexton, K6LFR, and Scott Hill, K6IX. Don operated as a relay
on top of Deadwood Mountain Friday in a Snow Storm, and on Saturday
in better weather. Also, Don provided Forest Radios to the searchers
on Saturday to provide better communications. These Forest radios
had to be programmed to the Search and Rescue frequencies, and
required a great effort on Don's part. Don you are truly our hero.
The missing person was not found.
On Saturday, May 10th, a search was held to
search for the missing person not found, and Marin County, Mariposa
County, and Madera County Search and Rescue participated in
the search. ARES was again called to do the Radio Operation
for the search on their radios. Operators Jerry Thompson, WA6ONA,
Don Pearson, W6WWT, and Dick Rekart, W6RFR participated in providing
radio communications. Don again provided Relay operations from
the top of Deadwood. Again, ARES received good marks for their
service. The lost person was not found. I want to thank all
the operators for their time and service, and for a job well
done. You have certainly advanced Amateur Radio Emergency Service
in this community
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
Congratulations to Jerry Thompson, WA6ONA
for successfully completing the ARRL's Emergency Communications
I Course. Bruce, K6BWO will be taking the course in 2003.
The plan is to teach a condensed version to all MARC Emergency
members this year.
73's Dick W6RFR
Chairman, Emergency Preparedness
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Dick
Rekart, W6RFR
