MERRY CHRISTMAS! and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Fellow Hams of the West Texas Section:
As we rapidly approach Christmas 2018 and New Years 2019, I would like to wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year. I would also like to thank you for your continued efforts to be prepared to help your community as an Amateur Radio Operator. Your attention to maintaining your home station’s radios, antennas, power supplies, etc., the mobile equipment in your vehicles and the portable equipment in your Go Boxes is admirable. It shows a concern for your families, neighbors, communities and fellow man.
2018 has been a busy year as radio operators and ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) members. Skywarn activations for severe weather events, prairie fires with possible communication assistance, and emergency preparation have kept us busy throughout the section. In April, we had the first AUXCOMM course in the West Texas Section, with 25 participants from across the West Texas Section. And there was the maintenance, repair and tender loving care of all kinds’ of ham radio equipment by us all.
There have been the special / annual events we have aided with our communication expertise – bike rides, foot race/runs, auto races, parades, air shows, community parties, and trick or treats. And the nets – local club nets, ARES nets, hospital nets, D-Star nets, D-Rats nets, state traffic nets, regional traffic nets and any number of hf nets. All these help others and allow us to be prepared for emergencies. Thank you for your participation.
So, what do we see for the new year? The ARRL ARES National Office has implemented an internet-based program to account for individual participation, expertise and training. It is ARES Connect. ARES Connect does require a little more effort by individuals; however, it will provide the nation level organization with vetted information they can use in their interactions with national agencies. It will also provide a more complete data base to your EC’s, DEC’s and section administrators than the “Registration Form” we have used for years. This will be especially helpful in those situations where you are volunteering to help outside of your local area. Early in the new year, we will start scheduling Saturday afternoon meetings around the section to help get you started using ARES Connect.
If you are traveling this Christmas Season, please stay alert and be safe. Especially, if you are on the highways within 100 miles of Midland / Odessa, watch carefully for the other driver.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
73 and have fun,
David
ARES® Amateur Radio Emergency Service®
J David Overton, KF5WDJ
West Texas Section
Section Emergency Coordinator
Midland County Texas
Email: kf5wdj@kf5wdj.com
