If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/ares-el/?issue=2016-10-19   
      
   The ARES E-Letter   
      
   October 19, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Palm, K1CE   
      
      
   This Issue:   
      
    *  IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Workshop Held in Chile; New   
       Technogies for Emergency and Disaster Response Discussed   
    *  Dual Exercises in Missouri: ARRL Field Day 2016/Infrastructure Support   
       Exercise   
    *  Texas Hams Drill with Public Safety in Major Exercise   
    *  Letters: On CERT   
    *  Dress for Public Service Success   
    *  Tips: Net Protocols for Practice   
    *  Third Annual Joint Tribal Emergency Management Conference held in ARRL   
       San Joaquin Valley Section   
      
      
      
   Editor's Notes from Hurricane Matthew   
      
   Earlier this month, major category five (on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind   
   scale) Hurricane Matthew destroyed lives (more than 1,000 perished) and   
   property on its wicked path through the Caribbean and on up the southeast   
   coast of the US, to the Canadian Maritimes. The responses of many ARES(R) and   
   partner entities are documented in the ARRL news stories linked below; many   
   after action reports noting lessons learned are expected in the weeks to come.   
      
   Northern Florida coastline was heavily impacted by Matthew; the eye wall   
   brushed Daytona Beach, where I live, at around 1 PM Friday, October 7, with   
   wind and gusts that toppled large trees, and ripped off shingles and roofs.   
   The storm eroded beaches and took out coastal roads such as historic route A1A   
   in Flagler county, just to the north of Daytona Beach here in Volusia county.   
      
   I rode out the storm at home just three miles from the beach, which is not   
   recommended, but I had an obligation to work at the city hospital for the   
   vulnerable patient population, so I could not evacuate. On battery power, I   
   checked into the Volusia County ARES net on the 147.24 MHz KV4EOC repeater   
   located at the large county EOC west of Daytona. Remarkably, the repeater   
   never lost viability, and net control stations, although weary, performed   
   flawlessly for the duration, taking and relaying reports of damage, and   
   logistical requests. For example, issues with staffing and protocol at area   
   Red Cross special needs shelters were handled and resolved over the repeater.   
   The Daytona Beach city EOC, located at the city's police headquarters, was   
   checked into the net by its station N4DAB, with operator ARRL Northern Florida   
   Section Manager Steve Szabo, WB4OMM, at the helm. Szabo, a retired law   
   enforcement officer, pulled 67 hours of duty there over the course of four   
   days. He was able to monitor HF and VHF storm-related communications, and said   
   "What I heard was capable, professional net control operation and excellent   
   cooperation by the amateur community at large in keeping those frequencies   
   clear for safety of life communications."   
      
   I suspect that this operator scenario was repeated hundreds of times   
   throughout the storm impacted areas. -- K1CE [Please copy and send your after   
   action reports and lessons learned to k1ce@arrl.net for follow-up discussion   
   in this newsletter. Thank you. -- ed.]   
      
      
      
   ARES Briefs, Links   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net Active as Hurricane Nicole Passes Over Bermuda (10/13/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-active-as-hurricane   
   nicole-passes-over-bermuda   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net to Reactivate for Hurricane Nicole (10/12/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-to-reactivate-for-hurricane-nicole   
      
   Amateur Radio Response Continues as Hurricane Matthew Moves Up East Coast   
   (10/8/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-response-continues-as-hur   
   icane-matthew-moves-up-east-coast   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net Stands Down Following Record Activation for Hurricane   
   Matthew 10/9/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-stands-down-followi   
   g-record-activation-for-hurricane-matthew   
      
   ARES Activates as Florida Girds for Hurricane Matthew (10/6/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/ares-activates-as-florida-girds-for-hurricane-matthew   
      
   Frequencies in Use in Conjunction with Hurricane Matthew Response (10/5/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/frequencies-in-use-in-conjunction-with-   
   urricane-matthew-response   
      
   Florida Coastal ARES Groups at Local Activation Level, Statewide Declaration   
   Pending (10/5/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/florida-coastal-ares-groups-at-local-ac   
   ivation-level-statewide-declaration-pending   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net Ramps Up to "Catastrophic Response Mode" for Matthew   
   (10/4/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-ramps-up-to-catastr   
   phic-response-mode-for-matthew   
      
   ARRL Invites Nominations for 2016 International Humanitarian Award (10/4/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-invites-nominations-for-2016-inter   
   ational-humanitarian-award   
      
   Radio Amateurs in Cuba Stand Ready for Hurricane Matthew (10/3/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateurs-in-cuba-stand-ready-for-   
   urricane-matthew   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net Now Active as Hurricane Matthew Targets Jamaica, Haiti,   
   Eastern Cuba (10/2/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-now-active-as-hurri   
   ane-matthew-targets-jamaica-haiti-eastern-cuba   
      
   Amateur Radio Credited with Helping Injured Cyclist (9/28/16);   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-credited-with-helping-injured-cyclist   
      
   Amateur Radio Volunteers on Call during Major Puerto Rico Power Outage   
   (9/23/16)   
   http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-volunteers-on-call-during   
   major-puerto-rico-power-outage   
      
      
      
   "Overview of Army and Air Force MARS" Webinar Set for October 25   
      
   Registration is open for the webinar "Overview of Army and Air Force MARS,"   
   October 25 at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on October 26).   
      
   US Air Force MARS Chief Dave Stapchuk, KD9DXM, will discuss the history of the   
   Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) program and membership requirements for   
   Amateur Radio operators. He also will highlight the Joint MARS Phone Patch   
   network, which provides daily support to US armed forces. The phone patch   
   network facilitates not only morale/welfare phone patches but routinely   
   handles mission-related radio calls and occasionally assists US air crews with   
   in-flight emergency phone patches when air traffic control cannot be reached.   
      
   US Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY, will discuss the quarterly   
   US Department of Defense (DOD) contingency communication exercises, which   
   promote interoperability between the Amateur Radio community and the DOD.   
   English will also discuss initiatives for promoting the use of 60 meters   
   between Amateur Radio and the federal government as well as the types of   
   information MARS operators will request from the Amateur Radio community   
   during the upcoming quarterly DOD communications exercise (COMEX), October   
   30-November 1.   
      
   Webinar registrants will receive a confirming e-mail that contains information   
   about joining the webinar.   
      
      
      
   Get Your Radio On: SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 3   
      
   The annual SKYWARN (TM) Recognition Day (SRD) will be held this year on   
   Saturday, December 3, 2016. This is the day when Amateur Radio operators visit   
   National Weather Service (NWS) offices and contact other operators around the   
   world. The purpose of the event is to recognize the vital public service   
   contributions that Amateur Radio operators make during National Weather   
   Service severe weather warning operations. It also strengthens the bond   
   between Amateur Radio operators and the local National Weather Service. The   
   event is co-sponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service. Please   
   remember that this is not a contest, so no scoring will be computed.   
      
   Object: For all radio amateur stations to exchange QSO information with as   
   many National Weather Service stations as possible on 80 through 10 meters,   
   including 6 and 2 meters bands and the 70 centimeter band. Contacts via   
   repeaters are permitted.   
      
   Date: National Weather Service stations will operate December 3, 2016, from   
   0000 - 2400 UTC.   
      
   Exchange: Call sign, signal report, QTH, and a one or two-word description of   
   the weather occurring at your site.   
      
   Modes: National Weather Service stations will work various modes including   
   SSB, FM, AM, RTTY, CW and PSK31. While working digital modes, special event   
   stations will append "NWS" to their call sign (e.g. N?A/NWS).   
      
   Station Control Operator: It is suggested that during SRD operations, a   
   non-National Weather Service volunteer who is a licensed radio amateur serve   
   as a control operator for the station that is set up at a NWS office.   
      
   New this year: There will be a new log submission process introduced this   
   year, and W1AW at ARRL Headquarters is scheduled to be on the air for SKYWARN   
   Recognition Day. More details will be released later. More information about   
   this event may be found here. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio   
      
      
      
   IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Workshop Held in Chile; New Technogies   
   for Emergency and Disaster Response Discussed   
      
   The second IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Workshop was held October   
   11, 2016 in Vi¤a del Mar, Chile in conjunction with the IARU Region 2 XIX   
   General Assembly. Sponsored by IARU Region 2 and the ARRL, the workshop was   
   chaired by Mike Corey, KI1U, ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager and IARU Area   
   B EC. Co-chair was Dr. Cesar Pio Santos, HR2P, IARU Region 2 EC. Topics   
   covered the use of Winlink, SATERN support for Salvation Army disaster   
   response, the role of ITU, developing operator and communications skills,   
   AREDN mesh networking technology for disaster response, and emergency   
   communications response in Venezuela.   
      
   Goals included sharing information on Amateur Radio response to emergencies in   
   the region, and :   
      
   - Increasing the capacity for Amateurs in Region 2 to respond to large   
   scale, multinational communication emergencies.   
   - Provide an opportunity for national level Amateur Radio emergency   
   communications leaders to network and increase the level of cooperation and   
   collaboration within the IARU Region 2.   
   - Build upon topics and discussions from the previous emergency   
   communications workshop and about specific events that transpired since the   
   first workshop.   
      
   For more information and photos from the workshop, please see the IARU   
   Region 2 website.   
      
      
   Dual Exercises in Missouri: ARRL Field Day 2016/Infrastructure Support Exercise   
      
   The morning of June 25, 2016, presented a sweltering 86 degrees and rising,   
   with humidity over 50%. This year, Field Day was a combined exercise of the   
   St. Charles County (Missouri) ARES(R), sponsored by the Emergency   
   Communications Association of St. Charles County (ECA), and the county's   
   Division of Emergency Management (DEM) under the county police department.   
   ECA/ARES(R) and the DEM have enjoyed a long, cooperative relationship for many   
   years.   
      
   In January, a new communications trailer project was rolled out, with the   
   finished product tested extensively in June's dual exercises. The trailer,   
   provided by the county Police, was repainted, adorned with decals, and   
   improved with air conditioning, radio benches, and windows. The trailer has   
   five operating positions: Two positions are fitted with amateur VHF/UHF FM   
   equipment (Yaesu FT-8900 transceivers), with packet[Figure%201.jpg] radio   
   capability at one position. The third position is fitted with amateur HF with   
   an Icom IC-706 transceiver. Positions four and five are reserved for public   
   safety systems (Motorola XTL 2500 VHF and 800 MHz trunking radios). A computer   
   network is installed with peripherals. A 6500 watt generator powers the   
   systems, along with a 12 V battery backup system.   
      
   Other communication assets carried onboard include a grab and go kit   
   containing HF and VHF/UHF transceivers with accessories and a second grab and   
   go kit for 2-meters - an Icom IC-2200 and six IC-V80 Sport handhelds. Four   
   roof-mounted antennas, an HF antenna for NVIS, VHF/UHF dual band base   
   antennas, and two push-up poles comprised the antenna complement. ECA/ARES(R)   
   members installed the electrical system, computer network, roof antennas,   
   radios, the front mounted push-up pole and other assets to make the trailer a   
   working mobile communications platform to be shared by ECA, DEM, and the   
   county Police. A week before Field Day, the emergency management division   
   purchased a tower trailer, which was equipped with a 60 foot square   
   telescoping tower, a 10 kilowatt diesel generator and an equipment cabinet.   
      
   The main purpose of the exercise, held in conjunction with Field Day, was to   
   field test the new trailer, tower trailer and new equipment in a potential   
   real-world infrastructure support role where communications is impacted by   
   natural and man-made disasters. ECA/ARES(R) operators worked most of the   
   states, provinces in Canada, Hawaii and Puerto Rico over the Field Day   
   weekend, demonstrating the potential use of HF radio in national   
   infrastructure support. Three antennas were demonstrated in the 2A   
   category-configured stations. A tri-band beam was mounted atop the 60 foot   
   tower and a dual band (40/80 meters) wire dipole was suspended from a   
   stand-off at the top of the tower. A multi-band NVIS antenna was also deployed   
   and demonstrated. Instruction was provided by the Division of Emergency   
   Management on the deployment and use of the tower trailer.   
      
   The County Police Department granted use of its media room at the department   
   headquarters to run the second station. The 10 KW generator powered the   
   communications trailer station; the second station was battery powered with   
   generator backup. The team of seasoned operators did a fine job of collecting   
   QSOs to demonstrate capabilities.   
      
   The relationship between the Division of Emergency Management and ECA/ARES(R)   
   in St. Charles County Missouri has been mutually beneficial and cooperative.   
   Just a few weeks prior to Field Day some St. Charles County ARES members were   
   asked to participate in a tabletop exercise in the St. Louis County EOC for   
   the purpose of establishing parameters for the design of the new St. Charles   
   County[Figure%202.jpg] EOC. The scenario was an F3 tornado touching down in   
   Weldon Spring, Missouri, cutting a path of destruction through eastern St.   
   Charles County. This was a familiar scenario to some who responded to the real   
   thing just two years before. ECA/ARES(R) served as the sim cell in this   
   exercise and provided recommendations for the new EOC.   
      
   According to Bill Grimsbo, NOPNP, District C District Emergency Coordinator   
   and St. Charles County EC, "In my 20 plus years with ARES(R), I have never   
   seen cooperation in any other county or city that compares with the levels of   
   St. Charles county. The St. Charles County Division of Emergency Management   
   and the County Police Department are true partners with ECA and ARES(R) in   
   response and preparedness to a degree I've never experienced." This   
   relationship is set with a Memorandum of Understanding that became an   
   ordinance between ECA and St. Charles County DEM signed in 1998.   
      
   ECA/ARES(R) responds regularly to activations for severe weather, which is a   
   regular occurrence in the St. Louis metropolitan area and outlying counties.   
   Flooding has also been a frequent event over the past several years. "The   
   cooperative efforts of St. Charles County ARES(R), ECA and the DEM under the   
   County Police has made our county a safer and more secure place to live and we   
   intend to continue these efforts into the future," said Grimsbo. "Field Day is   
   a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to the residents of our community what   
   tools are being brought to bear by Amateur Radio operators as well as response   
   professionals when we work together as a cohesive response asset in our   
   county." -- William Grimsbo, NOPNP, Missouri District C District Emergency   
   Coordinator and St. Charles County Emergency Coordinator; and Jeff Young,   
   KB3HF, Saint Peters, Missouri   
      
      
      
   Texas Hams Drill with Public Safety in Major Exercise   
      
   Williamson County (Texas) ARES members were integrated with the county's   
   Emergency Communications, Office of Emergency Management, Sheriff's Office,   
   and other partners for a planned full-scale exercise dubbed Basic Assessment   
   of Interoperability of Telecommunications (BAIT), held June 24 and 25, just   
   prior to ARRL Field Day 2016 at the county park in Liberty Hill, Texas. All   
   county emergency communications mobile assets were deployed to the park to   
   simulate a complete failure of public safety communications infrastructure.   
   Objectives included remotely dispatching public safety units within the county   
   and integrating Amateur Radio communications into the process.   
      
   The team of county telecommunications employees and Amateur Radio operators,   
   under the direction of Incident Commander Lt. Aubury Holmes, KG5FTD, began   
   setting up base camp two days ahead of the exercise. ARES members erected four   
   portable Blue Sky masts and installed antennas covering HF bands. They set up   
   an amateur HF station in the county's Regional Mobile Communications (RMC)   
   truck.   
      
   Williamson County Communications Director Scott Parker, KE5OJC, established   
   goals for the exercise, including having the Resource Unit maintain full   
   accountability of resources and personnel on site, to monitor public safety   
   resources remotely, and to dispatch fire, EMS and law enforcement from the   
   remote site. In addition to radio and antenna deployment, ARES members were   
   tasked with setting up and operating a generator trailer and HF go-kits with   
   PACTOR 3 capability to full functionality. Another goal was to deploy APRS   
   systems to track assets on the park property in real time, creating   
   "breadcrumb" trails showing where units had been.   
      
   Part of the park lies in a river valley beneath a bluff that could inhibit   
   radio transmission from the canyon, so ARES members set up a crossband   
   repeater on the rim of the canyon and an APRS digipeater, enabling the   
   Incident Management Team (IMT) to reliably track search and rescue (SAR)   
   assets and communicate with them from the Command Post. Fire Departments   
   conducted the SAR maneuvers -- each team was outfitted with an APRS tracking   
   device so leaders could monitor the progress of the search. The digipeater   
   successfully relayed tracker information to the Command Post.   
      
   Twenty-nine Williamson County ARES (WC-ARES) members filled many of the   
   Incident Command System Command and General Staff positions on the IMT.   
   Seasoned IMT members provided guidance upon request, but ARES personnel   
   functioned at a high level. WC-ARES Emergency Coordinator Terry Jones, K5LGV,   
   served as Operations Section Chief, and John Peek, KF5ZMD, served as Planning   
   Section Chief. Other ARES operators exercised skills they would need if they   
   were ever called upon to fill dispatch positions in the public safety   
   environment, as well as all the technical skills required for a remote   
   communications operation.   
      
   Communications vehicles outfitted with amateur HF radios were sent out to   
   surrounding counties with ARES members operating the radios. They tested   
   coverage without using repeaters to confirm the ability to get traffic from a   
   100-mile radius. Band conditions were less than optimal and yet successful   
   contacts were completed after mobile antenna configurations were modified.   
      
   Planning began two months prior to the event, with weekly meetings involving   
   all key players. Once players were identified and assigned, work began on   
   producing an event action plan. An exercise of this magnitude involves a host   
   of logistics to get equipment in place and provide for necessary services   
   needed by personnel. Planners knew that environmental conditions would be   
   extreme with temperatures near 100 degrees, so keeping personnel hydrated was   
   a concern. Meeting nutritional needs of such a large staff was challenging.   
   The Salvation Army brought their canteen truck to the site and provided lunch   
   for the participants.   
      
   Williamson County Communications had already provided a trailer for ARES use,   
   outfitted with dual band radios, HF capability, and 800 MHz trunking public   
   safety radios. WC-ARES personnel remodeled the trailer, turning it into a   
   two-room communications center. This platform provided a second    
   ir-conditioned operating position.   
      
   The Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC) participated by   
   providing an RV trailer for the check-in point and a box trailer with a 45 KW   
   generator that became a 2-meter packet and HF PACTOR operating position.   
   CATRAC also provided and set up an air-conditioned DRASH tent for the command   
   team that was used for the GOTA station during Field Day activity. The Travis   
   County Radio Emergency Associated Communications Team (REACT) provided their   
   3DRobotics Solo quad copter for aerial surveys and for search and rescue.   
      
   On Saturday, June 25, the operation transitioned to Field Day activities, all   
   taking place in the air conditioned comfort of the equipment set up for the   
   exercise! A Williamson County Commissioner, county parks director, and county   
   Public Information Officers visited the base camp and observed the exercise in   
   operation.   
      
   At one point on Saturday, there were 74 people on site including visitors and   
   participants. ARRL South Texas Section Manager Lee Cooper, W5LHC, visited the   
   site and observed the exercise. Local television station KXAN came to base   
   camp for a story on the exercise. Local newspapers also provided coverage.   
      
   This full-scale ICS exercise required a daily Event Action Plan, and provided   
   exposure to and practice with essential ICS forms. It provided an opportunity   
   to familiarize ARES members with the ICS processes involved in any Type I or   
   Type II incident.   
      
   At the end of Field Day all equipment was taken down, packed and returned to   
   service. Each team member went through the demobilization process as if they   
   were on a major incident. This exercise gave ARES members a chance to meet or   
   deepen relationships with various officials from around the county, and to   
   share our passion for radio with them.   
      
   "I didn't expect APRS to be a big part of Field Day," said WC-ARES Board   
   Member Jonathan Estill, AF5DF, "but I became an expert in configuring several   
   trackers used during the exercise. Williamson County purchased several   
   different APRS radios, ranging from Byonics and SainSmart trackers, and   
   Kenwood TH-D72A and TM-D710GA radios for tracking assets like SAR teams in   
   emergencies. The trackers provided near real-time position updates about teams   
   deployed beyond the base camp."   
      
      
   Lessons Learned   
      
    *  Planning is a very detailed process.   
    *  Assign teams specific tasks during setup so that multiple evolutions are   
       taking place simultaneously.   
    *  Carefully observe personnel in hot conditions for proper hydration and   
       exhaustion.   
    *  When band conditions are poor, find a way to make communication work.   
    *  What ICS classes are needed for personnel to fulfill the mission?   
    *  Logistics is a key position that needs to be closely involved from the   
       start.   
      
   Williamson County ARES is extremely grateful to Williamson County Emergency   
   Communications for giving our members the opportunity to participate and learn   
   from such a complex exercise. -- Ken Malgren, K7MAL, Emergency Communications,   
   Williamson County, Texas   
      
      
      
   Letters: On CERT   
      
   Austin, Texas -- In our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training   
   classes (2 or 3 times a year) I make a short presentation about    
   ommunications, how it is necessary with some understanding of the need and how   
   to be of service with Amateur Radio support. At the conclusion of the session,   
   the students can sign up for licensing classes. We now have several amateurs   
   in the CERT ranks. In a recent CERT meeting, a show of hands indicated about   
   50% of those in attendance were licensed and members of local clubs and ARES.   
      
   Our CERT classes are normally hosted in the city/county EOC where the amateur   
   station is also housed. I have been involved with the City of Austin CERT from   
   its inception, and help with administration, leadership, and teaching.   
      
   Other response organizations share needs and should have the same   
   opportunities for learning and participating to be communications prepared. To   
   help in this direction, we are building a cooperative Council of organizations   
   in our ARRL South Texas District 7 (8 counties) to be able to adequately   
   communicate and be stronger together in any situation.   
      
   The Council will operate much like Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster   
   (VOAD), with the purpose of bringing all organizations to the table regularly   
   to discuss, train, plan, and to be able to work together in time of need. All   
   volunteer groups are invited to be involved and representatives are encouraged   
   to attend the monthly meeting, conducted by teleconferencing. Each   
   organization is encouraged to bring ideas for training and exercises to the   
   table and reports of response activity. Amateurs involved in the participating   
   organizations are encouraged to give and take emergency and disaster response   
   communications training. -- Roger Wines, W5WIA, ARRL South Texas Section   
   Assistant DEC (District 7)   
      
      
      
   Dress for Public Service Success   
      
   Visiting this year's ARRL New England Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts, I   
   was delightfully surprised at the level of care most attendees, and in   
   particular exhibitors, speakers and volunteers, exercised in their choice of   
   attire. Snazzy uniform shirts worn by vendors were in abundance. Business   
   attire infused the exhibit hall. It was as if I were attending a professional   
   conference.   
      
   There I met new ARRL CEO, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, whose sharp business attire   
   transmitted an easy-on-the-eyes message, one that clearly respected the first   
   impressions of his constituents. Among the subjects discussed was my   
   contention that our community must take better care to present ourselves as   
   organized professionals when serving in a public service role, most especially   
   in how we look.   
      
   As a leader of public service teams, and an advocate for better leadership,   
   innovation and national unity in our public service communications role, I   
   make sure every volunteer has the opportunity and support that encourages   
   their personal success. Not only are my teams well trained and fully   
   integrated into the organization or agency we serve, they also look (and   
   smell) good. That's because expectations for attire are part of the pre-event   
   preparations. I urge volunteers at some events to be "smartly dressed with a   
   clean white shirt and blue uniform pants, or equivalent." A volunteer T-shirt   
   is sometimes needed as an added bit of identification and to unify us as   
   members of a larger team, so I request that we "wear the supplied volunteer   
   T-shirt in combination with uniform or EMT cargo pants to present a   
   professional appearance." I also caution that we must not be confused with   
   public safety or law enforcement personnel. "Professional" does not mean that   
   we have license to impersonate, however innocent our first intention!   
      
   I have first-hand experience to suggest that those who present themselves   
   professionally are invited back for the next event service opportunity. While   
   some of us grumble about how disorganized the organization we're serving may   
   be -- how little they understand about the value of our "superior"   
   communications service -- we are ultimately responsible for an invitation back   
   to a repeat performance. So what happens when we're not? Some of us lean upon   
   that tired "when all else fails" excuse: "When all else fails you'll call upon   
   us, and you won't care how we look." Weak. Irrelevant. Arrogant. Please throw   
   those rags in the laundry (or incinerator) and come back civilized. This is   
   not a mud wrestling match.   
      
   At each public service event I've had the privilege and fun to work as a   
   communications volunteer, the event organizers, public safety, vendors, and   
   participants arrive dressed for the occasion. We are not exempt. If your   
   leadership fails to set a minimum standard, that doesn't mean you can't arrive   
   on time and ready to go with a professional, smart, confidence-inspiring   
   appearance. You'll look good, feel great, and be amazed how receptive your   
   team mates, the organizers, participants and the public will be when you dress   
   for public service success. -- Mark Richards, K1MGY, Littleton, Massachusetts   
   [Richards is a member of the Boston Athletic Association's Boston Marathon   
   Communications Committee, with an extensive history of leadership in numerous   
   public event communications efforts. Richards is a frequent contributor to the   
   ARRL ARES E-Letter. -- ed.]   
      
      
      
   Tips: Net Protocols for Practice   
      
   Like many groups, the Hospital Disaster Support Communications System (HDSCS)   
   holds a weekly net, but the HDSCS net focuses on practicing procedures related   
   to functioning in a real net during an emergency. While we practice taking   
   turns at being net control, members also must copy down check-ins and   
   information given on the net. Sometimes net participants are asked to move to   
   other frequencies identified by tactical reference. This week, after check-ins   
   were taken, members were asked to move to simplex on the output of our primary   
   net repeater. Then the check-ins were roll called. Not only was this little   
   task a way to make sure members could make the adjustments on their equipment   
   to respond on the output, but it also allowed members to serve as relays when   
   necessary. Should our primary repeater go down in a major emergency, we would   
   maintain a presence on the output of our repeater to listen for, not only our   
   members, but for other groups that might need to contact us. Most members made   
   it to the output of the repeater quickly and then learned what they could   
   hear. Two stations were particularly valuable in their ability to hear   
   stations in the Laguna Niguel area as well as the southeast part of Orange   
   County. All check-ins were accounted for in the roll call by the net control,   
   with some help from stations that were able to relay for others. It was an   
   instructive exercise that will get repeated again. -- from the Hospital   
   Disaster Support Communications System report for October 16, 2016; April   
   Moell, WA6OPS, HDSCS, Orange County, California   
      
      
      
   Third Annual Joint Tribal Emergency Management Conference held in ARRL San   
   Joaquin Valley Section   
      
   For the third year in a row, ARES/RACES was a featured part of the largest   
   gathering of tribal disaster preparedness, recovery, hazard mitigation, and   
   homeland security professionals in the country. This annual conference is   
   organized by the National Tribal Emergency Management Council, and was hosted   
   on September 19-23, 2016, by the Tachi-Yokut Tribe at their Santa Rosa   
   Rancheria in Lemoore, California.   
      
   Two local San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Section groups, the Fresno ARES/RACES and   
   the Tulare County ARES pooled resources and set up a special event station   
   (N8V) with multiple operating positions (voice and data) on the lawn adjacent   
   to the conference hotel. Hal Clover, AD9HC, SJV Section DEC, wrote, "Many   
   conference attendees stopped by to view the display. Radiograms home were   
   offered with several being sent via operators at the event."   
      
   As part of the pre-conference activities on Monday and Tuesday, Larry Taylor,   
   KF6JBG, taught a Technician license class. Newly licensed amateurs were Jason   
   Sisco, KM6FKK, environmental systems with the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, and Scott   
   Mercer, KM6FKL, security officer with the Tachi-Yokut Tribe.   
      
   On Wednesday, following the Opening Drum by the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, NTEMC   
   Chairman Richard Broncheau, KG7NRJ, gave the conference welcome address, and   
   NTEMC Executive Director Lynda Zambrano, KE7RWG, provided a NTEMC "Year in   
   Review" summary. In the afternoon, Adam Geisler, KJ6YHN, of the La Jolla Band   
   of Luise¤o Indians was one of the panelists at an open discussion forum about   
   FirstNet, The First Responder Network Authority. After dinner, the conference   
   attendees were treated to a series of excellent traditional tribal dances   
   courtesy of the Tachi-Yokut HOOPS Youth Council Traditional Dancers.   
      
   The "Breakout Sessions" on Thursday included "National Tribal Amateur Radio   
   Association" by Nathan Nixon, N7NAN, Public Safety Programs Director with the   
   Inter Tribal Council of Arizona; "FirstNet's Second Steps: Real world   
   applications for tribal emergency response" co-presented by Rita Mooney,   
   KG5JAT, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Adam Geisler, KJ6YHN;   
   "Introduction to CAMEO", a free suite of software applications used to plan   
   for and respond to chemical emergencies, co-presented by Elisa Roper, KM4BUG,   
   Tribal Liaison with FEMA Region IV; and "Administration for Children and   
   Family Services - IDCM" co-presented by Wendi Ellis, KK6WQO, Regional   
   Emergency Management Specialist in FEMA Region IX.   
      
   Featured on Thursday afternoon was the "Tribal Coast to Coast Exercise"   
   co-hosted by Nixon. Simulated emergency messages for an earthquake scenario   
   were sent via Amateur Radio from the conference special event station to FEMA   
   Region II in New York.   
      
   On Friday, Suzanne Everson, KI7EGE,