a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
The October, 2003 EMA section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ. Congrats to W1GMF, KW1U, and N1IQI for top activity report totals in October. [Full story]
The September, 2003 EMA section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ. Congrats to W1GMF, N1IQI, and KW1U for top activity report totals in September. [Full story]
***** EMa ARES Leadership Action Plan *****
***** Please initiate at approximately 1400 today *****
Hello to all….
The present forecast is a nominal solution, even though the present consolidated prediction has the storm hitting land in the Carolinas and moving well inland away from us. Still, a run straight at us has not been ruled out as of yet, and a strike east of NYC (which is not a big change of direction from where it is now), could bring very undesirable effects into our area. Please don’t let down from your vigilance or preparations for this storm until Rob or I give an all clear.
Here is the action plan. Thanks to Frank WQ1O for putting pen to paper on this. [Comments within brackets are that of the author of this message for clarity and continuity]. Please press on the “read more” link.
(USN COAMPS Model Valid 12Z Thurs 18 Sep 03)We had some prelim items before entering 72 hours, we are virtually past that now, [but it was] mostly a check of leadership availability, including ECs [and key] ARES members. Note: this is just availability, not a standby or alert
We are almost near the 72 hour trigger, [which is slated to] start at 9-15….1400 local. [We]need to begin with coordination emails sent by Rob to Skywarn list..general [Done]. DECs should begin situational awareness updates mostly for information purposes…leading to preparedness. No mention of assignments or deployment, as it would raise premature wantings to step too far ahead..DECs need to contact their ECs or any other ARES member to see if any requests have come from EM directors or ANY served agency member that compression of timeline can occur if speed estimates change comments on 72 hour preps? [I] forgot to mention that the chain of info works both ways, [as] you need to make sure that requests and info goes both up and down the chain to ensure uniform knowledge.
At 48hours you should begin your calldown to your ECs and down to the members [and] log any discrepancies or issues. MAKE IMMEDIATE preps to secure your own property! You can’t help anyone if your worried about the thing you did not get done for personal readiness! Coordination messages should continue from skywarn to their general list. The skywarn messages are CRITICAL to decision making.
We will go on to 36 hours. [You should] begin the] second call down to ARES EC and the membership lists. You may find that people that were not available in the first call down are now available. The opposite is also true. In a drama like this…plans can change quickly. You need to have as close to real time avail. lists as possible. It also gives those vital #s that Mike needs for Situation reporting. This is the next step, [to] initiate comms with other DECs and the SEC. If we don’t, we are likely to miss something major in the process. [We] also [want to] stress the EC-DEC up and down chain of reporting on served agency requests and possible sources of otherwise unknown info from EMs..
24 hour preparations. Initiate a FULL statue [status] report from the DEC level to Mike (SEC). [The] SEC MUST know what weaknesses exist in order to make decisions. Send as many as you feel the need to do. Often is BETTER! Also..if time permits, a meeting of leadership can be called on IM, in person, or via conference call.
For EC’s and EMA reps to ARES: Please report your status ASAP to your DEC upon reading this.
For DEC’s: Please forward a preliminary report upon receipt of this notice.
IMPORTANT: Future updates will appear first on our website, then by email if time and conditions allow.
FOR ALL: Please complete home preparations now, and review contact and mobilization policies posted on our website (listed below by my name).
I look forward to working with you in the following days. Best to you and your families. 73,
s/Michael P. Neilsen
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN, EMa SEC
978.562.5662 Voice
978.389.0558 FAX/Secondary Voice
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
w1mpn@ema.ares.org
The July, 2003 section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ.
Congrats to W1GMF, N1IQI, KW1U, and N1IQI for top activity report totals in July.
The section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ.
Congrats to W1GMF, KW1U, N1LKJ and N1IQI for top activity report totals in June.
Attention EMA/RI traffic handlers! EMA Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ has organized a traffic handlers picnic on Sunday, August 10, 2003 in Rayham, MA. Full details are posted on the EMA NTS web site. RSVP to n1lkj@ema.arrl.org if you plan to attend.
It was 10:40PM on the Heavy Hitters Traffic Net. John W1ZNY (now a silent key) listed a
piece of traffic for Quincy. I had been checking into the Traffic Nets for about 2 weeks
and I finally built up the courage to take a piece of traffic.
I jumped in at the next listing of traffic and said, “N1LKJ for Quincy”. The Net Control
quickly replied, “N1LKJ for Quincy”. “W1ZNY please call N1LKJ and pass 1 Quincy
on frequency”. “Roger” came the reply from W1ZNY. “N1LKJ from W!ZNY are you
ready to copy”? “Yes” I replied “But go slow, its my first time”. “No problem” said
John. “Please copy message ” and he passed me the message at a copyable pace.
Shortly after that I was cleared from the Net. It was now about 10:45PM and I was very
proud of myself and quickly reached for the phone to deliver the traffic. After several
rings the phone was answered by a female voice, who the message was indented for.
I introduced my self and told her I had a message for her from Courage Handy Hams in
Golden Valley Minnisota. I then proceeded to give her the message. She thanked me for
the message and then said. “Please don’t deliver me any more messages after 10 o’clock
because I am a handicapped person, confined to a wheelchair and dependent on others
to put me into bed”. My stomach fell to my feet and I profusely apologized to her.
She quickly accepeted my apology. I told her it was my first piece of traffic I ever delivered
and after that she asked me questions about Ham Radio and we talked for a few minutes.
Needless to say I learned a very important lesson. I never delivered another piece of traffic
after 9:00PM, except of course if it was emergency traffic or Mars Traffic.
The women became a regular user of the NTS, for sending out greetings to friends and
relatives all over the country. Sadly she passed away a few years ago, but I will never
forget that first piece of traffic.
Jim Ward N1LKJ STM-EMA
Jim Ward, N1LKJ wrote:
The NTS Training Session conducted by Mark, W2EAG was completed the end of May. The 13 week course met once each week. Those who completed the course were: Bill Mcinerney, N1KBV of Bourne; Ed Maccaferri, KB1ERV of Plymouth; John Mahon, N1PYN of Brockton; Kenton Bradshaw, KB1ESG of Falmouth; Andrew Bullington, W1AWB of Siaconset; George Allen, N1NBQ of Nantucket; John Dehahy, Jr., W1ABS of Centerville; Kenneth Pereault, N1KP of Swansea.
We congratulate all who completed the course. We also wish to commend their instructor, Mark Rappaport, W2EAG for the great job he did in presenting the course. All stations who completed the course received a Certificate of Achievement from Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ.
Everyone can anticipate another class in the Boston area sometime in the fall.
-Jim Ward N1LKJ, STM-EMA
The May, 2003 section traffic totals have been posted to http://nts.ema.arrl.org by Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ. Congrats to W1GMF, KW1U and N1IQI for their stellar station activity report totals in May.
A new traffic handling training net will begin on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m., beginning February 13th, on the Falmouth repeater (146.655, no tone). This is an excellent method to learn about traffic handling. It’s also excellent training for RACES/ARES groups. Many thanks to Mark, W2EAG for leading this effort, and to the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association for hosting the net.
——————————————————————–
ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
A new traffic handling training net will begin on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m., beginning February 13th, on the Falmouth repeater (146.655, no tone).
This is an excellent method to learn about traffic handling. It’s also excellent training for RACES/ARES groups.
Many thanks to Mark, W2EAG for leading this effort, and to the Falmouth Amateur Radio Association for hosting the net.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Jim Ward, N1LKJ as the new Eastern Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager effective June 1,2002. Jim replaces outgoing STM Bill Wornham, NZ1D of Townsend, MA…
Jim Ward has been licensed for over ten years. He currently holds a General Class license. Jim has been an active traffic handler for over 10 years, and has served as Net Manager of the Eastern MA Two Meter Traffic Net (EM2MN) for eight years. *N1LKJ* enjoys DXing, PSK, Packet and RTTY modes.
A retired commercial property manager, Jim has been married 40 years this September to his wife, Diane. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Jim inherits a well-managed operation from NZ1D. I want to thank Bill for his efforts! I’m sure that Jim can count on Bill’s sage advice, as well as the assistance of all the wonderful traffic handlers in the EMA section.