M.E.T.E.R.S. Newsletter - June 2005

Middle East Tennessee Emergency Radio Service, Inc. monthly meetings are 7 PM, 4th Tuesday, at the

Red Cross Building on Middlebrook Pike west of the Weisgarber Rd. Post Office in Knoxville, TN.

Members’ submissions are invited for this newsletter, in plain text formats, subject to space available and edit. Editor: Larry Osterman, w8jyq@arrl.net, Website: www.metersinc.org

 

Presidents Statement for June 2005

It has been a long dry spell. We didn't publish a June newsletter due to computer problems. A lot has been going on, but I will keep my comments short this time.

 

My thanks to Dave Ogle, KE4YBZ, for organizing our Knoxville Hamfest team, and to all those who staffed the METERS table. My thanks also to all who stopped by and signed our guestbook. My thanks also goes to Buddy Sumner, KI4DIW, and Constance Harrison, K9GWB, for making Field Day happen for METERS. We really enjoyed the fun in the sun, but we were a bit disappointed that more members didn't participate.

 

Field Day is a very important once-a-year event that allows us to practice field and HF skills, or to develop new skills. Maybe you saw us on the WBIR-TV 11:00PM news Saturday night. We were also visited by Larry Hutsell, of the Knox County Health Department. Larry was very impressed with our commitment and our ability to communicate all around the country.

 

One of our own was in the hospital recently. Dick Wolf, WI8X, is now recovering nicely. He won't be able to give a training lesson this month, but Tyra Buczkowski, AI4KG, will stand in for him.

 

I hope that everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day celebration.

 

Emergency Supplies - Available Nearby

 

Just east of the Red Cross Building, and north of Middlebrook, at 1333 Old Weisgarber, is a place where you can find such useful things as a Mosquito Hat, a Whistle and lanyard, a variety of First Aid kits, Ivy block and Ivy Cleanser, an Emergency Rescue blanket (aluminized), a hot spark Fire Starter, a variety of compasses, camp stoves, lanterns, lantern stands, water purifiers, water bottles, small pocket knives, sleeping bags, camp chairs, camp cots, tents, backpacks, ponchos, craft kits, etc.  What is this place? It’s the Knoxville Scout Shop in the same building with the local HQ for Boy Scouts of America. Prices seem competitive, and BSA can use our dollar support if you’re interested. (You don’t have to be affiliated to buy most of these BSA items.)  -ed.

 

From National Weather Service

 

June 19th thru 25th is Lightning Awareness Week. Check out www.lightning.safety.noaa.gov for a

thorough review of how to survive this dangerous time of year for lightning events. The paper includes tips and statistics, with suggestions on how Not to become one of the stats. It also reviews much of what is covered in the Skywarn program. Lightning, at 50,000 volts per stroke, is not something to take chances with. (The document was too long for our “brief” newsletter, but please review it all at the NWS site.)

 

 

From the Governor

 

AMATEUR RADIO WEEK

Fellow Tennessee hams, I am pleased to announce that Governor Phil Bredesen has, on June 7, 2005, again signed a Proclamation declaring this year's Amateur Radio Week to be the week of June 19, 2005 through June 25, 2005 -- please note this culminates with Field Day. Text follows:

 

WHEREAS, amateur radio operators have been instrumental in serving The United Sates of America and the State of Tennessee in consistently providing behind the scenes support for our Homeland Security needs; and

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, amateur radio provides excellent volunteer emergency communications for served agencies including: National Weather Service; Tennessee Emergency Management Agencies; Tennessee Department of Health; The American Red Cross; Central United States Earthquake Consortium and others in times of natural disasters and other emergencies; and

 

WHEREAS, by continuous learning and experimentation amateur radio operators have helped to forward the science of electronics and radio related communications; and

 

WHEREAS, by example, teaching and practical experience, including the opportunity to communicate with amateurs in space, amateur radio operators teach young people the opportunities available in radio and electronics,

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phil Bredesen, Governor of the State of Tennessee,

do hereby proclaim the week of June 19 - June 25, 2005 as AMATEUR RADIO WEEK

in Tennessee, and commend this observance to all our citizens.

 

 

(Our TN Section Public Information Officer, will make the announcement to as many area media as possible. We in METERS have much to be proud of in our service to the community. Thanks!)

 

 

Who Do You Know?

 

During our last hospital SET, there were apparent shortages of help at several operating locations. Our organizers will address the need for system improvements, but all of us are challenged to recruit more operators to fill in those gaps.  What better way to justify and prove the value of our “ham” license than to be part of this emergency communications group. Our existing METERS members are performing above and beyond the call of duty in many cases, but in the event of a real emergency we will all be hard-pressed to get the job done. So, here’s one recruiting suggestion we all can try:

- Make use of the neighborhood bulletin boards that are in the local Wal-Mart, local Food Store, local barber shop and beauty salon, your local church, etc. Here’s the suggested wording for your 3 x 5 card. (Use the Wal-Mart or other approved card on the store bulletin boards. Hand print the card with a dark felt tip pen.) Make up two or three cards, and go back every three to four weeks to assure the card is still there or to put up another card. The slash marks indicate jump a line: 

   “HAM” RADIO// Operators Needed// for Emergency Operations// Join METERS//  Call XXX-XXXX Today// Thanks AAAAA. 

   Use your own local phone number for XXX-XXXX, and your own name for the AAAAA. When you get a call, your first question is, What is your call sign, if any? Followed by, What is your name and phone number? With that info, you can pass along the name to our membership manager, Buddy Summers, and he and his team can do some follow-up. Please tell the caller where we meet, but emphasize we also meet on 2-meters for training and communications and really need the help for our hospital emergency net. If the person is NOT yet licensed, please get their name and phone number anyway and we‘ll push them to a RACK training class.