METERS Newsletter - September 2006

A monthly publication of the Middle East Tennessee Emergency Radio Service, Inc.
METERS is a registered non-profit service organization based in Knoxville, serving all the surrounding area.
Club call sign: KG4NLF      Website: www.metersinc.org

Meetings are held at 7 PM, the 4th Tuesday every month. Our September 26th meeting will be at the Tennessee Technology Center, 1100 Liberty Street, Knoxville, TN 37919. (See the website for directions, or watch the Net Reminder.)
Licensed Amateur Radio Operators are invited to join METERS and assist in meeting the needs of our served agencies.
Members’ submissions are invited for this newsletter, in plain text formats, subject to space available and editing. Editor: John Randle K9RSQ; e-mail to john.randle (at) tds.net; Phone (865) 675-1293, or mail to: John Randle, 10625 Summit Mtn Ct, Knoxville, TN 37922.

President's Statement for September 2006

“By relay”… the recent EmComm exam session that was held at the Grace Lutheran Church on Middlebrook Pike was well attended .. in spite of the heavy downpour of rain. There were a total of 15 participants, of which 10 were METERS members. A total of 10 level I exams were successfully completed, 9 level II exams, and 1 level III. One individual passed all three levels today! A significant increase in our “readiness” level has now been achieved and recognition and appreciation is due to our Training Officer, Dick Wolf (WI8X) for his perseverance in getting us to this new level. Everyone should expect to receive their ARRL Certificate in Emergency Communications for the appropriate level completed in approximately 2-3 weeks. Those not in receipt of their certificates within one month should notify Tyra AI4KG.

We are still waiting for Larry Hutsell to provide additional details on the proposed “shot clinic”. Thanks to all those who have volunteered for this valuable training.

-- Alan Sims KG4MMG, METERS President and Knox County EC.

Vice President's Statement for September 2006

We are coming to the end of another year! Where has the time gone? As I reflect on the past few years, we have made great progress toward our goal of becoming an organized, well-prepared group of amateur radio emergency communicators. What does this mean? As a group, we are better organized than ever. We have deployment plans created in coordination with our served agencies. We have a call tree, hospital teams, hospital testing schedules and procedures, a hospital response plan, and a bio-incident response. We are now part of the Health Dept's plans for the Bio-incident response plan. We are being written into the regional Health Dept plans as well. As a group, we are better trained than ever. A large number of our members are certified in EMCOMM Level I, FEMA IS700 NIMS, TEMA ICS, TEMA Initial Response to Hazardous Materials, TEMA Initial Response to WMD, SKYWARN and CERT. We have all worked hard to earn these certifications. If any METERS member is missing a certificate from the TEMA courses taken in Alcoa, please contact me so I can submit a batch request for replacements, rather than having individual requests processed. Now we will devote more time to the application of our studies. We will have speakers make presentations on the application of the principles and concepts to real situations and circumstances. We will review the course material torefresh our knowledge and skills and to help the new members to earn their certifications. Even with all of these accomplishments, we have much to do to maintain and improve our skills. We have a busy season coming with an EmComm exam session, the Ten Tec Hamfest, a public service event, and the TN Homeland Security District 2 Pandemic Flu SET all occurring from the end of September to the middle of October time frame.  Please continue your support of METERS by inviting your amateur radio friends to attend a METERS meeting so they can have the opportunity to learn about what we are doing and join our emergency communications team. Hope to see you at the next METERS meeting and 73,

-- Tyra Buczkowski, AI4KG, METERS VP

Secretary's Notes

• Certifications and qualification documents: -- Copies are requested from all members as we upgrade and expand our member database. Our served agencies are increasingly asking for these certifications, including your FEMA and EmComm completion documents. Recently, in accessing one of our served hospitals, I was complimented on having my Knox Health Dept. credentials in plain view on a lanyard around my neck, so they wouldn't have to ask to see my credentials. – As you copy these items (IS-100, IS-700, EmComm, etc.) for our files, please also copy your 'ham' radio license(s), CERT, MARS, SATERN, and other applicable documents, for our files, so that when we get the call from a security person, asking if you are qualified, we can easily reply that, "yes indeed", he/she is one of our own, and here is the list of their certifications. Please send or bring your copies to the next meeting. Many thanks.
• Nominations for the METERS Board were presented at the August 22nd meeting, and you will be asked to vote for the candidates at the September 26th meeting at Tennessee Technology Center. Our thanks to the nominating committee: Merle Growden KD6FBT, Jerry Moore AF1P, and Tyra Buczkowski AI4KG, for completing this difficult job. Please review Articles IV and V of the Bylaws for election procedures. Nominees are: for President: Tyra AI4KG; for Vice President: Gary AG4XO; for Board Member at Large: Dick WI8X; for Treasurer: Dave KE4YBZ; and for Secretary: Larry W8JYQ.
• Bylaws revisions were also proposed with the first reading (and some on-the-spot corrections!) placed before the members at the August meeting. The final reading of these revisions will be presented at the September meeting for your approval.
• Hospital Teams need members. If you are not yet on a team, please contact Fred KI4EOJ or Tyra AI4KG for an assignment. Some locations are down to one or two operators, and those needs should be at the top of our list. If you are already on a team with more than three members, please volunteer to serve at a less well-manned location. This will assure that your entire METERS organization gets the job done when called on.
• Events upcoming that can use your participation include: a) the Ten-Tec Hamfest; b) the South Fork Trail Race; c) the Oak Ridge Hamfest; d) the Gray Hamfest at the Tri-Cities; and e) most importantly, the October 13 & 14 SET's. Please contact Tyra AI4KG or Dick WI8X, and/or sign up at the meeting coming up.
• Minutes of our meetings are available via e-mail. We have dispensed with reading them due to time constraints in our meeting location(s). If you would like a copy of the last month's minutes, or any minutes, please call or e-mail me, or contact your Board Member at Large, Dick Wolf WI8X.

--Larry W8JYQ

Treasurer Talk!

Our EmComm library is dramatically low... and if anyone has an old 3rd edition Level I book... or those who passed Level II would like to "donate" their copy of the study manual to the METERS Library... our NEW members would certainly appreciate it. Especially since it will likely be a "requirement" for deployment status soon!

At the next meeting, I will gladly take old EmComm books... and will also have METERS Patches and T-Shirts for Sale, if anyone wishes to make a purchase! (Get your patch now, just in time to add it to that new fall jacket!!)

Thanks -

Dave KE4YBZ

Net Notes!

“By relay” … Our net participation seems to have improved now that the summer months have passed. We still have ample opportunities for METERS members to get their feet wet with “live” Net Control Station (NCS) experience before a real emergency materializes. Although many of the nets seem to have a “regular” NCS, these folks would appreciate an occasional break and are willing to hand over the mike at most any time. All of our preambles are “scripted” and available for your use and training material (if desired) is also available so “originality” or “innovation” is not really necessary. Bobby McFalls, KA4OKJ has assumed the responsibilities of METERS Net Manager and anyone wishing to volunteer to run a net should contact him at ka4okj@aol.com .

Everyone should now be aware that the primary METERS VHF net frequency will be changing on 1 October 2006 to the WB4GBI repeater operating on 146.940 MHz. The current 146.625 frequency will become our primary backup frequency.

The recent Hospital Simplex net has provided valuable information regarding the Readability and received Signal levels for each station. The vast majority of our stations were on-line and solid signals were received. However, we are looking for an explanation for the observed anomaly where a station’s Readability was “5” or Loud and Clear with 100% modulation and Full Quieting … yet the received Signal level for that station was Zero at one station, but S7 or greater at all the other stations. This has now been observed several times and since the affected stations are too far separated to be “de-sensing” each other we are at a loss to explain the “Zero” received signal level. Insights into this anomaly are requested.

73’s Bobby

Up Coming Public Service Events:

Knoxville Track Club Big South Fork Race: Saturday 7 October 2006

METERS will support a Knoxville Track Club race at the Big South Fork (near Oneida, TN), on Saturday morning, October 7, 2006.  More details will be provided at the September meeting and on the weekly nets and web site as they are known.  Big South Fork is about an hour north of Knoxville, west of I75, and is an ideal remote area for an emergency radio service exercise that may involve a significant amount of simplex and/or relay activity.  The APRS group is planning to support the race as well.   Please contact Jerry Moore, AF1P, at af1p ( at ) arrl.net to sign up for this important public service event.

Thanks. 73, AF1P, Jerry Moore

Notes from The ARES E-Letter from ARRL

+ RED CROSS REQUIRING BACKGROUND CHECKS

The Red Cross said their national policy requires everyone that works in a Red Cross Shelter to have a background check on file. This includes persons that are signed up at the last minute. The Red Cross has a contract with an on-line company that performs background checks. There is a fee for each background check and the Red Cross is currently picking up the cost. The results are only sent to one local Red Cross office. The Web site is and you must select the state map and then the local chapter.

After requests for clarification on this policy from ARRL HQ, Red Cross supplied this statement:
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In the aftermath of a huge visible disaster such as Hurricane Katrina there are several post-evaluations that occur looking at systems, procedures, protocols and overall response to determine what systems could be more efficient. Recently, the American Red Cross established a policy mandating that all volunteers undergo a criminal background check, just as their employees have done in the past. The intent of this policy is to safeguard the clients, volunteers and employees. The organization has contracted with a private company to perform these background checks and has provided a means for their volunteers to apply for the background checks without disclosing any confidential information to a Red Cross volunteer or employee. Prospective volunteers can go to a secure online website and only need to submit their full name and social security number to the contracted company. No additional information is needed.

The overall results of the background check are not shared with the Red Cross. The only information provided is that a person has successfully completed the background check with no adverse information or that a person has potentially adverse information and that additional research is required. When additional research is required the contracted company will notify the prospective volunteer and will address the issue with no Red Cross intervention.

Several people have indicated the desire to go to their local law enforcement agency rather than use the private contracted company. Because the American Red Cross is not a governmental agency, as required by their guidance of impartiality, it is unlawful for a law enforcement agency to share this information with the Red Cross. This requires them to use the private, contracted firm. Also, many have expressed concern about the use of their security number, however this is required to be assured that the background check is being performed on the right person. The Red Cross has gone to great lengths to make sure the prospective volunteer is not giving out their social security number to anyone other than the contracted company and then only through a secure, encrypted website.

Unfortunately, in this day and age it is critical that the American Red Cross and other agencies, employers and organizations perform due diligence in researching the people who will represent them. We hope volunteers, who have provided blood, sweat and tears in helping fulfill the mission of the American Red Cross will understand the importance of performing this due diligence.

Any questions regarding this program can be directed to backgroundchecks ( at ) usa.redcross.org or 1(800)507-3960.
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This may significantly impact Amateur Radio operators in the future. ARES membership will not allow you access to a Red Cross shelter unless you have a background check. In Orlando, Orange County, Florida, the ARES/RACES group is sponsored by the county and background checks were done through the sheriff's department. Upon completion the members were issued county ID cards. The city and county EOCs and communication centers would not permit anyone inside the centers that did not have the county ID card. With the additional emphasis on security, this is going to be a bigger problem in the future. Homeland Security is pushing for a single national ID for government first responders.

-- Jerry Reimer, KK5CA, South Texas SEC