eHam.net News
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Emergency Service Organizations Open Doors to Visitors:
Posted: 14 Sep 2014 05:17 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33148
CHAMBERSBURG -- In times of crisis, county residents seek help from
emergency personnel. On Saturday, the Franklin County Department of
Emergency Services opened its doors to let people know what it looks like
behind the scenes. Meghan O'Brien, assistant director of Franklin County
Emergency Services, said that this is the fourth year of the event. The
building includes the county's 911 call center and the emergency operations
center, which is homebase during emergencies, as well as home to other
county organizations. The building was originally part of the Letterkenny
Army Depot, according to Mick Lewis, training and quality coordinator.
Lewis was one of Saturday's tour guides. b"Every two years, we also
participate in Three Mile Island training," he said, referring to the
state's nuclear reactor accident in 1979. During training, individuals
gather in the emergency operations center and prepare for a worse case
scenario. The center was also set up during the preparations for 2012's
Hurricane Sandy. The call area was busy Saturday with staff answering
emergency. These amateur radio operators have come through in emergency
situations before, he said, such as during the Boston Marathon bombing and
stated ham radios are another way of communicating in the case of an
emergency.
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Floyd County Hams Talk About Their Work In the Community:
Posted: 13 Sep 2014 05:07 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33146
A meeting sponsored by the Foundation for Amateur International Radio
Services (FAIRS), the Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS), and Triad on
August 26 was an opportunity to spotlight the work of local ham radio
operators. The meeting at the Computer Museum/Community Amateur Radio
Station, located in The Village Green in the Town of Floyd, opened with a
film clip by newscaster Walter Cronkite. The clip talked about the
supportive efforts of radio amateurs during emergencies. Cronkite, who was
a ham, commented that it was ironic that the word "amateur" is used to
refer to hams and added that radio amateurs would in any other area be
called professionals. He remarked they are "the best backup to
communication in the world" before adding "and that's the way it is." At
the meeting in Floyd, local operators David Larsen and Dee Wallace talked
about the use of ham radios not only among individuals and clubs, but also
in other non-profits and military service. Floyd Amateur Radio Society, a
member of the American Amateur Radio League, meets the second Saturday of
each month, and clubs in other communities can be found by going to
aarl.org/find-a-club. Amateur radio enthusiasts represent all ages, Wallace
explained, and whatever the age, "there's a place for you in the world of
amateur radio." For Larsen, ham radio is an avocation. Larsen, who has been
involved with amateur radio for six decades, said it is more than a
hobby. "It was the first electronic social network way before Facebook."
Wallace said there a lot of reasons why people want to be hams. AARL, the
largest organization of radio amateurs in the world, is based on five
pillars: public service, advocacy, education, technology and membership.
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Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club:
Posted: 13 Sep 2014 05:06 PM PDT
http://www.eham.net/articles/33145
SBARC is a non-profit public benefit corporation organized to promote
education for persons interested in telecommunications, to disseminate
information about scientific discoveries and progress in the field, and to
train communicators for public service and emergency communications. SBARC
also encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and promotes the
highest standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of communications.
Our success is shown by a progressive increase in involved membership, by
public recognition and support, by members' advancement in the technology,
and by acquisition and utilization of assets. SBARC assures success by
having an organization with a focus on its goals, a system of leadership
development, prudent financial management, and a vision toward and
dedication to public service. It supports an organized and comprehensive
educational program and publicizes its activities and services to the
community. The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club was founded in 1920 and
incorporated in 1976. It was organized to promote education for persons
interested in telecommunications, to disseminate information about
scientific discoveries and progress in the field, and to train
communicators for public service and emergency communications. SBARC also
encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and promotes the highest
standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of communications.