Greetings to the Hams of Michigan                                       June, 2013

Things have been very busy this spring with a great many new opportunities coming down the pike. Our ARPSC group has been called upon a number of times for events both actual and exercise. We are working closely with MSP on fleshing out a new program called AuxComm (Auxiliary Communications) which will include the following organizations:

• Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
• National Traffic System (NTS)
• Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS)
• Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
• Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
• Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
• Radio Emergency Associated Communication Teams (REACT)

As you can see, the bulk of AuxComm is amateur radio, so we have a large leadership role to fulfill. John WB8RCR is providing that leadership. As this develops, I will have additional information to share.   Here in the 5^th District we are working on a project to improve our hospital to hospital communications capability as well as to improve communications between the EOC’s in the District. More information will be forthcoming on that project in the near future as well.  

Great Lakes Division Convention  

The 2013 GLD Convention will be held in Columbus, OH on August 3, 2013. The convention will be held in conjunction with the Voice of Aladdin ARC Hamfest.  Dave Sumner, K1ZZ will be present along with a slate of other Great Lakes Division and Section officials from Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. This will be a great opportunity to interface with the other two thirds of the GLD. I hope to see you there!  

2013 Field Day  

The next paragraphs are the same as what was printed last month, but still bear repeating:   Field Day is fast approaching and the last minute plans are coming together. This year’s ARRL FD will be held on June 22 – 23, 2013. This is a great event for both new and not so new hams and is an excellent opportunity to showcase the capabilities of your club to set up multiple stations in the field with all the support features to operate for 24 hours in conditions that may vary from mild to wild.  

Be sure to gather amateur radio promotional materials and set up an information table at which visitors can be greeted and provided with information about participation and becoming a ham. Information and sign-up sheets for those that would like more information on ham radio and classes is good to have on hand. It is a good idea to gather email addresses for continued communication and be sure to have your club’s website prominently noted. Don’t forget to send out your press releases to local media.  

Speaking of visitors, be sure to invite various community officials (government, emergency management, police, fire, etc) to come out to your FD site to see what all the fuss is about. Make arrangements to get as many visitors as possible in the operating seat and have them make a few contacts!  

I am planning to visit a number of FD sites on Saturday within a reasonable drive from home. I truly wish I could visit every site in the state but that is neither practical nor possible.  

Above all, follow all safety protocols and HAVE FUN!  

Hospitality Acknowledgements  

Many thanks for the hospitality shown to me at the IRA, Chelsea, LARS, Midland and Monroe swaps. Every Hamfest is a great opportunity to connect with the hams of Michigan and I thank you all for the very warm welcomes that I have received at every swap.  

Section Staff Travel Plans  

July 11-14 2013          Michigan Section Family Outing, Hale, MI – Section Staff July 20, 2013              GMARC Trunk Swap, Utica, MI                                  July 27, 2013              CMARC Trunk Sales, Lansing, MI – WB8R                  Aug 3, 2013                Great Lakes Div. Convention, Columbus, OH ** - WB8R Aug 3, 2013                UP Hamfest, Escanaba, MI                                       Sep 7, 2013                GRAhamfest, Wyoming, MI – WB8R                          Sep 15, 2013              Adrian Hamfest, Adrian, MI – WB8R                           Oct 5, 2013                Straits Area ARC Swap and Foxhunt, Petoskey – WB8R Oct 6, 2013                USECA Hamfest, Madison Heights – WB8TKL             Oct 19, 2013               Muskegon Color Tour, Muskegon, MI – WB8R and K8JE Oct 20, 2013               Kalamazoo Hamfest, Kalamazoo, MI** – WB8R and K8JE Dec 8, 2013                L’Anse Creuse Hamfest, Harrison Twp MI – WB8R

** QSL Card Checker to be present  

APRSC Activities   SARs for May, 2013: WB8WKQ 470, K8ED 177, N8FVM 124, KB8RCR 121, NX8A 119, K8KV 93, K8VFZ 68, WB8RCR 50, KC8BW 45, WD8USA 40, N8OSL 25, W8QZ 19, W8MSK 16, WB8R 12, KD8LSM 4, KD8EBY 2.  

Total SAR reported: 1385  

BPL for May, 2013:    

PSHRs for May, 2013: WB8RCR 484, KD8EBY 348, N8OSL 290, WB8R 237, NX8A 210, N8FVM 190, WD8USA 175, KB8RCR 165, NE8B 165, KC8YVF 155, WB8WKQ 120, K8VFZ 100, KC8QWH 89, KC8BW 87, K8ED 80, KD8HPG 74, K8KV 40, W8QZ 31, KD8LSM 23.  

Net traffic for May, 2013: MITN 214, QMN 187, MVTN 176, SEMTN 120, MACS 72, UPN 44, GLETN 42, MIDTN 34, TMMTN 27, MCN 7, ACAN 3, MIARPSC 3, D3AN 2, GRRC 1, BCEN 0, D5HN 0, CARCN 0, GCARPSC 0.  

Total net traffic reported: 932  

Public Service Participation Dollar Value: NTS $52,634; ARES: $212,418  

Total May, 2013 Michigan ARPSC Dollar Contribution: $265,052  

As a side note to Public Service, one of the forums planned for the Convention in August will be a NTS forum. With all of the difficulties that NTS is having getting participation and traffic, especially NCS and net liaison personnel, the forum would be a great location to exchange ideas and possibly pick up some pointers from others who may have solved those very same problems.  

The NTS forum is being organized and presented by Dave Maynard, WA3EZN (OH STM) and can always use some help from traffic handlers from Michigan (and Kentucky) to help man the NTS table and participate in the Forum. Michigan traffic handlers: here is your opportunity to participate and to help spread the word. Contact Dave at wa3ezn@att.net to volunteer.  

Parting Comments  

If you are reporting monthly to our SEC/STM WB8RCR, you can see your PSHR eligibility status at http://www.nts-mi.org/. The full details are at: http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll. This award recognizes the efforts of hams that are active in public service. Those reporting accumulate points for checking into nets, volunteering, holding Section appointment(s) and handling message traffic.  

Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of the people of the State of Michigan and for filing your monthly reports. It really shows how active Michigan is in holding a leadership position for ham radio public service activities.  

73 until next month,  

Larry, WB8R