July 1, 2017

Greetings North Florida Hams!  Welcome to the GREATEST HOBBY IN THE WORLD!

Hi folks,

I’m kinda’ sneaking this in between Field Day after action stuff and my work -  so it’s gonna’ be short!

Field Day was this month.  I hope you got to go out there and get experience!  The propagation conditions were not good, but it is still a fun time.  I also thank you and your groups if you sent me a SM Message during Field Day.  I received about 15, and they were much appreciated!  I am hearing that 6M has been open here and there with some interesting propagation.

Nothing new on the Parity Act, and summer doldrums are setting in here form the heat and thunderstorms.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  And use sun screen!

The Milton Hamfest is July 7^th and 8^th.  I will be there both days, and will have my card checking materials with me.  Stop by and say hello!  Get more info at: http://www.miltonarc.org/MiltonAmetuerRadio-Flyers.pdf

Check out our fabulous NFL Section Web Page and read our spectacular Newsletter (July issue) QST NFL.  http://arrl-nfl.org/

I also received the following e-mail from the FEMA Region 4 (SE US – Atlanta) requesting Hurricane Matthew “stories” involving ham radio…..here is the message……

Hello Mr. Szabo,  

Thank you for your follow-up. Any stories about active involvement in response to Hurricane Matthew from the amateur radio community would be greatly beneficial.  While working in my Federal ESF2 position during Hurricane Matthew, I was aware that the HAMs Operators and additional amateur radio groups were monitoring nets.  I wasn’t able to get specific feedback on how successful their operations were.  Anything you can provide in the next 2 weeks would be great!  The week after 4^th of July, would that be enough time for you?

I feel that FEMA needs to have more involvement with HAM Operators and amateur radio groups during disasters.  I’m starting at the local levels to gather success stories.  This is my driving force to get amateur radio visibility at the federal level.  I’m a HAM – KJ4DRV and so is my co-worker.  For the first time in history, FEMA Region IV we had 2 volunteer HAM Operators working along with us during Hurricane Matthew and I what this to continue for every disaster.  It’s vital to our mission of saving lives and a foundation for interoperability.    

Thanks for your help!

Jo Robichaud

FEMA Region IV

RSD/OIB/DEC

Telecommunications - RF

Joanna.Robichaud@fema.dhs.gov

If you can send your stories via e-mail directly to Ms. Robichaud, I would greatly appreciate it!  I know she would, and it would help us gain newly found support form DHS/FEMA…..always good to have!

Get involved, get active, get happy!  Stay safe, get on the air, and have fun!!  (WCF and SFL are included in this request for information!!)

EVERYONE COUNTS!

73, Steve WB4OMM

NFL Section Manager 

ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio™

386-566-2085

wb4omm@arrl.org