St. Louis County ARES® Minutes of the August 13, 2007 meeting

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Minutes of the August 13, 2007 Meeting

Steve Wooten, KC0QMU, the Emergency Coordinator presided over the monthly meeting of the St. Louis County ARES^® group on August 13, 2007. The Meeting was held at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital.

Steve said that the group now has 68 members.

Steve was happy to report that the first Veterans Administration Medical Center amateur radio station has been installed and is running. The unit is at the Jefferson Barracks Hospital. Steve also said that Roger Volk, K0GOB, has been preparing much of the VAMC's amateur radio equipment for use. He has installed Anderon Powerpoles on most of the equipment and has programmed area frequencies into the transceivers. The stations will also be able to handle digital operations. Steve asked for volunteers to help program the IBM laptop computers that the VAMC has acquired.

Steve also noted that Jim Conley, N0OBG, has purchased a transceiver identical to the ones in the VAMC facilities. Jim will use an identical configuration and will make his unit available to group members for training and practice.

Steve said that St. Louis County ARES^® would have a table would be the St. Charles Amateur Radio Club hamfest. The hamfest will take place on Sunday, August 19, 2007 from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The parking lot vendors will open at 6:00 AM and the indoor vendors will open at 8:00 AM.

Steve talked about the Disaster Awareness Fair held on July 21, 2007. It was sponsored by the Zombie Squad and was the first of what they hope will be many such events.

Steve mentioned that the Moonlight Ramble and the Race for the Rivers will both take place on the weekend of August 25-26, 2007. Both events need amateur radio volunteers.

Steve said that Rich Will, KB0IAN, will offer a Homeland Security approved class on Weapons of Mass Destruction if enough people show interest.

Regarding the St. Louis County ARES^® group's plans to hold a field station demonstration and exercise on Saturday, October 13, 2007, the County Parks Department requires that our group have liability insurance. Steve found that such insurance is available to our group through the ARRL and costs $325 per year. He asked for donations to help pay for the insurance policy.

Steve said that Mark Deidrich of the St. Louis County Office of Emergency Management has a sideline of selling portable emergency generators. Mark has offered generators to ARES members at a discount price, and a further discount is available if four or more generators are ordered and delivered to the same place.

Craig Hirsh, K0CMH, gave a presentation on "How Antennas Work".

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