ARRL Contest Changes for 2018-2019

For all you contesters out there, check out this article from ARRL; www.arrl.org/arrl-contests-changes-for-2018-2019

Active summer continues...

We have had a busy July and August is going to be busy as well. Check the calendar and the "Upcoming Events" page and pick your favorite event and GET INVOLVED!  There are several events that need volunteers; Thurston County Fair on Aug 1-2, Bigfoot Endurance Runs Aug 10-14, Camp Hope at Panhandle Lake 4-H camp Aug 22-24, (Contact Bruce WA7BAM for details on these events)the Equestrian Endurance Ride on Aug 24-25 (contact Steve W7SLT).

TCARES 5th Saturday Exercise

In months where there are 5 Saturdays, the local ARES group uses the occasion to participate in a preparedness exercise.  The TCARES 5^th Saturday exercise today had a scenario of a major earthquake striking the area at 8:07 AM, did you feel it?  Of course not, it was just an exercise, a practice so we can improve our readiness.  We learned a lot about communications from various locations that may need communications support during and after a real event such as an earthquake.  

Every time you get on the radio, even if it is just to ‘ragchew’ for a while, you are testing your readiness to provide communications support in an emergency.  

There are several websites that have emergency preparation information, just Google ‘emergency preparedness’.  One site shows actual earthquakes and is tracked by the USGS, https://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/netquakes/viewdata/QFRZ_UW_01 is information from a seismic sensor in my garage.

If you are interested in emergency communications, consider joining TCARES (Thurston County Amateur Radio Emergency Service).  We have a ‘net’ every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, 19:00 for the military folks, on the OARS repeater, 147.360+ 103.5pl.  Our meetings are at 7:00 PM/19:00 on the 2^nd Thursday of each month at the Thurston County EOC, 9521 Tilley Rd, Olympia.  You must be a licensed amateur radio operator to join ARES, but that is easy to do.

Proper preparation will help you become an asset, not a liability in times of emergencies.

Phil Cornell, W7PLC

OARS Field Day 2018

Check out the new photos from Field Day on the "OARS Field Day 2018" page.  If you have Field Day photos that you want to share, send them to w7plc@arrl.net and I will post them on the "OARS Field Day 2018" page.

Upcoming events

I think it’s time to start mapping out the rest of 2018 and the start of 2019.  The first half of each year is usually the busiest.  We focus our time on Field Day planning which produces a memorable event.  2018 has been busy, for sure, and it will continue to be busy so get your rest.  

Upcoming events:  *=confirmed ?=not confirmed

*****2018*****

June     *14-ARES meeting

            *16-Swede Day Parade Rochester

            *20-OARS meeting

            *22-24-Field Day!!!!!

            *23-Cap Forest endurance ride, Evergreen Sportsmans club, 6 am to 7 pm

            ?30-5^th Saturday ARES Exercise

July     *3-Lacey Fireworks (ARES)

            *12-ARES meeting

            *18-OARS meeting 

August *1-5-Thurston County Fair

            *4 & 5-Tacoma Trail Cruisers Smuggler Poker Run

                        See http://www.tacomatrailcruisers.org/smuggler-poker-run.html

            *9-ARES meeting

            *10-14-Bigfoot races

            *15-OARS meeting

            *22-24—Camp Hope—Panhandle Lake 4-H Camp

            *25---Night Riders

September       *13-ARES meeting

            *15, 16-Salmon Run

            *19-OARS meeting

            ?29-5^th Saturday ARES Exercise

October  *11-ARES meeting

            *17-OARS meeting

            *19-21-JOTA

November  *8-ARES meeting

            ?16-Scout Night Hike

            *21-OARS meeting 

December *1-Skywarn Recognition Day

            *13-ARES meeting

            *19-OARS meeting

            ?29-5^th Saturday ARES Exercise

*****2019*****

January ?10-ARES meeting

            ?12 & 13-NA QSO party, CW

            ?16-OARS meeting-

            ?19 & 20-NA QSO party, SSB

            ?26, 27-Winter Field Day, OARS in planning stage

February ?1-Washington Emergency Communications Coordination Work Group (WECCWG) 

                        https://mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division/washington-emergency-                                         communications-coordination-working-group

            ?14-ARES meeting

            ?20-OARS meeting: 

March ?9-Mike and Key hamfest,

            ?14-ARES meeting

?20-OARS meeting

            ?30-5^th Saturday ARES exercise

April   ?6-MS Walk

            ?11-ARES meeting

            ?13 & 14-Comms Academy, ARRL emcomm northwest workshop

            ?14-Rookie roundup SSB

            ?17-OARS meeting

May     ?4-5 7QP 7 area qso party

            ?4-Lacey STEM fair

            ?9-ARES meeting

            ?15-OARS meeting

            ?18 & 19—Lacey Spring Fun Fair

            ?18-19-Olympus Road Rally

            ?19-Capital City Marathon

June     ?13-ARES
             ?15-Swede Day Parade
             ?19-OARS
             *21-23 Field Day!!!!!

If I have missed anything on this list, please email w7plc@arrl.net with the details.  Our calendar is getting busier all the time.  This shows that there is interest and appreciation in the community  for our skills.