EmComm East -- September 22, 2012

OpenVBX – Cloud Telephony for EmComm and Public Service Events

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:05:18 +0000

OpenVBX is a web‐based open source phone system that allows you to get virtual phone numbers, and build telephone and text messaging applications with a web‐based drag‐and‐drop editor. OpenVBX uses a commercial product called Twilio that provides a programmable web‐service that can be used to build scalable, reliable communications applications that make and receive phone calls and text messages (SMS). Although designed for business use, this project could be easily used to create scalable telephone networks for disaster relief communication or public service events.

Jeff Wigal, WY7Q, has been a licensed ham since 1988. His primary interests in amateur radio include emergency communications and portable/QRP operations. Jeff is the former Emergency Coordinator and Radio Officer for Monroe County ARES/RACES, and is the conference chair for EmComm East.

MCM and NIMS — Combining Acronyms

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:04:39 +0000

Hams in the VA and MDC Sections have been supporting the Marine Corps Marathon, the fifth largest marathon in the world, for thirty-three years. This presentation provides a look into working across section and division lines to bring the amateur radio role into NIMS compliance.

Jim Cross, WI3N, has been the ARRL Maryland/DC Section Manager for the past five years. Previous positions have been Emergency Coordinator for an urban county with a population larger than six states, Section Emergency Coordinator and Assistant Section Manager. Jim is a member of the newly formed ARRL Emergency Communications Advisory Committee and was recently selected for the ARRL Joe Knight Distinguished Service Award.

EcomScs & GatewayScs Packet Radio Meets Real E‐Mail

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:04:07 +0000

EcomScs and GatewayScs are two stand alone programs that I have created. EcomScs is a Packet Radio E‐Mail Client. Everything you can do with your internet E‐Mail client you can do with EcomScs. EcomScs uses the Packet BBS system to send and receive its E‐Mails or it can use GatewayScs stations to send and receive internet E‐Mails. GatewayScs is a Packet Radio internet E‐Mail gateway. GatewayScs makes it possible for EcomScs stations to send and receive internet E‐Mails.

John Blowsky, KB2SCS is the Emergency Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer for the Town of Islip, Long Island NY. He has volunteer for a number of major disasters, including the Fires of Long Island, Flight 800, and the World Trade Center. John is a General class licensee, ARRL volunteer examiner, and the NLI Assistant Section Manager for Digital Communications. First Licensed in 1994, John has a number of presentations and publications, including the ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference, Ham Radio University (ARRL NLI Section Convention), and CQ Magazine in April 2009.

ARES Qualification System

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:02:56 +0000

Description of a five‐level qualification system, with supporting training program, developed by the City of Barrie and South‐Simcoe ARES Group to prepare and mentor ARES group members for progressively challenging employment within the ICS/IMS environment, and to prepare them for leadership roles.

Ian Snow, VA3QT, is a retired Canadian military operations planner and professional development curriculum developer, with experience planning air operations in support of the Manitoba Red River “Flood of the Century” in 1997. Ian has Served as an ARES AEC, EC, and DEC. Ian was a Member of the Radio Amateurs of Canada “National Training Review Group” that produced the RAC ARES Operations Training Manual. Ian is certified by Emergency Management Ontario to deliver the government’s Basic Emergency Management course.

Soundcard Modes for EmComm

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:02:25 +0000

Digital soundcard modes can be an ideal option for emergency communications when conditions are too poor for handling messages by voice. By using very narrow bandwidth signals, and the ears and speed of your computer for encoding and decoding, they can punch through when voice signals can’t. In this session, you will learn ways to hook‐up your PC to your rig for quick and easy decoding of signals. You’ll also learn about the various software options and about the various digital modes, their advantages and their disadvantages.

Ross Mazzola, KC2LOC was first licensed in June of 2003. Ross is a native of Rochester, NY and employed by a local communications company that manufactures ground tactical communication systems for the military. Ross enjoys using his radio skills to support public service events, is a member of Monroe County ARES/RACES and Region 2 Army Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS).

Handout: Download

Presentation: Download

Public Service Communications 101

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:01:46 +0000

This session will help radio amateurs prepare and volunteer as a communicator for a variety of public service events such as parades, marathons, and bike rides. Participants will learn the importance of having fun while maintaining personal safety. Participants will also learn equipment tips and tricks such as programming frequencies ahead of time. A variety of mapping solutions will be discussed. The instructor will review proper net protocol including, but not limited to, break tags, pro‐ words, and ITU phonetics.

Matt Welch, W8DEC, is an experienced veteran of field operations, National Traffic System, emergency and disaster communications, and volunteers for many public service events every year. He has volunteered for the 4th largest marathon (8th in the world) Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. He was also a radio operator at Hurricane Katrina while on active duty as a US Navy Corpsman. Matt currently serves as District Emergency Coordinator for Tenth District in the ARRL Ohio Section.

ARES Mutual Aid

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:01:09 +0000

This presentation will show how the Eastern Ontario ARES Mutual Aid Program is being implemented. The Mutual Aid Program (DMAP) documents and forms can make it simpler for ARES responders coming from or going to adjacent ARES group(s) can be tracked on route with each their ‘personal support go kit’ and any out station kits or other equipment requested by the ARES group making a call for help. You will get to see the ARES DMAP’s manual and forms, a description of the process, and how we got the DMAP this point and why we need this in Ontario.

Michael Hickey, VE3IPC has been the Emergency Coordinator for Prescott-Russell County, Ontario from 1998-2004. Michael has been the District EC since 2004 for a new ARES District, then took on a second adjacent District that is adjacent, expanding his territory to include all of Eastern Ontario. He is also an Emergency Management College volunteer, instructing on topics related to amateur radio emergency communications. The ARES Mutual Aid Program has been his pet project since 2005 as none exist in Canada.

Civil Preparedness Initiative Communications Drill – An After-Action Overview

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:00:36 +0000

Six months of planning, pre-drill meetings and table-top exercises, culminated in a seven hour exercise specifically designed to test RACES capabilities using both Amateur Radio and County communications systems. How did we do? What did we learn? This after-action overview will answer those questions.

Chris Crane is veteran of three services over 22 years. He spent time as a U.S. Marine, a Green Beret with the U.S. Army, and as a U.S. Navy SEAL. After retiring from the military, he attended Jacksonville State University to study emergency management. Chris has worked with the Monroe County Health Department under a bioterrorism grant, and now works closely with the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management as part of the Homeland Security Management Institute. His current duties focus on the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program as a Master Exercise Practitioner. Chris worked with Monroe County ARES/RACES to help design, execute, and evaluate the CPI CommEx. He currently lives in Rochester with his wife Liliana.

Emotional Go Kit: Are you prepared?

Jeff, WY7Q — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:55:20 +0000

This presentation addresses the emotional well-being and preparedness for those that participate in emergency situations. Major topics include preparing for emergency situations, post emergency and emotional wellness, review what precautions we can take prior to an emergency situation, common emotional stressors, and examples of how emergencies effect each person differently. This presentation will provide a starting point for building your own Emotional Go Kit.

Chuck Blocher (KC2IQV), Ph.D., has been in amateur radio since 2001 and participants in emergency communications through both ARES and RACES. He has done extensive research in resilience and how individuals are able to thrive through adverse personal traumas. Chuck is a professional life coach, researcher, and educator for a local college.

Featured Speaker for EmComm East 2010: Steve Ewald

Jeff, WY7Q — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:45:17 +0000

We are pleased to announce this year’s keynote speaker from the ARRL, Steve Ewald, WV1X.

Steve is the Supervisor of the ARRL Field Organization Team at Headquarters where he is the lead staff liaison to ARRL Section Managers and ARRL Field Organization appointees. He edits the Public Service column in QST and helps support the ARRL efforts in emergency and public service communications.

Steve has been on the staff at ARRL Headquarters for 28 years. He is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, and has a B.S. degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee.