DAREN of WV News September 16, 2012(.A54)
WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
P.O. BOX 3328, PARKERSBURG, WV 26103
http://www.wc8ec.org
DAREN News, are articles and information about the Digital Amateur Radio "Emergency" Network of WV, which operates on 145.69 MHz. Anyone having any information about DAREN, or Amateur Radio in general, and would like to share it with others, may send it to WA8LLM @ PKBGWV on 145.69 MHz, or to my E-Mail: wa8llm@yahoo.com. A State Wide DAREN NET is operated every Saturday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and lately, before and after those hours. The DAREN Net Announcement, showing the MAIN NCS, ALTERNATE NCS, NODEs accessible to both, and the previous week's check-ins, are posted by Thursday on most of the Main county DAREN PBBS'. The DAREN News can also be found on the wc8ec.org website.
Not much news this week. Our communications group will be providing the race track communications again on Tuesday, September 18th and September 25th, for the High School and Middle School Cross Country foot races. High Schools and Middle Schools from Wood County, and the counties that touch Wood County are invited to participate in the Cross Country races. Members of Wood County Emergency Communications are stationed at each of the Mile Markers, at road crossings, and at the Start and Finish Lines, to keep track of the runners. Those at the Mile Markers get the numbers and the times of the first five runners as they pass, and report them to the Race Announcer, to let the audience know who is in the lead. The communication people also keep track of any injuries on the race course and report back, or request medical assistance, when needed. Events like these races help the radio personnel sharpen their communication skills, such as operating simplex, passing information, and setting up their operating positions in case of foul weather. If your club or group has similar events in you area, you should try to get involved with them. They are fun, a learning experience, a contact with local officials, and it's shows the public a little bit about Amateur Radio.
Terry Mills, KC8TUE, wanted to remind everyone about the Parkersburg/Wood County Hamfest that will be coming up on October 13th. All of the main prizes for the event are now available to be picked up at Universal Radio, in Renoldsburg, Ohio. He will be making a trip in the next few days to pick them up. He has received E-Mail confirmation that some of the door prizes will soon be shipped from other vendors. He said to watch the Wood County Emergency Communications website: www.wc8ec.org for more information.
There were 54 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net this week. Paul Derosky, K8GLA, who's been participating in the net since September 6, 1997, has completed 700 check-ins. Both Remington Sweitzer, KB3TXG, who's been participating in the net since October 2, 2010, and Mark Sweitzer, KD8MIV, who's been participating in the net since September 25, 2010, have completed 100 check-ins each. All of these operators will be receiving their certificates. My wife Dot Harris, KC8HAI, needs only one more check-in to make 800. My son Kevin Harris, KC8OXY, needs only one more check-in to make 600 check-ins. And, Madison Sweitzer, KB3URT, needs one more check-in to make 100.