DAREN of WV News September 25, 2016(.C64)
WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, 319 COMMUNICATIONS DR, WAVERLY, WV 26184
www.wc8ec.com or 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 www.wc8ec.com and www.wc8ec.org websites.
It was a busy week and weekend for several members of Wood County Emergency Coeducations (WCEC). On Monday two trailers were taken to Mountwood Park to get ready for the Volcano Days Festival BINGO. Tuesday several members provided the safety communications, and runner information for Wood County and Washington County (Ohio) Middle School, High School Cross Country foot races. On Wednesday, two more trailers were taken to the Park, and Thursday two more trailers taken to the park. Thursday evening members of WCEC started setting up one of their 24 by 40 foot canopies, the tables, and the chairs, getting ready for the BINGO games to start on Friday. On Friday, Saturday, and today the group operated the games. The WCEC group also provided the park officials with radios so they could coordinate their activities at the festival. At about 5:00 pm this evening the festival was over and everything needed to be taken apart, loaded back on the trailers, and removed from the park. Here it is about midnight, and I'm just getting started on the DAREN News. It takes a lot of work, but it is worth it, and the park officials were glad we could help them out. Activities like this one help Amateur Radio operators train, provide communications, and allow the community see what Amateur Radio can do.
Now that Volcano Days is over, our attention can be turned toward the Parkersburg/Wood County Hamfest. Some day this week or next some of the members are going to be going to Columbus, Ohio, to pick up some more radios for future Hamfest, and get some more door prizes. Don't forget, the Hamfest will be held on Saturday, October 8. There will be a QSL Card checker at the Hamfest to certify cards for ARRL Certificates. There will also be W5YI VE testing available. If you have any question, let me know, and also check out the www.wc8ec.org website.
There were 31 check-ins to the State Wide DAREN Net again this week. Roy Humes, N8ER, who has been participating in the net since April 2, 1994, has completed 1000 check-ins, Tom Jones, N8NMA, who has been participating in the net on and off since June 19, 1993, has completed 250 check-ins. Both of these operators will be receiving their certificates.