Subj : Arkansas Section News To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Oct 14 2022 13:25:28 Hello all: I wish that I had been able to attend the K5BOC Hamfest on Petit Jean. It was a great event judging from the reports and pictures I saw. I hope my schedule is better next year! About this year's Section Emergency Test: I have been working with a committee chaired by the Razorback Net Manager KC5SM to outline what we wish to practice this time. As you know, the scenario involves the total eclipse that will be in 2024. Looking at the after-action reports from Wyoming and West Virginia, it becomes obvious that Hams will be in a good position to develop and feed reports that will be very useful. I have been tasked by the State to develop situational awareness assets utilizing Amateur Radio. This situational awareness capability will be used in planning at all levels of government as well as non-governmental organizations. Concept of Operations I am asking the County EC group to coordinate an informal net on repeaters in their county an hour prior to the Razorback Net on November 2, 2022. The number of check-ins is the only thing to report to the Razorback Net. All operators are encouraged to participate at their appropriate level, because we'll want all the help we can get! Please spread the word about this event so the repeater folks will be ready to get in on the fun. HF operators without a report please check in too, as this exercise is all about numbers. The more folks that take part help justify that we can help when the time comes. This scenario does not anticipate power outages, so check-ins may be done as they would on a blue-sky day. Please contact your County EC's if you have questions. If you don't have an EC, your District Emergency Coordinator should be able to help you. The Arkansas Section Staff list may be found at https://ararrl.net/section-staff/list/list/2/2 I know it has been a long time since Arkansas hams have had an active part in any sort of real-world event other than our regular bike or foot races and SkyWarn. It seems a lot of hams have the perception that we are not valued in the world of EMCOMM. We can change that, if we can show we are a viable asset to those folks that can use the information we can deliver. It is my fondest dream that hams are recognized as an essential part of that world. Thank you for helping! 73, J.M. Rowe N5XFW AR Section SEC -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Arkansas Section Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE n5lke@arrl.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- --- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7) .