Date:  February 2, 2006
From:  Steve Hilberg
Subject:  ARES of Champaign County - February 2006 QST


The February meeting of ARES of Champaign County was held Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at the Fire Service Institute.  Here are important notes from that meeting and other news.

ATTENDING
N9XDC, KB9KAI, W9DML, W9EML, KC9HND, KC9AZX, WB9HFK, AB9FJ, K9SI, N9DN, KC9DEQ, W9ADS, KB9ZZQ, N9GPA, N9XDH, KB9VFZ, KC9DSS, KC9IKL, K9MLT : Guest: KC9ISP


INCIDENT COMMAND AND NIMS
The topic covered at our meeting on February 1 was an overview of the Incident Command System, and a brief look at the National Incident Management System.  It is highly recommended that all ARES members take the ICS and NIMS FEMA independent study courses offered online (free) by the FEMA Emergency Management Institute.  A listing of the recommended courses for ARES and other useful links was handed out at the meeting, and is attached to this email


MARCH OF DIMES REQUESTS ARES ASSISTANCE
March of Dimes here in Champaign County has once again requested our assistance for their Walk America event this spring.  The walk will be held on Saturday April 29, headquartered at Centennial Park in Champaign.  Heather Schlesser, KC9DEQ, AEC for Public Service, will be working with the March Of Dimes staff to work out the details.  More information will be forthcoming.  Mark your calendars!  This will be the fourth consecutive year we have helped out with this event.


2006 DUES ARE DUE
At the December annual meeting the membership voted to continue dues for the coming year.  Dues are $20 and are payable to ARES of Champaign County.  Please send your check to  Heather Schlesser, 806 E. Benham St, Tolono, IL 61880.  Thanks to the 16 people that have paid so far.
Date:   February 2, 2006
FROM:   Steve Hilberg
Subject:  ARES of Champaign County - February 2006 QST

SPOTTER TRAINING DATES SET
Storm spotter training by the National Weather Service will be offered for Champaign County on Wednesday, March 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Carle Forum in Urbana.  You must attend training at least every two years to remain an active spotter, and attendance every year is strongly recommended.  In addition, all CCARES spotters must attend our "Spotter Preparation, Safety, and Communications" training which will be offered at our April 5 meeting.  While the NWS training covers more on what to spot, our training covers how to spot, including a review of our severe weather net procedures.  I hope to see all of you interested in spotting on March 1.

If you cannot make the NWS training on March 1, there are also sessions scheduled for Danville, Decatur, and Clinton during March and April.  For specific dates, times, and locations check the NWS Lincoln web site at the following link:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ilx/spotter2.php If you attend one of the sessions outside of Urbana please let me know so I can give you credit for the training.


FEBRUARY AND MARCH  NET CONTROL STATIONS
The weekly ARES net is held each Tuesday, 9:00 p.m., on the 444.100 repeater, CTSS 162.2.  An updated net check-in list is now available on the web site.

February 7      W9DML
February 14     AB9FJ
February 21     KC9DEQ
February 28     KC9AZX

March 7         K9MLT
March 14        KC9DSS
March 21        N9GPA
March 28        N9XDC

April 4         W9ADS


NEXT MEETING
The NWS Spotter training on Wednesday, March 1, will take the place of our regular March meeting (which would also be on this date).  The next regular meeting will be on April 5th, where the training topic will be "Spotter Preparation, Safety, and Communications".