When:

October 26th and 27th, 2010.  Please register for the symposium using this link.

Where:

Amarillo Community College Polk Street Campus, Business and Industry Center.  Amarillo, Texas.  (DIRECTIONS)

What:

This year, the Decision Support Symposium will focus on a few themes:

• Preparedness
  • How can the local NWS Office become better prepared to serve the decision making community?
  • How do decision makers prepare for high impact events, and what lessons can the NWS learn from these examples?
• Relationships
  • What is the importance in building relationships with the various agencies involved in decision making?
  • How can we build these effective relationships?
• Societal Impacts
  • How does the public respond during high impact events?
  • What can be done to illicit positive decisions/behaviors during these events?
• Big Impacts In Small Places
  • What challenges face rural communities during high impact events?
  • How can the NWS better understand and provide for the needs of rural communities?

Why: 

To help National Weather Service Offices:

• Build stronger relationships with the Decision Support Community
• Provide improved Decision Support products and services
• Develop a better understanding of roles in the Decision Support Community
• Lay the foundation for future Decision Support products and services 

Also, to help our partners in the Decision Support Community:

• Discuss their needs during high impact events 
• Gain a better understanding of how the National Weather Service can be utilized for decision making
  • Learn what products and services the National Weather Service can provide
  • What we can provide now and in the future
• Learn the roles of other agencies and how they respond during high impact events

How: 

By providing an open forum to discuss Decision Support services including: partner needs, societal impacts, lessons learned, effective communication techniques, and innovation.

Who:

The target audience are those in the Decision Support community including (but not limited to):

• National Weather Service
• Emergency Managers/County Judges
• Forest Service/Fire Departments
• Law Enforcement
• Media
• School Districts
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Department of Transportation/Public Works
• Red Cross/Volunteer Disaster Agencies
• BWXT Pantex

Speakers and Topics:

• Tom Bradshaw-Meteorological Services Branch Chief, Southern Region Headquarters, Fort Worth: High Impact events across the southern region of the United States
• Ken Grahm-Meteorologist in Charge, WFO Slidell (New Orleans): Supporting Deepwater Horizon
• Kevin Starbuck-Potter/Randal County Emergency Management Coordinator: The Importance of Collocation During a High Impact Event
• David Solis-Regional Liason Officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety
• John Zeitler-Science and Operations Officer (SOO), WFO Austin/San Antonio: NWS Full Scale Simulations using the NASA Model
• Darone Jones-Societal Impacts Program Manager, Western Region Headquarters, Salt Lake City: SAFER Concepts
• Mark Strobin-Forecaster, WFO Monterey/San Francisco: Building Effective Relationships with the Coast Guard
• Rich Okulski-Warning Coordination Meteorologist, WFO Memphis: Decision Support for the Beale Street Music Festival
• Mike Chapman-Associate Scientist with Earth System Research Laboratory Global Systems Division of NCAR, Boulder, CO: Decision Support Systems for the Transportation Industry
• John Brost-Forecaster, WFO Amarillo: Are We Ready? Results from a NWS Operational Forecaster Survey

Amarillo National Weather Service

Serving the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles

Saturday August 28, 2010 11:00–2:00

We are located 5 miles northeast of Amarillo on Highway 60, Just North of the Amarillo Airport. Our address is 1900 English Field.

This is our chance to showcase our office and say “THANKS” to our Storm Spotters, Cooperative Observers, and Valued Partners.

Please join us for a free meal courtesy of Wal-Mart of Amarillo. Also the Coffee Memorial Blood Drive van will be on site, so you are invited to donate blood. All donors will receive a free t-shirt, hail meter, and may be entered into a drawing for a $2500 cruise voucher. In addition to the free food, there will be hourly door prizes and tours of the NWS office! Bring the whole family!

Please RSVP to Steve Bilodeau at 806 335-1121. email steven.bilodeau@noaa.gov

• Gateway Desktop Computer with LCD monitor, Windows XP Operating System, Purchased 2006
• Kenwood TS 450s
• Kenwood TS 830s
• Yaesu FT 221 old 2m base station
• Astron Power Supply RS-35amp
• Motorola crystal controlled 2m mobile radio
• Yaesu FT-1500m mobile 2m radio
• Hammerlund speaker
• D-104 mic
• 2 meter beam on the pole
• 32” Sony wide screen CRT Television
• 80/40 wire antenna
• Icom 218 HT

Make an offer Saturday morning August 21st, 2010 at Tex’s house 1101 Callahan St Amarillo, TX

For inquiries contact: Dwight Sumner, Tex’s son, KA5KRP, 214 284-5342

A few months ago, during an ARES meeting, I mentioned that I thought it would be a good idea for us to get involved in local parades to draw public attention and interest to our hobby. At that point, without hesitation, I was nominated and elected (railroaded!) as the parade committee chairperson. At the club meeting last Saturday, I proposed that we participate in the upcoming Tri-State Fair Parade on Saturday September 18th and everyone agreed.

Eddie, N5SUJ, agreed to let us use his tower trailer for an easy and effective parade float, with the tower upright but collapsed as low as possible for clearance under the street lights. K5BOB offered to loan us a hex beam antenna for an awesome visual effect. Also, it would be nice to have as many storm chase vehicles, light bars, and mobile antenna clusters as possible. I have printed about 800 business cards containing information on amateur radio and advertising for the www.W5WX.org and www.PanhandleARES.org sites. Also, we have a couple of vinyl banners that are used at Field Day that could be put to use for this purpose.

Is it possible for someone to demonstrate CW over a loudspeaker using a keyer?—That might be really cool too!

In summary, we need the following volunteers:

• 2  or more storm chase vehicles
• 2 or more mobile units with numerous antennas
• 2 or more people to walk the route and hand out candy and cards
• somebody to handle a keyer demonstration

Please post your comments and suggestions here at the Panhandle ARES website. If you would like to volunteer to assist with this event, or if you have any questions, feel free to call my cell: 806 231-4227

73, KE5ZRT

The Texas State ARRL Convention and Austin Summerfest 2010 will be held at the Austin Airport Marriott South on August 6th and 7th. Registration Friday begins at 5:00 PM. Indoor swapfest doors open at 6:00 PM and close at 9:00 PM.  Doors open Saturday at 8:00 AM with swapping until 3:30 PM and dealers and sessions until 4:30 PM. More Summerfest information at http://www.austinsummerfest.info/

 Summerfest has made arrangements with the Marriott hotel and the adjacent SpringHill Suites for a special $89 per room night rate. The rate is good for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Call 1-800-228-9290 and request a room from either the Austin Airport Marriott South or the Springhill Suites Austin South at the Austin Summerfest rate to get the special pricing.

 Hope to see you in Austin at the hamfest or one of the many forums.

 73,

John Dyer, AE5B

ARRL Section Manager

West Texas Section

ARRL – The National Association for Amateur Radio tm

This year’s race has been canceled for a variety of reasons, including one of the bridges will still be under construction.  They are hoping to run it in June next year (2011).  We have a repeater to install in the next few weeks so we will have one by the race.  I will let everyone know when it is finally operational.  It will be on 146.96 (-) with the call N5OX.  

Thank’s for your interest and I will keep you informed as we move forward.

 73, Jim Moody, NL7C

 The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will be conducting G-300 Intermediate ICS (20 hours) and G-400 Advanced ICS (12 hours) training in August 2010.  Registration for this training is through Preparing Texas (http://www.preparingtexas.org/) website.  Applicants for the training will need to create a user account on the Preparing Texas website and then register for the appropriate course(s) after the user account has been established.  All training will be conducted in the Amarillo/Potter/Randall EOC located at 808 S. Buchanan St.  Seating is limited; registration is on a first come, first serve basis. 

G-300 – ICS-300: Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

This course provide training on resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). This course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100 and ICS-200 courses.

Target Audience:
State, county, local officials and volunteers who may assume a supervisory role in expanding incidents or Type 3 incidents.

G-300 Intermediate ICS:  August 10 & 11 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., August 12 – 8:00 a.m. to noon.

G-300 Prerequisites: ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700

 G-400 – ICS-400: Advanced Incident Command System, Command and General Staff

This one and a half day course provides training and resources for personnel who require advanced application of the Incident Command System (ICS). The course expands upon information covered in the ICS-100 through ICS-300 courses.

Target Audience:
State, county, local officials and volunteers who may assume a supervisory role in expanding incidents or Type 3 incidents.

G-400 Advanced ICS: August 12 – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., August 13 – 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

G-400 Prerequisites: ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700, IS-800, G-300

OWEN “O.C.” CARTWRIGHT

Owen “O.C.” Cartwright, 74, died Monday, June 7, 2010.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Blackburn-Shaw Funeral Directors Coulter Chapel, 8310 S. Coulter St., with the Rev. Danny Logar of Bell Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

O.C. was born July 20, 1935, in Chalk to E.R. “Ras” and Ida Lylyan Cartwright. He moved to Amarillo in 1943 where he attended Amarillo High School and Amarillo College. He joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean War. In 1958, he married June King.

O.C. worked for several years as an insurance claims adjuster and then as claims manager for SIC. He established W.J. Claims Service and worked there as a manager until his retirement in 1986. He was an extra class ham radio operator for more than 30 years.

O.C. was a Christian with a deep, genuine faith in God and was a charter member of Grand Avenue Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, June Cartwright of Amarillo, a son, Grady Cartwright and wife Joanna of San Diego; two brothers, Bill Cartwright and wife Bonnie and Ray Cartwright and wife Bettie, all of Amarillo, three grandchildren, Calvin Owen Cartwright, Madeline Cartwright and Emily Cartwright, all of San Diego; and several nieces and nephews and friends.

ARES Deployment Vest with Pockets (Solid) $24.95

This reflective style vest is similar to the type you’d see police or runners wearing. Place this green “bib” over your shirt or jacket. Solid neon with front pockets and large front and back reflector panels. Imprinted with the words “AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS” on one side and the ARES logo on the other. Lightweight. Fold it up, and store this small handful in your immediate-response kit. Great for ARES volunteers, emergency and public service use.

ARES Deployment Vest (Mesh) $15.95

This reflective style vest is similar to the type you’d see police or runners wearing. Place this green “bib” over your shirt or jacket. Constructed of neon mesh with large front and back reflector panels. Imprinted with the words “AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS” on one side and the ARES logo on the other. Lightweight. Fold it up, and store this small handful in your immediate-response kit. Great for ARES volunteers, emergency and public service use.

PARC ARES Chair Bob Sanders, N5TBD, has advised us in the last ARES meeting that reflective vests such as these will be a requirement in almost any emergency deployment scenario. Bob suggests that we all purchase a vest from the ARRL. You can purchase your own from the links above, or you can bring cash, check or a money order in to the next ARES meeting on July 13th, and we can submit a bulk order for all ARES members and save some money on shipping. If necessary the vests can be paid for once they are received.

Now you can receive text message alerts directly to your cell phone. This feature can be used by the site administrators to notify users of pending SKYWARN activation, or any emergency which may require ARES activation. To sign up to receive this service from PanhandleARES.org simply enter your phone number with the area code into the right column of the website under “Text Message Alerts”

If you have signed up for Text Message Alerts, and you would like to be removed from the list, please email me with your phone number and service provider. christopher.seright@dhs.gov

This funnel touched down approximately 4 miles southwest of Bushland on 4/20/10 and was on the ground for about 5 minutes. No injuries or damage were reported in this storm.

We parked safely off the road, watched the tornado develop, and called the NWS to report the touchown.

Two more vehicles parked on the highway behind us (not spotters or chasers–just some rubber-necks), and a third vehicle did not see them in time. The third vehicle swerved to miss them and hit our bumper while I was on the phone with the NWS. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the other driver’s insurance is going to cover the cost to repair my chase vehicle.

We learned a very valuable lesson though. In the past, many other chasers have “run me off” when we parked too close to their location. Until now, I never understood why–I thought they were only being arrogant. I learned that not only do I have to make sure that I am spotting safely, I also have to watch out for rubber-necks and others who are not driving safely.

Spot Safely!

73

KE5ZRT

2009FieldDayPSA1

ARRL Field Day

June 26-27, 2010

Always The Fourth Full Weekend In June

Where the spirit of “Amateur Radio Past” joins forces with the Next Generation of Innovations, Interests and Individuals!!!

ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating event in amateur radio. On the fourth full weekend in June, tens of thousands of amateur radio operators gather for a public demonstration of our service. Field Day is part educational event, part operating event, part public relations event – and ALL about FUN!

Amateur radio is about knowledge and growth.  It is a hobby and service that truly offers “something for everyone.” Amateur Radio embraces both the old and new. While CW may no longer be a testing element, it is still a strong and favorite operating mode for many.  Tens of thousands of operators are embracing digital technologies, from RTTY to newer digital modes like PSK31 and Olivia.  Phone operation, probably the largest segment of the hobby, also has new frontiers to be explored with digitized voice, VOIP, and IRLP. And this is why Field Day – the largest annual on-the-air operating event – is so exciting.  It gives all – the old timer and the newcomer, the brass-pounder and the computer assisted operator – the chance to share and teach the broad range of modes and technologies we find in our hobby.

Field Day is truly the time in which we bring amateur radio to Main Street USA. By setting up in parking lots, malls, Emergency Operations Centers, parks and even at home, amateur operators learn skills that will allow them to better serve their communities.  Setting up in these public venues gives added public relations value – their friends and neighbors can see and experience the fun and public service capability that their “ham radio” neighbors bring to the community.

Join in the fun! For more information on amateur radio and the ARRL – the national organization for Amateur Radio – visit http://www.arrl.org/

W5WX
Panhandle Amateur Radio Club
Thompson Park Boat House
Amarillo, TX
GOTA: YES
Talk-in: 146.940 – (88.5 tone)
Contact: John H Robinson, WD5FOI
806-355-7889
leslijon@1s.net

Spotter training will be offered at our ARES meeting on March 9, 2010, and will be open to the public. Please remember that this certification is only valid for 2 years. If you are unable to attend the training at the ARES meeting, there are many more training sessions available. Follow the link below for more information.

2010 Spotter Training Schedule

Monday, April 5, 2010

7:00 PM

Amarillo Public Library

Downtown Meeting Room, 2nd Floor

OUR PROGRAM WILL BE THE WEDNESDAY MONSTER The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornado of April 9, 1947 by Kellie Sanders. Ms. Sanders is a native Texan, and with the exception of college, has lived in the Texas Panhandle all of her life. She has been employed as a part-time Instructor at West Texas A&M University since Fall 2005. Sanders received her Master of Arts in Communication in May 2005 (4.0 GPA) from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, where she was also a Graduate Assistant/Graduate Teaching Assistant in 2004 to 2005. Her thesis, The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornado of April 9, 1947: An Oral History of the “Wednesday Monster,” won WTAMU’s Best Thesis Award. She is in the process of expanding her thesis into a book, but due to her late mother’s many debilitating illnesses, this was at a hold for more than two years. She has lectured frequently on this topic. Kellie also works for the Transportation Security Administration. Prior to concentrating full-time on her graduate studies, Sanders taught nine years in the public school system as well as working many years as an Administrative Assistant in various businesses. Sanders received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Theatre Education in December 1984, from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. She was a cum laude graduate with a 3.9 GPA and was an active member of the nationally-award winning KSU Speech Team. In her limited spare time, she enjoys spending time with her cats and going to movies. She dedicates this presentation to her late mother, Eleanor Pearl Barnes Seedig Sanders, who, as a seven-year-old, survived the tornado, along with her mother, Pearl Marie Fox Barnes Seedig, and four others as they huddled underneath the last two pews in the First Baptist Church in Higgins.

Contact Kellie Sanders for more information: kbelle12001@yahoo.com

Hams at Elk City assisted with this tornado event by reporting the storm which first touched down approximately 4 miles north of town, and by assisting with recon of of the area after the tornado strike. Reports indicated a “long-lived stovepipe” which caused damage to numerous structures, but no injuries or casualties have been reported at this time.

KE5ZRT