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

Summers approaching and you know what that means… yep you guessed it, the Top of Texas Arabian Horse Club’s annual endurance ride!

This event will take place in Plum Creek at Lake Meredith June 5th and 6th 2010.
The ride is generally pretty laid back and a great way to get out of town for a weekend and enjoy beautiful horses, country and of course your hobby.

Starting at sun up (around 7 am) those wishing to help are generally asked to arrive at least 30 minutes before the beginning of the ride. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to travel from Amarillo depending on where you live and how you drive.
I know, I know… that’s really early in the in the morning but you will not be disappointed. They serve an amazing cowboy breakfast with all the trimming plus not to mention a beautiful sunrise!

Being a two day event people are welcome to camp out in plum creek. Some come Friday afternoon and stay all weekend to avoid having to travel to and from home. RV’s or tents are equally welcome. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided to any volunteer that participates, however you are welcome and suggested to bring you own snacks and drinks.
The ride encompasses about 50 miles of the plum creek area and includes 7 rest stops along the way including base camp.

Those wishing to help but are unable to stay all day or all weekend are still encouraged to come. Several locations clear all riders well before noon and others don’t receive riders til later in the morning.
Even if all you can only do one day or a part of a day, we want you!
All that is required is a licensed operator that has a mobile radio capable of transmitting on 2 meters. 2 meter simplex is where the event communications take place with backup communications on local VHF/UHF repeaters.

If you are interested in helping and would like more information you can contact me via email at adair@kd5dyp.com or call me at 806.231.7180.

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

July 24th and 25th 2010

Update: Thank you all for volunteering to assist with communications for this event. Hope to see you all at breakfast at Denny’s at I-40 and Ross, Saturday morning at 4:00 am. Otherwise, we will see you at the Amarillo College East Campus at 6:00 am. If you are driving a SAG vehicle, please remember to bring a cooler if you have one, and pick up some water, ice, fruit, etc. at the start line, for the riders.

I want to thank everyone for helping with the MS BP 150. Enjoy the weekend and put your hobby to a good use for a wonderful cause. Helping with the BP 150 Bike Ride is where the true spirit of amateur radio is. Let’s keep active with public service events and keep amateur radio alive and useful!

Current Volunteer Assignments:

For us Amateur Radio operators, the BP 150 serves two purposes. First and foremost it is a fun time to get together and give back to the community. We always have a lot of fun with this event each year. Second, and also equally important, it is practice for an actual emergency situation where Amateur Radio operators would be called upon to provide emergency communications. For more information, visit the Event’s Website

Please feel free to join us for our monthly ARES/RACES Training Meeting on the second Tuesday each month at 7:30pm.  Our meetings are currently located at the Amarillo Emergency Services Building at 1900 Line Avenue in Amarillo, TX. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Click here for a map of the building location. 

Additionally, we encourage all amateur radio operators to participate in the ARES Net on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm on the Caprock Intertie linked repeater system. The purpose of this net is to provide communications during emergencies and to provide training in procedures that would apply in actual emergencies and test communications capabilities of the Caprock Intertie system.

If you ordered an ARES reflective vest, please remember to bring payment to the next meeting.

Join us for the biggest event in Tornado Alley.

The 2010 National Storm Conference
Saturday, March 13, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Colleyville Center – Colleyville, Texas

The National Storm Conference is a full day of presentations from some of the top severe weather experts in the country.  Storm spotters, chasers, forecasters, researchers, emergency managers and others gather at the conference for a day of learning and fun.  It’s free and open to the public, so come and join us for the biggest event in Tornado Alley!

http://tessa.org/

Matthew (KE5WXN), Terra (KE5ZRU), my son James (KE5ZRS) and I are going to travel to the conference on Friday March 12, 2010 and spend the night in Colleyville. If you would like to convoy with us, give me a shout on the air!

73

KE5ZRT

We will have CPR training for our meeting on July 14, 2009.

For those interested in practicing thier DF capabilities, it looks like we’re going to get our chance at the next Reach For Space balloon launch event.

From Jerome:

It is getting to be time to chase a balloon. I am suggesting Sat April 18th as the primary date with Sat May 2nd as the back up. Terry, WL7II has a 144.390 aprs package, John AB5NS has a Find Me Spot. Any other ideas for the payload package?

If you would like to join in, visit the Reach For Space Yahoo group web site for more information.

Edit: Due to weather, the balloon launch has been rescheduled to May 30th, 2009.

PREMAC (Panhandle Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee) plan one day Emergency Preparedness Conference

Amarillo – PREMAC has determined January 14, 2009 as the date for the first Regional Emergency Preparedness Conference to be held in Amarillo. The conference will host a number of speakers from all disciplines, addressing training, response planning and preparedness. All emergency responders, elected officials and emergency management personnel are invited to the all day event to be held at the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Room. For details contact John Kiehl at the PRPC or Walt Kelly of Amarillo Emergency Management.