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From our EPA Section Manager w3big@delcoares.net W3BIG Spring has sprung and so has hamfest season. Here are some upcoming events in the EPA Section: APRIL 27 - Saturday: York Hamfest sponsored by the York Hamfest Foundation. The event is held at Elicker's Grove Park located at 511 Roth Church Road in Spring Grove, PA 17362. Link for info: http://www.yorkhamfest.org/ http://epa-arrl.org?…

Please see this important message from ARRL Atlantic Division Director K3RF@delcoares.net K3RF: This message is directed only to our ARRL Western & Eastern PA section members to alert you to a serious legal issue returning to the spotlight.  A new law amending the PA Vehicle Code, pending a vote for some years, has reappeared recently and passed before the PA House of Representatives.…

*********EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE***************** THIS IS A DRILL The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Activation Communication System (ACS) will commence operations at 6 PM till 8pm for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station exercise. This exercise aims to evaluate the preparedness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Maryland in responding to a nuclear emergency at the facility.…

As a member of AUXCOMM USA, they recently started using an App (iPhone and Android) for group chat, event calendar and photo/files sharing.  Very similar to other team sports apps like TeamSnap.  This can be used for quick chats and will be a useful place to put files specifically related to Delco ARES.  I would like everyone to please download the app and join the "delcoares" group.  We have this in the Microsoft Teams app; however, I know that is more difficult for some to log into.…

The Spring SET is April 6th. With all the other exercises planned for April and May I think it would be best to keep the SET straightforward. The SET includes two activities. 1)    WINLINK Check-in – PA hams check in with Red Cross Region using Red Cross Staff Request form. 2)    ARES Alert – ECs alert their teams, collect team EMCOMM capability and send to SEC at ARES-EPA

ARRL reports that the current online versions of EC-001 and EC-016 are ending on March 31, 2024. If you are currently enrolled in either, you should complete them by March 31st, 2024. EC-001 will be replaced with Basic Emcomm on April 1st, 2024. An Intermediate course is scheduled to be offered soon. An ARES Leadership course is in progress. The ARES Task Book is also being updated with minor changes. No current release date.

Reminder that our next monthly meeting is tonight, Monday, March 11th, starting at 7pm.   We will be back in person again, at the 911 Center at 360 N Middletown Road, Media, PA 19063. Agenda   We will be reviewing the deployment and standard operating procedures: https://www.delcoares.net/standard-operating-procedures https://www.delcoares.net/standard-operating-procedures We will as getting some hands-on training with the Yellow Go Kit (Yaesu FT-857) radios that are at the 911 center,…

Jay King, W2AFE, EPA ASEC Pennsylvania Red Cross invites all Pennsylvania amateur radio operators to join in celebrating the opening of the Red Cross Emcomm Stations (RCES). These stations are located in Red Cross facilities in each of the 10 Pennsylvania Red Cross Disaster Response Areas (DRA). The Red Cross Emcomm Stations are located in existing Red Cross facilities Most are “compact” stations. Please join the Red Cross on the air on March 16.…

The ARES mobile emergency communications trailer is now located at the Radnor Township Municipal building.  I would like to sincerely thank everyone at DES Special Operations, and the Radnor Township Police Department for allowing the trailer at this location.  The area is at one of the highest elevations in Delaware County, and very close proximity to other EOCs for Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. It is also right around the corner from my home as well,…