From: Myron Oestreich KB9STB [kb9stb@dwave.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 12:26 AM
To: richmaier@charter.net
Cc: kb9stb@wvraclub.org
Subject: Misc. Notes and Topics

Rich-

Last night at the WVRA Board meeting, there was a lengthy discussion about ARES, the role of the WVRA in ARES and the recent issues related to K9DB and ARES. Here's the long and short of what we've come up with for club actions and proposals to look at from an ARES standpoint:

1. WVRA will no longer have an ARES update at club meetings. Rather, the only ARES information given will be a reminder to check the ARES website of www.martechsys.com/ares to keep abreast of upcoming ARES activities.

2. WVRA will no longer post ARES activities on the main www.wvraclub.org website page. Again, a link will be provided to the ARES website.

3. It will be the official stance of the WVRA that the ARES website is the official source for ARES information and events and any questions will be directed to that site.

4. It is recommended to have an actual ARES membership meeting-other than training-to make decisions related to ARES events and how they are to be carried out. I'll elaborate in the next few points.

5. It is recommended that neither 146.820 nor 147.135 serve as the primary Marathon Co. ARES repeater. Recommendation is that 147.060 be named as the ARES primary repeater because there is no club affiliation with that repeater and the range is essentially the same as the other machines. It is recommended that this repeater issue come to a vote at the ARES membership meeting.

6. It is recommended that each event have a contact person who is in charge of all information related to the ARES event and is the go-to person for these events.

7. WVRA will be willing to concede alternate years of sponsorship of NWS storm spotter training with Marathon Co. REACT. Records dating back over a decade show that any storm spotter training has been sponsored either by Marathon Co. ARES and Marathon Co. REACT or Marathon Co. ARES and WVRA. WVRA still recommends mandatory yearly spotter training. ...I have already been in contact with Marathon Co. REACT about this and will know their stance within the next couple of days. They are also coming to spotter training this year after they contacted me about it and pleaded their case.

8. It is recommended that NWS Green Bay be contacted to obtain input from them as to which repeater they would like to contact us on this coming storm season.

9. Finally-it is the strong recommendation of the WVRA Board to encourage the RMRA Board to adopt points 1,2 and 3 as well. It is the belief of the WVRA Board that this may help eliminate some of the current hostility between the two clubs because multiple sources will not be reporting information and adding their own twists to the information.

On a side note--the RMRA website is still incorrectly posting information about spotter training and the KB9ENO presentation which has not been fixed since K9DB was emailed almost a week ago requesting changes be made. In fact, more incorrect information has popped up with the KB9ENO presentation which was not on the original email I sent out about the event.

That's about it from this end. If you have any other thoughts or input, please let me know so I can report back to the Board about it.

MO