|
Did you know that you are already a
member of the ARRL Ohio Section if you live in Ohio, hold an Amateur Radio license and are a member of
the American Radio Relay League. We ask you to not only understand what the Ohio
Section is but to participate where you can. This participation is the basis of
ARRL in Ohio and you can be an active part of it.
First there are 71 Sections in the United States and the Ohio Section is the
largest both in number of hams and number of ARRL members. Basically this is
because Ohio is the largest state in the US not partitioned. Every state bigger
than Ohio has from two to nine (California) sections in it. Here are some areas
you can participate and remember every one listed here is a volunteer dedicated
to Ham Radio and the American Radio Relay League.
Emergency
Communications (ARES):
SEC - Matt Welch, W8DEC
Our most popular appointment is those who serve the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service. Each of our 88 counties have an Emergency Coordinator appointed to
operate ARES programs in that county. The Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC)
runs this program.
Message
Handling:
STM - Dave Maynard, WA3EZN
Traffic Nets Even in the days of E-mail and other electronic means of
communication, the National Traffic System (sending messages by radio) continues
to operate. Ohio has one statewide phone net - the Ohio Single-Side Band Net
(OSSBN) and three CW statewide nets. These are listed in each month's edition of
Section News. In addition all our major metropolitan areas have nets on VHF and
UHF repeaters. Ohio's traffic nets are among the best in the US.
Newsletters:
PIC -
Jack Sovik, KB8WPZ
Public relations First rule of the Public Relations Manuel is to have our own
people know what is going on. Club newsletters are a key here. Public
Information Officers not only are in charge of newsletters but also informing
public media outlets about ham radio news. The Public Information Coordinator
(PIC) runs this program.
Official
Observers:
OOC - Rick Swain, KK8O
The Official Observers (Amateur Auxiliary) is Ohio's fastest growing program.
Official Observers are hams to monitor frequencies (HF and VHF/UHF repeaters) to
advise hams of poor operating practices and write "Good Guy Reports" to
outstanding radio operators where they find them. The Official Observer
Coordinator (OOC) runs this program.
Technical
Specialists:
Jim Yoder, W8ERW
Hams in this program are electronic specialists who stand ready to assist hams
and non-hams when thorny interference problems arise. The Technical Coordinator
(TC) runs this program.
Government Liaisons:
SGL - Nick Pittner, N8NAP
With a myriad of city councils, county commissions, boards of zoning appeals and
school boards across Ohio, Local Government Liaisons monitor the activities of
these civic boards to see if any actions affect ham radio directly. The State
Government Liaison (SGL) operates this program and officially monitors the Ohio
Legislature, Governor and State Supreme Court.
Affiliated Clubs:
ACC - E. Mike McCardel, KC8YLD
Basically for qualified ham radio clubs who obtain and maintain Special Service
Club and/or Affiliated Club status in the ARRL. The Affiliated Clubs Coordinator
(ACC) runs this program.
The above sketches are just some of what's happening in the Ohio Section. For
more information on any ARRL program, please contact the Ohio Section person
running that program. You'll find these dedicated hams full contact information
in the Ohio Section
Cabinet listing. Beside these programs, the Ohio Section has three jewels which
distinguishes it from the other 70 Sections. We offer the
Ohio Monthly News,
a monthly publication which explains current Section activities;
an Annual Ohio Ham
Radio Newsletter Competition
to honor excellence in ham radio reporting and the annual
Ohio Section Conference where Ohio hams holding appointments can gather and
exchange ideas for improving our work. No other section in the United States
does even two of these things.
The Ohio Section also features seven Assistant Section Managers. One from each of
the five areas of Ohio - Northwest Ohio, Northeast Ohio, Central Ohio, Southwest
Ohio, Southeast Ohio and two unique positions - Training and Webmaster - to insure all
aspects of our large and
diverse state are represented.
Thank you for being a part of the ARRL's biggest and greatest Section.
Frank Piper, KI8GW
Ohio Section Manager
|
