OHIO SECTION CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2010 - WILL INCLUDE OHIO SECTION EMCOM CONFERENCE

In the past, the Ohio Section has held 2 conferences each year, the Ohio Section ARES conference in the spring, and the General Ohio Section Conference in the fall. At the Ohio Section Conference last year we discussed the idea of combining the conferences into one major conference. This year we're going to give it a try. The Ohio Section and ARES Conference will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010. The Conference venue will be the Educational Services Center for Central Ohio (ESCCO), which is located on 2080 Citygate Drive in Columbus.

Those who attended the conference last fall can tell you what a great facility we had to work with, and I'm glad to say we will be there again.

The Conference is being coordinated by a great committee, headed by Scott Yonally, N8SY. They are working hard to line up speakers, programs, and refreshments for the attendees. It proves to be a great time, and you'll start to see announcements coming out for speakers in a few days. So, mark your calendars and pass the word!

PRB-1 FOR OHIO STILL IN THE STATEHOUSE

House Bill 212 and Senate Bill 218 are still in committees, and we hope to get 3rd readings soon and get these bills moved to the House Floor.

Stay tuned, and please keep in contact with your State Representatives to look for these Bills when they leave their committees.

RON GRIFFIN, N8AEH RETIRES FROM THE OHIO SECTION CABINET

Ron Griffin, N8AEH of Findlay, Assistant Section Manager for NW Ohio, has announced his retirement from the Ohio Section Cabinet, so he may give more time to his Mother. Ron has worked under 4 Section Managers, and has been the publisher of the Ohio Section Journal for many years.

We hate to see Ron retire, but fully understand the reasons why this decision has come about.

The Spring issue of the OSJ will be published on schedule with he help of the Ohio Section Cabinet. A new publisher will be announced before the Summer issue is sent out.

SEVERE WEATHER MONTH IS COMING UP IN MARCH

Ohio ARES groups, Skywarn, and Ham Clubs - one of your major public service and public relations events is coming up in March - The Ohio Statewide Tornado Drill will be conducted on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 9:50am. Please support the drill by checking into your local Skywarn or ARES nets that day.

REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR CLUB NEWSLETTERS TO EMILY WELLS, KC8RAL

That's all from my desk for now... 73 de Frank, KI8GW / Ohio Section Manager

*****************************************************************************

OHIO SECTION NOTES FROM INTERIM AFFILIATED CLUB COORDINATOR, SCOTT YONALLY, N8SY (for ACC Joanne Solak, KJ3O):

Hi All,

February was just a blur, starting off with the groundhog seeing / not seeing his shadow. I say it that way because one of them did and the other didn't see their shadow this year. I guess you have to use your own judgment as to whether we will have 6 more weeks of winter or not.

(Hint.. Hint.. Just look out your window for the answer..!!)

News of Larry and Joanne.. I have spoken to both of them and they are doing just fine. Larry told me that they just need the weather to get better before the contractor will start the de-construction / re-construction project on their house. The home that burnt was an old Post and Beam style house that was built back in the 1830's, and they want to try to save as much of the old lumber from that house as they can. Please continue to keep them in your daily prayers.

Joanne has asked me to keep reminding the new Club Officers, and those who remained in office, to make sure you file the ANNUAL REPORT FORM as soon after your first meeting of the year as possible. There are many times that Joanne and/or the League Headquarters would need to notify your club of some information pertaining to your membership. Without the club updates this is next to impossible. In this day and age of the internet, and the many ARRL forms available online, there's just no excuse not to file this particular form.

I made mention last month that I had noticed reading through a great deal of newsletters that were already making plans for Field Day.

Please remember to personally invite your government representatives to this event. This is not only a contest between clubs for points, but it is a very big PR event for the general public as well. This year Field Day will be held on June 26th and 27th. A lot of clubs make this weekend a fun, family event with a picnic or two for all. Field Day is designed to be just that, fun, but don't forget it has a serious side too. It's not just the picnics or the points, its main function is to show the general public what we are all about, communications. No ifs, ands or buts about it. We are a service that provides communications when all else fails!

Now onto a similar event, the OSPOTA, you know 'Ohio State Parks on the Air Event. This year it will be September 11th. Contact your local Ohio State Parks Ranger for information on this fun event!

UPDATE:

Thanks for mentioning OSPOTA which is sponsored by the Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS). Information about OSPOTA can be found at the event web site http://parks.portcars.org/ospota/index.php  

There is also a Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSPOTA/, that has been set up for ongoing discussions about the contest as well as access to resource files and event photos. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has been great to work with in planning the event and getting information out to the park staff immediately prior to the contest date.  But the State Park Rangers aren't likely to have a clue what someone is talking about if a ham stops by the park to ask for information about OSPOTA.

73, Jim Aylward, KC8PD    President, PCARS

 

The Mansfield Mid*Winter Hamfest has come and gone with great success.

Everyone that attended the League night dinner the night before had good food and fun for all. Sunday brought on two very good forums, ARRL and the OSSBN. Everyone there was a part of the forum. A number of great ideas sprang out of these forums and the Section Cabinet is working hard to get them actively in place.

The Delaware County (DELARA) club had a nice article in their newsletter about the FT-102 Yaesu radio. It brought back some memories I had with mine. That also brings to mind something, do you want to easily remember how to spell Yaesu? Just remember that it has AES in the middle of it. AES -- Amateur Electronics Supply!

The Lake Erie (LEARA) club had a guest speaker Bill Fraedrich, WB9LBI give a talk on the "Entire History of Morse Code -- That I could steal off the Internet." Now there some originality for ya'.

The Alliance Amateur Radio Club's Zero Beat is reporting this month that you can now follow the club on Facebook. They turned it on just a few weeks ago and already have over 20 members logged on and following all the neat stuff that the club is doing. They also have a Fox Hunt coming up very soon.

The TMRA (Toledo Mobile Radio Association) reported in their latest newsletter that the Bennett Venture Academy got to talk with ISS Crew .

They made contact via ham radio with Flight Engineer Robert Thrisk.

ARISS Mentor and control operator Steve, KB9UPS and members of TMRA set up ham equipment on Saturday at the school. The twin high gain antennas proved to be a challenge to set up on the school's hipped roof. Also set up were the back up antennas and a UHF link beam used to connect to Chris's IRLP node at his home and linked with the discovery reflector on the web via the IRLP 9010 node. Audio was sent into the AMSAT conference node "Echolink" via a SkyPe connection to Graham Layton G7EVY in the United Kingdom. Attendance on Friday totaled nearly 800 students, staff, parents and media. Media on hand included Toledo's WTOL TV 11, and TV 24. Both stations aired very good spots showing how ham radio can influence students in science, math and technology on the

5 o'clock news Friday night.

Remember to volunteer to help out wherever you can in your Club. Club leaders need volunteers to achieve the ultimate goals set for their club. And don't forget to pay your membership dues. Support your Club.

AND, while you're at it, pay your ARRL dues through your club!

73, Scott, N8SY (Interim ACC -- Ohio)