Thursday evening at 6:30pm, the W4DHN ARES group had it’s monthly meeting.  After the roll call and information dissemination and Task Book updates, we assembled in the radio room and Al DeWeese gave us a run down on how to turn on/turn off/ and how to use the antennas with the club radios.  A very informative time!  We decided to have a Saturday workday that we each do it a few times to make sure we have a firm grip on the process.  We also decided to get a copy of the manuals for the radios for familiarity with each one and to make sure that they are loaded on the computer in pdf form for ease of use should the need arise.  Al said he would check into that.

We then reassembled back in the meeting room and discussed the Radiogram Multiple Frequency Exercise and decided to table it until August.

The Rag Chew on 80 meters was discussed and was voted to move to Friday evenings at 8:30pm beginning in August.  A discussion of the Rag Chew on our ARES net each Tuesday night to see if folks liked it or not and was agreed upon to keep it on the Tuesday 2M FM nets.

Bruno discussed the QST articles regarding the FEMA disasters and the Ham operator that was such a blessing to many by getting information to loved ones and to get help to the areas that needed it.

We discussed about finding the highest areas around the Houston and Dale County areas for ease of line of sight Simplex communications.  Dan said that he would find some topo maps for next meeting.

The July ARES meeting is cancelled.   We will resume August 14th.

Another fantastic ARES meeting!

BLC