The May ARES meeting had six members in attendance.  We started off with updating TASK books and then moved to past events.  We discussed the tailgate and ways to get more foot traffic and youth to the event.  We segued into the September 12th Daleville Hamfest and ways we can help bring it more attendance.

Fliers in the local area and at the local schools and businesses

Maybe a few street signages (business signages)

More of Alan’s magnets

(Will need to follow Daleville’s lead though)

We then moved on to the Tri-States Bike Ride.  Discussed making sure our rigs are prepared to go.  Any concerns, questions please ask prior to event.

We will do the October SET event again.  No scores yet.

Alan did a WinLink presentation on the computer.  Did POTA activation for Chris.  Previewed a bit of VarAC.

Alan then asked, “What’s Next?”

POTA Recaps,  September POTA event – Frank Jackson Park, Blue Water Park, etc.. one within 1.5 hours from Dothan.

We discussed End Fed antenna’s (article on ARRL), Tarheel or Atoss 300 antennas.  891, 857 auto tuners  Giga Parts Club membership gets 20% off first order.

Meeting concluded.  As usual, great time.

BLC

Meeting started at 6:30PM.  Eight members present.  We discussed past events of the Tri-State Bike Ride and some issues that had happened during the event such as someone leaving their mike stuck on which timed out the repeater and occasional events that we lost signal until we shut down and came back up.  Discussed possibilities of riders with an excessively powerful hot spot and the tracking panels that receive the chipped riders as they pass by them.  We will do some experimenting and discovery during the next ride to see what affects our units in a negative way.  We also discussed testing simplex during the next ride.

We discussed the Simulated Emergency Test from last October.  The results are finally out and Alabama came in first in the nation and our club came in 4th in the state.  Great job W4DHN ARES group!!  We will be sending out letters with the results of last years SET to all the Emergency Personnel that we made contact with to complete our tasks during the set to thank them for helping us do well and asking for their help again in the SET this upcoming October.

Discussion of the upcoming field day and this year’s SET occurred.

A suggestion of another POTA camping trip was made and a consensus occurred.  We will start looking for another venue for our outing.

We discussed Tic Tac Tile.  Rick came up with the suggestion of two players starting on a designated ‘board’ which would be 9 tiles and the first one to make contact in a tile “blocks” the rest from that tile.  Whoever gets 3 vertically, horizontally or diagonally first would be the winner.  We will revisit this idea.

Alan and Barbara’s vacation will be from June 18th until July 13th.  The July ARES meeting is cancelled.

Alan then gave a presentation on the Raspberry Pi Health & Welfare RMail program designed by WF5W using the Pi as a hot spot and allowing those with cell phones to connect and type in their email to whoever they chose for their health & welfare notification.  The administrator would then only need to review the messages to make sure they meet Amateur Radio qualifications and then send them via winlink or changing to a location with internet.  A great deduction of time and energy instead of handwriting Radiograms and then calling them over the air.

We discussed the winch for the equipment trailer.  It had a crack in the spindle and had been disassembled.  Jimmy cancelled the workday on Saturday because we had not gotten approval to spend the funds on a new winch.  Barbara texted Doug and got the procedures.  Jimmy found prices and information from Harbor Freight on winches.  Problem solved by Friday afternoon.

The meeting adjourned.  Alan and Clinton worked on the WinLink on the club computer to no avail.  Al will need to be brought in.

BLC

On the May 8th, 2025 meeting, after roll call and introductions, we discussed Task Books and updates.  We then discussed our next drill which will be a “Round Robin Radiogram”.  Information will be sent out through groups.IO.  It will consist of the EC starting the message per the chart of frequencies/times/dates/operators and progress through the listings.  This drill will confirm the ability to receive and to transmit a radiogram as well as switch to different frequencies to do so.  Integrity in following directions will determine our ARES team’s ability to successfully aid during emergency communications and Health & Welfare Traffic.

We also discussed locating a map with topographical features to locate “high spots” of the Wiregrass area to in enhancing communications via radio operations during distress events.

Discussion and encouragement in participation was provided regarding “calling the ARES net.”  It is important to be a part of the net and especially the Rag Chew at the end of our weekly net.  It builds camaraderie and you just might hear a tidbit of useful information.

Topics for Workshops were presented.  It was agreed that all ARES members should learn how to operate the club radio (Yaesu FT-MP) and some additional antenna demonstrations.  Interest was high on a DIY power booster.

The fundraiser at the Samson Rocket Launch was cancelled due to weather and scheduled for a later date.

June 7th is the Tri-States bike ride.  A great time to check and make sure your portable rig is in operational order.

A separate rag chew on 80 meters was discussed and heartily agreed to for Thursdays at 8:30pm.

A NVIS antenna demonstration with handouts was given by our EC.

A lively discussion on antennas followed with much internet sites and pictures being produced.

Another wonderful ARES meeting came to a close.  Looking forward to the next,…