Time to Vote folks #event

Thank you for these intriguing questions.

On Mon, Oct 25, 2021 at 23:39 George Blake - W6BDD <Ferret488@gmail.com> wrote:

"If I am not elected, the leadership issue is still the SAME. It takes a capable candidate at the helm. The incumbent has done an admirable job over the years."

If Ron Cowan has been doing "an admirable job", why replace him?

That statement came because Mr. Cowan has done an admirable job and because I purposed in MY heart to run a campaign on issues, rather than mudslinging.  It's called taking the honorable road.

Imagine, please, my thoughts when I called Mr. Cowan because of comments such as these.  Mr. Cowan heard "If I can't run on character, what can I run on" for example.  Thankfully, he's much more of a gentleman than others who want to issue personal attacks.  I believe him when he said "I don't know anything about this" and issued a statement to the facts and the directive to QRT.

 

BTW: You were SM for ONE term, then voted out. If you were so great at leadership, then why did they vote you out?  ;)

Your citation of evidence would be timely applied in the comment section below.  Such slanderous comments have only ONE defense.  

Please show in the pages of QST where I ran for one term and then was voted out.  Can you give readers the vote tally for and against?  Can you list the section and period where the election was held?

In the mean time, there's less than a month to get your ballot back to Headquarters.

If nothing else, unlike other sections, Kansas has a choice.  Don't be fooled by these efforts to sidetrack your thinking.

Do you want a Section Emergency Coordinator?  Do you want the Section involved in plans, response, recovery, mitigation, training, and exercises? Is the National Traffic System worth saving? 

All this and more will be determined by your vote.

 73

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Repeaterbook is allowing Simplex Nodes #ARRL #hamradio

Simplex nodes are now available worldwide. 

You can read more about simplex nodes at: https://www.repeaterbook.com/wiki/doku.php?id=simplex_node

Previous email:

By popular demand, Repeaterbook is now accepting simplex nodes in all US and Mexican states and Canadian provinces. The maintenance of the entry is completely self-service by the node owner. No intervention by a Repeaterbook admin is necessary.

There is a link to simplex nodes on the home page, or you can reach it here: https://www.repeaterbook.com/simplex_nodes/index.php?state_id=none&tab=QUICK

This is a beta release, so there are some bugs. Feel free to report them on the Forum (link on the home page). Additional features will also be added.

Any simplex nodes that are currently in the repeater area of the database have automatically been transferred to the simplex node database.

Garrett, KD6KPC

_._,_._,_

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--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Hamshack Hotline, Digital Voice, and Nets #ARRL #hamradio

Once upon a time, Hamshack Hotline meant one was tied to an old fashioned telephone connected to a CAT-5 cable to a router or the like.

Those that follow kc5fm-9 know the little red car goes places and does stuff.  There's not a CAT-5 cable long enough for those trips.

Hamshack Hotline can be used with apps on your cell phone, GroundWire, on IOS and Android, for example, to connect to other resources, like a resource like the WA0JBW repeater.  There are nets that use Hamshack Hotline like the Wichita Amateur Radio Club DMR net.

One can be on the other side of the Planet and talk to their friends on the local repeater.  

"It's NOT real radio" certainly is correct in that it's not an AM radio transmitter but the ARRL insures at least one "Not Real Radio" because it's a ham radio with the right software.

The League dues certainly are worth considering.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month #FEMA #Unity

To spotlight the many ways people with disabilities embody the commitment and excellence of the U.S. workforce, we are proud to recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The theme for NDEAM 2021, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the ways FEMA fosters the growth of our diverse workforce, including individuals with disabilities, is by utilizing the Schedule A Hiring Authority. This authority streamlines the hiring process for persons with disabilities and, in some instances, allows hiring managers to select solely from a list of qualified Schedule A applicants. 

 

 

So you want to be a Section Emergency Coordinator #ARRL #hamradio

Again, from the 2.1 version of the ARES plan ...

 • Establish viable working partnerships with federal, state, county, city governmental and/or private agencies in the ARES jurisdictional area that needs the services of ARES in emergencies. 

A rule in emergency management is "Don't wait for a disaster to exchange business cards". 

One of the places you exchange business cards is at the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.  There is a National organization, of which the ARRL is a member, and State VOAD groups, of which ARRL Sections might consider attending, if they are not already.

As you see from the membership list, groups include the American Red Cross, various faith groups including Baptist, Catholic, Hindu, Islam, Team Rubicon, and Salvation Army.  A number of these groups use amateur radio in their effort to meet the needs of survivors.

So, it is my professional opinion that amateur radio operators need to have meetings ... with served agencies ... so we know how they would like us to help them when the next disaster strikes.

 

The outcome of those meetings ... like the ones you have in the sandbox in kindergarten ... is the folks that play well with the plans get better toys than those that don't.

EMERGENCY coordinator requirements #ARRL #hamradio

From the ARRL ARES plan,

One of the responsibilities of the emergency coordinator at the local level is … 

• Establish viable working partnerships with federal, state, county, city governmental and/or private agencies in the ARES jurisdictional area that needs the services of ARES in emergencies. 

A rule in emergency management is "Don't wait for a disaster to exchange business cards". 

One of the best places to serve your community by meeting others concerned about the County is at the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting 

If one is not aware of the LEPC in Kansas, 

Kansas SERC Contacts

Devan Tucking
Kansas Commission on Emergency Planning and Response
c/o Kansas Division of Emergency Management
2800 SW Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS 66611

Phone: 785-217-7233
Fax: 785-274-1426
Website: http://www.kansastag.gov/KDEM.asp?PageID=408
Right To Know Website: http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/indexRTK.html 

Other States, visit 

https://www.epa.gov/epcra/state-emergency-response-commissions-contacts

You have a ballot  

Vote  

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Do you want a Section Emergency Coordinator? #ARRL #hamradio

In the most recent ARRL ARES newsletter, the "plan", as updated, was discussed. 

Here it is for your reading enjoyment. 

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARES%20Plan%202_1-a%20(002).pdf

The SM selects the person (of course with input from the cabinet). 

Read the requirements for the local EC and up the food chain. 

These posts are essential for potential life-safety aspects but, often overlooked, also grants for the local jurisdiction as well as amateur radio groups. 

What you learned in kindergarten applies today. "Those that play well in the sandbox have good toys. Those that don't … don't!"

You have a ballot. Vote. The only wasted ballot is the one that goes in the landfill. 

73

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Screen Readers and QST #ARRL #hamradio

At one of the club meetings I attended as the Section Manager candidate, the question of screen readers and their usefulness with QST was brought up.

I learned from ARRL that they are aware of the problem. 

They will be surveying membership to learn more about the problem before the end of the year. 

I hope this reaches your club's membership and is evidence that the ARRL is responsive to their needs. 

Please let me know how more I can help. 

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Did you get a ballot? #ARRL #hamradio

Don't forget to vote.  

The ARRL Kansas Section has an election.  Folks have already said they won't vote for me.

That's OK.  VOTE.

The only wasted vote is the one that went to your landfill.

Time to Vote folks #ARRL #hamradio

Again, thank you for a challenging question, or three.  

 

On Mon, Oct 18, 2021 at 10:15 AM, George Blake - W6BDD wrote:

>
> You claim that ARES in Kansas is "Rudderless" and a position needs to be
> filled. You also elude to the position not being attempted to filled by the
> Section Manager.

Not my claim. That was a quote from a question from a member of the Kansas Section. 

 

>
> You claim that you are / were a member of ARES.

 

I have been a member of ARES and am listed still on a roster or two. As I have already mentioned, I have RACES, SHARES, and Skywarn experience in addition to the ARES experience.  

>
> Have you personally attempted to fill this position if you consider it so
> important? Or any of the other positions you have noted, if they are also
> within your capabilities? And if not, why?
>

 

This has been addressed on the blog. Please review the information there.

Yet, the short answer is No.  I did not fill the SEC post when I was section manager.

>>> Why?


Because I had an award-winning SEC at the time who did not need replacement.

Secondly, I am not elected yet. I've already stated I won't fire anyone who wants to work. I can't appoint anyone who won't apply, until after I am elected.  The Section Cabinet is readily available so one can see who is and is not SEC.

https://kc5fm.blogspot.com/2021/10/questions-for-kansas-section-manager.html

http://kc5fm.blogspot.com/2021/10/got-ballot-go-vote-arrl-hamradio.html 

Perhaps the lack of applications is why the incumbent has not appointed someone. I don't know, though.  Maybe you should ask him. 

Thanks again for the interesting questions.

 

The postman picked up my ballot.  Has he picked up yours?   VOTE.

73

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052 

 

 

Time to Vote folks #hamradio #ARRL

 On Sun, Oct 17, 2021 at 22:48 George Blake - W6BDD  wrote:

You still do not explain WHY you think you are qualified. Try giving us some justification, not throwing shade at the incumbent.
--
George Blake
W6BDD

 

Thank you for your comment. 

I know I am qualified because I have done the job before.  The ballot details that and more. 

I have an earned degree in journalism and speech from a university. 

In the private sector, I have managed a theatre chain and the flagship theatre,  owned and sold a newspaper, and worked in a telecommunications company.  

In the public sector, I served the State of Oklahoma for 26 years in social services, without violating clients' rights regarding age, sex, race, national origin, religion, handicap, or political belief. 

In local government, I've served in emergency management as a City and County director. In those posts, I managed volunteers, including amateur radio operators, to complete the mission of all-hazards plans, response, mitigation, recovery, training, and exercises. 

I still carry credentials in Federal government and County government in Kansas.  

Thank you for this opportunity to explain why I am very qualified to take the helm of the Kansas section.  Please see Kc5fm.blogspot.com for even more information. It includes my Twitter feed embedded there.  

Don't forget to vote. 

73 

Lloyd 

Questions for the Kansas Section Manager Candidate #ARRL #hamradio

 A reader asked these two questions.  

Thank you for these two questions. 

1. What do you plan to do to fill the huge void in ARES? This is in reference to the fact we have no active Kansas Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) and no District 4 District Emergency Coordinator (DEC). ARES in Kansas has been rudderless for too long. 

The blog post today at Kc5fm.blogspot.com addresses that a little. This is one of the reasons I was asked to run. I plan to fill every available slot in the section cabinet. I don’t plan to fire anyone currently holding a post BUT… I can’t appoint anyone to a slot if they don’t apply. I will expect those that do apply to be an excellent ambassador of the BEST hobby on the planet. 

2. Why does a guy running for Kansas SM have a 5-area call sign? 

I’ve been a ham over 50 years. I’ve had this call the majority of this time. My friends and enemies have gotten used to it. 

The FCC does not require a change of Callsign any longer. The FCC gave me a good choice when I upgraded. I think I’ll keep it. 

 I hope I have your vote. 

73

 

Kansas Section Manager Questions #ARRL #hamradio

Good questions. 

1. WHO are you? 

I am a married retired ham radio operator with over 50 years experience in amateur radio and credentials in emergency management.

2. WHY do you want to be Section Manager?
Amateur radio is the BEST hobby on the Planet. I am excited about the topic. I hope you are also.

3. WHAT makes you qualified to be Section Manager?
My best qualification might be my management experience in the public and private sectors. I've also been a Section Manager prior to this go.


4. WHAT Auxiliary organizations are you a member of? (ARES, SATURN, etc.)??

Skywarn, ARES, RACES, SHARES just to name a few. I am the former Public Affairs Officer for Navy Marine Corp MARS.

5. HOW long have you been a Ham? Class?

I've advanced to Advanced Class from a Novice license over 50 years ago.

Thanks for the questions.

73

--

Lloyd Colston
KC5FM
Hamshack Hotline 50052

Got the ballot ... go vote ... #ARRL #hamradio

 My mailbox has been popular with ARRL this week.

After receiving the latest QST, the mailman brought the official ARRL ballot for Kansas Section Manager.

http://kc5fm.blogspot.com/2021/10/win-or-lose-league-is-more-than-one-ham.html gives up thinking on the section positions, if I am elected.  

If I am not elected, the leadership issue is still the SAME.  It takes a capable candidate at the helm.  The incumbent has done an admirable job over the years.

It takes more than one man to run a section.  If one man could do it, you would not need a Section Emergency Coordinator, Public Information Coordinator, Government Liaison, Section Club Coordinator, etc. and clubs would not need volunteer emergency coordinators and examiners.

No ... one man can't do it all.

Don't forget to vote.



--
Lloyd Colston, KC5FM
kc5fm.blogspot.com
Hamshack Hotline 50052

 

 

What's the Plan? #ARRL #hamradio

One of the top ten sayings is "When the WHY is clear, the HOW is easy."

The League has a new Chief Executive Officer.  The League has been on track for new and better operations.  

Do you know what the Plan is?  As a member, it's been clear that the membership needs to grow.  

Why? 

Because without income generated by memberships and sales, the League can't afford to do core operations.

What are they?

Service to  members, promotion of the amateur radio hobby, representation before Congress, the Federation Communications Commission, the International Amateur Radio Union, and keeping W1AW and W1HQ on the air, just to name a few.

Do you know what the plan for the Division and Section are?   No?  Ask your Section and Division leadership.  

IF you aim at nothing, you hit
IT EVERY TIME.

 

Win or lose, the League is more than one ham

"If we all do something, no one has to do it all."  

The League Field Operations relies on YOU.  Regardless of who wins the Kansas Section Manager election, someone has to do something.

As it stands right now, there are no changes planned in the section leadership.  In other words, those who are currently in place will remain in place IF they wish to remain in place.

However, if you desire to serve the Section in a particular job, the link is the place to start.  

Don't forget to vote.  

Ideas for Kansas #ARRL #hamradio

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Statewide system that allows someone in Kansas City on DMR to talk to someone in Dodge City on Dstar?

Other States have something like that.

Wouldn't it be nice to fully utilize Automatic Packet Reporting System to send a message from Chanute to Park City?  

Other States do that regularly, with even a net.

What ideas do you have for ham radio in Kansas?

#AMA Saturday and don't forget to vote. #ARRL #hamradio

Saturday, there's an Ask Me Anything online.  This is your change to get to know me and explain to me what some of the issues addressing the Kansas Section might be.

Issues so far have been the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the National Traffic System, better service to the League disabled members, attendance at club meetings, etc.

The last one first ... yes ... attendance at any gathering where the League is invited will happen, given time and budget constraints.  Obviously, an online forum is easier to support than a three-hour trek across the State.

Please take some time to join the effort Saturday at 10 a.m. Central time.

Join the meeting using one of these easy options:

    1) One Tap Mobile Dialing: +12678079611,,483359
    2) Tap here to have us call you: https://www.freeconferencecall.com/backup?dial_number=2678079611&access_code=483359
    3) Join online for Video and Screen Sharing: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kc5fm

Additional Options to connect:
    Dial-in number (US): (267) 807-9611
    Access code: 483359
    Find your local number: https://fccdl.in/i/kc5fm

    Having trouble connecting?
    Text 'Call Me' to (267) 807-9611 to receive a call back; then dial 483359 to join the meeting. Standard Messaging rates may apply.

Be informed about the choices and VOTE.  The only wasted vote is the one that goes in the trash.

 

Why Kansas Section Manager? #ARRL #hamradio

As I explained to a number of people over the last few weeks, the League is a representative organization.  In this order, however, with Jesus first, my family second, and then Ham Radio, those are the driving factors for me.

Ballots are mailed this month.  If you are a League member, you will get one.  PLEASE vote.  I will appreciate your vote.   The Incumbent will appreciate your vote.  You are a member.  The League represents you.  VOTE.

I'm willing to meet with any club to discuss the Section issues.  Please let me know the club meeting date and time.  If it's a virtual meeting, that would be great.

Speaking of virtual meeting, here's an "Ask Me Anything" October 9 at 10 am.  

Join the meeting using one of these easy options:

    1) One Tap Mobile Dialing: +12678079611,,483359
    2) Tap here to have us call you: https://www.freeconferencecall.com/backup?dial_number=2678079611&access_code=483359
    3) Join online for Video and Screen Sharing: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/kc5fm

Additional Options to connect:
    Dial-in number (US): (267) 807-9611
    Access code: 483359
    Find your local number: https://fccdl.in/i/kc5fm

    Having trouble connecting?
    Text 'Call Me' to (267) 807-9611 to receive a call back; then dial 483359 to join the meeting. Standard Messaging rates may apply.