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Session 01: Managing the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Function

Jerry Boyd, KW7J, discusses the specific management responsibilities which Emergency Coordinators and other EmComm managers have. He provides helpful information for such managers on how to efficiently and effectively accomplish those tasks.

Jerry Boyd is a retired Police Chief and former volunteer Fire Chief and a licensed amateur since 1958. He is a former ARRL PIO, EC, SEC, SM (Sacramento Valley Section) and Assistant Director. Author of five books, two on law enforcement subjects, three (currently published by Worldradio) on amateur radio emergency communications. He is also the author of dozens of articles in professional and amateur radio journals. Jerry recently became the Director of the Baker County, Oregon Consolidated 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. He also currently serves as a public safety consultant and university/college instructor on law enforcement/public safety topics. He is a Volunteer Examiner and a Mentor in the ARRL EmComm Courses. Current amateur radio interests in addition to emergency communications include DXing and contesting. He is a member of the Snake River Contest Club (NK7U) and founder/president of the Cops Contest Club. His current community involvements are as a Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team member and American Red Cross Instructor. He currently serves as District 6 Emergency Coordinator for Baker, Grant, Harney and Malheur Counties, Oregon ARES/RACES.

Session 02: Emergency Communications Level I and II

The Level I Emergency Communications course will overview the ARRL Level I course and will serve as part of the classroom portion of instruction for people who wish to sign up for the Level I Hybrid class. A hybrid section will be offered by the ARRL, mentored by Terry Dettmann, WX7S that will lead to a Level I certification. The course when taken with other courses in the Academy curriculum, provides all of the knowledge needed for certification. Attendees will receive specific information about obtaining certification at the class.

The Level II Emergency Communications course will overview the ARRL Level II course and will serve as part of the classroom portion of instruction for people who sign up for the Level II Hybrid class. A hybrid section will be offered by the ARRL, mentored by Terry Dettmann, WX7S that will lead to a Level II certification. The course covers advanced emergency communications topics relevant to a communications supervisor or team leader.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Terry Dettmann, WX7S, has been licensed for more than 40 years, he's a Life Member of the ARRL and QCWA. Terry has an advanced degree in physics and has done doctoral work in Astrophysics and Electrical Engineering. He spent 11 years as a Naval Officer and has been a consultant and System Architect since that time. During that time, he's worked with MARS, ARES, RACES, and a number of clubs and organizations to provide amateur radio support for a variety of projects and events. He is a VE, OES and TS. The Mike and Key Club recently appointed Terry as their Radio Officer. Terry's main technical interests in Amateur Radio are Antennas and Low Power operation. He is an ARRL Certified Instructor and Online Mentor for all levels in the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses. In 2001, the ARRL appointed Terry as the Mentor Coordinator for the online Emergency Communications courses. Terry currently is mentoring courses in Antenna Modeling, Emergency Communications, HF Digital Communications and Radio Frequency Interference. Terry currently works for SGC Inc. in Bellevue, Washington specializing in HF Communications equipment.

Session 03: National Disaster Medical System; Communications in Catastrophic Medical Emergencies

This session will present an overview of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) that provides support to local areas with mass casualty incidents. The session will also discuss the communication capabilities of the response teams within this system, and the challenges for effective communication in a multiagency response.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Captain Andy Stevermer is a member of the U.S. Public Health Service currently assigned to the newly created Department of Homeland Security. As an Emergency Coordinator in this department, Andy is responsible for coordination of Federal medical resources needed to support local communities at the time of a disaster including the National Disaster Medical System. He has extensive experience responding to a variety of disasters, both domestic and international.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Jon Bridenbaugh, Communications Officer, WA-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team

Session 04: Broadband over Power Lines - Around the world and in Washington State

Discussion of what BPL is, who will be adversely affected by BPL, and the current status in Washington State.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: WWA Section Manager Ed Bruette, N7NVP is a retired US Navy Submarine Communications Officer who was first licensed in 1988 and became active in emergency communications the following year. He served as Kitsap Co. ARES Emergency Coordinator for 4 years, Assist. State RACES Officer for 4.5 years, ARES WWA Section Emergency Coordinator for 5 years and currently is the State RACES Officer. Additionally he has held several elected positions in the North Kitsap Amateur Radio Club and the Western WA Amateur Relay Assoc.

Session 05: Emergency Communications Using IRLP and Echolink

Following a brief background history of EchoLink, explanations of the wide diversity of uses will include demonstrations. Talk to anyone, anywhere in the world, at any time from your HT as long as a local repeater has EchoLink or IRLP capabilities.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Dan Miller, K3UFG, was born and raised in Erie, PA, where he received his first ham license in 1962 as KN3UFG. Following high school, he did a 4-year tour in Vietnam and Germany with the Army Security Agency as a communications center specialist. Skills learned led him to a newspaper composing room apprenticeship and a career as a journeyman typographer. Thanks to widespread use of desktop publishing, a career move was necessary. In April, 1997, he assumed the position of Educational Activities Correspondent at ARRL HQ. Early in 2000, he was tapped to develop the Certification and Continuing Education Program. In summer of 2002, he became the Emergency Communications Course Manager.

Lunch and Incident Response Information System software (IRIS) demonstration.

Session 06: Traffic Handling **

This class covers the importance of Public Service in Amateur Radio, and the importance of proper message-handling. Discussion of the twelve parts of a formal NTS message. How to make a message; routing an NTS message worldwide. What is the relevance of NTS in today's World?

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Jere Felton, W7TVA, holds a degree in Electronics Engineering. He has Commercial, as well as Amateur Radio Licenses. He is a Radio Officer, United States Merchant Marine; and is Net Manager for the NTS Noon Time Net.

Session 07: Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest: Where, when, and how?

The instructor will focus on the three earthquake sources in Cascadia, new evidence for previously unidentified faults, and what past earthquakes tell us about future earthquake hazards in western Washington.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Brian Sherrod is a research geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Seattle, Washington. He received a B.S. in Geology from James Madison University in Virginia, a M.S. in Geology for the University of Pittsburgh, and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Washington. His main area of research is paleoseismology of western Washington - basically he looks for evidence of past earthquakes in the geological record. He is currently working on evidence for surface ruptures along the Seattle fault zone, the Tacoma fault zone between Tacoma and Hood Canal, and coastal uplift and surface rupture along the southern Whidbey Island fault zone.

Session 08: Radio 101 - Basic Communications over a repeater

For the newer operators, and those who just want to learn more basics.This course will answer questions: What is a repeater? Why do we need one? What are all beeps and burgles I hear coming out of the repeater. What to do if I don't hear the repeater very well? What is a net? What do I do when a net is in operation.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: To come.

Session 09: Hazardous Material Awareness Certification Course

Class covers the identification of the presence of hazardous materials, recognizing hazmat spills, protective actions, warnings and notifications, and the initiation of the employer's plan. Certification of competency meets federal and state minimum requirements. Class is a total of four hours in two parts. There is a certification exam at the end of the class. Course size is limited to 20 people.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Rich Tokarzewski is a Program Coordinator for the King County Office of Emergency Management. His assignments include the Hazardous Materials Program, coordination of disaster exercises, and the recovery program. His duties include the writing, exercising and coordinating of the King County Hazardous Materials Plan with municipalities and response agencies at federal, state and local levels. An extension of his duties involves working with businesses and responders in King County on training, compliance and outreach projects. One of his current assignments is the emergency management liaison to the Homeland Security Training and Exercise Committee. Rich was King County's lead designer for TopOff 2. He joined King County Emergency Management in August 1992. Rich earned a BA in Chemistry from Rutgers University and an AAS in Hazardous Materials Management from South Seattle Community College. He earned the CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager) designation in 1994.

Break

Session 10: Tactical Communications and Managing an Emergency Net – Beyond 24 Hours!

Tactical and Formal Communications - Overview of methods to convey more information in less time by voice and data circuits

Managing an Emergency Net Beyond 24 hours: Most of our drills and exercises only last for a few hours. What happens when the real event happens, and the mission goes on for several days or longer? This open forum discussion will be an exchange of ideas about the things that happen over time and need to be paid attention to by the Net Manager of an Emergency Communications Group that is in it "for the long-haul"

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Carlos Smith, AA7SB Played with Archer Children's Band HTs as a kid; US Coast Guard Radioman 1974-1980 aboard icebreaker USCGC Polar Star, 13th CG District Commcen, USCGC Campbell, and Radar Station San Juan, PR (High Speed CW); Radio/Electronics Officer DoC/NOAA 1982-1988 ship and shore duty; currently Tech Coordinator for FAA NAS Implementation Center, Seattle, WA.; Currently Asst Radio Officer, Medical Services Communications Team.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Allan Kush, WV7R, Currently Radio Officer, W. Washington Medical Services Communications Team; Past State Director, Washington State Army MARS; trained ARMY MARS members in Net operations, message handling and formats

Session 11: Amateur Radio is NOT a Last Resort!

This two-hour seminar will include background information, group discussion of multiple disaster scenarios, testimonies from ARES leadership, ARECC mentors and students, discussion about the ARRL EmComm courses, and a quiz to determine personal preparedness

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Dan Miller, K3UFG, was born and raised in Erie, PA, where he received his first ham license in 1962 as KN3UFG. Following high school, he did a 4-year tour in Vietnam and Germany with the Army Security Agency as a communications center specialist. Skills learned led him to a newspaper composing room apprenticeship and a career as a journeyman typographer. Thanks to widespread use of desktop publishing, a career move was necessary. In April, 1997, he assumed the position of Educational Activities Correspondent at ARRL HQ. Early in 2000, he was tapped to develop the Certification and Continuing Education Program. In summer of 2002, he became the Emergency Communications Course Manager.

Session 12: Spokane Red Cross Emergency Communications Response Vehicle (ECRV)

Discussion and demonstration (show-n-tell) of the new Red Cross Emergency Communication Vehicles that were recently rolled out to chapters across the country. The ECRVs can be used to create an ad hoc repeater at that frequency using the JPS switch and autopatch, which will also allow UHF and VHF HTs operating on Red Cross UHF and VHF frequencies to cross-band repeat on 47.42MHz. The projected result of this would be less reliance on strictly amateur radio frequencies for tactical Red Cross radio operations. Instead, hams would be used as net control operators on Red Cross frequencies, and as trainers of non-hams in radio procedures. The real purpose behind the ECRV is to enable delivery of advanced wireless telecommunications systems (computer networks, IP telephones, etc.) to get Disaster Operations Centers at Level 4 and 5 (and probably some Level 3) disasters up and running ASAP. Once the initial assignment is completed, ECRVs typically do other disaster communications jobs. Enhanced satellite Internet capability will take over a lot of the DWI (disaster welfare inquiries) work that hams once did for the Red Cross.

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Gary Webbenhurst, AB7NI, has been active in the Red Cross, and disaster communications for more than 20 years. He is the Assistant Communications Officer for the Inland Northwest (Spokane) Chapter of the American Red Cross. He holds an extra class ham license AB7NI. Gary writes the Bright Ideas column in the scanning hobby magazine Monitoring Times.

Session 13: Hazardous Materials Awareness Certification – Part 2 of 2; see #9 for details