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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 06 10 Other:Presented during Public Input-Mr. Mike Welch Date: June 10, 2013 This information was provided to the Mayor and City Commission during "Public Input" by Mr. Mike Welch at the June 10, 2013 City Commission Regular Meeting. Page 1 of 1 ie ,j r +' / WIAW i www.arri .org hUp://www.=I.orWRies/file/Field-Day/2013/2013FieldDayLogoWeb jpg 4/11/2013 What is Field D„ a +- a � � AMA E R�DfQ ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year,more than 35,000 radio amal ears gather with their clubs,groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations. Field Day is a picnic,a campout,practice for emergencies,an informal contest and,most of all,FUN! It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles.While some will treat it as a contest,other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public.For many clubs,ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar. The contest part is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and to Iearn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions. We use these same skills when we help with events such as marathons and bike-a thous;fund-raisers such as walk a thous;celebrations such as parades;and exhibits at fairs,malls and museums—these are all large,preplanned, non-emergency activities. But despite the development of very complex,modern communications systems—or maybe because they ARE so complex—ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio people(also called"hams")are well known for our communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations. What is the AM? The American Radio Relay League is the 150,000+member national association for Amateur Radio in the USA. ARRL is the primary source of information about what is going on in ham radio.It provides books,news,support and information for individuals and club,special events,continuing education classes and other benefits for its members. What is Amateur Radio Often called"ham radio,"the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century.In that time, it's grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology.Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most,however,are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice,data and pictures through the air to unusual places,both near and far,without depending on commercial systems. The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment,but can create whole new ways to do things. For More Information visit: www.arrl.org Updated: 1/2013 Commissioner Brown The Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society and the ARES / RACES Group would like to invite you to our 2013 Field Day which will take place from 2pm on June the 22 d through 2pm on June the 23`d at Central Winds Park we will operate for 24 continuous hours. We would like for you to join us and see what we can do for our community in the case of an emeragency. At 5pm on Saturday the 22' we are having a sit down dinner which you and your family are invited . We hope you will be able to join us and meet all the Amateur Radio Operaters that are there to help when Winter Springs needs us. FielaO i Executive Summary W W W.Blij.O{'9 Vieid Day- Amateur Radio Operators The Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society Central Winds Park Noon Saturday June 22nd to Noon Sunday June 23rd,2013 (Continuous) Seventy-five Amateur Radio Operators from Winter Springs and surrounding communities attempt to contact as many other"Hams"as possible in all 50 States. The event serves to test the ability of Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) to set-up two-way radio communications and operate continuously for 24-hours in hardship conditions,which demonstrates an ability to mitigate the loss of formal communications in the event of large scale natural disasters. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator,makes the point when he stated, "We get so sophisticated and we have gotten so used to the reliability and resilience in our wireless and wired and our broadcast industry and all of our public safety communications,that we can never fathom that they'll fail.They do.They have.They wiIl... (and)when you need Amateur Radio,you really need them."' The organization voluntarily staffs and operates an Amateur Radio Station year- round,located in the City of Winter Springs Police Department,enabling city managers to utilize last resort amateur radio services to stay in contact with county and state emergency management in the event of the loss of normal systems. The American Radio Relay League recognizes each participating organization and publishes the number of "contacts"made during the period,and awards bonus points to the organization if visited by an elected official during the operating period. Craig Fugate,Administrator of FEMA,in remarks made in May 2011 at the Earthquake Communications Preparedness Forum.