Ohio ARES - District 10 - District-Wide Exercise - 2010-03-20

First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the District-Wide Exercise for OH ARES Tenth District.  It was a wonderful success by all means.  But I could not have done it without the Exercise Control Team (ECT).  There is no way for me to be in five counties at once so I recruited a few hams to help me.  Many thanks go to Mike Volesky KD8JUF, Jack N8XUA, Pete N8WGE, and Eddie KD8FTS for being there when I needed them.  Mike and I worked together for many weeks on the exercise development.  He also was the evaluator/observer for Lake County during the exercise.  Jack did a great job gathering intel prior to the exercise.  He was also the evaluator/observer for Ashtabula County.  Eddie did an amazing job adding information to the http://www.ohioares10.org website.  He made a webpage just for the exercise.  In doing so, he also added up to date information as the exercise progressed.  I also recruited Pete N8WGE but he got called from his real world job to assist in the funeral for the Elyria Police Officer.  The ECT did a very nice job with helping me oversee the exercise.

I would like to thank the Emergency Coordinators and their Assistants for all their hard work.  Your time and effort really paid off.  A congratulations goes to Ashtabula County AEC Tim Price, K8WFL.  This was his first exercise as Acting EC.  For those that do not know, Richard Madison KC8FNJ, will be stepping down as EC effective March 31st.  Dick has been a great EC for the last 3 years and his service will not be forgotten.  He has named Tim as his successor and knowing Tim, he is ready for the job at hand.  Good luck Tim and you did nice job during the exercise.

I would be terrible if I did not thank one person who worked behind the scenes.  My xyl, Lynnette KB1LGB, who provided an awesome meal for all participants at my house following the exercise.  If you did not make it to the house, you missed out on delicious pulled BBQ beef sandwiches and Lynnette's homemade potato salad.  In Tenth District, I believe in taking care of people.  I know I cannot double your volunteer pay but at least I can feed you well.  Thanks to Lynnette, we always have amazing food at all Tenth District Training Events.

I am very interested in feedback.  Someone once told me feedback is a gift.  I am not talking about holding the microphone next to the speaker while transmitting, hi hi.  At the bottom of this page, you'll see Exercise Feedback Survey.  This is your chance to be heard and be put into the history books.  Please complete the survey and send to my attention.  You can print it, scan it, email it.  You can snail mail it to me.  You can even bring it to me at my place of employment.  If, for some reason, you cannot get the form, just let me know and I get one to you.  Surveys should be in no later than Monday, April 5th.  The absolute cut-off date is close of business Saturday, April 10th.

In conclusion, often times, the things we do for amateur radio are not glamorous.  Sometimes, the things we do for amateur radio may not seem significant.  But, I assure you, in the grand scheme of things, your effort matters.  The Exercise Control Team is only one piece of the puzzle.  It's the ham radio volunteer at ground zero who really made this exercise happen.  I cannot stress enough, volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization.  Spread the word.  Bring a friend.  Many hams make light work.

Thanks again to all.  Stay tuned to http://www.ohioares10.org for future updates on the happenings in Tenth District.  Don't forget about the District Twitter page as well.  http://twitter.com/ARESDistrict10

73 de Matt W8DEC

On Saturday, March 20, 2010 there will be a District-Wide Exercise from 8 AM to 2 PM. Volunteers in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, or Lorain counties should contact the Emergency Coordinator of your county for more information. Volunteers in other counties, outside of District 10, can contact the District 10 Emergency Coordinator, Matt Welch, W8DEC, for information.

Lunch will be provided, for all District Wide Exercise participants, at 12:30 PM, at the home of the District Emergency Coordinator, Matt Welch, W8DEC. If you are planning on attending the lunch, please RSVP to Matt, W8DEC, by March 17, 2010.

Documents pertaining to the District-Wide Exercise are now available online.

Details of the District-Wide Exercise on 2010-03-20 will be listed here as they become available:

• 9:30am - All 2-meter nets are on the air and operational.
• 10:00am - All staging areas are reported to be open and operational.
• 10:30am - Contact has been made, via 6-meters, with Crawford County, Pennsylvania and Erie County, Pennsylvania to coordinate relief efforts.
• The exercise ended at 12:00 noon.