2011 Conference Recap

Click here to view the 2011 Conference slideshow (If your browser does not allow popups, then click here.)
Getting Started
	The Conference began at 9:00 am with registration in the Wisconsin Rapids McMillian Memorial Library. The people there were so generous with their facility and assistance it would be hard to imagine how we would have done it without them. Librarians Rock! (Note 2)
Conference Welcome and Introductions
	*"Mutual Aid: Being There for Each Other"* served as the theme of the 2011 Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference held in Wisconsin Rapids on October 22, with 79 present. ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Gary Sorensen, W9ULK, served as facilitator of the conference." (Note 1)
Wecomm Ltd Network Update

Bill Niemuth, KB9ENO, took the podium and brought us all up to speed on the network that Wecomm Ltd is putting together in Wisconsin. The seond and third photos are from his Powerpoint presentation and they give an overview of WeComm and then a coverage pattern of the existing WeComm system repeaters. (Note 2)
You and your Wisconsin ARRL Section

"Former SEC Bill Niemuth, KB9ENO, reported on the organization that is building a statewide linked repeater system (see section above), while Section Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG (photo 1), presented the DEC of the Year award to Ed Jacobsen, KB9KJE, immediate past DEC for the Northwest District. (Photo 2) Howard Fischer, KC9IVJ, Juneau County EC, won the EC of the Year award. (Photo 3) Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR, updated the group on the Wisconsin ARES/RACES Winlink Net, and on the free computer distribution program he runs." [Kaplan has distributed 600 computers to various ARES/RACES groups over the past 17 years.] (Photo 4)"(Note 1)
ARES/RACES and Social Media
During this portion of the 2011 Conference, Drew Smith, KC9LJK, brought us up to date on the impact of Social Media like Twitter and Facebook are changing our world of communications. He included some information on how to start working in this internet based form of contacting the general population to our benefit. (Note 2)
"We Need You!"
	Our Special Guest Speaker, Steve Sell spent 41 years in some form of Public Service including EMT, county dispatcher, county jailer, Ripon Patrol Officer, firefighter, corrections officer, constable, state trooper, County Sheriff, Executive Director and Administrator. Steve talked to us about how important Amateur Radio had been to him during his various duties in Public Service. (Note 2)
How Our Involvement in Emergency Response Has Changed Since 9/11 - YOUR Stories.

"Wisconsin Northeast DEC Dave Levorson, N9KNY, ran a session with input from attendees on "How Our Involvement in Emergency Response Has Changed Since 9/11 - YOUR Stories." (Note 1) This session was held during the lunch break which was provided for a small fee by a Wisconsin Rapids Church organization. (Note 2)
Taking Ham Radio into Your School
	"Winnebago County EC Kyle Schaefer, KC9SDK, gave a presentation on how to approach "Taking Ham Radio into Your School" on working with primary and secondary school teachers and students to integrate ham radio into science programs." (Note 1)
Why we do some of the crazy stuff we do

*"Wisconsin Chief RACES Radio Officer Skip Sharpe, W9REL, spoke on why we must integrate ICS into ARES/RACES in order to become a credentialed part of the incident response team*." (Note 1)
Activation and SET Review
"Dan Lenz, KB9IME, Assistant SEC for Training talked about mutual aid and also conducted a review of the recent statewide SET (Simulated Emergency Test)." (Note 1)
"The Wisconsin ARES/RACES Web site has been revitalized through the efforts of a committee headed by Assistant SEC for Marketing and Recruiting Kathy Schramm, KB9UAZ, and Webmaster Richard Engel, K9RWE. Check out the Twitter Feeds shown on the home page for ARES/RACES and also from Ready Wisconsin, Wisconsin Emergency Management. Immediate alerting and messaging to the membership is possible by following the Twitter Feed and arranging for it to forward messages to a cell phone." (Note 1)
Click here to view the 2011 Conference slideshow (If your browser does not allow popups, then click here.)
(Note 1) -- reported by Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR and submitted with notes added by Gary Sorensen, W9ULK, SEC, Wisconsin ARES/RACES. The original text can be seen at: http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2011-11-16 (Note 2) -- additional notes by the website editor.

Wisconsin ARES/RACES

The 2011 ARES/RACES Conference Recap

(Poster design by S. Schweitzer KC9TZW)