Hello all:

The National Weather Service has been busy the last few days!

As everyone knows (including the general public and our served agencies),
one of the best things we do is SkyWarn (R). In an effort to improve our ability to cover the entire Little Rock County Warning Area (CWA) (https://www.weather.gov/lzk/cwatxt.htm), we have a proposal for
repeater owners and trustees.

We propose to link any interested repeater via Allstar in order to cover
a particular area.

Joshua Carroll, AA5JC, the Section ASEC for SkyWarn (R), has a number of small-form computers, which could be used for this purpose, that he is
donating to this cause. The computer would be connected to the internet,
and in a location where a radio can reach the local repeater (the radio
is of the local ham's choice - Baofengs work fine).

The interface between the radio and the computer (https://github.com/skuep/AIOC/tree/master) is extremely low cost and
might prove to be a club project. Perhaps a club or an individual would
be willing to assemble the interface for those folks that would choose
that route.

All computer setup will be done before the computer is delivered. Hooking
up the interface to the radio and the computer will be largely plug and
play and will be the responsibility of the local hams.

In this arrangement, not all repeaters need to be linked at any one time. Smaller areas, even a single repeater, can be interfaced as the situation demands.

If you are in an area that is not currently served by a SkyWarn (R) net,
have a reliable internet connection, and a spare radio - please consider becoming a part of this solution. If this proposal works, we will be
the leading SkyWarn (R) operation in the nation in terms of coverage. We
think that is a worthy goal. Please join this effort to build a Next
Level SkyWarn (R) service with us.

If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact AA5JC
by email at joshua.carroll@adem.arkansas.gov.

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ARRL Arkansas Section
Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE
n5lke@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Field Day (24/25 June) is here at the end of this week, are you, your
team and /or club ready?

Full rules and well as some FAQ's links are provided below.

Field Day Full Rules:
http://www.arrl.org/field-day-rules

Field Day Packet: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2023/2023%20Field%20Day %20Packet%20v2.pdf

(above URL all on one line)

Field Day Station Locator:
https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Field Day FAQ's: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2023/1_62-%20FD%20FAQ.pdf

Speaking of getting ready for Field Day, give some thought to reaching
out to those you and your club helped get their ticket recently. Extend
them an invitation and help get them on the air, if you are comfortable
with being around others.For many this could be their first ever
contact, for others it may provide the spark to upgrade.

I hope that you will all have a wonderful Field Day event and look
forward to working you on the air during the event. Please stay safe
and practice social distancing.

The Arkansas Section was proud to accept this years Amateur Radio Week Proclamation (18th June thru the 25th June) from Governor Sarah
Huckabee Sanders on 12 June 2023.

Thanks to "The Mayor" KD5LBE for facilitating the Amateur Radio Week Proclamation!

Arkansas Governor's 20230 Amateur Radio Week Proclamation download
link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18XMZiYF9VO6hiYcLIhIRcw6fNlwNxIny/ view?usp=drive_link

(above URL all on one line)

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Arkansas Section
Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE
n5lke@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Hello all:

As a young ham, I was thoroughly intimidated by the mere thought of
Field Day. "It's fun!", my Elmers told me. I was afraid of not saying
the right thing, or doing something stupid on the air. Worse, I might
break somebody's radio!

None of that bad stuff happened, and I eventually learned that it's now
my turn to encourage new hams. I hope that's what you do, too. For me,
part of the fun of Ham Radio is seeing the light come on in someone's
eyes!

Field Day is more than fun. It happens to be the single largest
operating event in the Amateur world. It truly is an exercise and a
training. You should receive credit for your effort. Don't miss out on
sending the personnel/hours in. The more we report the better it looks.

Thanks!

I hope everyone had a good time at Field Day, and had an opportunity to
see a new ham fall in love with Ham Radio.

73,

J.M.

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ARRL Arkansas Section
Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE
n5lke@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)

Hello friends,

I hope everyone had a great Holiday and remembered why we have that day.
I know my family did. I think there were 90 people at the potluck!

I wanted to update folks on the AUXCOMM classes, and preparations for the
April Eclipse. We are scheduling classes in every ADEM Region. We have
already done the one in NW, and all but SE is on the website. The SE one
will be listed in the not-too-distant future. Please get registered and
make plans to attend whichever one works better for your calendar.

Remember these are State-Sponsored classes, so reimbursements for Lodging
and meals are available subject to the rules. Get with your County
Emergency Manager (or me) to help understand those rules, and the prerequisites.

We will accept individuals without ham radio licenses, but they must be affiliated with an Authority Having Jurisdiction or some response agency.
This is a link to the ADEM Training Schedule and Registration Page:

https://www.dps.arkansas.gov/emergency-management/adem/training-exercise/ training/emergency-management-training-schedule/

(above URL all on one line)

There is another opportunity for Training and an associated exercise
that I want to bring to your attention. The Red River Comms Boot Camp
will be teaching every course for every position listed in the FEMA
Incident Command Communications Unit. There will be a day devoted to
exercises, so students will have a great chance to get some of their
taskbook signed. John Minard and I will be teaching AUXCOMM at this
event.

This is not an Arkansas State Sponsored event, so no reimbursement.

I have been told these classes are filling fast, so if this one is
right for you, do not wait to register. This is the link to that website:

https://central-states-comms.org/2023-red-river-comms-boot-camp/

We have the right circumstances right now, to get the right training,
to be the right volunteers to assist our communities. I'm not convinced
this will ever happen again, especially considering the pressure from
the Eclipse. Let's do it!

Please share this message with anyone interested, and especially groups
and organizations that might be affected.

Thank you very much!

J.M. Rowe N5XFW

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Arkansas Section
Section Manager: James D Ferguson Jr, N5LKE
n5lke@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (954:895/7)