Welcome to the Alger Amateur Radio Emergency Service Homepage

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ALGER AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE

[email protected]

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 A fundamental tenet of ham radio training is providing emergency and public service communications to one’s community, region, state and nation in a time of need whether that need is to respond to natural or manmade disasters, search and rescue operations, severe weather as often occurs in the Upper Peninsula, participant safety and power outages resulting in lost or diminished communications. As both service training and to have fun and enjoyment hams have provided communications at marathons, dog sled races, car rallies and other such events.

This need for public service and emergency communications continues to grow and that fact combined with the continued progression of technology means that amateurs wishing to become or remain involved with public service and emergency communication must continually improve his or her skills and knowledge base.

A key avenue for such involvement, training and skill development is ARES, Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Although ARES is a program of ARRL, the structure is more supportive than directive in nature, providing for mutual aid in the event of large-scale emergencies.

The ARES program in Alger County has been dormant for a prolonged period. By reason of this fact, Alger ARES is being formed with an emphasis on volunteer training and community service. To further assist this ARES operation an Alger ARES website has been developed, http://qsl.net/aares, which site will continue to be augmented with explanations, resources and resource links. Three area hams, Ken KC9QV, Lee KA5NHU and Tim KD8ZYW have been engaged in revitalizing the program and establishing an environment in which it may grow. Under their combined leadership Alger ARES will operate autonomously from AARC (Alger Amateur Radio Club) and any radio club or organization.

Every volunteer needs to be trained in order to provide appropriate support in the event of an emergency or even a non-emergency event; every volunteer needs to be equipped with sustaining skills; every volunteer needs to prepare his or her family in the event the volunteer’s services are called upon.

The function of this Alger ARES is to organize the local volunteers and provide the training that the volunteer will need. Much of the intended training will be self-directed in the form of FEMA courses. This training will be augmented with table top exercises, equipment training, net control training, familiarization with Alger County and regional emergency management plans and other pertinent topics.

If Alger ARES interests you as an endeavor with which you would like to be an integral part, consider this letter as an invitation to submit an application. An application form and our first table top exercise are attached. Please, complete both and return them via email to aarescty@gmail,com or to the below address by March 10, 2017. If you have questions they may also be directed to this email address. This invitation is being sent to those with an email address known to us. Should you have others in mind whom you think would be a good addition to the group of volunteers, please, pass along to us their name(s) and email address if you know it and have their consent in order that we may invite their participation, as well. If you do not have their email address, notify us of their identity and we will endeavor to invite them by regular mail. Our first meeting is planned for spring 2017. At that meeting we will present more of Alger ARES program and commence Part 2 of the exercise.

Thank you and we look forward to your interest and participation.

73

Ken KC9QV, Lee KA5NHU & Tim KD8ZYW
Emergency Co-Coordinators

US Mail Contact:
Alger ARES c/o Tim Hass
1000 W. State Hwy. M-28 Unit 6
Munising, MI 49862