Folks…  We had an excellent meeting today which was hosted by Mecklenburg County.  I want to thank Mecklenburg County EC John WB2NHQ for setting up the meeting and as you’ll read later, an excellent special presentation.  With the new addition of Cleveland County ARES, for the first time we had representatives from all seven counties in the district at the meeting.  Attending were: Greg KI4GZO from Burke, Joe W1FAI and Dorney KG4YNM from Catawba, Susan K4ZXN & Todd KG4UZT & Ben KM4C of Cleveland County, Jim KI4OCC & Milt KC4YOT from Gaston County, Cliff WD4PIC & James KF4URY & Sam KI4RVI out of Lincoln County, John WB2NHQ & Brian KF4VOO from Mecklenburg County, and Micah W4MLE & Greg KI4RBB & Jack KF4KNL out of Union County.  I have attached a picture of the AREA 13 EC’s standing in front of the new Mecklenburg Red Cross ECRV (Emergency Communication Response Vehicle).

The EC’s from each county gave a wrap up of their Simulated Emergency Test from last fall.  We also discussed the suspension of the AREA 13 HF Net due to poor band conditions.  I asked all attendee’s for their help in considering something other than HF for the net.

Under New Business, we discussed the following 2008 goals:
1.) To have all EC’s and AEC’s certified in IS-100, 200, and 700 by the April meeting
2.) To have 50% of all ARES members in each county certified in IS-100, 200, & 700 buy July 1st
3.)Establish a AREA 13 database of all certified ARES members in AREA 13
4.)Have an AREA 13 web page up and running by the April meeting
The EC’s then gave an update on their county activity since the last AREA 13 District Meeting.  
Following the conclusion of the business portion of the meeting, John WB2NHQ put on an excellent power point presentation on the new ECRV.  In the presentation he also went into the details of the vehicle (chassis specifications & on board equipment) and the history of  Mecklenburg’s request for the vehicle.

It was decided that the next meeting would be held on April 26th and will be hosted by Cleveland County ARES in Shelby.  Please hold that date open!  In the meantime, thank you all for all that you do!  73

Bob DeWitt K4RLD
DEC
AREA 13
1/26/08

Front Row L to R   Lincoln County - Cliff  (WD4PIC), Cleveland County - Susan (K4ZXN), Burke County - Greg (KI4GZD)
Back Row L to R  Union County - Micah (W4MLE),  Gaston County - James (KI4OCC), Mecklenburg County - John (WB2NHQ)
and Catawba County - Joe (W1FAI)