Greetings! Who knows if anyone is still following this blog but I’m still here and it’s time I started posting again. I’ve been absent because other aspects of my life have taken priority and I didn’t have any time or energy left to blog here. My priorities have changed and I find that I want to get more active and on the air. I also have recommitted myself to becoming an active and helpful member of the Seattle ACS.
The first thing that’s coming up is the 2011 Communications Academy. This is weekend long conference in Seattle dedicated to high quality emergency communications training. Sadly I didn’t make it to the 2010 conference but the years I have attended were very useful. I don’t expect 2011 to be any less. The problem with the large amount of information that will be presented over the weekend is that I can’t attend all the sessions that are offered. I have to pick and choose, so here are my choices for this year’s conference:
Saturday
09:30 Keynote – Reality Check: The four stages of ARES
10:45 Message Forms & Duty Logs: What You Really Need When You're Activated...
12:00 Lunch – Networking
13:30 EAS for Emergency Communications
15:15 A Review of the Honshu 9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami
Sunday
09:30 Keynote – Interoperability in the state of Washington and the Importance of Amateur Radio Process
10:45 Communication Hubs: A Grassroots Concept
12:00 Lunch – The Willy Wonka Factory of Communications
13:30 Antennas for Emergency Communications
15:00 Low-Cost Portable Email Gateways
Other than the sessions there will be a display of emergency communications vehicles and while I can’t afford some of the most shiny versions that city, county and state government groups might have I should be able to pick up a few ideas for improving my own vehicle. There will also be some exhibitors, a portable radio contest and even some prizes. The cost for the entire weekend is $65 if you pay in advance or $75 at the door. This cost includes lunch on both days and I believe is an excellent value for what I will gain from attending. Once I’m done I’ll try to post up some of my experiences and what I learned.
73 de N0BML
