Winnebago County ARES/Skywarn

Meeting Minutes

May 28, 2011

 Attendees:

Pat Aimers, Linda Aimers, Joe Burchardt, Bob Fitch, Mike Heckel, Eric Hultgren, Chuck Ingle, Rick Jensen, Will Lund, Wayne Snell

Topics:

Discussed

Attendance for meetings, nets, training

Field Day

Prairie Triathlon

Hospital Test June 18^th

Alternating Meeting times

ARES application changes

On the Waterfront

Topics to be discussed at next meeting:

Red Cross

Tornado Review from May 25^th net

ESDA

Repeater Processes

ARES is not a right – it is a privilege

It was unanimous amongst the attendees that there is a lack of participation with some members.  The resolution of this issue was:

Each member is expected to participate in ¼ of all ARES functions to include, nets, meetings and events.

• All members must be trained and certified as a spotter for Skywarn

• All members must be Net Control Trained and take a turn as the NCS during a net.

• All members must complete the NIMS training as set forth previously.

• Every NCS , AEC , event coordinator must email the list of participants/checkins to the ARES coordinator at lstolfa2003@yahoo.com in order to maintain records.

• Unanimous decision was that those members not meeting the ¼ criteria will be put on “reserve auxiliary” status.

• Consideration for future discussion is a possible point value system and/or reward system for those meeting the ¼ participation requirement.

Field Day June 25th

No media or public invitation is to be given for this event

Bob Fitch has offered to bring his motor home for use during the event

Possible locations; 440 site, Riverside Park, Pat Aimers home, Kieselburg Forest Preserve.

Mike Heckel checking on availability with the Park District

Prairie Triathlon

Chuck is still looking for assistance with this event.  Contact Chuck Ingle @ 815-979-1049.

Hospital Test June 18^th

St. Anthony Hospital – Chuck Ingle

Rockford Memorial Hospital – Mike Heckel checking to see if he is available and Joe Burchardt

Swedish American Hospital – Wayne Snell and Will Lund

On the Waterfront

Joe Burchardt to make contact for the event with consideration to setting event for fund raising for Red Cross.

Meeting Time Changes

It was a unanimous decision that we create an alternate day in order to help those with time constraints have the ability to attend meetings other than the 4^th Saturday of each month.  It was agreed that every other month the meeting be held on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm .  The location is the same for all meetings ( Ingersoll Building on the grounds of Rockford Memorial Hospital , classroom 1 and/or 2).

Meeting Schedule (there will be no simplex net on the Wednesday meeting nights):

Wednesday, June 22^nd

Saturday, July 23^rd

Wednesday, August 27^th

Saturday, September 24^th

Wednesday, October 22^nd

Saturday, November 26^th

No Meeting for December due to the holidays

ARES Application Changes

It was a unanimous decision that we make changes to the ARES application to include an area for applicant to describe why he/she wants to be a member of ARES and another area to include a question verifying that the individual is willing to participate in ¼ of all functions to include being a NCS , participation in events and meetings.  Application will be modified by ARES coordinator and reviewed at next meeting.

If you have a topic you would like to be discussed or you would like to present at a future meeting, submit an email to the ARES coordinator at lstolfa2003@yahoo.com  in advance of the next meeting to provide an agenda for that meeting.