VA RACES Training October 16, 2004

Virginia RACES is hosting free training on Saturday, October 16, 2004, 8:30AM in the Technology Theater, Workforce Development Center, Paul D. Camp Community College, 100 North College Drive, Franklin, VA 23851. http://www.pc.cc.va.us/
The Technology Theater has a tiered, semi-circular arrangement with seating for up to 124 persons at fixed tables. http://www.pc.vccs.edu/workforce/picture_update.htm

ALL amateur radio operators are welcome, although pre-registration is required due to the limited seating. Please use the training session registration page
http://www.varaces.org/SessionReg.php

This session will provide an in-depth look at the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS) protocols and message formats, personal preparedness, and terrorism awareness as well as a review of typical amateur radio emergency concepts. This is an excellent opportunity for new amateur radio operators to become familiar with emergency communications principles and benefit from the fellowship with other amateur radio operators.

Talk-in will be on the Franklin repeater -- 147.300 MHz (131.8).

There is a vending area near the Theater and a variety of eateries on nearby Armory Drive and downtown Franklin.

For further information, please contact Fred Weaver, kg4bki@sera.org.

Directions To Paul D. Camp Community College Franklin Campus:
Regional Workforce Development Center
100 North College Drive
Franklin, VA 23851
757-569-6700

To Franklin Campus from Richmond:
Take 95 South
Go approximately 32 miles and take Courtland Exit 41 (301, 35, 156 South)
Stay on 35 until you get into Courtland (32 miles)
Keep through Courtland (over RR tracks)
Get in left lane
At Intersection, turn left on 58 East (about 3 miles)
Follow 58 East Bypass to Franklin (approximately 5 miles)
Take Exit 671 (Armory Drive/Downtown Franklin)
Take a left onto Armory Drive
Get in inside lane and take a left onto College Drive at the fourth traffic light
PDCCC Franklin Campus & Regional Workforce Development Center will be on the right.

To Franklin Campus from Norfolk:
From I-64/I-264, take 58 West
Follow 58 West Bypass through Suffolk to Franklin
Take Exit 671 (Armory Drive/Downtown Franklin)
Take a right onto Armory Drive
Get in inside lane and take a left onto College Drive at the fourth traffic light
PDCCC Franklin Campus & Regional Workforce Development Center will be on the right.

To Franklin Campus from Hampton/Chesapeake:
Take I-664 or I-64 (whichever is closer) to 58 West exit to Suffolk
Follow 58 West Bypass through Suffolk to Franklin
Take Exit 671 (Armory Drive/Downtown Franklin)
Take a right onto Armory Drive
Get in inside lane and take a left onto College Drive at the fourth traffic light
PDCCC Franklin Campus & Regional Workforce Development Center will be on the right.

Amateurs from North Carolina or other states bordering Virginia are welcome to register for this free training. 73

 

The Loudoun Amateur Radio Group conducted a joint ARES / RACES training session in September which was a big success. This was the first of several open training events which will be conducted around the state. The next training session will be in Franklin, VA on October 16 - see accompanying event item.

Tom Dawson WB3AKD, ARES EC for Loudoun County uses Virginia RACES training as the benchmark for his ARES group in Northern Virginia. Dawson co-presented the all-day training session with Virginia RACES State Emergency Radio Officer Steve Cuccio.

The session included modules on ARES / RACES mission, structure and organization; National Incident Management System, Incident Command System, ICS message handling, Personal and Family Preparedness, and Terrorism Awareness. Tom Dawson is one of a dozen peer reviewers recruited from outside the VA RACES organization who ensure that VA RACES training is relevant across all amateur radio organizations, meeting professional public safety standards for content and presentation.

While some amateurs feel there are (strong) differences when the ARES and RACES organizations are split, Dawson's group supports both organizations. Virginia ARRL Section Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC is very supportive of these joint efforts towards bridge building. Despite tornadoes spawned the previous late Friday evening from Hurricane Ivan, 33 out of 40 registered, attended the training, even though some had been up all night. The majority of attendees were not VA RACES members, but staunch ARRL ARES supporters.

Luke AD4MG, the VA RACES state digital officer rode up from Richmond to observe and critique the session and was extemely pleased at the attentiveness and interaction which existed between members of the two
organizations. Both co-instructors received a warm round of applause at the end of the session, and shook our hands to receive congratulations for forging new strong relationships between the two organizations.

The VA RACES training was developed in cooperation with emergency managers throughout Virginia to provide much-needed, detailed knowledge of the terrorism threat, health and safety considerations, the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System that the ARRL ECC course does not yet have.

The word is spreading throughout Virginia supporting VA RACES training as a valuable free resource open to all interested amateurs. The goal is to proliferate Virginia RACES material throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond until all amateurs can benefit from mission-oriented, operationally-specific and safety-focussed EmCom training before disaster strikes. Virginia RACES seeks to attract new blood to EmCom who can take a sincere approach in furthering the communication mission. The next free, open training training session will be held in Franklin, Virginia on October 16. All amateur operators interested in EMCOM are welcome to pre-register at the URL

http://www.varaces.org/SessionReg.php