Lee Co ARES Monthly Meeting, November 20, 2022

Lee County ARES met at the Chamber of Commerce, Eleanor Cottage. After the business portion of the meeting, we exchanged new information on W5TRL’s battery power box, KF5SSW’s new radio, IC 7100, and there new promotion of KF5PWN to Sargent with the Sheriff’s Office. We discussed D-STAR, which repeaters are closed to us and how to reach them through a raspberry pie. We also briefly talked about DMR radios. We discussed where to keep the EmComm trailer for a permanent home and a central and secured location in the County was chosen. We discussed the van and the solution that KI5QHC found for welding a candelabra that would stop also the leak through the mast. We also informed the group that roofers for the EOC did not show up this week as announced and the Sheriff will organize soon a meeting with them to discuss the mounting of our antennas on the Lee County EOC’s roof. We decided how to modify the Memorandum of Understanding with the County dealing with the equipment that will be soon installed. We had a good review on the situation of the locks for the cabinet that will host the radios. We decided to pursue Broadcastify for authorities and public to follow us, and for recruiting new ham radio operators and possible ARES members. We discussed new possible ways to reach each other in case internet or phones become inoperable: we explored text by Winlink and MSAT. We also further deliberated about our roles in Winter Field Day with Williamson Co ARES. Finally, we talked about possible new Board members and our Christmas Party in lieu of our regular meeting. We will discuss news about the EOC if we have any at the party.