We are pleased to announce that Newport news Emergency Coordinator Rick Ross, KG4TAX, has agreed to assume the additional role of Section Public Information Coordinator. Section Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC, stated "The PIC function is an important appointment in this section.  We strive to highlight all of the good work being done by the members of the Virginia Section.  Rick brings with him a lot of experience in PIC types of functions from other organizations and we definitely welcome his expertise."

Rick supplied us with the following information pertaining to his background:

"My name is Rick Ross, KG4TAX, and am the newly appointed Public Information Coordinator (PIC).   I live in Newport News with my wife, Julie, and my daughter, Jenny, and work as a research engineer at NASA Langley Research Center.  I became licensed in 2002 as a result of my volunteer work that began on September 11, 2001.  The day of the attacks, I went to the Red Cross to donate blood and asked if there was anything else I could do to help, and I have been helping ever since.

A few months after joining the Red Cross and serving as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) member and later as a team captain, I found the greatest need during an emergency was for reliable communications.  I began studying for the Technician test and got my ticket the following month.  I continued studying and worked my way up to Extra three months later.

I am the Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Newport News, an ARRL-certified Volunteer Examiner (VE), and actively participate in public service and special events.  I am currently the Vice President (and a former president) of the Peninsula Amateur Radio Club (PARC).  I have completed all three ARRL Emergency Communications courses, have taken several FEMA online and instructor-led classes, and have completed numerous Red Cross disaster services, CPR, and First Aid classes.

While this position will be a challenge,  my other volunteer work has helped prepare me for that challenge.  I served as a board member for four years with Newport News Special Olympics and am currently a board member for SMART-One, Inc., a non-profit corporation for special needs individuals and their families.  As the newsletter editor/reporter/photographer for these organizations, I promote the good deeds of these organizations and recognize the hard work of the individuals that make it happen.  As the Virginia Section PIC, I will apply these same skills to showcase the efforts and achievements of hams throughout the Virginia Section.  I encourage each of you to submit articles and photographs of your activities and accomplishments and I will do my best to post them on this website."

Please support Rick's efforts to showcase the wonderful work our members are doing by submitting your stories and pictures to him about the events in your local areas.

 
Section Manager Carl Clements, W4CAC, is pleased to announce that Joseph J. Imburgia Jr. (Joe), KI4LXT, has been appointed as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for Districts 5-7-8-9.  Joe previoulsy has served as District Emergency Coordinator for District 7.  Joe is active in many aspcts of ham radio including digital operations and portable HF operations.  He also participates in numerous public service events each year as well as the National Weather Service SKYWARN Program. 

Joe submitted the following biographical information:

During my high school years I was a short wave listener, the in the early 70's a REACT member and after many years of interest in Ham Radio, I finally took the technician's license test in September of 2005.  I was always unable to master the code requirement, but in March 2007 when the FCC removed the code requirement I became an amateur extra.  I have worked in electronics most of my career, first as a Radio Relay Repairman and an Electronic Warfare Repairman in the Air Force, an Instrumentation Control Systems Integrator and business owner for more than thirty years and my present career as a Senior Designer with a local engineering firm.  I have been a volunteer EMT with York County Fire and Rescue, am currently a Red Cross Instructor, member of York County CERT, an associate member of the Hampton Roads Emergency Management Council and Vice-president of the Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club.  I was the DEC for First Colony - District 7 from October 2007 to May 2009.  I enjoy Amateur Radio especially the people I meet through radio, the QSO Parties and helping with public service events.  

Please help us welcome Joe to his new position. 

Position descriptions for Assistant Section Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators and Emergency Coordinators have been posted to the website. The PDF documents can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate level you wish to read.  They will eventually be moved to the menu system for permanent storage.

These documents were originally started in late 2007 and were modified in late 2008.  They were just reviewed again and now posted to the section website for those appointees that did not receive a copy of them.

Choose the document you wish to review:   ASEC     DEC     EC  

Comments on these documents should be sent via the ARES chain of command to the SEC.

          -- Joe Phillips, K8QOE
          -- Section Manager, Ohio Section ARRL

 Has ARES changed much the past ten years? You betcha. Major changes triggered by 9/11 and further refined by Hurricane Katrina. And the 2009 ARES National ARES forum at the Dayton Hamvention will explore those changes. Come, see and participate. Scheduled for Room 3 at   2:30 PM Saturday. The topic will be "The Maturing of ARES in this decade of 911 and Katrina."

 The panelists will be:

      Charles Miller AE4UX SEC for South Carolina; representing the administration of ARES at the Section level;

      Southeast Division Manager Greg Sarrett W4OZK. who during Katrina was the ARRL's disaster director near the action;

      Rob Macedo KD1CY Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net New Bedford MA.

     This panel will be moderated by Jack Sovik KB8WPZ, SEC for the Ohio Section, who organized this presentation.

       Each panelist gets ten minutes to describe how ARES differs now from the 90's and how it affects ham radio emergency communications now. The remaining time will be Q&A from the audience. Which should be plenty lively.

 (For more information go to www.hamvention.org.)