Author: Darrell Davis KT4WX

TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS – 1100 EDT – 7/30/20

The following is the latest advisory on Tropical Storm Isaias.  Isaias was declared a Tropical Storm on Wednesday July 29, 2020 at 2300 EDT.  Previously the National Hurricane Center in Miami had designated this system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Number Nine on Monday .  Now that Isaias is a declared tropical cyclone, WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETINS will commence on this system.

The following is the summary of the National Hurricane Center Advisory #9 issued at 1100 EDT on Thursday July 30, 2020:  LOCATION…18.1N 68.9W
ABOUT 50 MI…75 KM SW OF PUNTA CANA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ABOUT 165 MI…265 KM SE OF PUERTO PLATA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NW OR 310 DEGREES AT 20 MPH…31 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1003 MB…29.62 INCHES.

Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the northern Bahamas and Tropical Storm Warnings have been issued for the middle and lower Bahamas.  At the present time, there are no watches or warnings issued for the State of Florida.

The following excerpt is from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1100 EDT on Tropical Storm Isaias, “Isaias is moving northwestward or 310/16 kt. A high pressure ridge over the western Atlantic should steer Isaias on a west-northwestward to northwestward heading over the next couple of days, but the likelihood of a center re-formation during the next 12-18 hours means that some adjustments to the track and motion are possible. By late Friday, a mid-latitude trough moving into the east-central United States is expected to weaken the western portion of the ridge. This pattern should cause the cyclone to turn northwestward to north-northwestward on Saturday when it is near the northwestern Bahamas and South Florida. As the trough slides eastward over the United States, this should steer Isaias northward and northeastward early next week. Although the bulk of the track guidance agrees on this overall scenario, the confidence in the track forecast remains lower than usual due to the expected land interaction and possible center reformation in the short term. The new NHC track forecast is a blend of the HFIP corrected consensus and the TCVA multi-model consensus, and is similar to the previous advisory…The intensity forecast remains challenging. The structure of the storm is likely to be disrupted by its passage near or over Hispaniola today, and some weakening is likely. Once the system moves away from the Greater Antilles gradual strengthening is anticipated.”

As of press time, there have not been any requests for activation by any of our served agencies in any of our ten counties.   However if the track were to significantly shift west, which has occurred over the past two days, our served agencies may request assistance.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should continue to monitor the latest advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Isaias.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should stay in contact with their respective leadership in case emergency communications services via amateur radio are required.  Now is the time to re-check your personal equipment and supplies in case of activation.  Continue to stay tuned to the latest advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Latest National Hurricane Center Information:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/301450.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/301450.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/301451.shtml?

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN will be issued following the 1100 EDT advisory tomorrow, unless circumstances warrant an earlier bulletin release.

END OF WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN

NEW EMERGENCY COORDINATOR APPOINTED FOR POLK COUNTY ARES

On Wednesday July 29, 2020, Christine Duez K4KJN was appointed as ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES.  Duez succeeds Jim Stewart W4XDS who had stepped down as ARRL Emergency Coordinator on June 30, 2020 due to family commitments.

Duez was first licensed in July 2012 with the callsign of KK4KJN and upgraded to Extra class in 2013.  Duez applied for and was giver her current vanity callsign of K4KJN in 2019.  Duez has been active in Polk County ARES almost since being first licensed, and was appointed as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for SKYWARN.   Duez has served as a control operator in the Polk County EOC for two activations, the most recent of them being Hurricane Irma in September 2017.  In addition to her responsibilities with Polk County ARES, Duez has served as Section Youth Coordinator since 2015 and is the Saturday evening net control for the Eagle Net, the NTS traffic for the ARRL West Central Florida Section.

Darrell Davis KT4WX, Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, made the following statement about the appointment of Duez as ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES, “Christine has the experience and good leadership skills to make her an excellent ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Polk County ARES.  She also the advantage of being a good public speaker but also has the heart of a servant, an excellent combination.”

Effective leadership often requires more than just experience and good communication skills. It also involves a commitment to serving others and a willingness to continuously improve and learn. Fortunately, there are many free tools and services available to help leaders develop them. From leadership training programs to mentorship opportunities, these resources can help aspiring leaders hone their skills and become more effective in their roles. By taking advantage of these resources, leaders like Christine Duez can continue to grow and develop in their positions, ultimately benefiting their organizations and the communities they serve.

Duez in her professional career, served in numerous capacities as an American Sign Language interpreter since 1989 and holding certification with the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf since 1989.   Duez has obtained an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences during her professional career and recently retired from the Polk County School District as an ASL interpreter for Southwest Middle School in Lakeland.  Duez still does part time work as an ASL interpreter in retirement.  Duez other interests include playing the piano for the Spanish ministry of her church, participation in Toastmasters (an organization that helps people build leadership and public speaking skills), continuing work on her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, growing flowers at home, and traveling.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

THE WCF PRESSER ISSUE #51 FOR JULY 2020 IS NOW PUBLISHED

The WCF PRESSER Issue #51 for July 2020, has been published on the Section website.  An announcement of the publication of the WCF PRESSER will be disseminated on the ARRL remailer shortly. If anyone has any information that is amateur radio related that you would like to go into the next issue of THE WCF PRESSER, please send that to our newsletter editor, Jim Weslager K3WR via email at weslager@gmail.com.

For the PDF version of this newsletter and past issues in PDF format go to http://arrlwcf.org/home/the-wcf-section-presser-arrl-west-central-florida-section-news/.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

ZOOM INFORMATION FOR ARRL WCF SECTION ARES MEETING IS NOW PUBLISHED

The Summer 2020 ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Meeting will be held on Saturday July 11, 2020 at 1300 EDT, as a Zoom meeting, instead of a “face to face” meeting that was originally planned earlier this year due to the COVID-19 situation.  The information to log into the Zoom meeting is located the Section events calendar at the following address:  http://arrlwcf.org/event/wcf-section-ares-meeting-summer-2020/.

The Zoom meeting will be open for attendees to check in 15 minutes before the meeting is scheduled to start at 1300, to allow participants time to log in and be sure their video and or audio is functioning.  Everyone is welcome to attend the Zoom meeting, but due to the terms of our Zoom account we are limited to a seating of 100.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

GOVERNOR DESANTIS PROCLAIMS AMATEUR RADIO WEEK IN FLORIDA

On Monday June 22, 2020, Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed a proclamation declaring the week of June 22-28, 2020 to be Amateur Radio Week in the State of Florida.  Governor Desantis recognized in his proclamation that amateur radio provides communications to emergency managers during and after disasters, amateur radio provides services to emergency response organizations, and that amateur radio operators provide service as SKYWARN spotters for the National Weather Service.  Governor Desantis also recognized the longevity of amateur radio and that it provides “…a bridge between people, societies, and countries by creating friendships and sharing ideas…”  The declaration recognized ARRL Field Day that will take place on Saturday June 27, 2020 and Sunday June 28, 2020.

For a PDF copy of the proclamation you may view it at http://arrlwcf.org/download/wcfpresser/Florida_Amateur-Radio-Week_2020.pdf.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

SUMMER 2020 WCF SECTION ARES MEETING GOING VIRTUAL

The ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Meeting scheduled for Saturday July 11th, 2020, at the Polk County EOC, will be cancelled and a virtual meeting will be conducted via the Zoom meeting platform.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Luncheon that had been scheduled for Saturday July 11th, 2020 at Sonny’s BBQ in Winter Haven has been cancelled.  These cancellations are due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

The virtual Section ARES Meeting is open to all who are interested in attending, however virtual seating is limited to 100, as these are limits placed by Zoom.  All Emergency Coordinators, Assistant Emergency Coordinators, and ARRL Official Emergency Stations are encouraged to attend.

Zoom meeting information will be disseminated following the conclusion of ARRL Field Day.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

ARRL WCF SECTION FIELD DAY VIRTUAL CARAVAN INFORMATION RELEASED.

For ARRL Field Day, the West Central Florida Section Field Day Caravan will be held virtually, instead of the traditional format as it has been conducted in the past. The details on the virtual Field Day Caravan have been finalized and published on the West Central Florida Field Day Caravan web page at http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/west-central-florida-section-field-day-caravan/.  The virtual Field Day Caravan will be held as a Zoom online meeting.

The Zoom meeting hours will be from 1300 through 1800 hours EDT on Saturday June 27, 2020.  The Zoom conference meeting will be open at 1200 EDT for everyone to test their connectivity to the Zoom meeting.  Please remember the maximum number of participants is 100.  If we happen to have over 100 attempt to login, they will be send to a “waiting room” until the number of participants drops below 100.

Also on the West Central Florida Section Field Day Caravan web page is information on how to get a message to our Section Manager, Darrell Davis KT4WX, to qualify for 100 bonus points for your Field Day entry.

The ARRL West Central Florida Field Day Caravan has been held on Field Day of every year since the inception of the Section in 2000, for the Section Manager and members of the Section Cabinet to tour field day sites in the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  On Tuesday May 26th, it was announced that due to the situation with COVID-19, that the West Central Florida Section Field Day Caravan would transition to a virtual format for ARRL Field Day 2020.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

SPECIAL SESSION OF THE EAGLE NET FOR ARRL FIELD DAY

Once again this year, the Eagle Net, the National Traffic System Net for the West Central Florida Section, will operate for an extended period on the evening of June 27. The net will open at 2000 local (0000Z or 8:00 PM) and operate as long as stations bring traffic. Stations wishing to send formal traffic by voice are encouraged to bring their messages to Eagle Net on the NI4CE repeater system. Our Section Manager, Darrell Davis KT4WX, and other members of the cabinet will be available to accept traffic. Many Official Relay Stations and our Net Liaisons will also be available to take traffic outbound the section through both the National Traffic System and Radio Relay International state and regional nets. All stations are welcome to join. Message traffic should be in the form of an ARRL Radiogram.

This is the perfect opportunity to practice your message sending skills. The Net Control Station will be Dave, W4PXE. Dave teaches our annual Traffic Training Class and will offer constructive advice on the best techniques to send and receive formal traffic. Hope to hear you on the net.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

NEW ARRL EMERGENCY COORDINATOR APPOINTED FOR MANATEE COUNTY

Steve Park W4OEP

Ed Skalecki NI4MX, the ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Manatee County ARES, decided to step down as ARRL Emergency Coordinator on Thursday June 18, 2020.  Skalecki had served as ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Manatee County ARES since 2009.  Steve Park W4OEP, an ARRL Official Emergency Station, has been appointed as the new ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Manatee County ARES on Thursday June 18, 2020.

Darrell Davis KT4WX, Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, had the following comment on the change of ARRL Emergency Coordinators in Manatee County, “I am extending my sincere thanks to Ed for his over 10 years of service as ARRL Emergency Coordinator and wishing him success in his future endeavors as a sport coach, since he always been into sports and he even visited sites as w88 to gamble on games.  Steve will make a fine successor to Ed as ARRL Emergency Coordinator and brings his technical expertise and emergency communications experience.  He is always looking for ways to combine his enthusiasm for the amateur radio satellite service with emergency communications and ARES in particular.”

Steve Park W4OEP was first licensed in 1974 as WN9OEP in Peoria, IL and upgraded to the FCC Extra Class license in 1977 while attending the University of Illinois (W9YH) and for a number of years held the callsign WB9OEP.  Park’s amateur radio experience includes HF and VHF Contesting, chasing DX, amateur satellites, Air Force MARS, and emergency communications.   Park has served as a long-time AMSAT Area Coordinator (now called AMSAT Ambassadors.) and his particular interests today are in all-mode DXing, homebrew antenna designs, mentoring, and emergency communications and how the Amateur Radio Service can best serve and even broadcast sport games where people do bets and gamble using sites as capsa online for this.  Park in his professional career of over 35 years worked as an Electrical Engineer in RF and Microwave product design. As long time Floridians, he and his wife returned to the Tampa Bay area after retiring from Raytheon Missile Systems Co in 2016.

END OF PRESS RELEASE