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<div id=cover-sheet>Reminder, Polk ARES NETS start next Wed. Jan 14th, at 7:30
PM on the WC4PEM Repeaters.<br>
2009 ARES Meeting on JAnuary 29th.
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dear Polk ARES Members,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Greetings once again, I hope that you all had a wonderful
Christmas and pleasant New Year. Welcome to 2009!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> First thing in order, I would like to thank those who
supported me and continue to</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>support me as we move forward with 2008. I want to personally thank
Loren, Laura, Steve, Thom, and many others who have come to the aid of building
Polk ARES and getting this function back in order. I, by far, can tell you it
is too much for just one person to do on their own free will. I want to also
thank Polk County Emergency Management personnel, Paul Womble, and Richard
Sharp. These two gentlemen are the driving force behind the repeaters that we
use on a daily basis, and have used in the past for emergency communications
when POLK ARES was called upon. Thank You.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Next ARES NET: January 14<sup>th</sup>, 7:30 PM, WC4PEM Repeaters<br>
Next ARES MEETING: January 29<sup>th</sup>, 6:30 PM, POLK EOC.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> I would like to take a moment and open this up a little
more to what one goal that still stands, and needs some focus on this year. We now
have a working “TRUE” Polk ARES Identification Card, I want to
thank my Assistant EC, Laura Pennington and<br>
Billy Abernathy on this project. Now, moving forward with our current
membership, I<br>
want to recruit new and old members back to ARES. It needs to be said, that
with our current man-power, we are still under staffed in the event <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Polk</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
where to suffer<br>
a catastrophe, it would cripple even the strongest agency in the state.
Communications<br>
would for the less be unbearable, thou, Amateur Radio Operators always come
through, however, the need for those to lead the way is short. I only ask this,
if you are not involved in ARES, please consider joining. I would look forward
to seeing new faces, and even enlighten to see our younger hams joining us as
well. There is plenty of room for them to play!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> For the 2009 year, the main focus is membership, but more
than that, the focus is also on Shelter Operators. Again, with so many shelters
around the county, we are not super-hero enough to be at all of them at one
time. The primary shelters that are around the county are in need of having a
team of operators to assist in communications, traffic handling, and possibly
assisting other friends of the community while at a shelter. There is such a
calming joy that overcomes me when I help someone else, and I get a smile in
return. I just love that. While you read on, please take a moment to think
about what you can do to help out Polk ARES, and Polk Emergency Management,
when it comes to helping out at a shelter near you.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Event Happenings: Meetings are on the LAST THURSDAY of
each month</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>January, Field Day 2009 Planning, Welcome to new members, other
business items. <br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>February: Planning for the up-coming Field Day 2009, MS-150 Bike-a-thon
info and sign-up which will be in May this year, and ENTIRELY within <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Polk</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>March: BIKE MS (Bike Race PRE-BRIEFING, to talk about the routes and
how Polk County has 90 percent of the race in the county, why communications is
important, and any Q & A that race volunteers may have for them.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Polk ARES will be supplying communications from the Lunch Stop.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>April: planning meeting for Field Day 2008; gear, class, who, what, and
beverages, and food, and more beverages…..</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>May: BIKE MS BIKE Race, POLK ARES EVOLUTION! May 16<sup>th</sup> and 17<sup>th</sup>.<br>
Polk County Emergency Management to help with Communications as well.<br>
Hurricane Season Preparations, You have a radio you still can not figure out?
Bring it, you have questions for Paul Womble, bring them. You have a desire to
help out, COME SEE US!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>June: this is a ways down the path but looking to have a presentation
of DIGITAL HF MODES, not D-Star stuff, but PSK-31, MSFK, RTTY, SSTV, and other
modes….</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>July through the end of the year….. I am not that far ahead in
thought, but open to suggestions… Let me or any of the staff members
know.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Closing notes:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> I want to make sure we all know what is going on here with
Polk ARES. I also have made the motion to advance to General Class this year. I
only ask that we do our part and help Polk ARES grow. I think it would be nice
to have our SkyWARN members come together and start a net soon. It would be
helpful to many to get that back into action. There is planning going on with
the Polk CERT members of creating their</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>own net that will be taking place on the WC4PEM repeaters also. More to
come when I find out the information.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Summertime is coming soon, but we are not out of the fire season yet,
not by a long shot, so we all need to be vigilant for these fires as well as
the storms as they roll through the area. I want to thank you for taking some
time to read this letter, please keep in mind, ARES needs some help still, but
with the staff it has now, it is well off to a grand start.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I look forward to helping the Amateurs of Polk County out during the
time of need, but further more, I hope to help a group of ARES Leaders achieve
that same goal during their time as well.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Sincerely Yours,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Evans F. Mitchell</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>E.C. Polk <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">ARES</st1:PlaceName></st1:place></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>2008 / 2009 Term</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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