FSO-CM  Jeff Evans  has been a member of Flotilla 11-2 for one year.  He has been an amateur radio operator for 12 years.  In the past he has served with Stearns County Emergency Services as Skywarn net control and the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, MN as net control during weather emergencies.

CONTACT:
Jeff Evans

STAFF OFFICER POSITION DESCRIPTION

Presently, there is no program in the region for a radio watchstander but individuals interested in this area may want to take the AUXCOM Specialty Course (See "Specialty Courses" below) and get involved in the Boat Crew Operational Support program. There are ample opportunities for a Communications officer to participate in with Operations like safety patrols, during boat races, regattas, and other marine events. The FSO-CM will exercise staff responsibility and supervision over all matters pertaining to flotilla communications and keep all members informed of all developments in this area. This officer will maintain close liaison with the Division Staff Officer of Communications (SO-CM) and will work closely with both flotilla and division operations officers and members providing communications facility and/or operational facility support and training. The FSO-CM will ensure that every activation of an Auxiliary Radio Facility is under Coast Guard orders and will inspect all flotilla land and land mobile radio facilities is qualified as a Communications Specialist. Other general duties of the FSO-CM included, but are not limited to, submission of articles to Auxiliary publications to keep members updated on new developments, to encourage member use of radio facilities and participation in communication drills, participate in any required Auxiliary operations seminars, maintaining an updated list of Communications Specialists, and working closely with USCG radio stations toward provision of qualified Auxiliarists for possible communications watchstanding opportunities, telephone watches, etc. The FSO-CM will maintain and publish an up-to-date emergency telephone "calling tree" for member alerting both land line and available OPFAC and land mobile radio facility call signs. Other duties outlined in the Auxiliary Member Manual, Flotilla Procedures Manual, and the Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual COMDINST M16798.3 should also be followed. The FSO-CM's career will be further enhanced by completing the AUXCOM Specialty Course training and becoming a Communications Specialist.

2011 Flotilla 2 communications program goals:
* Facilitate TCO qualifications for all members not grandfathered by passing AUXCOM before 2008.
* Coordinate communications training with Operations team.
* Begin a training net,  to practice on-air procedures.
* Present at least 2 communications trainings this year at flotilla meetings.
* Coordinate with the Three Rivers Radio Club, which is made up of USCGAux members.
* Work with FSO-HR to target local hams as potential new auxiliary members.
We are in process of planning a TCO seminar, which may be held during spring, 2011.  The seminar will be a few meetings within about a week’s time. By the end of the seminar a trainee will have completed the PQS and have their documentation forwarded for approval. We encourage all members with an interest in radio communications and all boat crew members to take the TCO PQS.   Check here for updates on training dates. 
By March 2011 Flotilla 2 will begin a communications training net.  We will facilitate this by telephone, using a bridging service. Net operations will follow planned procedures using Coast Guard pro-words, phonetic alphabet, various planned training scenarios to practice the most common situations encountered during patrols.  The purpose of the comms net is to practice real radio procedures in a safe environment where mistakes are not critical to life and property.  It must be stressed that the CommsNet is not a social or fellowship event.  The net control operator will maintain operational order during the net and will be responsible for all decisions on the net, regardless of rank or seniority of other member participants.  Further details on dates, times and procedures for the net will be posted here as the program develops. 
Members may be interested in the Three Rivers Radio Club, club callsign W8WRR, which is open to any Coast Guard affiliated person.  Contact Commodore Bob Heinz, Club President.

HAM RADIO

Flotilla 2 will be putting on a class that will prepare you to take the FCC Amateur Radio License (Ham Radio), which will be given at the conclusion of the course.  The cost of the course is $40, which will includes the cost of the text, and the testing fee.  Pre-Registration is required to allow sufficient time to obtain texts prior to the first night of classes.   The first night of class will be a general introduction to Ham Radio, distribution of the texts, and a short 1st lesson.  Students will be expected to read the material over the next three weeks, prior to the next class session.  The Friday Night 23 OCT will be a time for students to cover material they don't understand with an instructor one on one prior to the class sessions. Attendance by students is optional for this session.  The Friday Night Session on 30 Oct will be for performing math problems that may appear on the test, as well as some basic circuitry such as series and parallel circuits.

Milestone dates are as follows:

18 SEP 2009  Registration Due Make checks payable to Flotilla 11-2
mail to:    

Remittance Address
104 Arbor Lane
Burnsville, MN 55337
 cdmwoodward@comcast.net

Fri 02 OCT 2009  1900-2100 Hrs
Classroom session & receive texts (Welcome to Amateur Radio)

Fri 23 OCT 2009 1900-2100 Hrs
Elmer Session Time with an experienced ham to answer your questions

Sat 24 OCT 2009  0800-1700 Hrs
Classroom Session  (Radio & Electronics Fundamentals and Operating Station equipment)

Sun 25 OCT 2009  0900-1700 Hrs
Classroom Session (Communicating with other Hams & Licensing Regulations)

Fri 30 OCT 2009 1900-2100 Hrs
Problems Lab (Work with Units/Ohms Law Freq to wave length Conversions etc) with an Elmer

Sat 31 OCT 2009  0900-1700 Hrs
Classroom Session (Operating Regulations & Electrical & RF Safety + Course review)

Sun 01 NOV 2009  0900-1200 Hrs
Classroom Session (Review & Practice exam)

Sun 01 NOV 2009  1330-1700 Hrs   FCC Exam

All sessions to be held at Lehman's Garage 171 American Blvd West, Bloomington, MN 55420

Questions to be referred to Barry Berg, barry.berg@charter.net