Hi Folks,

You heard from Gene at the first of the month, now for a few words from the other “new guy.” My month got off to an interesting start. After becoming SEC on Thursday, the statewide SET launched itself late in the evening on day 2. From what I’m hearing, we had an excellent turn-out from groups participating all across the state…just what we’d hoped for.

Now, I’m looking for reports from everybody on how it actually went. While you’re sending this to the ARRL, you should also be copying me at ke4fgf@arrl.net  so I can begin getting everything in order for a report to Gene, our new SM.

Also, if you’ll look back at the information about the SET, you’ll see that Gene added a more localized questionnaire about how you fared dealing with the statewide power outage. Please take the time to fill that out too…inquiring minds want to know…

Charles, K4GK, did his usual excellent job keeping the statewide net going on HF, plus he had help from 3 new Net Controls, Louis Shulman, KJ4DRW, Huey Kenmar, KI4NGD, and Robert Grabowski, KB4RG, who is also our new ADEC-SWGA.

In other news, Lowry Rouse, KM4Z, our Operations ASEC, has announced that

Jan Jubon, K2HJ, has accepted the position of ARESMAT DEC, and together, they’ll be starting work on re-vitalizing that effort. Currently there are 9 people on that team, but under Jan’s dedicated leadership, I’m sure the numbers will grow quickly.

Dr.Wil, NM4W has been busy with his one day “Hamcrams” and has so far added over 40 new Techs, and 11 of those have upgraded to General. His next session is set for Halloween, October 31^st at the Houston County EOC 911 Center. Time is 8am to 4pm. A second class will be held at the Macon Medical Center on December 5^th, also from 8am-4pm. The fee for classes and testing is $10.

Stewart Chandler, KJ4GOJ, the NWS-DEC assigned to the Tallahassee Office, arranged to have a basic Skywarn class taught as a Webinar on October 20^th. I sat in on the class and everything went well. Stewart’s hope for this is to make Skywarn training easier on both Instructors and students. If the final numbers look good, we’ll be trying an advanced class next. If you want more information, contact Stewart at kj4goj@arrl.ne 

I hope everyone is making plans to attend the Alford Memorial Hamfest at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds on November 7-8. If you’d like to purchase your tickets ahead of time (and save money!) check out http://www.totr-radio.org/08hamfest/index.php

This is Georgia’s largest hamfest …I’ll be running the ARES Forum so I hope to see you there. Jeff Beals, WA4AW, our new Vice Director for the Southeast Division, will be in both the ARRL and ARES forums.

That’s it from South Georgia. I hope to see all of you in Lawrenceville at the Hamfest on November 7^th…..73 de Mike