TENNESSEE SECTION
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
NEWS ARCHIVE

25 July 2010 - Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator – Interoperability Robert “Bob” Bruce Warren Scott, W4ROX / AAR4HX / AAM4TN passed from this life becoming a silent key. Those that did not know Bob may have heard him filling in on a Monday night session of the HF Tennessee Combined Traffic ARES Net.

In addition to filling a valuable roll in the ARES Section Cabinet Bob served an as valuable roll in Army MARS as Assistant State Army MARS Director plus serving as Deputy Coordinator of ACS (Auxiliary Communication Service) for Hamilton County, TN.

73, Lowell WD4DJW
TN ARES SEC

29 March, 2010 - Shawn Stoddard, KG4OVQ appointed as SEC - Administration. Shawn is a previous EC for Hamilton County and has most recently been the DEC for District 7. Shawn will be compiling the monthly reports and forwarding them on to the ARRL so that our activities will show up in QST.

24 March, 2010 - Danny Herman, K4DHT ADEC for District 9 appointed as DEC. Danny has been serving as the EC for Johnson County. Previously Danny was the DEC and had to step down to provide care for Mary. We are saddened by Danny's loss and glad to have Danny back.

Frank Metcalfe, AA4AE EC for Montgomery County appointed as DEC District 11. Frank is very active in South BEARS and TN ARMY MARS.

23 March, 2010 - Mike Otis, K0TIS resigned as DEC District 9 due to health reasons. Thank you Mike for your service and help leading us through some challenges.

28 Feb 2010 – Mike Harris, N4ULM appointed as District Emergency Coordinator – District 4 (DEC Dist – 4). Mike holds a General Class license and has completed the FEMA Courses IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-700, IS-800 along with some 44 others and has also completed the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Emergency Communications, “All-Hazard Type III Communications Unit Leader Course (COML).

As DEC – Dist 4 Mike will be working with the EC’s in Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Macon, Rutherford, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson Counties. Where there is currently not an EC Mike will by recruiting a ham to take this important job.

20 Jan 2010 - Mark Wills, AG4OA has resigned as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator - Administration for health reasons. Previously Mark served as ASEC - Special Projects. Thank you, Mark, for your service.

19 Jan 2010 - This is to announce staffing of District Emergency Coordinator and the creation of two (2) new Districts.

• District 1 (West TN), Dwayne Duncan, KD4KDF. Dwayne recently upgraded his license to General class and has completed ICS-100 and ICS-200. He was formerly the EC for Haywood County.

• District 2 (West TN), Jamie Hall, WB4YDL is continuing.

• District 3 (West TN), Miles Rhodes, KD4NHN. Miles has completed the ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-700 and ICS-800 courses and has been active for a number of years in the WTARS.

In Middle TN we formerly had three (3) Districts, now there are five (5).

• District 4 (Middle TN), Vacant. This district now includes Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Macon, Rutherford, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson Counties.

• District 5 (Middle TN), Steve Haber, N1LHW. Steve served as the DEC of our former District 5 which was much larger. This district now includes Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore Counties.

• District 6 (Middle TN), John O'Conner, KD4WST. John continuing and the counties in his district are not changed.

• District 10 (Middle TN), Vacant, This district now includes Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Maury, Perry and Wayne Counties.

• District 11 (Middle TN), Vacant, This district now includes Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart and Sumner Counties.

In East TN at this time nothing has changed.

• District 7 (East TN), Shawn Stoddard, KG4OVQ is continuing.

• District 8 (East TN), Rick Rogers, K4AMT is continuing.

• District 9 (East TN), Mike Otis, K0TIS is continuing.

If anyone is interested in being considered to fill any of the vacant DEC positions please contact Lowell Bennington, WD4DJW Tennessee ARRL/ARES Section Emergency Coordinator.

73 Lowell, WD4DJW

15 Jan 2010 - Keith Miller, N9DGK appointed as the Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator – Middle Tennessee (ASEC – Middle TN). For a short time Keith served as the District Emergency Coordinator of District 4 (DEC Dist-4) in Tennessee. Before that he served Rutherford County as Emergency Coordinator (EC).

04 Jan 2010 - This is to announce the filling of a couple of key positions in the TN ARES Cabinet.

In West Tennessee, Randy Smith, KI4OAS is appointed as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator-West Tennessee (ASEC-WestTN). Most recently Randy has served as the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for ARES District 1. Before that Randy was the Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Crockett County.

In Middle Tennessee, Keith Miller, N9DGK is appointed as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator-Middle Tennessee (ASEC-MiddleTN). Most recently Keith has served as the District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for ARES District 4. Before that he was the Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Rutherford County. Only yesterday I sent out a message in which I named Keith Miller, N9DGK as DEC District 4. That appointment is canceled with this announcement.

Darrell Sperry, KA4TAR is continuing as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator-East Tennessee (ASEC-EastTN).

Mark Wills, AG4OA is appointed, Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator - Administration. Mark will be riding heard on getting our reports in to the ARRL in a timely manner.

Dewayne Siddon, KE4IDH is continuing as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator - Health Care Facilities.

Robert Scott, W4ROX is continuing as our Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator - Interoperability.

23 Dec 2009 -  It is with great regret I have accepted the resignation of District 6 Emergency Coordinator Steve Haber, N1LHW. Steve has been serving as District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for many years. Steve has visited with most all of the Emergency Coordinators (EC) in the district and is well respected by all.

Lowell Bennington, WD4DJW

08 Jul 2009 - Congratulations and thank you to ARES District 1 and District 6, All of the ARES Emergency Coordinators in District 1 and District 6 got their June activity reports in on time to be included in the Section Emergency Coordinators report to the ARRL.

District 1, Randall Smith, KI4OAS (DEC). The EC's are: Robert McLaughlin, KI4WKW (Crockett Co.), Steven Kellett, KF4SJU (Fayette Co.), Dwayne Duncan, KD4KDF (Haywood Co.), David Ellis, KE4NTL (Lauderdale Co,), Jeff Kloek, KI4NDR (Shelby Co.) and Bill Hughes, KI4BIY (Tipton Co.)

District 6, John O'Connor, KD4WST (DEC). The EC's are: Aaron Maxfield, KG4NPF (Clay, Overton and Pickett Counties), John Henderson, KD4DST (Cumberland Co.), Fred Curtis, KC4GUG (DeKalb Co), Jack Daniel, KG4MFJ (Putnam Co.) and Lynne Hamrick, WB4HDM (Warren Co.)

Lowell Bennington, WD4DJW
TN ARES SEC

30 Jun 2009 - ARRL Receives MARS Call Sign

The ARRL now has a new Emergency Communications tool in its toolbox -- MARS call sign AAN1ARL. According to W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, "The call sign was requested to reflect both the holder of the license (ARRL) and the various MARS services (Army, Air Force and Navy)." The MARS station will be housed at W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, said, "The establishment of an ARMY MARS call sign for W1AW begins a relationship with the Military Affiliate Radio System and the ARRL. Our two organizations are working toward the near-term establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding. Additionally, the League and MARS will utilize each other's personnel and technical capabilities to further enhance our emergency preparedness and response capabilities." The MARS program consists of licensed Amateur Radio operators who are interested in military communications on a local, national and international basis as an adjunct to normal communications. MARS has a long and proud history of providing worldwide auxiliary emergency communications during times of need. The combined three service MARS programs (Army, Air Force, and Navy-Marine Corps) volunteer force of more than 5000 dedicated and skilled Amateur Radio operators is the backbone of the MARS program. There are Army MARS stations in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Central America, Africa, Germany and the continental United States. MARS responders operate on specially assigned military radio frequencies in voice, teletype and packet modes of communications.

[The above was submitted by AFN1AL]

18 Jun 2009 -  Derek Wooley, KD5UBL named Emergency Coordinator in Bradley County.

 8 Jun 2009 - Jeff Lumpkin, KI4YWW named Emergency Coordinator in Hancock County.

 3 Jun 2009 - Daniel O'Donovan, W4DOD named Emergency Coordinator in Jefferson County.

 3 May 2009 - Dennis Wieck, N4ZKR named Emergency Coordinator in Henry County.

 3 Dec 2008  - On December 3, 2008 Bill Hicks (N4BHK) , Assistance Emergency Coordinator for Sevier County Emergency Radio Service presented the President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation to Darrell Sperry (KA4TAR) Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator for East Tennessee and to Rick Sawaya, Sr. (N4JTQ) Emergency Coordinator for Sevier County Emergency Radio Service. ... [ more ]

 3 Oct 2008  -- PERFECT STORM UPDATE  --  Messages and traffic to the SEOC can be relayed through the TRI-Service MARS. Navy MARS is participating and possibly Air Force MARS.  Navy stations have the equipment and some stations have already contacted the SEOC with questions. 

Also all traffic to the SEOC will be by Winlink.  They will not have MT-63.  However, MT-63 traffic may be presented on the MARS nets and a station with both MT-63 and WL2K will relay.

- Update provided by D. Wolfe - TN Emergency Management Agency & Lowell Bennington - TN Section Emergency Coordinator

23 Sep 2008 - Good day EC's, DEC's and ASEC's and others:

First of all I want to apologize to each of you for committing us to do a state wide SET on October 4.  I should have consulted with y'all before making that commitment.  Then I regret that this information is later than the September 22 goal I had set.

Since the inception of the idea of this SET routing of messages has changed.  The messages sent do NOT need to go to the DEC.  Your messages should go directly to an Army MARS operator.  A lot of ARES groups have someone in their group that is also a MARS operator, so it makes sense to use that person.  The MARS operator will be sending messages to TEMA on HF using Winlink 2K or MT-63.

This SET is making the presumption that two hurricanes, one having arrived over West Tennessee from the Gulf of Mexico and the other having arrived over East Tennessee from the Atlantic coast have stalled.   For more than 24 hours theses storms have been dumping 10" of Rain per hour and 60 MPH winds over most of the state.

When a storm like this occurs we can expect that highways and roads will be washed out.  Normal communication which includes telephone, cell phone and internet will not be functioning.  Electric and water utility service will be disrupted.  When these kind of things happen Amateur Radio can provide communications.  

Each EC (Emergency Coordinator) is responsible for providing communication assistance to the organizations they have established a relationship with.  In some cases that is the County government, in others it may be a hospital, or a Red Cross Chapter to name a few, each county is different.  The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency needs to know what is going on and can provide liaisons when they are required.

An important part of SET is help us see what our weaknesses are so that we may be prepared when that disaster occurs.

73,  Lowell, WD4DJW
TN Section Emergency Coordinator

09 Jul 2008 - We welcome back Mark Wills, AG4OA as an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC).  Mark will be handling special assignments such as coordinating Tennessee ARES "Perfect Storm" our 2008 SET exercise.  Mark served in a previous administration as the ASEC for East TN before the position of ASEC was an offical ARRL Field Appointment Position.  Welcome back Mark.

-  R. “Lowell” Bennington, WD4DJW
Tennessee Section Emergency Coordinator

08 Jul 2008 - Jeff Kloek KI4NDR is the new EC for Shelby County.

30 Jun 2008 - We have received many reports of Field Day 2008 activity.  All of the reports have some common elements, everyone had a great time, great fellowship and are tired.  Also no serious accidents.  Good job.

20 Jun 2008 - On October 4, 2008, starting at 8 am eastern and running to 1 pm eastern, there will be an exercise of “TN Perfect Storm,” to practice city and county ARES groups in the state of TN. TEMA and TN Army Mars will also activate during this exercise. There will be assigned “Players” for other state agencies, such as TDOT, TVA, TSA, National Guard, Red Cross, and South Bears. The TN state ARRL ARES goal for each city/county will be to send at least one message from its city/county to TEMA and/or other state agency “Players” and to receive a response message back. The channel for these messages is from city to county to DEC to MARS, then to TEMA and state agency “Players.” Message traffic may be by VHF, HF, or Digital Modes, including Winlink. No message will be allowed to pass via traditional e-mail or phone service, including cell phone.

Each city/county is asked for a minimum participation of a 2-hour time block from 8:00 eastern to 10:00 eastern for counties in East TN, 8:00 central to 10:00 central for Middle TN, and 10:00 to 12:00 central for West TN. All cities/counties may elect to participate for the full 5 hours of the exercise.  ... [ more ]

-  R. “Lowell” Bennington, WD4DJW
Tennessee Section Emergency Coordinator

20 Mar 2008 - I have received the resignation of Gary Tuck, W4GT District 2 Emergency Coordinator, effective March 20, 2008. I would like to thank Gary sincerely for his dedication and service to amateur radio, the ARRL, emergency communications and especially the years he has spent as DEC of District 2. I hope he will remain active in emergency communications, and I wish him the very best.

-  R. “Lowell” Bennington, WD4DJW
Tennessee Section Emergency Coordinator

22 Feb 2008 - In order to provide better backup communications to our served agencies, the organizational structure of ARES in Tennessee is being upgraded.  Effective February 15, 2008, I have created the position of ASEC – Health Care Organizations.

• C. Dewayne Siddon, KE4IDH, is appointed to ASEC – Heatlh Care Organizations. Dewayne has most recently served as DEC TN District 7. He has completed all three levels of the ARRL EmComm courses and is a CI (Field Instructor) and CE (Field Examiner). Professionally, Dewayne is employed by Erlanger Health Systems as the Emergency Services Information System Coordinator. He is an RN with a BS Degree in Biological Engineering and holds a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Services Administration.

  -  Lowell Bennington,  WD4DJW
  Section Emergency Coordinator

30 Jan 2008 - At the 2008 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors, which have now been posted on the ARRL Web page at http://www.arrl.org/announce/board-0801/

There are two new official ARRL Field Organization Appointments:

• Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (ASEC) and
• Assistant District Emergency Coordinator (ADEC).

As a result of the above mentioned action by the ARRL Board of Directors Tennessee ARES is moving forward with adopting these newly authorized positions. Lowell Bennington,WD4DJW, Tennessee Section Emergency Coordinator announces:

• Rondal D. Akers, Jr, W8BF, has extensive experience in a variety emergency agencies<>. Is named as Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, East Tennessee. East Tennessee includes the District 7 counties of Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk,Rhea and Sequatchie. District 8 counties of Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union. District 9 counties of Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
   
• Tom Delker, K1KY, has unoffically functioned doing the job of Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, Middle Tennessee. Tom's area of Middle Tennessee includes District 4 counties of Benton, Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Macon, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson. District 5 counties of Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry and Wayne. District 6 counties of Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, Warren and White.
   
• Randy A. Wilder, WB4LHD, is stepping up from the position of District Emergency Coordinator, District 1 which includes the counties of Crockett, Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton. District 2 counties of Carroll, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley. District 3 counties of Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, Madison and McNairy.

We in the amateur radio community are fortunate to have among us persons willing to take on weighty task and responsibilities.

-  Lowell Bennington,  WD4DJW
Section Emergency Coordinator