Did you know there is  a group of RAC members who meet weekly to develop and improve the ARES program.  These members are from across the country and their purpose is to develop a training program and standards that can be adopted nation wide . All this in an effort to enhance the ARES program. This is yet another example of RAC members doing their part to enhance amateur radio in Canada.

In response to the Congressional directive to prepare a study to assess Amateur Radio’s role in emergency and disaster communications and the impact of private land use regulations on the amateur community’s ability to provide such communications, the FCC issued DA 12-523 soliciting comments from the public. The period for public comment runs until May 17, 2012.

For the full article go to http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-seeks-public-comments-on-emergency-communications-by-amateur-radio-and-impediments-to-amateur-ra

Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association  will be holding it`s annual open house and pizza night on  Thursday April 12, 2012.

All amateurs are more than welcome.     Please pass the word. http://www.ve7na.ca/cms/

New photos from the BBC on the Mexican earthquake.  Look how folks turn to their cell phones and social media immediately.  Any emergency group who fails to consider social media in an emergency does so at their peril.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17453266

Thanks to the efforts of the Surrey (BC) Emergency  Program Amateur Radio Society members kids will learn about emergency communications via amateur radio. The program will take place at the Surrey Museum.   Please check the article noted below. Maybe you could participate and talk to one of the kids

For full details see http://www.surreyleader.com/community/140363773.html

RAC Bulletin 2012-017E – New ARES logos
2012-03-11

The attached ARES/SURA logos (see url below), designed by Tyler Tidman VA3DGN are now available for use by all ARES/SURA members and groups. The black and yellow will be used on a “go forward” basis for caps, shirts, crests etc, while the black and white lends itself well when used in print form. Making these logos available in both official languages illustrates the RAC Field Organization’s desire to grow the ARES network in all areas of Canada, and I would like to sincerely thank Tyler for his assistance in bringing these to you.

73,

Doug Mercer VO1DTM/VO1DM CEC
Chief Field Services Officer

<http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2012/new_ares_sura_samples.pdf>

**—-**

Vernon Ikeda – VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor

—

* * * *

Are you interested in tsunami; their cause and effects ?

The link below will take you to a Youtube presentation by Emergency Management BC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUMJ1qdXYP4&list=PL3E2CB95DFC42670D&index=2&feature=plpp_video

Here is some interesting information:

Please keep in mind that in BC Ham radio operations are exempt from the legislation

4449 tickets handed out by RCMP for the use of electronic devices in Feb 2012 in lower mainland nearly double from Feb 2011

NOW THE GOOD NEWS Distracted driving contributing factor to 27 fatalities in 2011 in lower mainland, down from the 46 in 2010,

PS The lower mainland is the greater Metro Vancouver area and part of the Fraser Valley. While it may represent the bulk of the population of the Province of British Columbia it certainly is not the bulk of the Province in area.

Thanks to the efforts of the Surrey (BC) Emergency  Program Amateur Radio Society members kids will learn about emergency communications via amateur radio. The program will take place at the Surrey Museum.  For full details see http://www.surreyleader.com/community/140363773.html