reetings fellow emergency radio amateurs! Another year has passed us by, and all eyes look forward to the coming year. The ranks of your Oregon section ARES leadership have changed slightly this year. For 2003 we have a new Section Manager, Marshall Johnson Sr., KK7CW, leading the charge. Our new Section Emergency Coordinator is Wayne Jack, KK7TT, of Sisters, Oregon. Our new administrative ASM is Kevin Hunt, WA7VTD,of Oregon City, and our new training ASM is Dean Davis, KL7OR, of Salem. 2003 should be a year of many positive, forward changes in ARES in Oregon and Multnomah County in general. As before, your D-1 DEC Craig Marquette, KC7YOC, and Multnomah County EC Eric Stephenson, KK7UE, are at your service.

With the anticipated installation of packet facilities in the PFB Battalion stations, digital communications will become more important than ever. Digital is the wave of the future that is here and now. As spark gap gave way to CW and AM gave way to SSB, digital modes are the 'new' frontier for the new century. It behooves us as an emergency group to be as proficient as possible with the new technologies so we can be better prepared to handle future emergencies. Our group will have more training geared toward digital modes this year and next. Look for Paket 6.2 to be adopted in the PFB stations as the standard for all to look towards. Granted there are many programs that will do a pac-ket message; the idea is standardization within the county for ease of training and operation.

As in the past, our monthly meetings will continue to be held at the Portland Fire Bureau Training Center, station 2, located 4800 NE 122nd Ave just North of Sandy Blvd near Parkrose. The meetings are held at 7PM on fourth Thursdays of the month and usually in the large classroom. Occasionally we get displaced into a different room but that shouldn't hinder our ability to function. It is anticipated that sometime this year there will be a need for work parties to perform various tasks around the system. Watch for your opportunity to volunteer later on this year. There is always a need for Net Control Operators for the VHF Wednesday night nets, 7PM on 146.84-. This is the opportunity to train, while it's just casual. You don't want to learn on the fly. No.

As always, we have several opportunities throughout the year to exercise our training and equipment for the betterment of all. This year is no exception. Look for special event opportunities as well as SETs and Field Day. Demonstrating amateur radio to the general public is an interesting and productive exercise. For your benefit, the training materials have grown and testing calendar to come out later this quarter detailing all the planned opportunities for such events. It is hoped you can squeeze out the time for these training events since your participation is necessary for this to work effectively. There are always lots to do and plenty of help is needed. Please indicate your availabilities to your local ARES group leaders for inclusion in these events. Your time is important! Your participation is deeply appreciated. Lets make the most of it.

A few of the folks that help keep this all together for Multnomah County ARES/RACES to this point include:

Bert Younglove, WA7AXO - AEC, training officer
Twila Jordahl, KD7EYN - AEC Net manager and NCS
Perry Hopkins, KD7EYM - AEC City of PDX liaison
Pat Roberson, KG7HT - AEC Gresham HARC liaison
Dave Stover, KC7YOE - AEC Portland PARC liaison
Sue Otnes, AC7DD - MCARES NTS liaison
Mel Pittmon, K7MBI - MCARES PFB liaison
Scott Etlinger, KC7ZUH - MCARES Red Cross liaison

Let's acknowledge the many individual ham radio operators affiliated with NERT/NET teams around the country, the American Red Cross, and all the rest without specific affiliations except to ARES and ham radio in general. Thank you.  I would also like to acknowledge the general membership and leadership of both the Hoodview and Portland Amateur Radio Clubs. Without all your help, this would never happen. Thank you all very much! God bless America; have a safe and prosperous new year. 73!

-KK7UE