One-Day Ham Radio Class and Exam in Agoura–Sunday, October 21
Norm (K6YXH) and Naomi (WB6OHW) Goodkin’s next one-day Study & Exam Session for the Technician (entry-level) class will be on Sunday, October 21, 2018. If you’d like to attend, get in touch with Norm soon, as those who prepare ahead of class do better in class. Learning Morse code is no longer required for any ham license, and you can miss up to 9 questions on the 35-question multiple choice Technician exam and still pass. Exams for General and Amateur Extra are also offered in the afternoon (concurrent with the Tech. exam) for just the cost of the exam session ($5).
These one-day courses are conducted quarterly and are designed to get you your amateur radio technician license as quickly as possible. Those passing the FCC exam typically are licensed within one week (your license info will appear in the FCC database–paper licenses are no long routinely issued, however, you may request a copy from the FCC).
The $75 Study & Exam fee includes instruction (no book to buy), lunch, the exam fee, and two follow-up sessions on the next two Sunday mornings. The follow-up sessions are held at the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station (27050 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91301). The first covers “What radio do I need?” and the second covers “How do I use and program my radio?” Exams for Tech (and all other levels) are also offered in the early morning of the two Sundays immediately following each quarterly Study & Exam session. If you are looking to upgrade your ham license, General and Extra Class exams are also offered at the same time (pay only the $5 exam fee). Many ham radio clubs and organizations offer the license exam throughout the Valley and the Greater Los Angeles area as well.
Once you have your ticket (license) you can get on the air with a radio that costs as little as $40.
For details and more information, contact Norm at hamclass@goodkin.net, via phone at 818-222-7893, or online at www.hamclass.goodkin.net.
Location for class and exam:
Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center
27040 Malibu Hills Rd.
Agoura, CA 91301
Date/Time:
Sunday, October 21, 2018
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Southern California Preparedness Foundation to Receive Award of Excellence
Southern California Preparedness Foundation will receive BICEPP‘s (Business & Industry Council for Emergency Planning & Preparedness) Award of Excellence at BICEPP’s 35th Awards Event! SoCalPrep is honored to receive this award. We’re in most excellent company!
Many other great persons and organizations will also be honored. Flyer attached.
Location:
Sportsmen’s Lodge
12825 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
Date/Time:
Friday, November 2, 2018
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
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Training Classes at SOS Survival Products
Check out all the great free and fee classes offered in the C. Denise Edwards Training Center at SOS Survival Products, Inc. Many are free to attend.Details at sosproducts.com and click on Training Classes.
Of interest:
- November 3: Emergency Preparedness Class (free)
- November 10: Outdoor Survival Workshop ($75)
- First Aid/CPR/AED with certification ($65)
Location:
SOS Survival Products, Inc.
15705 Strathern St., Unit 11
Van Nuys, CA 91406
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Upcoming Neighborhood Preparedness Events
Let me know when you hear of a community event centered around disaster and/or emergency preparedness open to the public, and I’ll include in these announcements. Please provide the information as soon as you can.
Lost Hiker Training Exercise. Generally conducted the second Saturday of the month at different locations. The exercise is designed to train CERT and other personnel in the techniques of search and rescue in mountainous areas of Los Angeles. They also train with LAFD-ACS which serves as communicators.
Contact Tom Wirth at paratom@dslextreme.com.
The next Hiking Assessment exercise will be:
Location:
Varies
Los Angeles, CA
Date & Time:
Saturday, November 10
Morning
CERT Community Meetings
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Community meetings are free and open to all. You do not have to be a trained CERT responder to attend these meetings. Meetings are held throughout Los Angeles. Information on these meetings and much more is available at cert-la.com.
To sign up for a class, go to eventbrite.com and search for CERT LA. You’ll see a listing of all the Los Angeles CERT training and other classes listed, and can click on the REGISTER button to sign up.
All Valley Big Mini Drill
Join LAFD CERT for an “all Valley” drill and exercise, hosted by Battalion 10. This drill is open to anyone and all Valley CERT Battalions 10, 12, 14, 15, and 17. Hosted by Battalion 10.
Training and review to include:
- Search & Rescue
- Triage
- Bandaging
- Cribbing
- Radio communication (GMRS/FRS/Ham)
Something for everyone! Victims are especially needed. Register oneventbrite. Contact Batn. 10 coordinators SallyThompson or Jody Arensberg at lafdcertbatt10@gmail.com, for further information and especially if you’d like to experience CERT response from the perspective of the rescued.
The location is the regular meeting date and place for Batn. 10 CERT Community Meetings, but note the earlier start time.
Location:
Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center
5056 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Date/Time:
Sunday, November 18, 2018
11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Resources For Getting Prepared
PDF files for personal, car, pet, work, home, kid’s go bag suggested contents, pet preparedness, home security, nuclear safety, where supplies can be purchased, and much more, are on the Southern California Preparedness Foundation website: SoCalPrep.us. Amazon is also a great place to shop.
What? You Didn’t Know?
Through Saturday, December 1, bring 15 canned or boxed food items (no glass containers) to SOS Products, Inc., and receive a 15% discount off a single purchase made at time of donation. Food will be donated to MEND. You may also purchase one or more $5 MEND donations either in person or online.
Here is a list of greatest food needs. For all canned items, pull-top containers are preferred.:
- power/granola bars
- peanut butter
- fruit cups
- oatmeal (and similar products)
- pasta
- pull-top canned meats
- pull-top canned soups
- canned chili, stews, soups
- bags of rice, pinto beans
- canned juices
A good time to rotate and/or refresh your food stocks. Just ensure the expiration date has not passed as expired food cannot be accepted.
Worth repeating: Protecting our documents is just another way to protect ourselves. Through 11/10/18, Staples is offering a coupon good for up to 2 pounds of shredding for free. Perhaps not much, but it could get you started. Coupon code is 92149. Visit staples.com for details.
Radio Nets Emphasizing Emergency/Disaster Preparedness
If you have a ham radio license and your call sign doesn’t appear here: ________, please let me know what it is. Licensed amateurs are encouraged to check in on the ham radio nets listed below.
FRS/GMRS nets. (Family Radio Service/General Mobile Radio Service.) Radio operators are encouraged to check into any (or all!) of the following nets:
Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council net meets every Sunday, 10:00 am (or at the conclusion of the ham radio EP net), on channel 15. NOTE change of channel!
Neighborhood Council Valley Village net meets the last Sunday of the month, 10:00 am, on channel 5.
Los Feliz Neighborhood Council net meets the first Monday of the month, 7:00 pm, on channel 15.
CERT South Bureau (Westside Village) net meets the first Tuesday of the month, about 7:30 pm (follows a ham radio net), on channel 15 via GMRS repeater. Net control may also be able to hear you simplex, so if you are not GMRS licensed, give it a try.
Amateur Radio (ham) nets. Licensed amateur radio operators are encouraged to check into any (or all!) of the following nets:
Lake Balboa Emergency Preparedness net meets every Sunday morning, 9:00 am, on 145.570 mHz simplex
Hillside Communities Emergency Communications (HCEC) net meets every Saturday morning, 8:30 am, on 144.505 mHz, +600 kHz, PL tone: 162.2.
CERT South Bureau (Westside Village) net meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm on the Hughes repeater, 445.620 mHz, -5 mHz, PL tone: 127.3.
Southern California Mutual Aid net meets every Tuesday at 7:00 pm on 447.820 mHz, -5 mHz, PL tone: 67.0.
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Past agendas and meeting notes
To view past agendas of the GHNNC EP meetings, visit the GHNNC website, www.ghnnc.org, click on About, then Committees, and scroll down to Emergency Preparedness.
Or, use this direct link: http://ghnnc.org/committees/public-safety/emergency-preparedness-sub-committee/, or scan the QR code below with your smartphone.
Mark your calendar now for the Tuesday, November 20, 2018 GHNNC EP meeting at 7:00 pm in Granada Hills. Scheduled topic is hiking assessment and search techniques.