Bid: $RACESBUL.358
Subject: Bul 358 Unit Activities

TO: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES VIA AMATEUR RADIO
INFO:    COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE
INFO:    AMATEURS U.S  (@USA: INFORMATION), CAP, MARS, RACES
FROM:    CA STATE AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, the
        volunteer communications reserve of the Governor's
        Office of Emergency Services.
    (W6SIG@WA6NWE.CA)  PH: 916-262-1600, 2800 Meadowview Rd.,
    Sacramento, CA  95832. Landline BBS, 916-262-1657 (Open
    to all). Internet crm@oes.ca.gov or seh@oes.ca.gov

Bulletin 358  OPS - Unit Activities
Release Date: December 26, l994

Your RACES unit and Amateur Radio newsletters are appreciated.
They provide valuable ideas and suggestions. For example, the
Orange County RACES not only issues a monthly newsletter but has
an extensive year end manual. The manual reviews the year, shows
goals for the new year,  includes the 12 monthly bulletins,
discusses mutual aid, a membership and 3x3 callout list. Their
1991 and 1992 manuals were over 90 pages each!!

Orange County is in a complex metro area of numerous cities in
Southern California east of Los Angeles. In January l993 there
were sixteen city RACES units in the county. With strong
leadership, this unit does a lot of different things to serve and
maintain a high level of interest. Here are examples.

A monthly meeting with a guest speaker such as Richard Hartman,
N6DAW, Maintenance Superintendent, 2nd Combat Communications
Squadron, California Air National Guard. He described his
squadron's communications equipment and capabilities; included
was a Mark 108 Humvee the squadron used for emergency
communications on the island of Kauai after Hurricane Iniki.

County RACES participants, in uniform, (two-tone blue, light over
dark, similar to fire dispatch uniforms) reported to a local Mall
for the event called "Emergency Services: A Focus on
Preparedness". A RACES exhibit was open inside the mall after the
conclusion of a Mall Disaster Drill. Their goal was to explain to
the public how RACES enhances Public Safety communications in an
emergency.

 A Special Statewide Election offered another application. 30
members, in uniform and with Handie-Talkies, at ballot pickup
points in 16 cities and at the vote tally center.

Responded to communications Mutual Aid requests: July 4th parade;
a city festival; city request for March of Dimes Walk-America;
search for missing Boy Scout in mountains of an adjacent county -
thirty-two RACES people responded to an all city mutual aid
request over a 6 day period.

Exercises and drills included County RACES activation for a
statewide drill at the EOC providing personnel with the chance to
test the EOC equipment and inter-face with other agencies. Annual
SET, simulated emerency test, and Field Day, County Marathon
covering 26 miles across several cities with over 100 operators
used for the coordination.

May this stimulate ideas for you and help your unit achieve its
goals. Thanks for your efforts in this field. May l995 be a year
in which you find peace of mind and joy in all that you do.
s/s Stan Harter and Cary Mangum.
eom