2016 Graduating Class of EC-001
Ten amateur radio operators spent four hours each Saturday in March completing the Introduction to Emergency Communications class sponsored by St. Louis Metro ARES/RACES and instructed by Peter Brisbine, N0MTH.
Three of the ten communicators previously completed the ARECC Level 1 courses and attended for the refresher with all three deciding to take the current exam to upgrade their credentials. And one communicator had taken the class in 2014 and has attended each of the annual classes since then as a refresher and continues to gain experience from the classroom discussions.
Boone County ARES Emergency Coordinator Bill McFarland, N0AXZ traveled four hours round-trip for each of the four sessions.
St. Louis Metro PIO, Janelle Haible, N0MTI
St. Louis Metro ARES Public Information Officer Janelle Haible, N0MTI also provided a candid presentation of the “Things to DO and NOT DO” when talking to the media and how to handle tough media questions and where to direct them during an event.
And to wrap up the class, Field Examiners with the Cliff Cave VE Team helped administer the exam session.
All of the St. Louis attendees are also members of the St. Louis & Suburban Radio Club. The class was attended by club President Bill Carroll, KC9CIK and Club Secretary Rebecca Carroll, KC9CIJ.
This marks the third class that St. Louis Metro ARES/RACES has sponsored since 2014 with a total of 25 communicators who have completed their “Introduction to Emergency Communications” certificate from the ARRL.