Promote and enhance the activities of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) for the benefit of the public as a voluntary, non-commercial communications service
Manage and coordinate the training, organization and emergency participation of interested radio amateurs working in support of the communities, agencies, or functions designated by the Section Emergency Coordinator/Section Manager
Establish an emergency communications plan for the communities and agencies that will effectively utilize ARES members to cover the needs for tactical and formal Welfare message traffic
Establish a viable working relationship with federal, state, county, city governmental and private agencies in Tippecanoe County which might need the services of ARES in emergencies
Establish local communications networks run on a regular basis and periodic testing of those networks by realistic drills
Establish an emergency traffic plan, with Welfare traffic inclusive, utilizing the National Traffic System as one active component for traffic handling. Establish an operational liaison with local and section nets
In times of disaster, evaluate the communications needs of the Served Agencies and respond quickly to those needs through the allocation of ARES resources
Work with other non-ARES amateur groups to establish mutual respect and understanding and a coordination mechanism for the good of the public and Amateur Radio to foster an efficient and effective Amateur Radio response overall
Work for growth in the Tippecanoe County ARES program, making it stronger and a more valuable resource to Tippecanoe County and its communities
File regular reports as required
Track Planning Committee member participation and contact members who have not remained involved in activities to determine their status
Appoint AECs to assist in carrying out the above responsibilities
Submit requests for Official Emergency Station (OES) status for qualified stations/operators
Conduct periodic meetings of the Planning Committee
Conduct regular meetings of the ARES membership
Administration AEC
Maintain TCARES membership records.
Prepare TCARES membership ID cards for signing by the EC.
Coordinate with EC and AECs to integrate new members into the organization.
Keep a database of special skills and equipment useful in emergencies.
Maintain official files, such as signed local Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Standard Operating Procedures, Operational Plans, and other official TCARES forms, guidelines, and documents.
Maintain a plan to notify members of emergencies and related requirements.
Coordinate meeting locations for Planning Committee and general membership meetings.
Keep minutes of all meetings.
Logistics AEC
Establish primary and secondary assembly points for personnel preparing to deploy to a supported disaster area. Advise personnel of assembly points and identify assembly point(s) to be used for particular emergencies.
Coordinate delivery of water, food, fuel, and other items needed to support deployed personnel.
Maintain inventory of major equipment items ARES members possess to support deployments, i.e., generators, batteries and specialty antennas. Coordinate maintenance of these records with the Administration AEC.
Working with the EC, negotiate and manage Memoranda of Understanding with agencies and/or groups that provide communications resources for use by Tippecanoe County ARES during emergency operations.
Assist and/or coordinate in restoration of communications resources, such as repeaters and other common systems, which fail during emergency operations.
Routinely test systems owned, managed, or operated by Tippecanoe County ARES.
Inform EC of any developments related to readiness of common resources.
Perform those logistics duties defined in specific Operations Plans (OP PLANs).
Operations and Training AEC
Serve as Net Manager for all ARES nets. Recruit and train Net Control Stations, alternates, and liaisons. Notify Net Control Stations of rotation schedule for regularly scheduled training nets.
Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for TCARES Net Operations, based on guidelines of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Establish and maintain liaison with Central Indiana SKYWARN (CISW) and the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office in Indianapolis.
Plan and coordinate participation of Tippecanoe County ARES in exercises conducted by the National Weather Service, such as the Severe Weather Awareness Week drill.
Develop a support plan (OP PLAN) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in support of served agency requirements, for review and approval by the TCARES Planning Committee.
Facilitate activation of ARES and SKYWARN nets, as needed, according to TCARES SOPs and applicable OP PLANs.
Maintain net participation statistics and report at the end of each quarter to the TCARES Planning Committee and TCARES general membership.
Recruit and recommend member stations to serve as Liaisons and Official Emergency Stations (OES) to the EC.
Inform EC of any developments related to net operations or NWS activities.
Prepare a training plan to provide TCARES membership with the basic skills required to carry out the ARES mission.
Coordinate with other AECs to integrate new members into the organization.
Prepare and conduct training, in coordination with other TCARES Planning Committee members, as required.
Encourage TCARES members to take advantage of available training opportunities.
Conduct and/or arrange a training segment for each TCARES general membership meeting.
Lead the Planning Committee in developing exercises, to include an annual exercise for TCARES participation in the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) conducted each October.
Forward training completion information to the AEC for Administration for entry into membership records.
Planning AEC
Assist the Operations AEC as Net Manager for all ARES nets. Help recruit and train Net Control Stations, alternates, and liaisons.
Assist in the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for TCARES Net Operations, based on guidelines of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Plan and coordinate participation of Tippecanoe County ARES in exercises conducted by served agencies.
Develop a support plan (OP PLAN) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in support of served agency requirements, for review and approval by the TCARES Planning Committee.
Facilitate activation of ARES and SKYWARN nets, as needed, according to TCARES SOPs and applicable OP PLANs.
Plan technology development and implementation within Tippecanoe County ARES.
In conjunction with the Operations AEC, prepare Standard Operating Procedures to define technology standards employed by Tippecanoe County ARES.
Assist and/or coordinate in restoration of communications resources, such as repeaters and other common systems, which fail during emergency operations.
Routinely test systems owned, managed, or operated by Tippecanoe County ARES.
Assist in the planning and coordination of exercises, drills, and other operational readiness activities.
Technology AEC
Coordinate technology development and implementation within Tippecanoe County ARES.
In conjunction with the Operations AEC, prepare Standard Operating Procedures to define technology standards employed by Tippecanoe County ARES.
Coordinate the efforts of others assigned to specific responsibilities in technology.
Inform EC of any developments related to the readiness of specialized communications systems employed by Tippecanoe County ARES.
Assist in the development of strategies for employing digital modes, such as Packet, APRS, D-STAR, PSK31, MT63, Olivia, and related modes, in supporting Served Agencies.
Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures to use digital modes in support of Served Agencies.
Provide technical assistance in configuring digital interfaces and maintaining systems, as required, to support TCARES operations.
