RRRA Members who were not able to attend the Jan TRG-AUXCOMM workshop hosted by the club in January 2016, might like to view the Auxcomm … Explained HamRadioNow episode (HRN 330, EmComm Extra #13, June 21 2017) for an introduction to AUXCOMM and read the AUXCOMM—Intense Training for Serious Disasters QST article for a review of an OEC TRG-AUXCOMM course conducted in Orlando, Florida, during February 2016.

September is National Preparedness Month. Every year in September ARRL encourages ARES, RACES, and SKYWARN leaders to plan a Simulated Emergency Test (SET). In their effort to be as prepared as possible to provide auxiliary communications if needed during a disaster, the RRRA ARES group has planned informal nets Sunday, October 2nd , and Monday, October 3rd on VHF and HF bands with relays between these bands handled by the net controllers. The purpose of this North Dakota (ND) SET is to allow those who are interested a chance to participate and to determine what communication links are possible in the event of a disaster. If this SET is deemed a success future SETs will be planned including additional times, other bands, sending messages and emergency scenarios.