[dropcap]J[/dropcap]anuary’s Association meeting featured emergency communications in Central Mississippi. Those in attendance heard about substantial statewide programs offered in each of the Magnolia State’s 82 counties by the MSU Extension Service. Tom Ball (MSU Extension Service) overviewed his program’s direct collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, MEMA, and other first-responding agencies. The ARRL ARES District Coordinator for West Mississippi, Robert Hayes KC5IMN, gave an overview of the progress and struggles he has experienced since his appointment a year ago. He mentioned the Rankin County ARES team as a “shining light” in both his District as well as the State at-large. Finally, Brian Grantham of the Rankin County EOC represented the schedule speaker, EOC Director Bob Wedgeworth. He gave a succinct description of what his organization does in the facility shared with the MSU Extension Service, the location where CMSARA holds it’s monthly and special meetings. The Rankin County EOC is particularly supportive of it’s collaboration with the ARES team supported by CMSARA.
It was a most informative program, far from an overview of checklist items for a go-kit. The larger scale organization elements that make those go-kits work and facilitate emergency communications were the focus. Business plans as an invited collaborator with the Jackson ARC in putting on the Capital City Hamfest were outlined as well as service activities that CMSARA will contribute to in the coming months.
The Business portion of the monthly meeting is show in an edited video below with the Program portion contained in a separate video for the convenience of viewers. The CMSARA Media Team has a slide show of the activities below, followed by the business and program video coverage.
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The business portion of the meeting in edited video form is here: