Hello All,

September was a very quite severe weather month for Michigan, and we can only
hope that October and November will be the same. However, we need to remember
the tornados of last year and the great storms of November.

Some progress has been made to unite the "Michigan Network" in the last year,
but we still are feeling the affects of becoming a diverse group of experts
rather than a united group of emergency responders. The idea of "commonality"
should be encouraged at our club meetings, in our activities outside of amateur
radio, and in our relations with other emergency services.

We have many modes and means of communication. I have found NONE to be superior
to another. As hams, we are the ones who can demonstrate and use each of the
tools in the tool box. But, again, where can we find common ground? I still
believe that the best approach to SkyWarn is to link the local VHF nets to the
statewide HF network. This can be done if each local VHF net designates an HF
net liaison station on 3.932 or 7.232.

Winter storms rarely affect just one of the National Weather Services offices.
The ability to coordinate a state response to any emergency is directly
proportional to our ability to coordinate routine responses. People will
respond to emergencies in the way that they are trained.

The original "Michigan Net" was, and still is, QMN on cw. But I would like to
encourage more of us to use the IDEA of a Michigan Net within our other modes of
choice; but please designate a station within your mode that can liaison to one
of the Michigan emergency frequencies.

We should be proud to be Amateur Radio Operators within the State of Michigan.
But I feel that we are becoming a tribe of street gangs fighting turf wars. We
should be above this, and I think we need to get back to the basics of providing
a service to the nation, our state and our community. Let's get back to being
Old Men*.

73 Lyle AB8CB

* OLD MAN - In radio communication, a term of endearment; friend; colleague;
brother or sister. Respected member of club or group. An equal. One of like
skill and ability.

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