District 1 OHIO ARES

Known as Chick Factor Night, this event-within-an-event will take place from 2300 UTC Friday, May 28, to 0200 UTC Sunday, May 29 (or 7 to 10 p.m. May 28 Indianapolis time).

Radio is a hobby for members of the Crowsnest Pass Amateur Radio Society, but more importantly, it is seen as a vital form of communication for emergency situations. Although the members enjoy talking with people around the world, Mark Cnossen, president of the CNPARS, said the group is bound by federal regulations to assist when they are called upon. After starting up in 2002, Crowsnest Pass chapter members have indeed stepped up to the plate with their radio tower repeaters on Ironside Mountain and near Burmis. Cnossen said the group has provided necessary communications during the Lost Creek Fire and the large snow storm that wiped out power in the Crowsnest area in 2005. "We can act as a command centre and we can direct communications to basically wherever it"s needed," Cnossen said. He said if something were to happen with the main repeaters for the area, group members could have them back on the air with their portable repeaters in a matter of minutes. With their tower set up on Ironside, Cnossen said they can reach Calgary and as well, they can link into Edmonton. "Right now, we have a direct link to the 911 dispatch system in Okotoks all on the press of a button," he said.