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50 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2021 During emergencies, ham radio is usually thought of as the last resort. When there are no landlines, no cell phone, no internet, and you cannot text, ham radio is viewed as the last resort for communications. The transition for ham radio operators with an emergency plan is not a difficult one. You just need to have the emergency channels programmed into your radios. There are some instances that are just the reverse of this. You are either hiking or cruising around in your Jeep, but the area where you are going is way beyond cell service. What should you do to protect yourself? The very first rule of traveling into the back country is do not go it alone. You should always travel in pairs at the very least or with a club. This way if someone is hurt they have at least one person to go for help. Before going on your trip you should decide on a simplex radio frequency that you can all use. The national simplex frequency, 146.520 MHz, is a good one. These frequencies are frequently being monitored by other nearby radio operators all the time. You should also check to see if there is any nearby repeater/relay station that operates in the area that you are going to visit. Repeaters are powerful stations, usually on mountaintops, that can relay your information hundreds of miles away. You could have one of your friends monitor the repeater while you are out in that area. They could be hundreds of miles away, but as long as their signal could reach the repeater you could talk to one another. Standard outdoor protocol is to check in on the radio three times a day. You would check in when you start at 10 am, around lunch at 1 pm, and at 4 pm, when most people stop for the day. It is also important for you to monitor the frequency at the top of every hour for around five minutes whenever possible. Another possible aid would be to have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). EPIRB's are monitored by satellites worldwide. It can be noted that an EPIRB can be accurately tracked even in remote locations. The activation of an EPIRB transmitter is notice that there is an emergency in progress. Satellites and monitoring stations that receive the signal will relay it to authorities. Amateur radio has its place in wilderness emergency communications, safety, and even search and rescue but it should not be your only lifeline. If you are interested in radio operations of any kind from walkie talkies to ham radio come join us at our monthly meeting. (I used Rick Palm's article in the March issue of QST magazine as a reference for this article.) We meet on the last Friday of the month. Our next meeting is Sept. 24 at 10 am in the RCN Conference Room. ~ Michael Mendoza, srmendoza@verizon.net and Jim Peterson, jim.k6jwp@gmail. com Radio Club The rainbow is a powerful symbol that represents beauty, balance, peace, and hope. As such, we believe it is a perfect representation for our group. We are residents of Four Seasons at Beaumont who also happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The rainbow is so perfect because it fits our group's diversity in terms of race, gender, age, and beliefs. While we strive to serve the interests of our members, we do welcome all supportive homeowners and encourage everyone to attend any of our functions. Everyone leads busy lives (even at our age!), and we often find it difficult to stay connected with our neighbors. Therefore, the Rainbow Group has monthly get-togethers on the fourth Thursday of the month, usually in the Game Room at The Lodge at 6 pm. Our next gathering is scheduled to be Sept. 23. Our monthly get-togethers are informal social gatherings which give members an opportunity to meet new neighbors, catch up on member and community activities/news, or just chat – no stuffy agendas, roll calls, or minutes for us! If you are hungry, feel free to bring your own food/beverages or order from the Bistro. The Rainbow Group also hosts periodic gatherings for socializing (such as BBQs, potlucks, LGBT-themed movie nights in The Lodge Theater, and other events the group may sponsor. Stay tuned to our Facebook page or email for any changes. For info, please contact Dale at 951-797-0364 or dalebeckes@gmail.com. ~ Dale Beckes Rainbow Group Travel Group Great news! The first post-COVID Travel Group meeting will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 10 am to noon in the RCN Main Room. Thereafter, our regularly scheduled meetings with be held every other month on the third Saturday of the odd months. Mark your calendars for Sept. 18 and Nov. 20. All residents are welcome to attend our meetings. The Travel Group Steering Committee members have been busy researching possible trips. They have also been compiling updated travel information, regulations/restrictions, guidelines and apps. For instance, be aware that processing times for renewal of passports have increased dramatically. The TSA website states times for routine requests are as long as 18 weeks and expedited requests are taking 12 weeks to process. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. If any resident wants to be added to the membership list, please send an email to Sharon Bond at sjbond2013@gmail.com. In the body of the email, please provide your name and telephone number. For any other information, call or text Irene Welker at (951) 275-7081 or send an email to irenewelker55@gmail.com. ~ Irene Welker