At the April MARC meeting, we will continue our disaster preparedness theme with a guest speaker. Mike Stodenmier, director of the Montgomery City/County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) will be speaking about his office's role and how we, as amateur radio operators fit into EMA disaster response plans. Mike will also discuss his plans for integrating amateur radio into upcoming city events and EMA drills. This will be your chance to talk with Mike one-on-one and to ask questions about emergency management's plans for dealing with various disaster scenarios.

The next MARC meeting will be held on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held in classroom A of the Central Alabama Red Cross, 5015 Woods Crossing Drive.

After a brief business meeting, we will listen to several disaster preparedness themed presentations. Mike Watkins, WX4AL, the ARRL AL district 4 emergency coordinator, will make a presentation about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and its role in central Alabama. El Erby, the Montgomery county emergency coordinator will tell us about the local ARES situation and Otto Arnoscht, the central Alabama Skywarn, Alabama Emergency Net Golf (AENG) net manager will make a presentation about the Skywarn program and it assists the National Weather Service when severe weather happens.

I hope you will take a couple hours from your busy schedule to join me next Monday evening for what's sure to be an entertaining and informative meeting.

As always, many of us stop by Schlotzsky's around 5:30 - 6:00 for dinner and fellowship before the meeting.