8:00PM, Wednesday nights on 146.920(-)

1. Remember to indicate that it is a routine RACES net

2. Keep a record of check-ins, & pass on to N8RXX

3. Limit traffic to information/questions pertaining to RACES. Other questions should be asked during the routine ARES net.

4. All stations must check-in themselves. One check-in cannot request that you also check-in someone else.

5. All stations MUST posses current RACES ID badges issued by a county within Michigan (RACES members from other states are a gray-area). FCC rules clearly state that ONLY RACES members may participate in a RACES net. During the RACES net, the repeater is closed to all other stations.

6. If something comes up & you cannot run the nets on your scheduled date, it is your duty to contact some of the other NCSs & try to swap NCS dates with them.

1. Stations checking into the net must check-in during the net! Check-ins before or after the net should be politely refused. Make a final check-in invitation before closing the net.

2. Allow a time for portable/mobile check-ins only to occur during the net.

3. If any station does not check-in exactly as requested, use your discretion in asking them to provide the missing info ("Got you checked in, N8MWD. Could I get your first name, please?"). They need to get into the habit of LISTENING to and FOLLOWING the NCS instructions! Be sure to give your check-in instructions clearly & each time you’re about to solicit check-ins.

4. Only accept check-ins when you specifically ask for them. Someone trying to check-in at other times is being rude & disruptive to the net.

5. If the repeater is in use at 8PM by people passing non-emergency traffic, don’t hesitate to jump in & politely but firmly tell them to clear the frequency. The RACES Net has precedence, & we’ve been using that repeater at that same time on Mondays for several years now...

6. If the repeater is down or acting crazy, use your discretion -- you could have the net on 146.580 simplex, or the RACES back-up repeater. 145.150MHz. Whatever you decide, try to announce it several times on 146.920 (output), so that people will know to switch frequencies for the RACES Net.

7. On one routine net a month, the NCS should remind Washtenaw (only) RACES members to keep us up-to-date on contact information for them – if they’re recently moved, or switched phone numbers (home/work/pager), they need to pass on the information to the EOC. They can call 313/971-1152 any time.
8. Likewise, if any Washtenaw (only) RACES member has recently obtained an Internet e-mail address, they should pass it on to us. They can just send email to: ttyler@mich.com & I will add them to the list of Washtenaw RACES members with E-mail.

The following is a sample RACES script you could use. You don’t have to use it verbatim, but this is the general format & way the net should be run...

Thanks for helping out with the nets!

Doug Cox, N8ZLR