Supporting Groups and Organizations

The Dayton Section Of the National Weather Service's SKYWARN Program is staffed entirely by volunteers who bring experience and knowledge to the organization. During severe weather season dedicated people are available 24 hours, 7 days a week for activation by the National Weather service, should the need arise.

Amateur Radio Community and Public Service

Dayton SKYWARN depends greatly on other amateur organizations and public service agencies for support. They provide radio systems, technical expertise, facilities, equipment and other miscellaneous resources that contribute significantly to our mission. Without this support we could not perform this public service. Please follow the attached links to learn how you can support these fine  organizations and public service departments.

• The Miami Valley FM Association has long been radio home for the Dayton SKYWARN Net. MVFMA operates a high profile repeater system in the greater Dayton area. Its is an expensive investment in time and money to maintain a repeater system. We recognize the support they provide by making their 146.64 MHZ repeater available to us as needed. This repeater receives reports from the southern counties under Dayton SKYWARN'S  umbrella.

• The Shelby County Amateur Radio Emergency Services joined Dayton SKYWARN family several years ago providing their new 146.835 MHz repeater system so we can better reach our northern counties of responsibility. Since that time SCARES has continued to up grade their repeater system adding links to weak receive areas and battery/generator back-up to the site.

• Logan County Amateur Radio Club has been with Dayton SKYWARN for a very long time. For many years they were the primary northern county repeater used by Dayton SKYWARN. However, in recent years due to need to use more mobile spotter in the northwestern counties a need arose for more centralized repeater. At that time CLARA became a back up repeater should the SCARES repeater suffers a failure during severs weather events.

• Also acting as back-up repeaters should the MVFMA repeater lose power are: Dayton Amateur Radio Association, 146.94 MHz and Preble County Amateur Radio Club, 145.47 MHZ, repeaters. In that order. We truly appreciate their support of the National Weather Service Program and Dayton SKYWARN by offering their resources should we need them.

• A huge :"thanks" to the Butler Township Trustees and Chief Wiltrout with the Butler Township Fire Department for providing a roof over our heads and back up generator power should we need it.

Governmental

• Montgomery County Office of  Emergency Management  (MCOEM) provides assistance with Dayton SKYWARN equipment insurance coverage through the ARRL insurance program.

• Wayne County, Indiana, EMA has supported Dayton SKYWARN by printing the hundreds of Spotter Training Brochures we distribute annually during our 15 county NWS/Dayton SKYWARN Spotter's Training Classes.

• Preble County EMA assisted by laminating our 15 county Maps used during an activation to follow the path of storms and locate areas during weather events.

Community and Corporate Assistance

• Ameritech has provided support through employee amateur radio volunteers. Milt Kohl, W8MK, Harriet Kohl, K8PKL and Jim Currie, K8YDP, for their donations to Dayton SKYWARN.

• Viking Office Products for their donation of office products and furniture.

• Meijers for their donation of lighting equipment.

• John Ackerman, N8UR for providing Web hosting at www.febo.com

• Kenwood Communications Corporation for their assistance of equipment accessories.

• Alinco and Ham Radio Outlet assists us with radio equipment

• Hamvention for their assistance to Dayton SKYWARN

• Larry Bell, N8NTX, the extremely intelligent, creative wizard, and just an all around good guy, is responsible for the initial design and implementation of this website. Mike Boyd, N8YHE, another extremely intelligent, creative wizard, and  all around great guy, is responsible for maintaining this and many other local Amateur Radio web sites.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the hundreds upon hundreds of dedicated amateur radio SKYWARN spotter in all 15 counties who donated many hours of volunteer time each year to support the SKYWARN Program. They show up on frequency at a moments notice and stay as long as the NWS and we need them. Your help and dedication is appreciated by Wilmington National Weather Service and Dayton SKYWARN. Without you we couldn't provide this valuable service.

Last Updated: 02/13/06