This year has proved to be a challenge due to the pandemic. But thanks to my team, we have met this challenge and still accomplished much in 2020. Here are just some of the things my team and I have accomplished:

• We have successfully moved from in-person meetings to virtual meetings using Google Meet. Until the COVID-19 issue is resolved, we will continue to meet virtually.
• Thanks to Randy NØOEM and Alan KIØEP, we now have great training at our monthly meetings and now have monthly training exercises. Check out our Training section of this web site for full details.
• We anticipate having some role in the COVID-19 vaccination program. These details are not yet available.
• We are actively preparing for the time that we will be needed during the pandemic, no matter what the role.
• Through the hard work of Zeke, KØXK our Finance Section Chief, we are now an ARRL Affiliated Club! We are one of the few ARES organizations in Colorado that have this honor.
• We are one of the first ARES districts in the state to have developed a Position Task Book. This Task Book is specific to Arapahoe County ARES and gives the members the requirements for training and improvement
• Arapahoe County ARES has developed membership requirements. We value each member's participation but we also know that not everyone can give time to the district.
  • Active - Members who have taken the 4 required ICS courses as well as participated in monthly meetings, training exercises and nets
  • Reserve  - Members who still want to participate but because of other obligations cannot fully participate
  • Youth - We have a number of young members who want to participate but because of their age, cannot participate unless accompanied by a parent
  • Emeritus - There are members who have been active members for at least 5 years but now cannot fully participate but still which to be members.
• I feel that disasters do not have borders and as such, we need to know how to work with other districts. Because of this, I have invited other districts to join us during our monthly meetings and participate in our monthly exercises. This make us unique in the Colorado Section.
• For the first time, we have kept all of our members from 2020. I thank all 34 of you for continuing to provide service to our community.
• All members have signed up for the Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer (CVM) program. This will give us a state identifiable identification card in addition to our Arapahoe County ARES identification card.

For those radio operators that are not currently connected to an ARES group, please consider joining Arapahoe County ARES. We strive to be the best emergency communications group in the state.

73,

Peter Meer, KCØVAQ
Emergency Coordinator
Arapahoe County ARES