Spring CERT Classes start March 15th!

The next Petaluma CERT Classes are set to begin on Monday, March 15th at Groverman Hall, on the campus of the Petaluma Valley Hospital.  The last class, which will be a course review, exercise of a simulated disaster and graduation for those who complete all classes, will be on Monday, April 12th.

The location of this site for April 12th is being established and we will let you know exactly where this class will be held long before the date arrives.

All CERT Classes will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

There is a charge of $25 for the classes, which we must impose to cover the emergency supplies and course manual that is provided to you.  However, we will waive this charge for anyone for whom the $25 charge will impose a hardship and the reason you might not attend.  If you are in this category, just let me know at the first class meeting on March 15th.  No one will be turned away from this important training, because of financial hardship.

We have had to institute a new procedure in signing people up for the Petaluma CERT classes.  Because the number of actual attendees must be confirmed to purchase and have on hand adequate supplies, we must ask that if you are committed to attending these classes, that you request a registration form from Bill Paxton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and return it right away along with your $25 payment.

The number of people who have indicated they wish to take this upcoming class, has increased dramatically in the last month (couldn't have anything to do with the ongoing disastrous earthquakes, could it?) so we must limit this class to 26 people.   

We will take the first 26 completed applications we receive to determine those who will be able to attend this time.  If you cannot attend these upcoming CERT classes, please reply to this email message letting us know you cannot attend.  If you wish to be put on a list for our next CERT Classes, or wish to have your name removed from this list, please let us know.  We do not know when the next CERT Classes will be, but they will most probably be later this year.

For those who will be attending, we will send out a calendar of dates, locations and pertinent information on the classes, following receipt of your application.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Bill Paxton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or via phone at (707) 763-4421.

CERN News (Community Emergency Radio Network)

Update: January 18, 2010

If you are seeking additional opportunities to participate in Net Control exercises, consider the following local nets that invite guests:
 

Mondays

•    South.Sonoma County ACS Net – 1915 hours – 146.910 (-) PL 88.5
•    Sonoma County ARES Net – 1930 hours – 147.315 (-) PL 88.5
•    Salvation Army Net - SATERN – 2000 hours – 147.060 PL 100.0

Tuesdays

•    Sonoma County Radio Amateurs – 1900 hours – 147.315 (-) PL 88.5

Wednesdays

•    Sonoma County CERT Newcomers Net - 1930 hours – 147.315 (-) PL 88.5 

NERT News

Next month we hope to check the progress we are making toward creating active teams at the neighborhood level. Use your NERT Scorecard to record your active team members. Start now to spread the word among your neighbors about the next CERT Course (#11). 

CERT Training Classes: The initial Class Session will be on Monday, September 17, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Groverman Hall. Interested citizens may “see” & “hear” what is involved by watching the CERT Highlights videos »»

HAM Radio Test Date: Congrats to Mike Glose for passing the Technician Class License Exam last Saturday. The next Amateur Radio Test Session will be held at the Senior Center on Saturday, October 13. Call Dale  at 762-9414 for more information.

Emergency Preparedness Information Booths: Our public outreach efforts will continue at the Saturday Markets, held in Walnut Park on September 15 & 22, from 2-5 p.m. Spread the word in your neighborhood and drop by to say, “Hi!”

Grant School’s “Health & Wellness Fair”:  As part of this PTA sponsored event, held on Sunday, September 8, two CERT grads, Kirsten Hoffman and Tammy Amborn staffed an information table and made a family/home emergency preparedness presentation. Kirsten is chairperson of the Safety Committee for the Grant Elementary PTA, and Tammy is the volunteer leader for the Petaluma Fire Department’s outreach program.

Amateur Radio in One Day SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007

by Sonoma Mountain Repeater Society

PETALUMA SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER

200 NOVAK DRIVE (LUCCHESI PARK), PETALUMA, CA

Technician or General Class Preparation Session 

Class Starts at 8:30am—Exam at 2:00pm Limited Seating - Reservations Recommended.  Call 707.762.9414 (Leave call back number, whether your interest ins in the technician or general class and your call sign, if you have one).

If you are upgrading to the General or Amateur Extra license, bring your current license and a photocopy of the license

Other Requirements:

One Photo Identification (Driver License, Passport or Student ID), Social Security Number, Zip Code (9 digit zip code recommended)

Preparation Fee (including Exam Fee):  $25.00

Exam Fee Only:  $14.00

See a schedule of all North Bay Exams

For ALERT Leaders:

Announcing the first, County-wide CERT Exercise for all CERT Graduates (unfortunately, we cannot accommodate others, even as observers, due to liability concerns).  
 
The "CERT Challenge" will be held on Saturday, March 3rd.  It will be an all day event, beginning with sign-in at 8:30 am (yeah, I know it's early for a weekend day!) and will last until approximately 4:00 pm.  There will be lunch provided.
 
Click to download the Registration Form , along with the "Ground Rules" for all participants.  A lot of work has gone into the event and it is hoped that we will have a good turn-out. We here in the Petaluma (and surrounding region) are permitted two teams of 8 graduates to participate.  In order to confirm your place, I must have your commitment and registration form back to me no later than Thursday, February 15th.  If the fee presents a financial problem for anyone, please drop me an email - WE WILL NOT PREVENT ANYONE FROM PARTICIPATING WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE $15 FEE.
 
There will be six simulated exercises that follow instructions for each exercise.  These will be far more challenging exercises (not more strenuous) than you have previously performed.  There will be time limits and other restrictions, all designed to challenge CERT Teams in their performance - and we know that we will also have fun! There will also be press and dignitaries present, so you and your team might be in the papers or on TV.  
 
My hope is that each and every CERT Graduate tries hard to find the time in their busy schedules to include this exercise event.  It will be our first County-wide CERT Exercise and many people are dedicated to seeing that every participant gets a great experience from it.
 
Please look over the material attached right away and complete the Registration to get involved.
 
I'm looking forward to hearing from each of you by 2/15.
Best regards.
Bill Paxton

For ALERT Leaders:

Thursday, January 18th, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Groverman Hall, PVH.
NERT Team Leadership - "Moving Forward in 2007" w/Bill Hammerman
BTW, the 400 Black Oak Drive cluster of Westridge Knolls (20 homes),
has met the criteria for designation as a STAR Neighborhood.

Amateur Radio License Class & Test: January 13, 8:30-4:00, Senior Center

The greatest source of stress in a disaster is lack of information. One of the goals for NERTs is to have an amateur operator in each neighborhood so that we can receive and listen in on the emergency net during a major disaster. Becoming an amateur radio operator is a link in the communication chain for your neighborhood.

Here are the details. The Preparation Session starts at 8:30AM and the exam goes from 2PM to 4PM. After the test there will be brief informal discussion related to amateur radio etiquette and an opportunity to talk to each other over the radio. We will have radios available.

You will need a photo ID, your SSN is required by the FCC for the license, and your 9 digit ZIP Code. The Preparation Session fee includes the exam fee for a total of $25.

The session is at the Senior Center. Go east on East Madison, left on Novak Drive to the circle. The Senior Center is on the left of the circle. If you have any questions about the session, please call Dale at 762.9414.

 Local NERT Ham Organizational Meeting: Thursday, January 11th, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Groverman Hall, Petaluma Valley Hospital.
NERT HAM (Already Licensed) "Orientation to Operating Procedures" w/Eric Swanson

“Government can’t do it all. We need to be prepared to take care of ourselves in an emergency” …  Argus-Courier, April 12, 2006

“Local preparedness: CERT, NERT, and ALERT”
Argus-Courier, September 20, 2006

CERT = Community Emergency Response Training
The purpose of CERT is to train members of the community to respond to the needs of their neighborhood and community following a disaster.
 

NERT = Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
Several Petaluma neighborhoods have organized a local NERT in order to assist each other before, during, and after an extreme disaster, such as an earthquake or flood.

ALERT = Alliance of Local Emergency Response Teams
Petaluma ALERT consists of  neighborhood group leaders who wish to keep in touch with what is going on with NERT groups in Petaluma and what’s going on in Petaluma,
overall, with regard to emergency preparedness.

Become a STAR neighborhood, one that is – Safe-Trained-Alert-Ready

An Amateur Radio Test Session was held at the Senior Center on November 11 and passed by all 10 NERT/CERT volunteers who spent most of the day studying for a Technician Class License, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Many thanks to Dale Westerterp and the Sonoma Mountain Repeater Society members, who organized and monitored the testing session.