SBE 56 Chapter Chairman Don Dobbs called the Meeting to order.  Don asked everyone present to introduce himself or herself. 

Reports:
Minutes as reported on the Chapter Website were approved by voice vote.

Treasurers Report:
Chapter checking account balance at our last meeting on January 22, 2002, was $4,375.69.

There were no expenses, or income leaving a balance of $4,375.69 on February 26, 2002.

Frequency Coordination Report:
Above 1 GHz:

Larry Miller reported KOKI/KTFO have and are going to make some changes in their use of the 6.5/7 GHz stl/tsl band.  They are using channel 2 (2008-2025GHz) for some of their news live shots.

Below 1 GHz:

Richard Hardy reported no new activity.

Certification Report:

No report is available this month 

Internet Report:

Roger Herring reported no new activity.

EAS Report:

Roger Herring reported that the database for EAS station monitoring for the entire state of Oklahoma will be posted this week at, http://www.okeas.org. 

Old Business:   

Don Dobbs reported on the OAB Technical Sessions.  He thanked MCSi for providing the projector(s), for the Tulsa chapter members that traveled to OKC for the sessions, Sony for providing the Friday lunch and Chapter 56 for picking up the tab for the Saturday session’s lunch. 

David Layer, Director of Advanced Technology, for NAB Science and Technology spoke at the Friday luncheon.

It is reported that many vendors packed up early Saturday.

New Business:

Nominees for 2002-2003 Chapter 56 Officers were submitted by Don Dobbs, to the membership.  Voting was conducted by written ballot.  President - George Chambers, 16 votes, Vice President - Roger Herring, 16 votes, Treasurer - Larry Miller, 16 votes, Secretary - Bill Lee 16 votes.

 

Today’s Program:

HDTV pc card shootout.  Signals projected onto three screens. 

Dale Vennes-Telemann Hipix DTV200 card-$390.  Can record and video can be played back on another DTV200 card. 

Don Dobbs-Happauge WinTV-PVR card-$449.-$375.  Cannot record.  Don says the AC-3 (Dolby Digital) audio was very impressive.

 David Shaffer-Access DTV card-$399.  Can record but cannot play video back on another Access DTV card. 

Meeting closed at 12:55p.m.

    

What? No live shots 'cause of an accident?
From the Editor, Mark Bell.


With all of the hazards news crews face, a driving accident is probably the most preventable.  The news regarding two ENG truck crashes came fast this year. One reportedly was rolled as it was driven on a highway ramp, the other was involved in an accident in front of another media entity, in which comments focused on the braking of the vehicle. Both trucks, if not totaled, sustained heavy damage. The full extent of injuries to the employees involved is yet to be determined.

Company vehicle safety is another one of those “safety culture” things. This author won’t forget the interview with a vehicle operator who claimed he rode a bicycle to work daily for the better part of his 24 years employment. In that time, nobody had ever noted seeing him driving his personal car. He drives a company ENG vehicle, and has never been asked to show or document the fact he has a drivers license. 24 years. Nobody knows if he’s licensed.

Who is the person driving the van you ride in?
 Is he/she qualified to drive a van? How do you know? Some companies have an assumption of safe practices by not performing any examinations of data which would possibly uncover unsafe practices. No incidents, no problems.

Looking at the accidents referred above from a law enforcement point of view, one might speculate that excessive speed was a factor. It’s a fact that excessive speed is a factor in every accident which involves loss of control in foul weather conditions and collisions where additional braking or braking distance would have prevented the accident. News vans going too fast?  Who would think such a thing?  Heh heh..... But we all know what goes on in the pursuit of a hot story; Hot pursuit.

Some steps to increase driving safety.
1)  Determine who is driving vehicles.
      a) All drivers should have licenses on file.
      b) Quarterly or bi-yearly record checks.
2)  Uniform driver education.
      a) By corporate or company policy.
      b) Many insurance companies offer driver training.
3)  Checks and balances.
      a)  Periodic manager ride-alongs.
      b)  Periodic random peer evaluations.

Steps to increase driver morale:
1)  Employee input regarding vehicle issues.
      a)  Time needs to be given to clean equipment.
      b) Standardization of, and expectations for neatness, cleanliness,
       normal wear issues, and  equipment use, must be dictated & 
      enforced by employer. (Violators punished)
      c) Vehicle and equipment maintenance time must be allowed on
      built-in off-use days to allow for planned maintenance and
      small-detail attentiveness.
2) Dispatchers must become familiar with field employee routines to understand challenges of time, speed, setup, performance, and stowage routines.

Steps to protect employer.
1) Employees must adapt to truck operator rules and habits from owned-car rules when in company vehicles
2) Daily reorientation to vehicle height, clearance, and equipment clearance rules. Height signage is a must!
3) Orderly dispensing and stowage of equipment.
4) Notification of vehicle troubles in a timely manner.
5) Committed observance of all motor vehicle laws.

That’s not just a vehicle on the road, it’s your whole company’s liability on the line. Those others on the road? Those are your clients.

Contact information,
ENG Safety Memo:
Toll-free: 1-87-SAFE-6090
Phone: 781-383-6090
Fax: 781-394-0762
e-mail: safety@engsafety.com
www.engsafety.com

click here

Education Committee
Jim Bowles

 CERTIFICATION EXAM DATES FOR 2002
The SBE Certification Committee has established exam dates for 2002. Check the list below for the exam period that is best for you. For more information about SBE Certification, see SBE 56 Certification Chair Jim Bowles or contact Linda Godby, Certification Director at the SBE National Office at (317) 846-9000 or lgodby@sbe.org.

Humor
Below is our best attempt at humor. 
  If you enjoy it, our boss says not to encourage us by telling us so!