News and Announcements

C.E.R.T. Training Coming!  Are YOU Interested?? (Free or really cheap!!)

Get an idea of what this is all about; click:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_emergency_response_team

We in Bonner County have the first operational CERT Team in the Inland Northwest.  Kudos to Bob Howard of BC Emergency Management and to Brenda & Alan Bramwell, the volunteer instructors, for initiating this several years ago.  Over the course of several classes, we graduated about 100 folks.   Most of us have gone on to join the Bonner County Emergency Services group, as volunteers.

I'm extremely proud of this INW Prep group, because we comprised about 75% of all attendees.  Likewise, INW Prep caused the Blanchard Grange (our primary meeting facility) to be the fastest-growing Grange in the entire nation, last year.  INW Prep has also been a major force in the expansion of amateur radio operators throughout the Great American Redoubt.  

Now that you've read the above link, I think you'll agree that the skills taught in CERT are wonderful ones to have, whether you're a city dweller or country homesteader.   We learned a lot from, with and about each other as we went through the training and drills, deepening friendships and developing trust.
As we move into uncharted times in this nation, we need all the skills and relationships we can possibly build.  

So, again, Brenda and Alan are volunteering the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Saturdays in October to teaching a Blanchard CERT class specifically to inwP members. . . and I'm overjoyed to be a part of it!  Class size will be limited to 24, and we will have a selection process among you hand-raisers:  We need to create a Supply Closet! 

We'll be asking you to tap places for tax-deductible donations  like hospitals, Harbor Freight, Dollar stores, Wally Worlds, Lowes, Home Despots, etc for the materials we'll need, like work gloves, masks, face shields, refillable fire extinguishers, green construction hard hats, cases of various bandages, slings, first aid items, knee pads, rope, romex wire, red / yellow / green / black / white electrician's tape, notepads, paper supplies, coffee & drinks, caases of water, water filtration & storage, Storage bins / lockers / storage facility garage, 30 - 40 radios (BaoFeng 888S or even UV5R), sponsored lunches (3 Saturdays), etc.

These will be needed in training, as well as continued training, and also as a source of equipment in time of emergency.  Think big, think lots, this is OUR time to make a difference and an impact on and in our community in the upcoming times of trial.

Time is moving quickly.  Who is interested, and how will you help?

Oh, did I mention that a CERT outfit & badge may help you get through some barricades???

Going North on 41 past Spirit Lake, down by the HICO gas station into Bonner County, as a bunch of tools & supplies for sale by BART.
He also has a 1980s Ford Truck for around $2k & a ladder rack for about @250.     
Located down by the Cedar Mini-Homes       -    I'm buying his camper . . ...              

HUBS - be sure to come out & meet you new members!
5:30 PM, bring a dish to share Mon 7/27 at the Grange for the monthly 4th Monday Pot Luck!
Get to know each other - meet you neighbors.  Newcomers, get to know those in your neighborhood and how to communicate with them via radios.
HUBS - be sure to come out & meet you new members!

Sounds like you're off to a great start, Kerry!   We look forward to meeting you - maybe Saturday, 7/18??!!

Name:
Kerry Hyder

Public Name:
KHyde

Town / Group:
Sandpoint

Cell or best tel #:
505.450. (on website)

HAM call sign:


Skills / hobbies to share with this group::
Skills? beginner level wood working/building. I built a lumber plank counter top, I've built basic furniture (functional, not aesthetic.) Hobby? Gardening. I love dirt therapy!

What topic(s) would you like to learn?:
Weapons shooting/handling/maintenance, hunting, canning, butchery/charcuterie, animal husbandry, solar systems, sourcing water (wells/springs/seeps and their development) and plenty more!

Introduction:
I have been learning for the past 3-4 years to ready myself for building and maintaining a farmstead. I raised chickens and have butchered a cockerel, treated a lash egg bound hen, and have gotten into woodworking while remodeling and readying our last home for sale. We sold our home just outside Albuquerque, New Mexico and moved to the PNW. Our dream and hard work is coming to fruition as we will be closing on a purchase of 20 acres in Cocolalla in a few days. I want to continue to learn and put into practice on our own land to build a homestead/farm to sustain us and the community we live in.

How did you hear about us?:
Our realtor, Eric Craig, suggested I join inwprep.com.

NO MORE MEMBERS will be accepted via inwp.
New members will be accepted via SPONSORSHIP only. 
That means you want them on board, you vouch for them.
If accepted, they will be brought into YOUR local Hub.
YOU get their name, email, address & Tel # & send that info to me.
We will have regular meetings for this specific purpose; they would be invited to come long WITH YOU to that meeting.
We will be CLOSING DOWN the inwP site in the near future.

Meeting tonight at the Blanchard Grange, Mason Ave, 6:30 PM - hope to see you there!

Name:
Toni A King

Public Name:
Toni

Town / Group:
Sandpoint

Cell or best tel #:
20826344xx

HAM call sign:
KM6CRR

Skills / hobbies to share with this group::
Logistics

Riding, dog training, shooting, we teach academics, life skills, survival skills and so much more in our summer camps and private K-12 school.

What topic(s) would you like to learn?:
Been here two years would love to learn local areas. We never stop learning.

Introduction:
A friend invited us talking about a great group of like minded folks. In these times that's critical.
Hubby and I own a private school and summer camps along with adult workshops since 2001.

How did you hear about us?:
A friend sent me the group info.

Come join us tomorrow (Wed) 6:30PM at Blanchard Grange, on Mason Ave!

Name:
Denise & Ron Glines

Public Name:
Denise / Ron G

Town / Group:
Careywood/Cocolalla 83813

Cell or best tel #:
2082902325

HAM call sign:


Skills / hobbies to share with this group::
Essential oils

What topic(s) would you like to learn?:
Survival
emergency care

Introduction:
59 y o, female, fighting to keep strength and brain.
Desire to help people especially if they are young and are able flee. I see myself as a touch point. Not interested or able at this point to be OTR. ;)

How did you hear about us?:
Debra Kessler, HooDoo

They've been doing these over in WA for a while.  Who would have some stuff to BRING if we did one here (Maybe, Blanchard Grange)?
Take a look - 
https://spokane.craigslist.org/grd/d/chewelah-chewelah-animal-swap-june-27th/7146084970.html

Open to hearing ideas of where / when -