Public Service

Amateur radio public service events

Public Service

YuKanRun Ocean View 5K and Half Marathon, Ipswich, November 4, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list:

CAARA has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us.

You are using amateur radio to provide a needed public service to ensure the safety and smooth running of a public event in local communities.

I would, but I do not have a radio. No excuse, we have loaner radio’s available with a mag mount that will work in your car just by just plugging it into the cigarette lighter socket. We have loaner hand held radios as well!

I don’t have transportation. No excuse, we will pick you up and drop you off at your house. I do not have the time to spare for a whole race. Well, you can commit to a time slot, for just two hours. We will bend over backwards to get you to participate.

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Ocean View 5K & Half Marathon on Thursday, November 4th in Ipswich. Please be on location at your Check Point by 8:00 for a 8:30 AM start. Start, finish at Ipswich High School, 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by November 2nd so I can plan staffing positions for the event.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use ( mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; rubber duck, etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA  for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority.  Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

 

Emergency Communications / NTS / Operating / Public Service

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net for October – Monday 10/1/18 at 830 PM on MMRA Network

- by kd1cy - Leave a Comment

Hello to all…

We will be continuing our monthly ARES Net in October. The monthly ARES Net for October is Monday the 1st, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

As part of our relationship with MARS and our own situational awareness gathering we will be asking for any known infrastructure issues that you are aware of. The information must either be personally observed, or obtained “over the air” via amateur radio. Items considered to be infrastructure include but are not limited to: electrical power, water, medical facilities, sanitation, communications, and transportation. Examples of failure would be: small or large area power failure, water main breaks, hospitals’ ER closed, sewage issues, TV/radio station off the air (including public safety), interstate highway or major road closed. No known issues are just as important as reporting failures.

Additionally we are interested in relay of any weather information from airport ATIS/ASOS stations that you can directly receive via radio. These stations broadcast continuously in the 120.000 – 138.000 MHz frequency range using amplitude modulation. Information from the ATIS should include airport, temperature, altimeter (barometer), wind, precipitation, and visibility.

A list of stations with their frequencies and a map can be found at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/weather/asos/?state=MA
A brief introduction to ATIS can be found at: https://www.vatsim.net/pilot-resource-centre/general-lessons/understanding-atis

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone’s participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ema.arrl.org/ares

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator

Public Service

Volunteers Sought, Lone Gull 10K, Gloucester, September 30, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

map of course, Lone Gull 10k, Gloucester MAChristopher Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA list:

CAARA has a great public service team. Come out and have some fun with us. We have loaner radios if you need one. Come out and join the event. Contact us and we will set you up with a radio.

We are looking for operators to staff the Lone Gull 10K on Sunday, September 30th. Please be on location at your Check Point by 8:30 for a 9:00 AM start. Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by September 28th so I can plan staffing positions for the event..

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use ( mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; rubber duck, etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Chris K1TAT

Lone Gull 10K Communications Team

Gloucester, Mass

Last Updated: 9/16//2018 1:20 am

Event date: Sunday, September,23, 2018

On Location: 8:30 am

Starts: 10 k Run = 9:00 am

Frq: W1GLO Repeater 145.130 – PL:107.2, Back up Simplex 146.585

Public Service

PMC Kids Ride, Volunteers Requested, Manchester-by-the-Sea, September 22, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF writes on the North Shore RA mailing list:
 
I have a last minute event that has come up.  I need a few people to help with a KIDS PMC event.
 
Rick, WZ1L, in Gloucester has asked if I can get a few people to help him with a friends event to raise money for a kids cancer charity event.
 
The event is next Saturday, September 22 in the AM before noon in Manchester-by-the-Sea.
 
I know some people are doing a public service event on Sunday as well, but if you can help out I only need a few.
 
I don’t have all the details yet and I myself will not be able to attend, but I told Rick I would see who I could round up..
 
If you can help please let me know.  The PMC Kids Ride for children between the ages of 6 and 16 is only a 5 mile ride, so it should not take many people and should be a quick event.
 
Thanks
 
Eric, KA1NCF
Public Service

Ride to Defeat ALS, Volunteers Needed, September 23, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

David Wolfe, KG1H writes:

The Worcester Emergency Communications Team is looking for volunteers on Sunday 9/23/18 for the Ride to  Defeat  ALS.  This is a low key event with the primary focus being on charity rather than racing.  

The 70 mile bicycle course begins at the Longfellow club in Wayland and continues through several towns with rest stops in Hudson, Bolton, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury.  While the race runs from 6AM to 3PM, some stations open as late as 9AM and some close as early as 11AM.  

Operators working at a course station can report directly to their station.  Lunch is provided for operators in Wayland.  There will be two roving race vehicles that will require a mobile radio.  We will have both 2m and 70cm repeaters linked for this event. 

If you are available, please reply to  nb1h@wect.org and indicate if you are able to provide a mobile radio for a roving assignment, and indicate your location and what hours you are available.  I will attempt to locate you at a station closer to your home if possible.

Thanks,
Ben NB1H
Worcester Emergency Communications Team

Public Service

Request For Operators, YuKanRun Half-By-The-Sea Half Marathon, September 23, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
YouKanRun Manchester-by-the-SeaChris Winczewski, K1TAT, writes on the CAARA mailing list:
 

CAARA has a great public service team!

Come out and have some fun with us. We have loaner radios if you need one. Come out and join the event. Just contact us and we will set you up with a radio.

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Half-By-The-Sea Half Marathon. on Sunday, September 23rd. Please be on Location at your Check Point by 9:30 AM for a 10:00 AM start.

Manchester Essex Memorial Elementary School, 43 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by September 22nd so I can plan staffing positions for the event..

While CAARA’s repeater performance has greatly improved the we may still experience some difficulty with communications especially with low-powered HTs, so we’ll be looking for higher powered equipment to staff those areas.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use ( mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; rubber duck, etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority. Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Chris K1TAT

Half by the Sea Communications Team

Manchester, Mass

Last Updated: 8/1//2018 3:50pm

Event date: Sunday, September,23, 2018

On Location: 9:30 am

Starts: Half Marathon Run = 10:00 am

Frq: W1GLO Repeater 145.130 – PL:107.2 Back up: N1SRA 145.470 PL 136.5

 

 
Public Service

Buzzards Bay Triathlon, September 16, 2018, Request for Amateur Radio Support

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
 
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on the SEMARA list:
 
There has been a request for Amateur Radio support for the Buzzards Bay Triathlon on Sunday 9/16/18. This event has been supported in the past by a few amateur operators in the area but not in the last couple of years. The total need is for ten amateurs. A group in Western Massachusetts who deals with the organizer of this event and others in Western Massachusetts has about four hams committed and the need is for ten. Are there any local amateurs interested in supporting this event? Details are below from Matt Brennan, NM1B, and you can reply to me off list and copy the email address Matt lists below if you’re interested.
 
From: Matt Brennan, NM1B
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2018 11:51 AM
To: Events Team
Subject: Buzzards Bay Triathlon – Sunday, 9/16/18 – Westport, MA

 

Hi All,

 Max Performance has asked us if we’d be able to provide communications assistance to the Buzzards Bay Triathlon this Sunday in Westport, MA. The start time is 9 AM, so we would be meeting around 8 AM. We are trying to gauge interest as to whether or not we’d be able to assist with this event. 

 This is their final triathlon of the season. They have not had ham support at it for the last couple years. 

 More information on the race can be found here: https://maxperformanceonline.com/buzzardsbayrace/

 Please let events@wect.org know if you’d be able and willing to assist this Sunday. 

Thanks and 73,

-Matt, NM1B

Public Service

Volunteers Sought for Baystate Marathon, Sunday October 21, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART of Westford listserv:

The Lowell CERT Communications Team has been asked to support once again the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon. This year the event is on Sunday, October 21th. Our operational time period is from approximately 0700 until event completion (estimated 1400). Our assistance has been requested by Lowell Office of Emergency Management and Lowell Fire Department. The communications team will be employing Amateur Radio to provide this communications asset. Amateur Radio will be used for two functions:

  • Medical operations: the purpose of this net is to provide a communications link for medical requests/status to the incident command post.
  • Accountability net: the purpose of this net is to coordinate with a race public information booth the status of runners who are unable to complete the race for any issue to any one is seeking this information.

Race info may be found at http://baystatemarathon.com.

Please contact me if you are able to assist or would like more information.

Please share this request with your local clubs. This is a pretty laid back event and suitable for first time public event participation.

Public Service

Jimmy Fund Walk, BAA Half Marathon Public Service Events

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Brett Smith, AB1RL, Boston ARC Public Service Coordinator, writes:

We have two public service events lined up this fall, and you can sign up for both right now.

The first is the Jimmy Fund Walk on Sunday, September 23. This is the Jimmy Fund’s annual fundraising walk along the Boston Marathon route. There are positions available to work with a medical team at each rest stop along the route, so there’s a variety of locations and volunteer times available. To sign up, just e-mail me back to let me know, and I’ll add you to our roster. Let me know if you have any scheduling requirements or location requests—I can’t accommodate everyone but I’ll do my best.

The second is the BAA Half Marathon on Sunday, October 7. As usual for BAA events, we’ll work with medical teams at different points along the route to provide them with any necessary communication, including EMS dispatch requests if necessary. Volunteer registration for this event is on the BAA’s web site. Please register by September 12.

If you aren’t able to join us, you can still help out by spreading the word about these events. Both can use volunteers of any experience level. Feel free to share this email with your friends or clubs.

If you have questions about either event, please don’t hesitate to ask.

 

Clubs / Public Service

Marlborough Household Hazardous Waste Day, September 29, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Eric Williams, KV1J, Marlborough EMA Communications Officer writes in the Algonquin ARC QRZ newsletter:

Please join us as we support the biannual joint Hudson-Marlborough Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on September 29th .

Our support is a combined effort by our Algonquin Amateur Radio Club and the Marlborough Emergency Management Team. Using our radio communications skills, we manage the traffic flow and validate residency for the approximately 400 cars that come to the event. We use both our N1EM repeater and the Emergency Management’s UHF radios.

We setup at 8 AM and the event runs from 9 AM to 1 PM. The event is next to the Marlborough Resident Drop­-Off Facility, located at 860 Boston Post Road East in Marlborough, behind the Half Way Café near Home Depot. I will send out an email reminder before the event. Event Flyer from the Marlborough City web: https://www.marlborough­ma.gov/sites/marlboroughma/files/uploads/household_hazardous_waste_fall_2018.pdf.

Public Service

Boston Marathon Article Featured in September QST

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

September 2018 QSTThe September, 2018 issue of QST features a full-length article entitled “Public Service in Action at the Boston Marathon.” Authored by Assistant Editor Caroline Kenney, the story describes Amateur Radio communications at one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events:

“There are radio operating teams in all aspects of the complex system surrounding the starting line… transport and parking, aiding elite or disabled runners, attending to the volunteer core of 1,000 people, and working the information booths. “

Mark Richards, K1MGY, and Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, are quoted in the article. 

The September edition of Digital QST is available at http://www.arrl.org/news/the-september-edition-of-digital-qst-is-now-available-1.

Emergency Communications / Public Service

WQ1O and Cape Cod ARES Receives Certificate of Recognition From Barnstable County Commissioners

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Certificate of Recognition awarded to WQ1O on August 1, 2018Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, and the Cape Cod ARES team  received high praise from the Barnstable County Commissioners for his hard work during the intense storms that impacted the Cape in March.

The ARRL Cape Cod and Islands ARES District Emergency Coordinator and the Cape Cod ARES team were awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Commissioners Ronald Beaty, Mary Pat Flynn, and Leo Cakounes at a Regional Emergency Planning Committee Meeting on August 1, 2018.

“I want to give thanks to all and especially to my crew who worked hard and long hours last winter during storm operations. Our group devoted several hundred person-hours to the operations,” writes WQ1O. “As Cape and Islands ARES insists on self sufficiency, our volunteers are self-equipped regardless if there is equipment on scene. This helps guarantee redundancy.”

 

Clubs / Public Service

Marlborough Labor Day Parade, September 3, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

AARC logoThe Algonquin Amateur Radio Association is looking for volunteers to assist in the Marlborough Labor Day parade on September 3. The parade is one of the club’s highest profile public service events. 

According to AARC’s Ed Fitzgerald, K1DIN, “The early recruiting for this year’s parade and the great response may give us the opportunity to try some operational upgrades. Each year that we’ve filled our roster, we have made some changes which seem to have worked well.”

Jim Babish, K1UUM, has agreed to assist Ed as his assistant team organizer “so that he might learn all the steps to getting the parade team ready.” Says K1DIN: “Of similar importance, we need to continually ‘deepen our bench’ so that in years when some of our volunteers have other commitments for parade day, we still can have complete coverage… We have a few experienced volunteers who have been able to fill in for folks who have last minute emergencies, for which I will be forever grateful.”

Those wishing to volunteer should contact K1DIN at: edfitz1@earthlink.net.

Public Service

Request For Operators: YuKanRun Triple Threat Half Marathon and 5K, August 5, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment
 

Chris Winczewski, K1TAT writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Triple Threat Half Marathon and 5K on Sunday, August 5, 2018. Please be on location by 8:00; starts at Rockport High School, 24 Jerdens Lane, Rockport, MA 01966.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by August 3rd so I can plan staffing positions for the event.

While CAARA’s repeater performance has greatly improved with the replacement of our new antennas, the northern regions of this course may still experience some difficulty with communications especially with low-powered HTs, so we’ll be looking for higher powered equipment to staff those areas.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use (ie: mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; OEM rubber duck, etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority. 

Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Chris K1TAT

Triple Threat Communications Team.

Rockport, Ma

Last Updated: 7/22//2018 06:00pm

Event date: August 5, 2018

On Location: 8:00 am All Check Points Are For The Half And 5K

Starts: 5K Run = 8 am Half Marathon Run = 9 am

Frq: W1GLO Repeater 145.130 – PL:107.2 Back up:Simplex 146.565

Public Service

Volunteers Needed For Falmouth Road Race, August 19, 2018

- by k9hi - 1 Comment

Falmouth Amateur Radio AssociationBarry Hutchinson, KB1TLR writes on the Falmouth ARA Facebook page:

Good day to all hope everyone is enjoying this cooler weather.

I need your help. Aug. 19th is the Falmouth Road Race and I’m short several key operators.

I need two for the info booth, at least one who lives in Falmouth and is familiar with the area. I need an alternate at net control to help Joan & Shelly. I would also like to see a couple of Falmouth area residents sign up as standby in case something comes up and someone cannot make it. 

This is one of the events that puts FARA in a favorable public eye. Can any of you help? QRZ for my e-mail or private message me, thank you. 

Public Service

Urgent Request: YuKanRun Parker River Half Marathon, Byfield, July 8, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT writes:

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Parker River Half Marathon on Sunday July 8, 2018 , 8:00 am  We have three volunteers and we need more! Be on location by 7:30 am, Triton High School 112 Elm Street Byfield, MA.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by  the 6th of July. so I can plan staffing positions for the event.  

Public Service

Request For Operators: Norwood Fourth of July Parade

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Norwood ARCBarry Devine, K1BFD writes on the Norwood ARC mailing list:

Our next support event is the July 4th Parade (hot event) in Norwood. Lou, me, Keith, Jeff, and Chris  are already on board for this event. However, we could still use a few more hands.

This event is a joint effort with Commonwealth REACT and is critical to the town of Norwood. Basically, we are responsible for staging and dispatching the parade acts from the staging point in South Norwood. We also staff the reviewing stand at the Norwood Commons, and provide forward spotters to identify the acts before they arrive at the reviewing stand. This information is passed on to the PA and cable TV announcers.

The majority of our support is needed in South Norwood. However, we can still use another body or two for the reviewing stand. If you are available and have a couple of hours to help us out, let me know by e-mail (barry@barryfdevine.org) or phone (781 591 2331).

Thank you for your support.

Public Service

Request for Operators: YuKanRun Parker River Half Marathon, Byfield, July 8, 2018

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT writes:

We are looking for operators to staff the YuKanRun Parker River Half Marathon on Sunday July 8, 2018 , 8:00 am be on Location by 7:30 at Triton High School, 112 Elm Street, Byfield, MA.

Please let me know if you can staff a communications check-point for the event by  the 6th of July so I can plan staffing positions for the event.

Please let us know what type of equipment you plan to use.  (i.e.: mobile; HT; ¼-wave mag mount; OEM rubber duck; etc.) so we have a better idea of where to locate you along the event course per the potential of your equipment.

The course will be open and supported by CAARA for four hours. Runner safety is everyone’s top priority. Local EMT crews and ambulances will be available for three hours to help ensure everyone enjoys the day and remains safe.

Parker River Communications Team

Byfield, MA

Last Updated: 6/28//2018 10:00pm
Event date: July 8, 2018
On Location: 7:30 am
Starts: Half Marathon Run = 8:00 am
Freq: K1KKM West Newbury 146.625 PL:131.8 Back up: Simplex 146.565