Public Service

Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH July 10, 2011

To: All Amateur Radio Operators, a request to volunteer.

The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club has been asked by the organizers of the Plymouth Boys & Girls Club “Run To The Rock Road Race” to assist them with their communications needs on September 10,2011.

Joining forces with the South Shore Hospital group are members of the Whitman Amateur Radio Club and the Genesis Amateur Radio Society. This event is shaping up to be a fun and challenging event. If you’ve never had the opportunity to volunteer for such an event this is shaping up to be a fun and worthwhile experience.

We are in need of both experienced and inexperienced Operators to assist us in manning positions along the 3 different routes the runners will be traveling throughout Plymouth. Standard 2 meter equipment is all that is required.

There is a cookout for the runners and volunteers at the conclusion of the race.

Please volunteer to join us on September 10, 2011. Let’s demonstrate to the public the fellowship, spirit, and value of Amateur Radio. Information about the race is available at http://runtotherock.webs.com. To volunteer, please send an email to SSHARC@GMAIL.COM. Please include your name, call-sign, and phone number.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
John O’Neill, KB1QEM
President South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club – W1SSH
Email: oneilljr at gmail dot com
55 Fogg Road
South Weymouth
Massachusetts
02190-2455
southshorehospital.org

K1EJ writes on PART of Westford list:

The North Middlesex ARES Group could use some communications aid at the Chelmsford Road Race and Parade on the 4th of July from about 8AM to 12M. If you are looking to do some community service with your HT and can join us, please let me know.

Thanks and 73,
Darrel K1EJ, EC
k1ej@arrl.net

Tom Bertolino, KB1P writes:

I know I have sent emails asking to volunteer for these events, and you might have already volunteered for one of them. If have already volunteered for one of these event could you consider volunteering for the other. If have not volunteered for either event could you reconsider and volunteer for one or both of these events. We need your help.

This is very short notice, but more hams are needed for the Run of the Charles canoe races on Saturday, 30 April 2010. There are critical safety issues which need our communications support, and I would like to have your help.

Because of Easter being on the traditional date that this event is normally held, the Run of the Charles was moved to Saturday April 30, 2011. This has caused the Run of the Charles not only compete with other events which are normally held on the 30th of April, but also Near-Fest. We still need Hams to help insure the safety of the racers. We need your help. Water level of the Charles River is higher than normal this year due to the heavy snow we received this winter resulting in swifter water currents around potages and dams. This could cause some dangerous conditions for the racers attempting to navigate around these areas. Hams are post at these potential danger areas to help ensure the safety of the racers. We do not have enough Hams to cover all these points. Please reconsider and volunteer to support this event .We need your help. Some assignments begin as early as 0700; others begin up to 1200. Most assignments last about four to five hours, there are only, a few which run the full day until 1630. If you have time issue please let me know.

This is a 7.5 mile walk which starts and finishes at Natick High School (15 West St, Natick, MA), proceeding through several areas of Natick. Our assignments begin at 0700 and should be complete by early afternoon. Hams are stationed at critical intersections and water stations to help to insure the safety of the walkers. We do not have enough hams to fill these assignments. We need your help. This is an excellent event for hams new to public service to get experience.

If you can help for one or both events, please respond with the following information as soon as possible. To manage this I ask that you get back to me as quickly and as accurately as you can. As in all other events that we coordinate, email will be the primary means of communication between us. If you have already volunteered for one of these events please consider volunteering for the other. We need your help.

Event

Full name

On-air name

Call sign

Postal mailing address (including 9-digit ZIP code)

Evening phone

Day phone

Cell phone

Email address

Does your 2-meter radio have CTCSS (PL)?

Do you have a dual-band radio?

Do you have a magnetic mount antenna?

T-shirt size

73,

Tom Bertolino, KB1P
kb1p at arrl.net
781-608-6186

The MS Journey of Hope, Saturday, May 7, 2011, is a 7.5 mile walk which starts and finishes at Natick High School (15 West St, Natick, MA), proceeding through several areas of Natick. Our assignments begin at 0700 and should be complete by early afternoon.

This event has hazards and quirks, but our communications will make the day safe and smooth. For those who are new to ham public service, this is a good introduction – and we need your help. For those who have done this before – your help is needed more than ever. In years past, we have been thanked and honored for our skilled service.

A dual-band 2-m/70-cm radio is required. The “rubber duck” antenna that came with your radio should all you need for this event, but if you have a better antenna for your radio bring it with you. Be sure to have sufficient batteries to last the day.

As ham public service events are interesting and fun experiences. The Ms Journey of Hope is no exception. The communication load for this event is light and an excellent opportunity for those who are new to public service to gain experience.

We need your assistance to ensure the safety of the participants and make this event successful. If you can help with this event, please reply to me with all of the following information as soon as possible. Reply by email is the best method.

Full name
On-air name
Call sign
Postal mailing address (including 9-digit ZIP code)
Evening phone
Day phone
Cell phone
Email address
Does your 2-meter/70-cm radio have CTCSS (PL)?
Do you have a magnetic mount antenna?
T-shirt size

If you know other hams who would like to volunteer, ask them to send the above information to me. If you are new and want to get more public service experience, this is an excellent event to get your feet wet. As significant as our communications will be, this event is a low impact opportunity to learn the ropes.

Your assistance is valuable. Please let me know promptly if you can help. I will get the assignments and more details to you as soon possible. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like to recommend another ham to join us.

73,

Rick Savage, KB1LYJ
rpsavage@comcast.net
781.289.7364

Bill Mc Ininch, KA1MOM writes on the Waltham ARA mailing list:

On May 12-13 slightly over 10 square miles of Waltham will be transformed into the world of Jules Verne for an entire weekend to become International Steampunk City, an event expected to draw between 12,000 and 15,000 people. The staff of Charles River Museum of Industry, the headquarters of the event, would like to have a wireless station (the kind that glows in the dark if possible) to link the event to the rest of the world. Unusual possibilities may include being able to string a Zepp from a real miniature zeppelin. The museum is looking both for hams to staff a special event station and for possible backup communications for the various venues across town. Best way to see what’s planned while the internationalsteampunkcitywaltham.org site is being finished up is to Google the event name and read the scattered planning documents or to check it out on Facebook. Anyone with antique gear who might want to show it off is a! lso welcome.

Anyone interested in being a formal part of this event can get in touch with me or with CRMI director Ellen Hagney (Elln Hagney on Facebook). Anyone not able to be part of the crew but interested in a great way to unwind the week after Walk For Hunger should still check it out and come enjoy the mostly (everything outdoors) free fun. NOTE: for the non-free items, things will be run much like First Night.

For next year’s event: a non-transmitting copy of the Massie spark gap station should be finished in time to disguise more modern equipment, including the pump handle key.

Bob De Mattia, K1IW writes:

Volunteer registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon is now open! The Marathon will be held on Monday April 18th. Radio operators are needed to provide safety communications and to assist the Red Cross. Assignments are available in Hopkinton, along the route, and in downtown Boston. To volunteer, go to http://marc.mmra.org and follow the instructions.

Hello to all..

Please see the notice below on the Cranberry Trifest from Roland Daignault-N1JOY. Please also note that this is the same weekend as the New England ARRL Division Convention and Hamfest in Boxboro, Massachusetts:

*_Cranberry Trifest Aug. 28th & 29th_*

* Volunters Needed!

Team HAMCOW will again be supporting the Cranberry Trifest on both days.

*Cranberry Trifest offers a terrific weekend of racing including a sprint distance triathlon, a kids duathlon and the “classic” olympic
distance triathlon which has been selected as the 2010 USAT Northeast Regional Club Championship.

*Event Dates, Times and Location:

*Saturday, August 28, 2010: Sprint triathlon (9:00AM start) and kids duathlon (12:00PM start).
Sunday, August 29, 2010: Olympic triathlon (8:00AM start). The site of  the Cranberry Trifest is the Ted Williams Camp in Lakeville, MA with
entrances off Precinct Street and Rte 18.
*Ted Williams Camp, 44-47 Precinct St., Lakeville, MA

Beneficiaries of the 2010 Cranberry Trifest:*
A portion of the proceeds from the Cranberry Trifest will be donated to the Ted Williams Camp. Other beneficiaries include the Kiwanis of
Bridgewater, West Bridgewater Drama Club and the Freetown-Lakeville Aquatic Program.

Many racers participate in the DetermiNation program to raise funds for the National Cancer Society and the fight against cancer. We all
know somebody touched by cancer, so this is a good opportunity to have some fun and fight back by supporting those who are donating their efforts to fund research.

*Event Distances:
*Sprint: Swim: 0.5 mile; Bike: 11.5 miles; Run: 3.1 miles
Kids Duathlon: 1km, 2km, 1km**
<http://www.active.com/triathlon/lakeville-ma/cranberry-trifest-kids-duathlon-2010>
Olympic: Swim: 0.9 miles; Bike 26.3 miles*; Run: 6.2 miles

Please check out the Cranberry TriFest web page at:
http://www.cranberrycountrytri.com/

The HAMCOW will be our net control station and operators will be needed around the course at checkpoints, water stops, course rovers, and
people to stay at the camp to monitor the swim, bike, and run transition areas. Camping on site will be allowed for the radio operators, so
please consider joining the gang and staying for the Friday and Saturday night activities.

After Sunday’s olympic triathlon, a nice catered meal will be provided for everybody. We also receive nice sports T-shirts and occasionally
hats. Free stuff is always cool!

Radio ops can use 2 Meters, 440, HT’s or mobiles. We have plenty of locations along the course to accommodate everybody.

I’m going to say it here so everybody is aware; this event falls on the same weekend as the Boxboro Hamfest, which puts extra pressure on
getting volunteers for the triathlon. Please pass the word along to anybody you might know who would be interested in supporting us at the
Cranberry, even for only one day. I have always tried to be accommodating to folks who need to depart early, so I can assign them to
a checkpoint that will clear out early, but we do need folks to stay the duration.

If you are interested, please contact me via e-mail (n1joy@arrl.net) or on my cell phone at (617)-839-9081.

Thanks!

Roland – N1JOY

Harold “Pi” Pugh, K1RV writes on the K1USN reflector:

Anne, WB1ARU is looking for an additional 1-3 ham operators for a Good Friday Walk. The Good Friday Walk is held on a 20-mile course in Hingham to raise money for Sharing Inc. She could use from 1 to 3 more operators in the morning and/or early afternoon for shifts of 3 to 4 hours.

“A two meter hand-held or mobile radio is needed; we use the Weymouth repeater. We have not had much in the way of problems over the years, most of the communication is routine and infrequent. It’s a great bunch of people dedicated to a good cause.”

If anyone would like more information, they can contact Anne at enoaru at gis.net.

Roland Daignault, N1JOY writes on the BCRA-club reflector:

I received a message from Joe Cote, KB1LJG who is the instructor at Kuss Middle School in Fall River, MA]. Joe will be out the last seven weeks of school due to shoulder surgery and is looking for a volunteer to pick up the ham radio class for that time. There will be a substitute instructor, but they will not have the ham radio background. The ham radio class is part of the regular Kuss curriculum, and the classes will be 3 days a week on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. Wednesday is from 12:30-2:00 PM, Thursday from 2:00-3:30 and Friday from 7:40 AM -9:00 AM. Wednesday April 29th would be the first class and it will end Friday June 12th.

Anybody interested? Maybe a couple of people could split the duties?

Joe can be contacted directly at: joecotekms at yahoo.com.

Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF writes:

Greetings! This is for Boston, MA area hams. It is that time again… Public Service season is here. We are now looking for help for this year’s Project Bread Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 3, 2009.

This will be the 41st running of the event. We need people to provide communications support for the Project Bread Staff and volunteers along the 20 mile walk in Boston, MA.

If you are interested in helping out this year, go to http://wfh.mmra.org to log in and fill out the signup form.

If you have questions please send an email to: w4h@nsradio.org

73,
Eric – KA1NCF
Walk For Hunger 2009
Amateur Radio Communications Coordinator
Email: w4h@nsradio.org

In a continuing effort to improve the amateur radio community’s planning and response to the Boston Marathon, the ham radio organizers are producing a series of training videos. It is hoped that these videos will make the volunteer’s experience more enjoyable and their response more efficient. [Full story]

–Tnx wma.arrl.org

The 2009 Boston Marathon will be on Monday, April 20. Registration for amateur radio volunteers for the has already opened. If you would like to volunteer, follow the instructions on the following website:

http://marc.mmra.org

Assignments vary greatly and equipment needs will vary with the assignment that you select. Generally, at least a 2M/440 HT is required, with batteries to last the entire day, but please refer to the assignment details or ask the event coordinators (see website address above for names, email addresses and phone numbers). All Boston Marathon volunteers receive a light jacket.

Thanks, wma.arrl.org

Roland Daignault, N1JOY writes on BCRA-Club list:

Just a reminder that the Cranberry Country Triathlon is on August 24 and we’re looking for radio operators to cover the course. If this race runs the same as the Patriot event, the swim portion didn’t really require radio ops, and the running race was over by noon time. Then the bike race lasted until about 4:30 PM. I will be hauling out the HAMCOW for Net Control. Operators will need at least a 2 Meter HT, and we will be using repeaters and simplex. The start point will be at the Ted Williams baseball camp in Lakeville, which is a nice facility if you’ve ever been there.

Check out the triathlon web site, complete with maps of the course.

http://www.cranberrycountrytri.com/

I hope to see you there!

The Marathon Amateur Radio Communications (MARC) consortium is looking for ham radio operators to assist at the 2008 Boston Marathon. The Marathon is held annually on Patriots Day, this year that’s Monday, April 21. We need people to provide communications is support of three areas:

START LINE (Hopkinton)
Runner & observer safety & security, parking lots, VIP escorts

COURSE (Hopkinton to Boston)
First Aid & Water station coordination

FINISH LINE (Boston)
First Aid, safety & security

If you are interested in any of these positions, please visit the MARC website to sign up:

http://marc.amateur-radio.net

73,
Bob – K1IW
MARC Recruitment Coordinator

Alan Martin, W1AHM writes on PART-L:

The Northern Middlesex ARES group is organizing ham radio event support for Chelmsford’s annual 4th of July parade. The parade is on a Wednesday this year.

Ham radio volunteers are needed to work the parade by shadowing officials, helping to organize floats and marchers, or monitoring the route. If you are interested, please contact Darrel Mallory at k1ej at arrl dot net.