Public Service

Terry Stader, KA8SCP, writes on the PART of Westford mailing list:

Amateur Radio operators have been asked once again to support the Baystate Marathon and Half Marathon. This year the event is on Sunday, October 20th. 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:

      * 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. Course map is found at http://baystatemarathon.com/course-maps-descriptions.html

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

Please share with others that may be interested. This is a pretty laid back event and suitable for first time public event participation.

Terry M. Stader – KA8SCP
MEMA Region 1 RACES Officer
EMA District Emergency Coordinator

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 4, 2019. 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 4th 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.

Chris K1TAT

Deputy Director Norton EMA Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list:

This a call for assistance from all EMA, CERT. HAM and MRC groups to help at the North Attleborough Fire Fighters Kids Day.

Those Agencies that are supplying equipment (Light Towers, Message Boards etc) have been contacted separately for Mutual Aid.

Our event is coming up quickly and I am still in need of staff for every day both day and evening for our event.  If you could please get back to me with your agencies staff availability, any and all help would be greatly appreciated.  

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

WHAT: N.A. Firefighters Kids Day- A four day long Family Event with a Carnival Games, Music, Vendors,  Classic Cars Cruise Night Food Court Bands and ending with Fireworks at Dark on both Friday AND Saturday There will also be a Road Race on Sunday Morning that will need coverage

WHEN: Thursday July 25th Through Sunday July 28th  Noon to 11:00PM  Sunday Carnival ends at 6:00PM. The Sunday Road Race will be at  7AM Until approximately 10AM.

WHERE: N.A. Middle School Campus 564 Landry Ave  North Attleborough

WHO; Everybody. Volunteers can bring their families and friends.  Duty uniform weather dependent but HiViz Jacket/Raincoat/ or Vest Dark pants or shorts, Baseball cap, Traffic Wand/Flashlight,  Sunscreen and bug spray. Radios will be provided as needed.

THE MISSION: Our Mission is to manage the Parking Lots and roadways on site and at one overflow off site Parking lot on Landry Ave. There will be two shifts. A Day Shift and a Night Shift which will change between 5:00PM and 6:00PM 

The Day Shift will start at 11AM and end at 5:30PM. The Night Shift will start at 5:00PM and end at 11:00PM or earlier if traffic warrants it. There will be meal tickets provided by the Committee for a meal half way through your shift and breaks (Hydration) will be provided as needed.

Our Mission is to manage the on campus Parking Lots, Accessible Parking and assist the Police with Pedestrian safety both before, during and after the Event and Fireworks. After the Fireworks we will assist the Police Detail in safely getting cars from the Parking Lots to the Street and make sure that Pedestrians and Cars don’t mix. We will also be responsible for starting and maintaining the several light towers and Message Boards scattered throughout the Campus.

We recognize that this is a long duration event but would appreciate what ever time you can give us. It is suggested that if a specific Team could do a Day or Shift or two that would work best. If you have mobility issues we can put you where you are not on your feet (Volunteer Registration Booth, Command Post  etc) or bring a lawn chair.

Please email     scott.bumpus@nafirefighterskidsday.org     ASAP to give us the time shift you can work and the organization that you belong to, so that we may start plugging people into ICS positions.

For more info about the event go to    http://nakidsday.com/  

Sincerely,

Scott Bumpus FF, NRP, COML, COMTCommunications/CERT CoordinatorNAFFKD Committee

John O’Reilly, K1JRO, writes on the South Shore Health Amateur Radio Group mailing list:

Geoff Ayres, WK1D, will be organizing a group this year to provide communications support for the Coop’s Troop 5k Race in Bare Cove Park in Hingham on Sunday, July 21.

If you can assist Jeff in supporting this very worthwhile event please contact us and we will make sure you get signed up for the event.

Christopher Winczewski, K1TAT writes on the Cape Ann ARA list:

The YMCA St Peter’s Fiesta 5K Run is on Thursday, June 27th, 6:00pm. Start/finish is at Stage Fort Park, Gloucester. The race starts at 6:00pm.

Thursday, June 27th, 6:00pm, Stage Fort Park, Gloucester.

CAARA Has A Great Public Service Team. Come Out And Have Some Fun With Us. Why?

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. Thank you in advance.

Jeff Ayres WKID organized a group of hams to provide support for the Weymouth Food Pantry’s 5K Fresh Bite 5K Road Race. The race was held at Wompatuck State Park on Saturday June 15th. Joining Jeff was Anne Manna WB1ARU, Marcia Forde KW1U, Bob Mahoney KB1FBA, Jim O’Rourke WG1L, Larry Kenney W1VP, Rich Carnes, WA1RIW, Bob Azanow KA1KIJ, Rick Emord KB1TEE, Mike Davis WA1MAD and Greg Bennett KC1CIC who took the photo. WKID was NCS for the event. The hams got many thanks from the runners during the race and especially from the race organizers. Everyone had a great time supporting a great cause.

“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes:

The Weymouth Food Pantry is holding its annual Fresh Bite 5K race on June 15. The amateur radio club that normally provides communications for this event is not able to do so this year, so I am requesting assistance in putting together a group to accomplish this. The race is held in Wompatuck State Park. There are two courses, one that is 1 mile, the other is 5K or approximately 3 miles. As there is no vehicle access to the course, it may require a walk as far as a mile and a half to get to your assigned location.

I am looking for six to eight people, the more the better! Experience is helpful but not necessary. A fully charged handheld radio is needed and I recommend an aftermarket antenna if you have one, as we will be spread around the park, and this does present some communications challenges. The main communications will be on the Norwell Repeater, 145.250 – Shift PL 77.0 with Simplex on 147.420, as backup.

Hams with bicycles will be very welcome for this event, as it extremely useful to be able to conduct a sweep of the course at the end of the race, as well as being able to go to a location quickly.

As far as I know, there will not be an ambulance on location, as we have had in the past. If someone who has experience as Net Control for this type of event, and would be willing to be Net Control, please advise. 

Mark Richards, K1MGY, writes on the PART of Westford list:

For the past few years now the Alzheimer’s Association RIDE has been scheduled smack on the same day as Field Day, June 22.  Volunteer participation has been diminished, but acceptable.  This year, we’re in deep doo doo 🙂

I’m sending this appeal to PART.. for those who are NOT planning to attend Field Day and would enjoy working a worthy event. 

Volunteers are needed to provide communications support for this event.  There are three event courses, the longest being 62 Miles.  We use VHF Amateur Radio repeaters.  Operators will accompany experienced Alzheimer’s staff who provide SAG (Support and Gear) assistance to participants.  Coordination is managed at the Rye, NH event operations center. 

This is truly a lovely event.  Not only is the main site gorgeous, but the course route travels through some of the most picturesque areas of Rockingham County, NH and Essex County, MA.

We provide full documentation which will familiarize comms volunteers with the event and procedures.  This will be a great opportunity to travel :), and to work within a well-organized team in benefit of a very worthy organization.  New volunteers need not fret.  This will be an excellent introduction to practical Amateur Radio communications.

The Alzheimer’s Association really takes great care of their volunteers.  All you need is a mobile radio with mag mount.  (We can supply a few for volunteers who only own portables).

Please reply as soon as possible.

Thank you for your assistance.

Please respond to:

    Mark Richards, K1MGY
    Safety and Communications, RIDE to end Alzheimers
    kmalittl1@gmail.com
    617 592 4392

Ray Cord, K2TGX, writes on the Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC mailing list:

This a call for assistance from all EMA, CERT. HAM and MRC groups to help at the North Attleborough Fire Fighters Kids Day.
Those Agencies that are supplying equipment (Light Towers, Message Boards etc) have been contacted separately for Mutual Aid 

WHAT: N.A. Firefighters Kids Day- A four day long Family Event with a Carnival Games, Music, Vendors,  Classic Cars Cruise Night
           Food Court Bands and ending with Fireworks at Dark on both Friday AND Saturday There will also be a Road Race on Sunday
           Morning that will need coverage

WHEN: Thursday July 25th Through Sunday July 28th  Noon to 11:00PM  Sunday Carnival ends at 6:00PM. The Sunday Road Race will be at  
            7AM Until approximately 10AM.

WHERE: N.A. Middle School Campus 564 Landry Ave  North Attleborough

WHO; Everybody. Volunteers can bring their families and friends
          Duty uniform weather dependent but HiViz Jacket/Raincoat/ or Vest Dark pants or shorts, Baseball cap, Traffic Wand/Flashlight,
          Sunscreen and bug spray. Radios will be provided as needed.

THE MISSION: Our Mission is to manage the Parking Lots and roadways on site and at one overflow off site Parking lot on Landry Ave.
There will be two shifts. A Day Shift and a Night Shift which will change between 5:00PM and 6:00PM 
The Day Shift will start at 11AM and end at 5:30PM. The Night Shift will start at 5:00PM and end at 11:00PM or earlier if traffic warrants it.
There will be meal tickets provided by the Committee for a meal half way through your shift and breaks (Hydration) will be provided as needed.

Our Mission is to manage the on campus Parking Lots, Accessible Parking and assist the Police with Pedestrian safety both before, during and after the Event and Fireworks. After the Fireworks we will assist the Police Detail in safely getting cars from the Parking Lots to the Street and make sure that Pedestrians and Cars don’t mix. We will also be responsible for starting and maintaining the several light towers and Message Boards scattered throughout the Campus.

We recognize that this is a long duration event but would appreciate what ever time you can give us. It is suggested that if a specific Team could do a Day or Shift or two that would work best. If you have mobility issues we can put you where you are not on your feet (Volunteer Registration Booth, Command Post  etc) or bring a lawn chair.

Please email  scott.bumpus@nafirefighterskidsday.org ASAP to give us the time shift you can work and the organization that you belong to, so that we may start plugging people into ICS positions.

For more info about the event go to    http://nakidsday.com/

Thank you 

Scott Bumpus FF, NRP, COML, COMTCommunications/CERT CoordinatorNAFFKD Committee
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