Serving ARRL members who reside in the New England sections
From wma.arrl.org:
President Valerie Moore, KC1COQ, of the Worcester EmComm Team writes:
Craig Shea from the Sutton Chain of Lights is again requesting assistance with communications to coordinate the trolleys for their annual event. We’re looking for about 10 amateur radio operators to ride the trolleys and help keep them on schedule moving people around between stops. [Full story]
Steve Goldsmith, W1HS, writes on the Twin State Radio Club and Connecticut Valley FM Association mailing lists:
JULY 11, 2023
After this week’s devastating weather in Vermont, here is a difficult update from our wonderful Race Director Amy Rusiecki and the Vermont 100 Race Committee. The below message was also communicated in email to all participants.
Shared 7/11/23
“It breaks my heart to write this, but due to the devastating flooding that hit the race course yesterday and the lasting damage due to this weather event, the race committee has reached the unfortunate decision that this year’s event must be canceled. The second worst thing a race committee wants to do is cancel an incredible event. However, the worst thing a race committee wants to do is to conduct an unsafe race for the runners, volunteers, and communities. Our highest priority is the safety of every runner, volunteer, trail, and road that this event impacts.
To understand the current situation in the area of the event – Vermont is still under a State of Emergency, and it is currently declared a Federal Disaster area (https://www.fema.gov/locations/vermont). Woodstock Vermont had devastating flooding, including Lincoln Covered Bridge (approx. mile 39 of the course) which is currently covered in a foot of mud from flooding. The Taftsville Bridge (approx. mile 14) is also currently closed and yesterday was under feet of water. The roads by Margaritaville (approx. mile 59) have been washed out and are impassible to runners or vehicles. Many of the east-west routes in Vermont are currently closed with washouts, including Rt. 131 and Rt. 106, which cuts off our access to restocking aid stations, marking the route, crew vehicle access, and even your access to get to the start/finish area. Lastly, emergency services in all these communities are straight out and are unable to support our event at this time. We have included a few photos of the route below, so y’all understand the impact of this weather.
We know that some of you may not agree with our decision, but we hope that you can understand our reasoning. Please understand this is not a decision that came easy, as we are all committed to putting on an awesome event for each of you.
So, what options did we as a race committee consider?
Trying to reschedule the event within a few weeks is logistically impossible and beyond a few weeks we run into the VT50 and numerous other incredible local fall events. Turning the event into an entirely virtual event is not very appealing – that’s just not the VT100! As stated in our Liability Waiver, that you signed when you registered, entry fees are non-refundable if the event is canceled due to public safety concerns, which is the situation that we have unfortunately encountered. We sincerely apologize for this.
While we aren’t strongly encouraging folks to come to the area during this time of disaster, we understand that some with non-refundable travel and lodging may choose to do so. We are working on information regarding local opportunities to contribute to the clean-up efforts. If you are interested in this, please let us know here and we will follow up with you regarding where and when you can pitch in!
Financially, much of the expenses of this event have been spent at this time and are non refundable to us and we are sincerely sorry for that. Please know that the Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday post-race food (which has already been purchased and prepped) will be used to host community dinners this weekend for local residents who have been displaced by the flooding and who have lost their homes in this event. The aid station food will be donated to local food shelters and survival centers. If you are in the area, there are opportunities to help with serving food to those displaced, or to get our aid station food to local food shelters. You can sign up here.
At this time, you have three options regarding your registration:
We are offering to roll the VT100 registration from anyone who is interested into this year’s Vermont 50 on September 24, 2023.
We are able to defer entry into the 2024 VT100 for anyone who is interested, however entry fees unfortunately will not be able to be rolled over. We will offer a 25% discount to next year’s entry for anyone who takes this option. We regret that we can not offer a deeper discount to those who roll into the 2024 event, however due to this natural disaster this is the best we can offer in the way of partial entry fee deferral.
You can donate your entry fee to the communities impacted by this disaster and Vermont Adaptive.
Please let us know which option you select by August 1st at this link here. If we don’t hear from you by August 1st, we will assume that you have chosen to have your entry fee donated to the local communities impacted by this disaster and Vermont Adaptive.
On a personal note, I understand that this is heartbreaking to hear. Trust me, this is equally devastating to share. I know that many of you have trained for months and years to have your opportunity to run at this incredible event. I get it, and I am nearly as upset as you are about this decision. My favorite day of the year is the 15+ hours I spend greeting each of you across the finish line – and I am completely devastated that I will miss that in 2023.
I hope to see many of you in 2024, at this year’s VT50, or otherwise out on the trails.
With huge (sometimes sweaty) hugs,
Amy and the VT100 Race Committee
Sherry Brooks, N1NSB, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:
The Cisco Brewers Portsmouth 5K fundraiser for The Krempels Center will be held on Sunday, May 28th 2023. The point person for this is Derek, KB1LXX.
Typically, the volunteers have been in charge of directing traffic for parking cars.
The VIP section is already sold out, so I think the parking will be pretty busy this year.
Click Sign up here: Sign Up Here.
Woodmont Amateur Radio Association assists in 2023 Autism Walk at Quinnipiac University’s North Haven Campus.
Worcester (MA) Emergency Communications Team writes:
We’re looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Du/Triathlon on Saturday, May 21 from 8:00 AM to around 12:00 PM.
Assignments will vary but will generally include various checkpoints along the route, start and finish line, and shadowing the triathlon coordinators. Times involved with each of the assignments will vary as well. The event will be held at the Hopkinton State Park and includes a swim, bike and run that travels through Hopkinton, Southboro and Ashland.
More details on the triathlons are available on the Max Performance website.
For more details on the amateur radio assignments, contact WECT Events. To sign up to be an amateur radio volunteer, complete the online form.
The Boston Marathon Amateur Radio team is still in need of about 50 additional volunteers to fill our nearly 300 assignments. The BAA volunteer registration deadline is this Friday, February 10 at 5:00 PM EST. The Boston Marathon will be taking place on Monday, April 17, 2023.
If you are still undecided, we encourage you to register now; you can discuss any questions you may have with us and if you decide this is not for you this year you can withdraw between now and the end of March.
If you had an experience last year that has not made you want to return this year, please reach out and we will do our best to make it right. We want every volunteer to enjoy their race day experience, but we understand that sometimes things happen.
If you have not previously volunteered and want to chat about what we do, what is expected of us, and what equipment you might need, please do not hesitate to drop us an email.
NOTE: The BAA will not have any specific COVID policies this year for vaccination or testing.
Registration Link (for new and returning volunteers):
BAA registration can be accessed via the BAA web site specifically in the “Athletes’ Village” section.
https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/volunteer/volunteer-registration
Step by Step Sign Up Guide:
https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002389087-2023-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide. If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, or the 2023 Marathon generally, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.
We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
Thank you, and 73,
Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@HamRadioBoston.org
Please make sure to whitelist volunteer@baa.org and contact@HamRadioBoston.org to make sure you receive BAA and ARO committee communications.
From K1USN Happenings, January 12, 2023 (via ema.arrl.org):
Planning is well underway for the 2023 Boston Marathon! The BAA opened volunteer registration today and it will close on Friday, February 10, 2023. Returning volunteers should have received an email from the BAA with details about how to register.
New volunteers can sign up via http://register.hamradioboston.org/. We have also provided a step by step guide on how to select Amateur Radio volunteer positions during the registration process: <https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002389087-2023-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide>.
Volunteer registration for the 2023 Boston Marathon opens today. Returning volunteers will get an email from the BAA later this morning with instructions. In order to make registration as smooth as possible we are providing specific instructions for our Amateur Radio Operator (ARO) volunteers.
If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page after 10:00 AM EST and follow the instructions for new volunteers.
Step by Step Sign Up Guide:
https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002389087-2023-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide
A few notes for volunteers:
Almost all amateur radio positions are single person assignments. We are not able to group people on a single assignment, but we will try to accommodate which segment you are assigned to in order to allow for similar start/end times.
Don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 10 at 5:00 PM EST. It would help our planning processes if you could please complete your registration by Friday, January 27.
Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who might wish to volunteer. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new licensees who might like to join us, please make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting can be a big help.
If you have any questions about the upcoming volunteer registration period, or the 2023 Marathon generally, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work fun, comfortable, and effective.
We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.
Thank you, and 73,
Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@HamRadioBoston.org
From The ARRL Letter, December 1, 2022:
The BEARS of Manchester Amateur Radio Club in Manchester, Connecticut, spent Thanksgiving Day providing amateur radio communications support for the 86th Manchester Road Race.
The race, a 4.748-mile course that begins and ends on Main Street in downtown Manchester, has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition since 1927. This is the 30th consecutive year the BEARS of Manchester Amateur Radio Club has provided communications support, with more than 10,000 runners participating and over 30,000 spectators lining the course.
Radio operators began arriving at 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving morning. Fifty-five operators staffed 39 positions around the course and were stationed every quarter mile to provide safety communications and report the lead male and female runners to the public address announcer.
Shadow operators helped 10 race officials stay in communications. Operators also started and ran four clocks around the course to help pace runners, and a station operated in the public safety Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to relay safety-related information to representatives of various agencies. Ham radio operators also provided communication for a shuttle bus operation that brought runners and spectators from a remote parking area to Main Street and then returned them at the end of the race. Check-in and check-out were accomplished through a net control station to maintain accountability.
Communication for the event was made on six repeater and simplex frequencies, and three cross-band repeaters were used for signal quality to avoid interference.
The BEARS of Manchester Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
Thanks to Phil Crombie, Jr., K1XFC, Race Communications Coordinator, for providing information for this story.