Public Service

Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, writes on NEDivisionSEC:

We are currently recruiting for the 2022 Boston Marathon on Monday 4/18/22. We have about half of the volunteers required for race day right now and volunteer registration closes on Friday February 18th, 2022 is a hard volunteer registration closure deadline and the volunteer sign-ups for the last couple of weeks have slowed significantly. We could use help from around the region. Below is a short release suitable for email and web site postings:

 

From wma.arrl.org:

After a successful 2021 marathon this past October, we’re right back into planning mode for the 126th running of the Boston Marathon at our more traditional time frame on Monday, April 18, 2022.

Volunteer registration will open for the Marathon on January 5th, 2022. Please make sure to whitelist volunteer@baa.org to make sure you receive all BAA communications.

How to Volunteer

For returning volunteers, you will receive an email from the BAA with a direct link to register via the BAA Athlete’s Village.

If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page on January 5th and follow the instructions for new volunteers.

Guidance on the Sign Up Process

• On Step 3 – Select “General”
• On Step 4 – Select “Yes, I am an Amateur Radio Operator”
• Provide your call sign and what your equipment is in the appropriate boxes.
• On Step 5 – Select “Apply as an Individual”
• On Step 6
• Select “Amateur Radio” as the Job Type regardless of what segment you wish to volunteer for.
• On the next page you will be able to select the race segment.
• If you want to add additional ARO assignment preferences select “Yes” to select another job and then an assignment type.  You can choose up to 3 job type requests.
• On Step 7 – Confirm all selections are correct.

A few notes for volunteers:

• Almost all ARO 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 to allow for similar start/end times.
• All volunteers must be fully vaccinated this year.  Details on how to provide proof of vaccination will be provided when assignments are given out.  Medical exemptions may be requested and will be reviewed by the BAA individually.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday, February 18. Help us get the word out by forwarding this email to your club and other amateur radio operators who 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 2022 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

John Ruggiero, N2YHK writes:

Hi Folks,

Craig Shea from the Sutton (MA) Chain of Lights is again requesting assistance with communications to coordinate the trolleys for their annual event.  We’re looking for about 10 ham radio operators to ride the trolleys and help keep them on schedule moving people around between stops.

We will meet at 08:30 am on Sat 12/4/2021 in Sutton (location TBD – likely the Sutton High School).  The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00 pm, although the final trolley drop off may be as late as 5:00pm.  Lunch is provided.

You should bring a radio capable of 70 cm operation with DPL/DCS, as we’ll likely be using the Westboro and Uxbridge 70 cm  repeaters.  Portable mobile setups work well, but you need to provide your own power, and mag mounts don’t work on fiberglass vehicles.  HTs with gain antennas can work as well.  Radios and accessories can be provided, if necessary.

If you are available to help out, please email me at johnrugg@gmail.com .  Call with any questions – 508-982-0617. If you are only available for part of the day, we can cycle you in and out as necessary.  Thanks!

Kriss Kliegle, KA1GJU, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

Once again [Port City ARC] members (and non members alike), it’s that time of year where we provide comms and extra eyes for the Exeter Holiday Parade. Warm clothes, shoes, 2M HT (or mobile rig if remaining in your vehicle), and set of ear buds or headset due to LOTS of QRM.

The parade heads out of the OSRAM entrance, making a left onto Portsmouth Avenue. The parade continues to the end of Portsmouth Avenue and then makes a right onto High Street. The parade continues straight onto Water Street passing the bandstand and ending at the entrance to Swasey Parkway.

We will use a simplex frequency on 2M, and will be X-banding up to 440MHz for NCS due to being in an RF hole in downtown Exeter. Frequencies will be given out on date of parade.  Reminder, the parade route will be close from approximately 5:00pm – 7:00pm to vehicle traffic, so choose a spot on the route that allows you access both before and after the parade.

The route, very simple, 1.1 miles, and it hasn’t changed in years, if ever.

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Thank you very much.

Kriss Kliegle, KA1GJU, writes on the Port City ARC mailing list:

Plan on showing up at 0645 at the Portsmouth High School or thereabouts.  Many thanks to those planning on being there this Sunday AM!

Can I have a list of volunteers to assist in the parking of vehicles at the Portsmouth High School grounds on Sunday, October 31?

We have had a year off due to Covid, but they are doing it this year with many doing it virtually… so participation is expectedly to be down.

They have food and coffee available in the cafeteria and nice quality t-shirts (long sleeve T’s have been the norm).

Bring an HT (with charged batteries!) and know how to get on a simplex frequency (VFO Mode) and lock it. Ear buds or speaker mic are handy as well.

Here’s the latest email…

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Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, writes on Facebook:

Back at it again today [10/23] and tomorrow [10/24] for the 2021 edition of the Head of the Charles Regatta. Working in the Massachusetts State Police Command Post/Unified Command Center again this year as the Emergency Services Liaison for Amateur Radio. Hoping for another great and safe event this year – and good to be back in the seat and see everyone again after skipping last year. At least for this event I can “sleep in” a bit with a 6 am start time instead of 5 am for the marathon lol.

From Central NH ARC Facebook page:

Members of the Central New Hampshire Amateur Radio Club provided communications support for the 2021 New Hampshire Marathon, Half Marathon, & 10K on Saturday, October 2, 2021 in Bristol. 

According to the event web site: “The race takes runners along the roads that lead out from and back into Bristol around the shoreline of Newfound Lake, the 4,106-acre lake that has helped make this small town a popular spot for summertime outdoors recreation, for swimming, boating and fishing on the lake to hiking and camping in the hills and mountains that surround its 22 miles of shoreline — the town’s population typically doubles in the summer, city officials say, from its usual 3,300 residents to more than 6,500 in the peak vacation months.”