Public Service

Dave Colter, WA1ZCN, writes on the Twin State Radio Club mailing list:

Just a reminder that we have the Post Mills CROP walk this Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. We need four or five operators for this very low-key event. Good people, great scenery, and a nice relaxing afternoon. Our role is to be there if one of the walkers needs to bail out or is injured, and to keep an eye on traffic issues and notify the Sheriff’s dept. if needed. Talk-in for those who haven’t been there before will be on the [Twin State Radio Club] repeater network, so you can try the new Burden’s Hill repeater, which has HT quality coverage in Post Mills. As usual, walk communications will be on a simplex frequency to be determined. This will be our first year doing this event without Bill Burden, WB1BRE, organizing things.

73,

Dave WA1ZCN

Tim Rodgers, KC1TWR, writes on the RASON and TriCity ARC mailing list:

Communicators needed!

The 2021 Niantic Bay Boardwalk 5K is scheduled for Saturday, October 16th, with a rain date for Sunday October 17th. This is a short event with the race starting at 10 AM and award ceremony at 11:30 AM. Report time at the Region 4 Mobile Communications Unit will be 8:30 AM to 9:00 AM.

Gary Roy, KB1AKU, writes on the Hampden County Radio Association mailing list:

The Amateur radio community  will again support and provide communication assistance for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts fund raising event on Sunday September 26th. Please check out their web site for this very important fund raising event: https://www.foodbankwma.org/events/will-bike-4-food/  They need our assistance in areas that have poor or no cell phone coverage. The routes will require us to cover the area in Vermont, extending through Leyden, Colrain, and Shelburne. In addition there is a small area in Whately and Williamsburg which includes the water stop in Williamsburg.

The 100 mile route begins at 7am, but will not arrive in the Vermont area that we cover until sometime after 9am. The Whately area will not need coverage until later in the morning, possible 10am or 11am. These times will be better determined in the next couple weeks. We will need volunteers to cover the above route areas and net control. We also need riders with the Food Bank volunteer route monitors and at the Guilford water stop.

Net Control will set up next to the Hatfield Library at the entrance to this event headquarters located at the Lions Club Pavilion 15 Billings Way Hatfield. The KB1BSS repeater in Leyden, Mass on 146.985 Mhz, negative offset, with a PL of 136.5 hz will be used.

Please contact me if you can assist with the Will Bike 4 Food Event.

My email is: groy773@gmail.com

Thank You,
Gary Roy
KB1AKU

From the RASON mailing list:

Almost two dozen amateurs will participate in providing communications for the Surftown Half Marathon, east of the Misquamicut State Beach in the vicinity of the new Wuskenau Westerly Town Beach, 311 Atlantic Ave., and Sam’s Snack Bar. 

“Look for the Westerly Police Mobile Command vehicle.  Please make sure your radios are programmed and remember to get in early because of the road closures.  See the attached maps and notices for details,” writes Jim Creamer, KB1MAO, Washington County DEC and RI Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.

The Westerly Amateur Radio Team and hams from the surrounding areas will be supporting the Surftown Half Marathon on September 12, 2021 in Misquamicut.

Stan Pozerski, KD1LE, Pepperell, Massachusettts, describes the challenges in providing communications for the New England Forest Rally, a two-day automotive rally that traverses both asphalt and dirt logging roads in Western Maine and Northern New Hampshire.  

From wma.arrl.org:

Aaron Addison, KF1G, writes:

The Franklin County Amateur Radio Club will provide communications for two events soon to take place in our area. We welcome licensed amateurs who would like to join us.

On 20 August, the Franklin County Land Trust will host an off the beaten path bicycle tour, called the Deerfield Dirt Road Rondonee (D2R2). It is part of their fund raising efforts. As the name of the tour suggests, it is mostly over dirt roads, in rural towns of western Franklin County and up into southern Vermont. Radio communications are necessary for key points along the tour where cell phone service is not available. At those points, our communicators will be the only way the Franklin Land Trust staff can send or receive messages to and from the base for the race in Deerfield.

The tour consists of three routes: 100k, 160k, and 180k. The first group of riders start at 6 AM, and the last rider may return as late as 6 PM. We will not cover that entire time period. We will ask radio volunteers to work in shifts. Volunteers may occasionally be asked to bring equipment, water, or food to remote stops along the way

On 29 August, the Connecticut River Conservancy and the Sugarloaf Mountain Athletic Club sponsor a traditional, 26 mile marathon. It starts at the campus of the former Marlboro Community College, in Marlboro, VT, and follows a path along the banks of the Green River, over mostly dirt roads. Our club members, with help from others, will help with the needs of the race staff, many positioned at water stops along the way. We are also there to call for help if needed by runners in distress.

For the D2R2, contact Al Woodhull, N1AW, at aswoodhull@yahoo.com, or 413-773-3522.
For the Green River Marathon, contact Chris Myers, KB1NEK, at camyers@protonmail.com, or 413-625-0344
More information on the Groups.IO site, at FCARC-MA, in the FILES section.

Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL, writes on the WMA ARRL Members Only List:

Hi there, I’m sure you have seen the request around the media, This is the third extension as there is shortage of volunteers. Please consider if you have the time.

Thanks.  Ray KB1LRL

Communications for the Boston Marathon is provided by local amateur radio operators. Due to COVID, the 2021 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, October 11th. Additional operators are still needed. Volunteers will be able to register until this coming Friday.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration has been extended for a final time and closes on Friday August 6th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Help us get the word out by forwarding this message 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. Please forward this to your club email lists, announce on your repeaters and nets, etc.

——————————————————————–
ARRL Western Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, KB1LRL
kb1lrl@arrl.org
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Tim Rodgers, KC1TWR, writes on the RASON and TriCityARC mailing lists:

For those available Sunday August 8th late morning and early afternoon who would like to help ECARA out with the VJ Parade on Moosup. 

From ema.arrl.org:

Volunteer registration has been open for the Marathon since Wednesday June 16, 2021 at 10:00 AM and the Amateur Radio volunteer registration deadline has been extended to Friday July 30th, 2021 at 500 PM EDT.  The race itself is taking place on Monday, October 11, 2021.

For Returning Volunteers:
The BAA sends out an email which provides you with a direct link once registration is open. This email will also include your loyalty number, which is required for sign up. New for this year is that returning volunteers will need to setup an account via the BAA Athlete’s Village.

For New Volunteers:
If you haven’t previously volunteered, or have a friend who would like to volunteer, please go directly to the Volunteer Registration page and follow the instructions for new volunteers which will include setup of an account via the BAA Athlete’s Village.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration has been extended and closes on Friday July 30th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Help us get the word out by forwarding this message 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.

We look forward to seeing everyone again soon.

Thank you, and 73,
Boston Marathon Communications Committee
contact@hamradioboston.org