The Bellevue ARC has been asked to provide amateur radio operators to support
the Bellevue Police Department during the 2010 Arrows to Aerospace Parade. We
will man street corners along the route to assist with traffic control (ensuring vehicles don't drive through the parade or over spectators)
and general public safety, such as lost child reports, children running between
or to the parade vehicles, etc.
This is an annual event that has long been part of the club's heritage. We will be visible representatives of BARC to the community, so please wear your club shirts, hats, jackets etc. Each ham on the street will be provided with a high-visibility reflective vest for their personal safety. If you own your own vest, please wear it.
We will use the WB0EMU repeater 147.060(+ offset, PL131.8) for the net, with back-up on WB0QQK 145.115 (- offset, PL179.9). The W0WYV 147.39 repeater (+ offset) will also be a backup option. You will need a 2m (or dual band) ht and spare batteries. The event typically lasts 5 to 6 hours, so bring spare batteries. Charging the batteries before Saturday morning is highly recommended!
Please check your owner's manuals and set the PL tones BEFORE Saturday to avoid problems during the event.
I highly recommend a speaker mic and earphone or headphones, if available. The
route will be noisy - fire engines, marching bands, politicians and clowns
driving itty-bitty cars all contribute to the clamor. Wearing earphones /
headphones will make it easier for you to hear the net traffic. A folding chair
will add to your personal comfort, and bring some water and snacks to keep your
energy peaked.
We will meet at the Bellevue PD's briefing room at 06:45 Saturday 21 August for
pre-brief donuts and coffee. At 07:00 the Bellevue PD event supervisor will
brief the instructions for the day. We will hand out assignments and
then disburse to our posts. Based on previous years' parades, Mission Blvd will
be closed by Bellevue PD at 08:00 for the Fun Runs. The parade should be over by
12:00. The PD will release us when they reopen Mission. These
details will be confirmed as we get closer to the event.
If you want to volunteer to support the parade, please send an email to a2a-2010@bellevuearc.org.
New ham or freshly relicensed? This is a great public service activity to
learn the secret ways of amateur radio. We will pair you with an experienced (or
just old & gray) ham if you wish.
Plan to spend Saturday morning 21 August participating in a fun morning of
parade watching while protecting our friends and neighbors at the same time.
Time's running short - sign up today!
73, Wayne KE6DZD
P.S. Please check your owner's manual and set the PL tones before the day of the parade to avoid problems during the event.