2/11/2008
From: George Bellairs, KBØZZT, Bellevue Amateur Radio Club MS Bike Ride Communications Chairperson
Subject: Bellevue Amateur Radio Club Supports the 2008 MS Bike Ride, Saturday and Sunday (July 12 and 13). For immediate release to all Amateur Radio Operators.
Fellow Hams:
Once again the Bellevue Amateur Radio Club will be sponsoring the communications support for the 2008 Multiple Sclerosis Two Day Bike Ride. I am the B.A.R.C. Communications Chairperson for this event.
Your help will be greatly appreciated. I ask that you disseminate the following information to your club members and other local area Amateurs so that we may have a pool of volunteers to assist with the communications for this public service event. Also, please include this public service event information at your local club meetings, in your club newsletters, and on your local nets.
This is a great chance for new hams to get involved in public service events. You need not be a member of any club, ARES, or RACES to volunteer your time and resources. No experience is required. If you are new to Amateur Radio public service events, we will give you hands on training in a practical and fun environment. This event gives us "old-timers" the chance to continue the tradition of helping others. So mark your calendars now, and spread the word around to your fellow hams and club members.
You can volunteer your time and resources for the entire event both days, one day, or even just for a few hours either day. We can find a place for you to work. Those of you who have helped in past years know how rewarding and how much fun it is to support the MS Society and the bicyclists. They depend upon us heavily for the safety, health, and welfare of all involved in the events.
Previously, the MS Society has held two separate bike rides: a MS-50 one-day bike ride and a MS-150 two-day bike ride. This year, these two separate bike rides have been combined into one bike ride event.
The MS Two Day Bike Ride will be Saturday and Sunday (July 12 & 13). This is the weekend before the Cornhusker State Games in Lincoln. Plans are to have the Two-Day bike riders start in Omaha Saturday morning and end in Lincoln Saturday afternoon. Arrangements have been made for housing at an University of Nebraska Lincoln student dorm. Locations of the traditional Saturday evening celebration party and awards dinner are still pending. Participating Amateur radio operators are invited to both. The Two-Day riders will return to Omaha on Sunday. I do not have any specific information regarding those riders whom want to participate for just one day for shorter distances. The exact routes have not been determined at this time.
If you volunteer for either one day or two days, you may want to consider spending Saturday night in Lincoln. The National MS Society reserves a block of rooms where the riders and staff will be staying. Room reservation information will be made available to those volunteering. The MS Society provides an official MS Society Bike Ride t-shirt, and meals both days to the volunteers.
Required resources will include a dual-band mobile radio and suitable antenna. Hand held dual band radios may also prove useful depending upon your assignment, and proximity to the repeaters. I will be contacting local repeater operators along the route (once the route has been determined) for permission to use their repeaters. We will also have a designated simplex frequency to use as needed. If you do not have dual-band radios, 2 meter radios will work. We will be using 2 meter frequencies as much as possible for primary communications, and 70cm frequencies for backup.
Stations with APRS capability are encouraged to bring along their equipment and use it. We can put APRS trackers with the bike repair vehicles, medical support vehicles, last rider vehicles, and various other points to help facilitate the tracking of our riders. Wayne (KE6DZD) will be coordinating APRS stations.
If you have a GMRS/FRS radio, you may want to consider bringing it with you. The riders will be encouraged to use channel 1 (without any PL tones) should they need help.
Amateur Radio operators are needed to staff water stops, SAG vehicles, bike repair vehicles, medical support vehicles, and last rider vehicles on the route. Specific duties for each will be provided at a later date.
Non-amateurs with EMT training are also encouraged to volunteer, as we can pair them with amateur radio operators to patrol the route to keep an eye on everyone.
If you would like to volunteer, or want more information, you may contact either
of us in one of the following ways (NOTE that we prefer E-mail over phone
calls):
(1) George Bellairs: E-Mail:
kb0zzt@arrl.net home phone: (402) 291-0960
(2) Wayne Jorns: E-Mail:
ke6dzd@arrl.net home phone: (402) 292-1727
I would prefer to use E-mail because it makes it a lot easier to keep everyone informed on our status. I realize that not everyone has e-mail so if we have to use phones, we will. You might also use a friend who has e-mail as a relay.
This is just a general request for Amateur Radio help. I will keep those who volunteer updated on the details as they become known to me.
Thank you!
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George H. Bellairs
Amateur Radio Operator
KBØZZT
E-Mail:
kb0zzt@arrl.net
or
kb0zzt@usa.net
(402) 291-0960 (home)
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The early bird may get the worm, but the
second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.