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Massillon Holiday Parade
As in previous years we will once again have the clubs Emergency Communications Trailer as one of the parade units to remind area residents of our continuing support to the community. Club member Perry Ballinger, W8AU is communications coordinator for this annual event and is currently looking for volunteers to assist this year. Several members signed up at the October meeting but we still need additional volunteers. Please consider helping us and your community by volunteering for the parade. It’s a great way to “get you in the holiday spirit” by welcoming Santa Claus into town. You are also invited to join us for our usual get together after the parade at one of the fine restaurant’s in town. The sign up sheet will also be at the November club meeting or you can contact Perry directly at 330-832-8612 or by email to w8au@sssnet.com. ARRL EmComm Course Update
Since the most recent version of the Emergency Communications Level 3 course was launched in 2006, there have been significant changes in the Federal government’s programs and policies, as well as in other areas of emergency response environment. For that reason, they will be temporarily suspending new enrollments in the online Level 3 course effective October 1, 2008 while they update the course content. In addition, no field exams will be given for the current version of the course after the Oct 1st date. I will advise you of additional details once they are published by the ARRL. Stark ARES Assists With
Akron Marathon
In a great outpouring of mutual aid, over 50 amateur radio operators representing 5 Northeastern Ohio radio clubs and ARES Organizations provided both safety and support communications for the marathon. Race logistics covered three major areas, "Shadows" - amateurs stationed with various race officials, keeping them informed of race progress and any problems that arose during the event. "Medical" - amateurs who were positioned with emergency service vehicles, and the American Red Cross. Lastly were "Route" - amateurs who were positioned at one mile intervals of the course who kept a close watch over marathon participants and staffed specified break areas. Three amateur repeaters and several simplex frequencies were utilized to cover the entire route which provided nearly solid coverage throughout the event. Three Net Control stations were necessary to manage the heavy flow of traffic that was generated over the nearly 6 hour event. In an event of this magnitude, call signs can bog down critical communications. For that reason "Tactical Call signs" were assigned to all radio operators which reflected either their position and/or responsibility for the event. This method did prove to be very efficient way to maintain route communications with the many different radio operators brought together for this event. There is nothing wrong with using this method as long as actual FCC authorized call signs are used at regular intervals. The cool morning was perfect for the runners but there were still a few medical situations that were quickly handled by amateur radio operators. Race officials were extremely satisfied with the outcome of the days events especially the very professional way all amateurs conducted their responsibilities. The solid public relations we received from participation in this event has once again helped answer the question "Why is our hobby so important ?." No other hobby can provide the type of service that our can, experienced radio operators that can always be counted on to help their communities. The 7th Annual Road Runner Akron Marathon is already being organized for 2009 and you can be sure that amateur radio support will be an integral part of the event. If you didn't get the opportunity to assist this year, make sure you consider it next year. It is an excellent way to help prepare yourself for a communication emergency. Summit County Emergency Coordinator Bruce Ferry - AK8B and Stark County Assistant EC Terry Russ would like to thank all of the many amateurs who volunteered to assist with this event especially those from neighboring ARES groups. Special thanks to the following Stark County ARES participants for another outstanding public service event. They were: Terry Russ - N8ATZ, Igor Nikishin - K8INN, and Rex Simmons - KD8ELX. Hurricane Ike's Winds Hit
Stark County
Wind gusts of over 56 mph caused uprooted trees and downed power lines leaving about 80,000 customers without electricity and the 911 call center overloaded with calls for assistance. At approximately 8:00 PM, Tim Warstler, Director of the Stark Co Emergency Preparedness Agency contacted EC Dave Beltz, WD8AYE requesting assistance as the EOC was officially activated. Also responding was Assist EC Terry Russ, N8ATZ. Amateurs were used to supplement priority communications between public safety agencies and the 911 center to ease congestion of the call center. Amateurs were also requested to obtain storm damage reports through our core of trained Skywarn Spotters. Approximately 15 EOC staff, Red Cross volunteers and Amateur Radio operators remained on duty at the EOC throughout the evening until the severe winds subsided around 11:00 PM. A formal Weather Net was activated on the county 147.12 ARES repeater with Net Managers Michelle Gill, KC8ZEJ and Mike Lackney, KB8MIB taking damage reports that were passed onto the EOC. Director Tim Warstler expressed his thanks and appreciation to all area amateurs for their assistance in this county emergency. Power is not fully restored to many parts of Stark County and it may take until late Thursday or Friday before full service is restored. Click Here for additional information of the wind damage courtesy of the Canton Repository. September QST Covers
Emergency Communications
This issue includes many interesting articles on ARES operation including how to use APRS to support Emcomm, a practical update on use of D-Star and a new article covering a new commercial standard for VHF/UHF digital voice and data communications. Even if you are not an ARRL member, this issue is worth adding to you ARES library.
Among the thousands of parade volunteers, Amateur Radio operators help
to organize this vast ensemble of parade participants. These volunteers are
members of the Stark County Amateur Radio Emergency Services. For over 31 years,
amateurs have provided communications services for this event that will total
over 150 volunteer hours of service on this day alone. The parade has grown
steadily in size over the years and now is the single largest public service
event handled by amateur radio operators here in Again this year over 300,000 spectators watched the parade and behind the scenes lies a core of amateur volunteers many of which have over 15 years of experience assisting with the parade. This dedication is one reason that parade organizers have long realized the importance of effective communications that are necessary in organizing a parade of this magnitude. Also over the years, they have come to understand and appreciate the fact that it takes more than a radio to make an effective communicator. Parade General Chairman Don Schneck noted that the commercial radios range was limited and he was grateful to learn that our communications was solid throughout the parade route thanks to our wide area coverage ARES Repeater on 147.12 Mhz. The last several years, parade officials have used loaned commercial radio's to maintain communications with their committee members.. While this has worked for routine communications, parade organizers have relied on the discipline and experience of amateur operators to handle urgent communications needs and especially medical traffic. Again year, in a reorganization of parade communications, our responsibilities covered three separate areas, each with it's own control point. These were Staging, Route Communications and Dispersal. Staging is where it all begins. Under the direction of Parade Communications
coordinator Dave Beltz - WD8AYE, with assistance from Terry - N8ATZ,
amateur’s assist event organizers in setup and arrangement of the over 130
units that make up this years parade. Beginning at about 2:00 A.M., this job is
like taking a 5,000 piece puzzle and assembling all the pieces to create the
final picture in a little over five hours. This doesn't include the setting up
of the Television Broadcast area, Route Communications then kicks in to assist help maintain the pace of the parade units. The pace of the parade is set by Canton Police Department motorcycle units. Each successive unit is to follow maintaining a certain spacing set by football helmets painted along the entire 2.5 mile parade route. Expected slowdowns occur during the parade in the TV area, where all units slow to perform for the crowd then speed back up to maintain proper spacing. Continuing his role from last year, Bruce Humphrey - KB8SAF headed up his team composed of parade escorts and ham operators. Our responsibility was to assist the escorts and provide constant reports to Bruce on parade spacing. We in turn would advise the escorts to either speed up or slow down the parade pace. This continued to be a daunting task and thanks to amateurs disciplined communications experience, we were effective in minimizing unit gaps throughout the parade. In addition, amateurs watched for trouble spots, assisted with broken down floats, crowd control, seating assistance, media relations, and medical support, these being only a few of the responsibilities handled by amateur radio operators. Net Control, under the direction of Rodger Trompower - KA8FTS, helps to ensure orderly parade radio traffic and maintains overall communications with all parade operations. Fifteen radio operators were positioned along the entire parade route to handle this facet of parade operations. Medical Support has continued to remain one of our most important parade
responsibilities as thousands of participants and spectators crowd the route
each year and brave a myriad of changeable weather to watch the grand parade. In
recent years, county medical squads have updated their communications equipment
to provide for better interoperability between the many emergency medical
service units called in to assist with the parade. Due to these advances,
amateurs role in this area was decreased although operators along the route were
prepared to assist should emergencies arise. This year saw a dramatic
increase in medical emergencies and radio operators again were called upon to
support the Again this year Assistant EC Terry Russ - N8ATZ maintained communications
with the Parade Chairman Don Schneck in the Parade Dispersal has become an increasingly complex segment of the Grand Parade in recent years. Continuing in his role as Dispersal Communications Coordinator was Wade Huthmacker - WD8MIU . An important part of the parade, dispersal has had to handle numerous
situations and problems including reuniting participants and parents and general
disassembly of the entire parade. For the fourth year in a row, additional
volunteers were assigned to this area. With local amateurs running in
short supply, volunteers were obtained from the The 2008 Timken Grand Parade was another great success thanks to the many
volunteers including the many amateur radio operators who assisted us again this
year. Parade General Chairman Don Schneck and Assistant Chairman Eric Stasiowski
along with Stark County Emergency Coordinator Dave Beltz - WD8AYE and
Bruce Humphrey – KB8SAF want to thank all the volunteers for their help and
assistance during this years parade. Their tireless efforts, although largely
unnoticed by the general public, have proven their worth time and time again
over the years. As the parade has grown, so has our level of participation and
commitment that has helped to ensure a successful and safe event for the
citizens of Volunteers for this year’s parade include the following operators: STAGING/COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: David Beltz - WD8AYE ROUTE COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - Bruce Humphrey - KB8SAF. DEMARSHALLING COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - Wade Huthmacher - WD8MIU. ROUTE COMMUNICATIONS: Bruce Humphrey - KB8SAF, Jim Farriss - WA8GXM, Igor Nikishin - K8INN, Dan Anastis - N8DZM, Kenn Rothman - WD8ILB, Dottie Moriarty - KD8DQU, Cathy Story - KC8EUC, Dale Story - KB8LWP, Alan Savage – N8MYE, Jamie Walters – W4JNW and Stephen Pomesky - KB8TPH. DISPERSAL: Wade Huthmacher - WD8MIU, Michelle Gill - KC8ZEJ, Tom Gill - KC8QOD, Denise Gill, Drew St George - KD8DQX, Bruce Brown - KC8RKS, Jim Sack - N8CUI, Mike Palmer - KD8ENV, Jim Sacks – N8CUI, Frank Koby – N8SGS, Leonard Johnson – N8XPI, Russ McMahen – N8PII, Jason Stroll - KC8LIN, Helen Trompower – KC8ZWG, Dave Kaltenborn – N8KBC, Gregg Gary – WB8YYS and Net Control for Demarshalling Rodger Trompower – KA8FTS. Congratulations to everyone on another great Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival !
Again this year amateurs provided both logistical support communications for
parade staging as well as medical support covering the Digital packet communications were utilized to synchronize the Packet is used for this function and has proven to be the perfect choice as it allows van personnel to continuously monitor the status of all units in the parade. This marks the ninth year this has been used and is an important aspect of our parade assistance. Again this year, we monitored Cleveland NWS Weather Radar in case of severe weather. Mother Nature was a little kinder to us this year holding off on any rain but not the normally hot and humid July conditions. Parade Chairman Pete Truemper was kept advised of weather during the parade. Our other parade responsibility and perhaps our most important, especially considering the very warm and humid conditions of this years parade was our role in medical support. Amateurs were stationed with Canton EMS units and provided a common communications link to the medical command center in demarshaling area. As expected, numerous minor medical emergencies occurred mostly due to the warm temperatures. Mike Palmer, KD8ENV acted as Medical Liaison in the staging area and also assisted during several medical emergencies that occurred during the parade. Captain Ray Friedman of the Canton Fire Department appreciated our efforts in support of the medical units. Special thanks to the Massillon Amateur Radio Club who provided the use of their Emergency Communications trailer which was used as command post for both logistical and medical operations during the parade.
Community Parade General Chairman Pete Truemper expressed his heartfelt thanks to all the radio operators for their assistance. "Your operators are a vital part of this parade", said Pete, "your continued support year after year makes all the difference". A special thank you to the following volunteers who assisted with this years event. The staging and logistical support crew included Cathy Storey - KC8EUC and Bruce Humphrey - KB8SAF. TV production support included Ralph Bugg – K8HSQ with assistance from Tom Gill – KC8QOD and Jason Stroll - KC8LIN in the TV Production Van. Net Control was handled by Terry Russ - N8ATZ. Medial Unit support included Mike Palmer – KD8ENV in staging with Michelle Gill - KC8ZEJ, Dave Beltz – WD8AYE and Igor Nikishin - K8INN along the route and in Demarshalling. A terrific job from a great crew, thanks again for your support to ARES Community Service ! Terry Russ - N8ATZ ARRL ARES E-Letter Posted
Cedar Rapids Flood Response, Harrison County, Indiana ARES Activates for Historic Windstorm, SKYWARN Recognition Day Celebrates Ten Years, Hospital Standards for EmComms Include Amateur Radio and other stories.. You can read the entire newsletter on the ARRL website. Click Here for a direct link. The Next Time Could Be
Different ARRL
Feature: Skywarn Recognition Day
December 6th
EmComm - What's It All About ?
Our thanks to Mercy Medical Center for their commitment to the Stark County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and First Communications for their support of Stark County Winlink.
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| last reviewed/updated on 11/02/08 |
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