[ILHam] Ham Radio Help Needed--October 1--Prairie State CERT Challenge--Glenview

[Neil R. Ormos N9NL]

Dear Chicago Area Hams:

WE NEED YOU!

We're looking for ham volunteers for a fun,
exciting event in the North Suburbs!

On SATURDAY 1 October 2011, hams will be providing
communications support for the Prairie State CERT
Challenge in Glenview. [*]

In the Prairie State CERT challenge, up to 20 CERT
teams, each consisting of 12 CERT-trained
volunteers, move among several activity stations.
At each activity station, the CERT teams are
challenged to demonstrate skills they have learned
in their classroom training and field exercises.

Most ham volunteers will be assigned to provide
communications at an activity station.  Our work
typically consists of reporting any health or
safety issues that may arise (but we hope none
will), handling any logistics or exercise
management requests, and reporting the scores or
results at the activity station.  We will also
have a net control/logging operation, and we
expect to have several hams shadowing the top
exercise leaders.  You need not be CERT trained to
help with communications at this event.

The event will be held at NIPSTA, the Northern
Illinois Public Safety Training Academy in
Glenview.  NIPSTA has a relatively compact campus
and I expect most participants will need a 2m (or
preferably a 2m/70cm) hand-held radio with 5 watts
output, a good antenna, and a couple of spare, but
fully charged, batteries.  We may be assigned
agency radios to use for the exercise (more on
that later).

The event will start early in the morning and run
through late afternoon.  EVEN IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE
FOR ONLY A PORTION OF THE DAY, WE STILL WANT YOUR
HELP and will work to accommodate your schedule.

For those who are interested in participating, I'd
be grateful if you'd reply and let me know of any
time restrictions or any other limitations on your
service.  (If you are unable to stand or walk for
extended periods, or have other limitations on
your activity, please let me know so we can give
you an appropriate assignment.)

As we get closer to the event, we will ask you to
complete a few forms and return them to the
exercise staffing managers.

There are also many opportunities to volunteer for
the Prairie State CERT Challenge in roles other
than communications.  If you have non-hams in your
household, or friends, neighbors, or business
associates, who are over 18 and may wish to help
with this fun and exciting event, please let me
know and I'll send you information on how to sign
up as a general volunteer.

==================================================

[*] CERT is an acronym for "Community Emergency
    Response Team".

    "The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
    Program educates people about disaster
    preparedness for hazards that may impact their
    area and trains them in basic disaster
    response skills, such as fire safety, light
    search and rescue, team organization, and
    disaster medical operations.  [...]  If a
    disaster happens that overwhelms local
    response capability, CERT members can apply
    the training learned in the classroom and
    during exercises to give critical support to
    their family, loved ones, neighbors or
    associates in their immediate area until help
    arrives."  From
    <http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/faq.shtm>.

==================================================

Public service is a great way to have some fun
with ham radio, deliver a useful service to served
agencies and charitable organizations, and show
off amateur radio in the best possible light.
Won't you please volunteer?

I wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day
weekend!

Thanks and 73,

--Neil Ormos N9NL
ARES® District Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ARES Region 4
Email: n9nl /at-sign/ arrl.net