[nrv-hams] FYI - about those HAM Radio Volunteers Needed!

Wed May 6 15:12:09 EDT 2015

Hi, John!

Didn't mean to be negative.  But I was concerned with the evident spamming of distant club(s), and felt that the NRV club deserved a bit of clarity.

Hope a more positive cooperation and outcome can be arranged in the future.

Thanks for your insights!

Gene  :)

----- Original Message -----
From: John Westerman <john at packetwhisper.com>
To: bats at starpower.net
Cc: nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net, Russ Abbey <kg4mav at gmail.com>, dannywylam at gmail.com, n3ev at arrl.net, Henry WEIDMAN <k2bfy at arrl.net>, Tom Dawson <wb3akd at earthlink.net>
Sent: Wed, 06 May 2015 14:34:57 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: FYI -  about those HAM Radio Volunteers Needed!

Gene,

Shew, glad you didn’t send this to Amanda. When I read your comments the first thing I though was that they could be taken quite negatively. Your comments do not reflect my personal opinions of this event at all. If we have learned anything about the human component of planning, including my own, is that it’s always flawed. You arrive at consistency over time and with a lot of practice.

While the request was late I would have helped if I could have. We can’t know everything so that they had 32 before this one is of no surprise to me as I am not a biker and would not normally know of these things (even though it’s starting within a mile or two of my home).

That she/they asked us for help is a huge lift up for what we do and we should not ignore that.

So, this year we can’t help. With some planning I bet next year we can.

John Westerman
W5ODJ

> On May 5, 2015, at 9:37 PM, bats at starpower.net wrote:
> 
> Hi, Russ and Danny!
> 
> Russ is right, this bike ride event is near Leesburg, VA, in Loudoun County.  
> 
> They had already contacted the best and most suitable Ham club, LARG (Loudoun Amateur Radio Group).  We reluctantly declined, due to several factors (in my modest opinion):
> 
> - We already have an excellent working relationship with the well known Reston Bike Club, and we provide similar services for their annual Century (100 mile) event, all over Loudoun. Includes voice nets, rest stops, SAG wagons, even APRS tracking!  Thus lots of proven experience, and not exclusive either.
> 
> - We never heard of these folk, or their event, all of which are new to us.  And we have no references or track record, and no independent regarding their charity/legal/insurance status.  And evident lack of familiarity with pros/cons/applications of Ham radio...
> 
> - Their awkward and very late request for assistance, especially in close proximity or conflict with other LARG commitments and of course Dayton HF.  Since they have reportedly had 32 previous events(??), one wonders how many years it takes to develop an appropriate safety & communications plan and implementation?
> 
> I'm not sure how you NRV guys got their message, but likely the organizers may be phishing for Ham clues in VA, with no clue as to which are where or proximate.  I bet lots of other clubs got similar messages...
> 
> Just my observations and opinions, and no reflections on LARG or NRVARC et al.
> 
> Hope this clarifies things, and thanks for mentioning it.  And feel free to share my thoughts with the other NRV Hams down there, along with my best 73s!
> 
> Gene  :)
> 
> N3EV
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Russ Abbey <russ.abbey at gmail.com>
> To: NRV-Hams: A mailing list for members of the New River Valley (VA) Amateur Radio Club. <nrv-hams at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tue, 05 May 2015 21:02:06 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: [nrv-hams] Fwd: HAM Radio Volunteers Needed!
> 
> Looking at the map on this Danny it is up around Leesville, VA.  A little
> out of our area isn't it? :)
> 73
> Russ, KG4MAV
> 
> On Tue, May 5, 2015 at 7:48 PM, Danny Wylam <dannywylam at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Amanda Kules <amanda.kules at nmss.org>
>> Date: Tue, May 5, 2015 at 3:54 PM
>> Subject: HAM Radio Volunteers Needed!
>> To: "dannywylam at gmail.com" <dannywylam at gmail.com>
>> 
>> 
>> Hello!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> My name is Amanda Kules from the National MS Society, National Capital
>> Chapter and I am contacting you about helping us out for our charity
>> fundraising event called “Ride the Vine
>> <
>> http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/DCWBikeEvents?pg=entry&fr_id=25835
>>> ”.
>> This is our 33rd annual bike event happening this June 13 and 14, starting
>> and finishing at the Doukenie Winery in Purcellville, VA. As you may know,
>> cell phone reception is exceptionally rare, so HAM radio operators are
>> integral for our event to run safely and smoothly.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> We’re hoping for at least ten operators to come help us on Saturday, the 13
>> th, and around five to ten for Sunday the 14th along the route. All
>> volunteers will be provided breakfast, lunch, and a seat at our awards
>> dinner the night of the 13th. Volunteers also get a t-shirt, various snacks
>> and drinks, and the chance to be a part of a really great cause.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Worldwide, it’s estimated that 2.3 million people live with MS, a disease
>> of the central nervous system that is unpredictable, chronic and often
>> disabling. Advances in research and treatment are moving the Society closer
>> to their vision of a world free of multiple sclerosis.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Please contact me for any further information, if you’d like to help out,
>> or if you know of any HAM radio groups that would be better suited for this
>> event. We’re hoping to lock in confirmed volunteers within the next week or
>> two.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Thank you so much for your time, and I appreciate any help you can give!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Kind Regards,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> *Amanda Kules*
>> 
>> Logistics Coordinator
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> *National Multiple Sclerosis Society*
>> *National Capital Chapter*
>> 1800 M Street N.W. Suite 750 South
>> Washington, D.C. 20036
>> Email: Amanda.Kules at nmss.org
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