[NvHam] Fwd: Re Fox hunting, public safety notifications

[Dick Flanagan]

The following message was forwarded to me by Jan Welsh NK7N, Nevada Section 
Manager.  She asked to give it wide distribution.  If you have any 
questions, you can contact Jan at:

Jan Welsh, NK7N, NV SM
59 Constitution Ave
Henderson, NV 89015
(702)565-0242
nk7n@aol.com

---- Begin forwarded message ----
From: Mark Duff/KB1EKN President, Boston Amateur Radio Club Chief of 
Operations, Hingham Fire Department
To: Phil Temples/K9HI Section Manager
Cc: Mike Neilsen, Rob Macedo, Frank Murphy
Subject:: Fox Hunting, Public Safety Notifications

Date: 05-14-2002

It has come to my attention from the State Fire Marshall that recently in 
Eastern Massachusetts, a club was conducting a fox hunt and left the fox 
near a public shopping mall. Although it was a totally innocent act, 
someone not familiar with the box the fox was contained in notified 
authorities and created a problem.

I strongly suggest that any club conducting fox hunt's, notify public 
safety officials that a fox hunt is taking place in their community and 
where the fox is located. It would be very easy for any public safety 
official to consider the fox to be a Device and treat it accordingly. A 
photograph was included with the memo and there is no question in my mind 
that a person, not knowing what the fox is, would consider it to be a 
radio-controlled bomb. The events of 9/11 have considerably heightened 
public awareness of anything that looks suspicious. Many times, the fox is 
hidden in strange locations and this further complicates the problem. A 
simple notification made to the local public safety officials may eliminate 
a major public safety response and prevent our noble hobby from receiving 
any bad publicity.

[Note: A memo was sent too every fire department in Massachusetts about this.]
---- End forwarded message ----
--
Dick Flanagan W6OLD OOTC CFII Minden, Nevada
Visit http://www.cvrc.net