[SMCARA] Marathon Support Needed

[Tom Shelton]

Good Morning All,

This message is being sent out at the request of Ray, KB3FWW.  He recently changed his e-mail address and doesn’t have it registered on the reflector yet.

On Sunday, March 10th, we’ll be supporting the Lower Potomac River Marathon.  The Marathon starts at 7:15AM and should be over around 11:00AM. More info here: http://www.cbrcmd.org/lpr_marathon_2013.htm

There will be a buffet lunch served after the marathon and you also get a marathon tee-shirt for your help.

We’ll be using the club repeater, K3HKI, 146.64 (-) PL 146.2, which will be dedicated to marathon support during the run.

What you’ll need...

1) A handheld and/or mobile 2-meter FM transceiver
    a)  Please make sure that the local frequencies (http://www.qsl.net/smcara/repeater.html), especially K3HKI, W4GMF, and N3PX plus 146.52 Simplex are programmed into your radio in case we need to use a different repeater.
    b)  Make sure your batteries are fully charged and if you have a back-up battery, bring that too.
2) Snacks, water, soda.
3) Not required, but recommended, a brightly colored safety vest
4) A digital camera to take pictures of our support for posting on the club web-site.

We need at least 4 people (a minimum), but we can’t have too many – come one – come all.  We have a plenty of places to put people to work...

At the start/finish line, we’ll need: a net control operator, someone at the finish line to report times and support the staff there, and someone to shadow the race director.  A note on the last – Liza (the race director is a Ham and will have her HT with her, but she spends a lot of time inside the building where she doesn’t have good radio reception).  

We also need someone at each water/aid station.  These stations are located about every 2 miles along the route, but as the runners move through the course, the stations are torn down and relocated, so figure there will be between 6 and 8 water stations active at any time.  We’ll want someone with the ambulance crew to provide quick assistance if needed. Someone at the turn-around point, to coordinate with the police, is also needed.

Weather permitting I’ll be motorcycle mobile and will be riding back and forth between the lead runners and the last runners (I’ve been dubbed, by Liza, Director of Course Operations).  In the past I’ve put over 100 miles on the bike, mostly riding at something under 5 MPH.  If there is anyone else with Motorcycle Mobile capability, a second rover would be very welcome.

We need mobile operators who can run supplies to the water/aid stations and provide rides back to the finish line for runners (non-emergency) who drop out.

So – you can see we have plenty of work for people who want to volunteer.  I hate to beg – but you, your radios, and your communication skills are really needed.  Please Please Please – Let’s show the race organizers and the runners what SMCARA can really do.

We’ll want you at the Paul Hall Center (45353 St. Georges Ave., Piney Point, MD 20674) - http://www.seafarers.org/paulhallcenter/phc.asp – no later than 6:30AM to receive your assignment.  Talk in on the club repeater, but take Piney Point road (off Rt. 5 in Calloway) almost to the end – if you cross the bridge to St. George Island, you’ve gone too far.  Remember that Day Light Savings time begins Sunday Morning at 2AM, so set your clocks ahead when you go to sleep the night prior.  If you can’t support the entire time, let us know when you can help.  Again, we can’t have too many volunteers – we’ll find a way to use you.

Please send a note to Ray – arbyone1 at gmail.com – and CC me – with:
1)  Your availability
2)  Your tee-shirt size....
3)  Preferred support position.

To repeat myself – PLEASE help – One of the principles of Ham Radio that lets us keep the frequencies we use is Community support...  One of the things you agreed to as a member of SMCARA was the Radio Amateur Code of Ethics, which includes – “The Radio Amateur is Patriotic…station and skill always ready for service to country and community.”

As always, please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions, or concerns in this regard.

Tom Shelton, AB3IC
(240) 434-3811

Always be yourself...
Unless you can be a Unicorn...
Then always be a Unicorn...