[W2CRA] March of Dimes Event

[Glenn Bukowski]

The document, below, is the draft of Sunday's March of Dimes walkathon. If you volunteered but are not on my list - my appologies. I lost some documents on my PC - so just send an email correcting my errors. 
If you haven't volunteered yet, there's still time - just let me know.
I'm going to the MOD meeting tomorrow night and will update this plan ASAP and get the copy to you. 
Glenn, AC2BH 
  
  
MARCH OF DIMES 
  
WALK-A-THON, April 25 (Sunday) at Spruce Run Recreation Area 
  
Event particulars: 
  
Sponsor: March of Dimes, Central Jersey Division, (609) 655-7400 
  
Spruce Run State Park, 68 Van Syckel’s Road, Clinton, NJ 08809 
  
Muster point: Main parking Lot by the flag poles (MOD sign-in area)

Registration Time for Volunteers: 7:00AM
Registration Time for Walkers: 8:00AM
Walk Distance: about 4 miles  Start Time: 9:00 AM
March Of Dimes Contact: Nick Mazzocchi 
  
ARES / W2CRA Volunteers 
  
Glenn Bukowski AC2BH
  
John Cannizarro KC2TYU
  
Mike Cannizarro KC2TKI 
  
Tony Ploski, W2HWW
  
Bill Powel WB1GOT
  
George Lehmkuhl, W2RIJ 
  
John McAuley, AB2XH 
  
Taino Matos, N2DQL 
  
Marc Lees KC2MTR 
  
Dave Jochen
  
  
  
  
  
 


  
Check-in for W2CRA: 0700 – 0830Hrs 
Park near Net Control Station in the ‘front’ parking row. Register with NCS (set up by the event operations table) to receive your assignments and club owned safety gear (vests and flags). 
  
Parking: 0715-0845Hrs 
Three W2CRA volunteers will assume duties at stations “A” thru “C” to help Walk-A-Thoners park and register. 
Station A at entrance to parking lot – directs entrants to parking areas. DO NOT STAND IN ROADWAY. GREET AND DIRECT PARTICIPANTS FROM THE GRASSY BORDER. 
Station B at north end of parking lot – directs entrants to ‘upper’ parking lanes and coordinates other parking volunteers.  DO NOT STAND IN ROADWAY. GREET AND DIRECT PARTICIPANTS FROM THE GRASSY BORDER. 
Station C – at south end of parking lot – directs entrants to ‘upper’ parking lanes.  DO NOT STAND IN ROADWAY. GREET AND DIRECT PARTICIPANTS FROM THE GRASSY BORDER. 
  
At 0845hrs, parking operations stop and all W2CRA Volunteers will be at (or headed to) their assigned Walk-A-Thon stations. 
  
  
  

  
The “Walk” begins at 0900 and stations will be assigned to the length of the course. All operators: remember that we are here as communications assets and are not authorized or trained as traffic control officers. 
  
Frequency: we will try using simplex, 145.530 to run the event. Use 147.375 (repeater) as a talk-in channel while traveling in the morning (see notes on last page of document). 
  
Stations 2-6 will deploy at about 0830hrs to avoid interfering with walkers. While operators at stations 2,3 & 6 will have traffic control flags, they must remember that they will direct walkers from the grassy areas and footpaths adjacent to the roads. AT NO TIME, ARE THEY PERMITTED TO STAND IN THE ROADWAY TO DIRECT TRAFFIC. SUCH ACTION MAY PUT THEM IN HARM’S WAY. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE TRAINING OR AUTHORITY TO DIRECT OR CHALLENGE MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS. 
  
Stations 7-9 may deploy after the first walkers leave since they are in the second half of the course. 
STATION DUTIES: 
  
Participants in the walk-a-thon will pass several stations 2 or 3 times: 
  
Walkers start from the March of Dimes event table (station 1, NCS) 
Station 2 - directs walkers north (towards the park entrance) as they leave the lot. 
Station 3 - directs walkers east, toward the boat ramp. 
Station 4 - is set up by the building and check-in station at the boat ramp. 
Station 3 - sends them across the road toward “tower parking area” and station 5 
Station 5 - is set up by the check-in station in the “tower parking area” and directs walkers toward station 6 after they log in. 
Station 6 - directs them to the beach path and station 7 
Station 7 - directs the walkers toward station 8 
Station 8 - will be at the third check-in station, by the boat rental building. After walkers log in, Station 8 sends them to station 9 back at the parking lot. 
Station 9 - South end of parking lot. Directs the walkers int the lot and toward the finish. 
Walkers finish at the March of Dimes event table (by station 1, the NCS) 
  
All stations will report, as requested by NCS, on status of the walkers. There will be a March-Of-Dimes “Sag Wagon” with a radio, to pick up any walkers who decide to stop. If a walker asks you what to do if they can’t go on – call NCS for the Sag Wagon. If a walker tells you they want to quit and asks for directions back to the parking lot, tell them what they want to know, ask them to inform the walk committee when they get there, and inform the NCS how many walkers are leaving the event. 
  
The last walker will be identified and stations will report on their status throughout the event. When the last walker passes your station and you report it, the NCS may (if appropriate) opt to shut down your station and ask you to report back to the parking area. 
  
When the last walker passes the last communication station, the NCS may declare the communication portion of the event closed and call all operators back to the parking areas to receive their after action reports and impression of the event and to collect any club materials that were issued. 
  
IN GENERAL: 
  
The W2CRA 2M repeaters will be used for this event. 147.375 will be used for early morning ‘talk-in” and simplex, 145.530 will be used for the event, proper (145.650 is our simplex ‘fall back’ if necessary). We‘ll use the repeater on 147.015 + PL 151.4 if simplex doesn‘t work for us. (see notes on the last page). 
  
Stations 4 & 5 will be, better, served from a mobile radio of, at least, 25W. All other station locations shoud be able to operate from a 5W HT with a decent antenna (something with more gain than a ‘rubber duck’). You may opt to work your station from your car and use its mobile rig. 
  
Once you reach your assigned location and report to the NCS with your callsign, you will use tactical calls for the rest of the event. Your tactical call will be your station number. 
  
We’ll suggest that you have a folding chair and a bottle of water or thermos of hot drinks to make the station assignment more pleasant – remember that you might be there for 2-3 hours. There ARE restrooms around the park for your “comfort”. Just let the NCS know if you must leave your station at any time. 
  
April weather can be uncertain. Plan to dress in layers. We’ll suggest a jacket, sweater (or sweatshirt) and a hat. Gloves and a rain-jacket might be a good idea, too. It should go without saying to wear sensible shoes and warm socks. The temperature, when we arrive may be in the high 40s or low 50s. 
  
  
REMEMBER: YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO STAND IN THE ROADWAY AND DIRECT TRAFFIC. SUCH ACTION MAY PUT YOU IN HARM’S WAY. YOU DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO DIRECT OR CHALLENGE MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS. 
  
DISTANCES: 
(Walkers will ask you) 
NCS – Mile 0/ 4 
Station 2 Mile 0.1 / 2.7 
Station 3 Mile 0.2 / 2.3 
Station 4 Mile 0.5 / 2.0 
Station 5 Mile 1.25 
Station 6 Mile 1.5 
Station 7 Mile 3.0 
Station 8 Mile 3.3 / 3.5 
Station 9 Mile 3.7 
  
Note that NCS is at the Beginning/End of the 4 mile walk and that the walkers may pass a station 1-2 times in the course of the walk. 
  
FREQUENCIES BEING USED ON 4/25: 
  
Ch 1 - repeater: 147.375 + PL 151.4 (morning talk in) 
Ch 2 - simplex:  145.530 (for the event itself) 
Ch 3 - simplex:  145.650 (‘fall back’ channel) 
Ch 4 - repeater: 147.015 + PL 151.4 (we‘ll use this if simplex doesn‘t work for us)