[WIham] Bank of America - Chicago Marathon

[Jerry Martin]

Experienced Hams Needed for the Bank of America – Chicago Marathon

October 11, 2009

Numerous amateur radio operators are needed to participate in an important
health and safety role. We are actively recruiting amateur radio operators
who have experience with public service events and emergency communications.
You must work well under pressure, and be able to multi-task in a very
public setting. Familiarity with the FEMA incident command system (ics-100,
200, 700 & 800), and Red Cross or FEMA disaster assessment would be a plus
(but not a requirement). We plan to operate completely self contained. You
must supply your own dual band mobile radios (35 – 50 watts), antenna, and
electric power to operate for 8+ hours.

The Bank of America – Chicago Marathon is a 26.2 mile event to be held on
October 11, 2009. The course location will be in downtown Chicago, with the
route passing through some of the most exciting and vibrant neighborhoods in
the city. The start and finish lines are collocated in Grant Park. A link to
the course map can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/pw9afd 

Positions to be staffed include:

·         Voice operators to staff the 21 aid & medical stations (3 each
location, total 63),

·         Net control operators to work in the secure unified command area
(6),

o   Four geographic “quads” will be designated

o   Medical traffic on one net

o   Runner Dropout, and Logistics traffic on another net

o   Message loggers and runners will be used.

o   Liaison with WX Op’s, Red Cross, served agencies and all city services.

o   Weather Center Operations providing updates to Race Management (as
needed)

·         Auxiliary voice radio operators able to “fill in” where needed
throughout the course (6),

·         Volunteers to staff the Amateur Radio Comm Team booth at the
Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place (12),

o   Friday, October 9th open from 9 AM to 8 PM 

§  1st shift from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, (3)

§  2nd shift from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM (3)

o   Saturday, October 10th open from 9 AM to 6 PM

§  1st shift from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM (3)

§  2nd Shift from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (3)

For more information and to sign up, please go to:
www.chicagomarathon.com/HamRadioVolunteers  and follow the links.

This success of this large scale public service event will be determined by
the hard work and preparation we put in prior to the event. Check our gear
for proper operation, batteries charged, cables tested, and frequencies
programmed into the radios and verified. 

We may consider this the same as a real EmComm deployment, since the
importance and scope are similar to what we have seen in a medium-scale
incident.  The race organizers are giving us a chance, setting high
expectations, and will be watching.  And then consider this, if the City of
Chicago is awarded the 2016 Olympic bid on October 2nd, all eyes worldwide
will be on the Chicago Marathon as a preview of things to come.  If amateur
radio wants a seat at the table- we have it. Let’s deliver in the tradition
of which we are so proud.

This is a chance for all local hams to put on a really good show to a very
broad local, national and international audience. 

73’s

Jerry  – KC9BDA

Kate – KC9IQF

Rob – K9RST

Craig – KC9HWK

Bank of America - Chicago Marathon Ham Radio Comm Team