All, the following message is from George Lillenstein, AB1GL, ADEC Region 3 East.

We really need help for this event.

**********

I am writing to the ARES leaders in the Region 3-East area for help.

There is an MS Bike Ride that will be held in Colchester on August 28th and 29th.    This will be for the same group we helped on June 6th from Griffin Office Park in Windsor.   Your help then was really appreciated, and we hope to implement some lessons we learned from that previous experience.

We need radio operators primarily for the 4 SAG wagons, a few shadows, and a communications van.   There will be two routes, a 25-mile and a 75-mile, on two days — Saturday and Sunday. The longer ride starts at 8:30am on Saturday and 7:30am on Sunday.

Wayne Gronlund, N1CLV, has agreed to help with the planning, and he and I are hoping to split Net Control duties so each of us can spend one day at Boxboro and one on the ride.

I hope you can find it in your hearts to volunteer for at least one of the two days,

Details about the ride are available at bikectn.nationalmssociety.org, look for the Bike MS – Cardio Express ride at Priam Vineyard in Colchester.

To volunteer as a radio operator, send an email to me at AB1GL@arrl.net or to Wayne Gronlund, N1CLV@mac.com

Please communicate this to your town’s hams.

Thanks.

Get alerted about emergencies in your area by signing up for the State of Connecticut – CT ALERT ENS.

The State of Connecticut has implemented a state-of-the-art emergency notification system to alert residents anywhere in the state about life-threatening emergency conditions. You can get emergency alerts sent to you on any communication method you use, such as your cell phone, e-mail, text message, or certain hearing impaired receiving devices, just by providing your information, and keeping it updated, on the CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-Up Page.

You will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, cell, or business phone, email, text messages, hearing impaired receiving devices, and more.

The website with more information and sign-up opportunities is at:

https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=300761

Attention all good hams

We need your help, as you know that summer that means bike events and bike events means ham radio.   Please join us and let’s help our neighbors in New York.   Please refer to the messages bellow:

As of today we will need at least twenty (20) radio operators to fill fixed and mobile positions.  If you have APRS we can sure use your help too.

David Wilcox K1DJW & I will be helping with “THIS EVENT” so please respond to k1djw@arrl.net & to k1dav@arrl.net

SO WE REALY NEED YOUR HELP.

THANK YOU ALL and have a wonderful 4th of July

DAVID HYATT

K1DAV

To all Southern Berkshire ARC members and friends:

This is a reminder that the Harlem Valley Rail Ride is going to be held on Sunday, July 25, 2010 and we are looking for hams to assist with the communications at the rest areas, SAG vehicles, Officials’ shadow, etc.

Please pass the word that we are looking for people to fill these slots. A description of this year’s   event follows below. Let me know if you are interested.

73 / 88

Ed Rubin, N2JBA
N2JBA@ARRL.NET

Region 3 ARES received the following note from Armando Landrian, KB1PRP, Public Service Coordinator for NARL and Newington, CT Emergency Coordinator – EC:

We are looking for volunteers for the second Scottish Rite Freemasons 5k race/walk to benefit children with Dyslexia.  The 32ND Degree Masonic Learning Center For Children of Connecticut helps kids with Dyslexia overcome this disability at no cost to their families.

This is a great event for an excellent cause, we are looking for 10 more volunteers with mobile radios to provide communications for this great event to be held here in Newington on Saturday July 24, 2010 at 207 Deming St. This is a rain or shine event.

Your help is greatly appreciated, if you are available to participate, please contact us as soon as possible.

Thanks and 73,
Armando Landrian, KB1PRP
EC, Newington
ARES Region 3
Skywarn

NARL Public Service Team, First to Volunteer…Second to None !!!

Armando Landrian, KB1PRP
Public Service Chairman
kb1prp@arrl.net

The 2010 Jim Calhoun Cancer Challenge Walk & Ride is scheduled for June 12, 2010.  At this annual event participants raise money for cancer research by entering one of five events.  There are the 10, 25, and 50 mile rides that have been part of the event for years and this year they have added a 5 mile walk and a 75 mile ride.  The committee reports registration of over 1500 this year.  This event is widely publicized and covered by local media making it an excellent opportunity to show our communities what amateur radio can do.

Amateur Radio has provided communications for the event for several years for SAG wagons, mechanics, rest stops and trailing vehicles with cell links to motorcycle riders traversing the course for safety.  In previous years amateur radio operators stepped up and became SAG vehicles which helped considerably increasing the number of riders that could be helped by eliminating the “radio rider” from the scenario and making more room in the vehicles.

This year we are seeking additional help for the event.  The new 75 mile course doubles the miles to cover with SAG’s, mechanics and motorcycles.  Much of the new 75 mile course goes through Region 5 around the reservoir and the Farmington River.  Rest stops will be located in East Hartland CT, Peoples Forest along the Farmington River in Pleasant Valley CT, Enders Forest in Granby CT, Sodom Mountain Campground in Southwick MA, and Wells Street School in Granby CT.

To fill the SAG positions, we are seeking help from amateur radio operators who can offer a mobile equipped pickup or SUV capable of transporting riders (with their equipment) who are unable to finish from the course to the start area.  We are asking any motorcycle rider with or without amateur radio capability to consider joining the motorcycle team to help provide course safety awareness during the race.  We have several positions in the command center that offer new and seasoned operators alike the chance to learn and/or support the central tactical communications roles.

This is a fun event with lots of action for everyone who participates.  You will be a volunteer for the event with the added communications capability making you part of an elite group that will manage and provide the safety and communications support for the event courses.  At the conclusion of the rides there is a cookout and band concert at the start/finish line in Simsbury for all who participated and volunteered.  Tee Shirts are available for everyone.

If you can help us this year, the start time is 0700 hours in Simsbury CT or Pleasant Valley CT depending on the portion of the course you will cover.  Deployment will commence at 0800 hours.  As the trailing vehicles pass each post on the course those posts will close and resources will be reallocated or released based on course status at the time.  Everyone should be released by 1500 hours.

If you can help, please contact Skip (W1FTE) clcolton@att.net or Richard (KB1ONM) richard.hodge@cox.net.

Greetings!

As a previous AngelRide ham radio volunteer, I hope you will be able to assist again this year!

CT ARES will be assisting with communications for the AngelRide two-day charity bike ride on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (29May10 and 30May10). The ride originates at the Yale School of Music in Norfolk early on Saturday morning. They travel 85 miles east to Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford and stay overnight there. On Sunday they ride 50 miles south from Ashford to the Mystic YMCA.

Over 250 hundred riders are expected for the weekend! We need ham radio operators for rest stops, some key road intersection checkpoints, and a few for SAGs. We will use the KB1AEV-linked repeater system on Saturday and several Region 4 repeaters on Sunday. In most route locations you will need a mobile radio or “go box” to get into the repeaters. There are only a few spots where a handheld will work OK.

Please let me and your DEC know if you can assist on either or both days. Also, please follow this link and formally register as an AngelRide Volunteer. Under Volunteer Task Selection, choose #11 ARES Radio Operator. Note: you do not need to make or get any cash donations unless you want to!

https://www.teamholeinthewall.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=829&tab=2

They are also looking for volunteers for other tasks as listed on their website. So your non-ham spouses or friends are welcome to sign up, too!

73, Wayne, N1CLV
SEC – CT ARES(r)

June 6, 2010, all day from 6:30am until late afternoon (depending upon rider completion times).

Ride starts at the Griffin Office Park in Windsor (just off Blue Hills Avenue) near Bloomfield.

We need the following capabilities:
(1)  2m HT, extra batteries recommended.
(2) Portable Magmount antenna with cable to connect to your HT (SMA, BNC as appropriate).
(3) Portable manual bicycle pump is recommended as it can be helpful in aiding some riders.
(4) If you are equipped with 2m mobile capability (car or motorcycle) please let AC1N – ac1n@arrl.net or WA1VVB – wa1vvb@arrl.net know.
(5) Appropriate clothing and food for an all-day event. Please also check the weather ahead of time to ensure that you are attired appropriately.

APRS is *not* required for this event.

We need both mobile operators with their own equipped vehicles and operators who can ride with the sag wagons, which is why the portable magmount is recommended.

The event is to raise money for the National MS Society. There are often upwards of 1000 riders and other participants. Because of the distances involved and the routes that riders may take, much of Region 3 will be involved.

Further information from the MS Society is at http://bikectn.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_CTN_Details_Windsor .  Please contact WA1VVB or AC1N for communications questions or to sign on as a volunteer with BARC / BARENS.  Please do not contact the MS society directly with inquiries or your intention to volunteer with communications at this time.

Josh Rozovsky, Bloomfield EC, AC1N   ac1n@arrl.net
Mark Simcik, Bloomfield Amateur Radio Club (BARC / BARENS) President, WA1VVB  wa1vvb@arrl.net

To do this, I would like you to think about some special time you enjoyed as a volunteer and tell your story. Everyone has a story but many times, we’re shy about telling them.

Now, let’s try something different. If you have something you would like to share, we on the Section cabinet want to hear about it. Our Assistant PIC Dana KA1WPM is collecting your stories starting now. You may write or you may also choose to simply talk about your event. If that is the case, then just say that in your note to Dana ka1wpm@arrl.net.

We will use as many stories as we can; we’ll put some on the Web or in the Section news articles.

The stories you wish to talk about will be shared on line in my Accessible Learning Lounge on Wednesday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m. You’ll just need a microphone for your computer. Not to worry, I’ll get you all the details so those of you who want to listen to the stories will have plenty of time to get ready and come. Speakers will have the chance to test their sound systems before the event.

National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is sponsored by Points of Light Institute and The HandsOn Network.

The other item I need to bring to your attention is how to access the Section news on the ARRL Page. Go to http://www.arrl.org/groups/view/connecticut. Then either mark that Page in your favorites or use the Your Favorites dropdown list on the Web site itself, point to “Add” and press the “go” button. Remember also to check http://ct.arrl.org for news.

Now, don’t be shy. Get those stories in asap! Let’s celebrate together!

73,
Betsey Doane, K1EIC
CT Section Manager
ARRL, The National Organization For Amateur Radio ™

On Thursday, March 25, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American Red Cross (ARC) at ARC National Headquarters in Washington, DC. The MoU, which replaces an earlier Statement of Understanding  that expired in 2007, provides a “broad framework for cooperation” between the ARRL and the ARC “in preparing for and responding to disaster relief situations at all levels in rendering assistance and service to victims of disaster, as well as other services for which cooperation may be mutually beneficial.”

The ARRL Board of Directors approved the signing of the MoU at its January 2010 meeting following the completion of negotiations. The Red Cross requires the completion of a criminal background check to participate in Red Cross activities and provides a process by which a volunteer may have a criminal background check performed at no cost to the volunteer. In the case of ARRL volunteers, the Red Cross has agreed to accept an alternative process: ARRL volunteers may arrange, at their own initiative and expense, to have the criminal background check performed by a state or local law enforcement agency.

The Red Cross also has agreed that ARRL volunteers shall not be asked or required to consent to credit checks, mode of living investigations or investigative consumer reports in order to provide a communications function.

The ARRL and the Red Cross encourage interested volunteers in their respective organizations to become members and to participate in the activities of the other organization. ARRL volunteers should be aware that if they wish to become Red Cross volunteers, they may be required to consent to additional background checks in accordance with Red Cross policy that may include credit checks, mode of living investigations or investigative consumer reports.

Per the MoU, “both ARRL volunteers and ARC workers will work cooperatively at the scene of a disaster and in the disaster recovery, within the scope of their respective roles and duties as recommended.” During a Red Cross Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) and depending on their training and qualifications, ARRL volunteers may perform in one or more of several roles, including Amateur Radio Liaison, Communication Equipment Operator, Communication Equipment Installation/Repair and Disaster Assessment. ARRL volunteers who are assigned roles by the Red Cross during a DRO will be provided with Red Cross credentials as required by the role, consistent with Red Cross policy.

“Because of the importance of emergency communications, we are happy to be able to continue the League’s long-standing relationship with the American Red Cross,” said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. “The ARC and other served agencies give Amateur Radio operators the worthwhile missions in our communities that allow us to thank America for the privilege of being hams.”

KB1KIX District Emergency Coordinator for Region 3 ARES comments:

Please keep in mind, this does clear up many of the concerns aired by volunteers and the ARRL that has been ongoing for over two years now.

Background checks are still required and you have two options.

You can use the American Red Cross service, but be aware that there is a possibility that the background check can go beyond just a criminal check and include “mode of living” or financial checks.  The American Red Cross will pay for this background check.

If you would like to submit a criminal background check from a local law enforcement agency, that will work as well but you will be responsible for the cost of the background check.

If you have any further questions, feel free to direct them to me at my call (kb1kix) at arrl.net or during our regular weekly nets.