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Hams
Needed for Huge Gala Oregon City Parade and Festival
 regon
City's annual Teddy Bear Parade, benefiting emergency services
to abused, victimized, sick and injured children, will
conduct this year's charity march from Main Street, down-town
Oregon City, to Clackamette Park, on Saturday, May 17.
Approximately 1,000 entrants, including numerous equestrians,
marching bands, floats and dignitaries from throughout
Oregon and beyond, will participate in the biggest numbers of
the event's six-year history. Last year, the event raised 5,521
stuffed animals for children in need of comfort as a result of
traumatizing situations.
Oregon City ARES/RACES pro-vides essential coordination, safety
and emergency communications for the event, which requires 30+
hams for total coverage. At this time, a few additional operators
are needed due to last minute unavailability of a few local hams.
This year, for the first time, the amateur radio volunteers who
so desire may have the opportunity to join the parade as the
final entry; those who are unable to walk the distance to Clackamette
Park can ride in a vehicle.
The parade commences at 10:30 AM, and the final entry will reach
Clackamette Park around noon. The park will be the site of the
Annual Optimist Club Pioneer Family Festival. Oregon City ARES/RACES
maintains a Command Post at the festival, patrols the grounds,
and provides assistance in locating children separated from
their parents. Emergency medical calls are also handled at the
Command Post. Helping out at the Command Post Saturday afternoon
is optional.
Some ham positions must be filled at 7:30 AM, but most need not
be staffed until after 9:00 AM.
In addition to amateur frequencies, FRS and GMRS channels will
be utilized by volunteers who do not have ham licenses.
The parade coordinators rely on amateur radio volunteers
for necessary coordination of this event; without that
assistance, the successful staging of the entrants and smooth
execution of the procession would be extremely difficult.
The first three volunteers from outside Oregon City ARES who
volunteer will receive a complimentary Oregon City Disaster
Services ARES/RACES official red polo shirt. This short-sleeve
shirt has a polo collar, the OCDS ARES/RACES logo on the left
chest, and is emblazoned on the back, in white lettering, with
the words "OREGON CITY EMERGENCY SERVICES VOLUNTEER"
and "ARES." The shirts are recognizable at a distance
and are helpful during this and other events. Other volunteers
past the first three who respond, may purchase a shirt if they
desire, at a discounted price of $8.00.
Three to five additional communications volunteers would be more
than sufficient to ensure complete coverage of all positions
and excellent monitoring of the parade's progress. Interested
persons are asked to please email, ASAP, Larry Flora, KD7GVX,
at: kd7gvx@arrl.net, with a copy of the email to
Kevin Hunt, WA7VTD, at: wa7vtd@arrl.net. Questions should
be directed to Larry via his cell phone number: (503) 329-1712.
Your full name, callsign, e-mail address, and contact telephone
numbers will be needed, as well as info on whether you have a
2-meter, 440 MHz, or dual-band 2m/70 cm handheld radio.
Volunteer hams will receive documents with event communications
instruct-ions and their position assignments and functions, via
email. Please indicate your shirt size (S, M, L, XL, XXL) when
emailing Larry and Kevin. Volunteers are also encouraged
to attend the May 12 Oregon City ARES/RACES meeting at 7 PM,
at the Main Fire station in Oregon City, 624 7th Street. The
communications plan for the event will be discussed in further
detail at that meeting. Attendance at the meet-ing is not mandatory,
but it recommended. Directions to the meeting place are
available at the group's web page: http://community.oregonlive.com/cc/OCARES.
Click "Maps" after accessing main page. See you
there!
-WA7VTD |
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