Warm  weather  is  upon  us,  and  the  coming  of  the  special   event
communications  season.    Bike-a-thons,  marathons,  mall  displays and
parades  are  but  a  few  of  the  many events that we as amateur radio
operators  participate  to  sharpen  our  operating skills and perform a
valuable public service.  It is also a great public relations tool,  and
besides...it's just plain fun!
 
It's important for special event coordinators to remember that, while we
would  like  to  perform  as  many  assignments as possible, our primary
assignment is... communications.   We are  bound, as always,  by Part 97
regulations administered by the Federal Communications Commission.  They
specify  that  amateur  radio  communications  should  serve  the public
interest and should be of an emergency nature, and should not  duplicate
traffic that  could be  handled by  other means,  such as Citizens Band,
GMRS, business  band, commercial  rented radios,  and cellular telephone
systems.    Special  event  communications  should  usually  relate   to
emergency medical or  tactical traffic that  help protect the  safety of
the public.  We have received numerous complaints in the last few  weeks
that  amateurs  are  performing  logistical  traffic  operations  during
special events such as requesting bicycle parts from event headquarters,
ordering tables and chairs for a rest station, and requesting forms  and
paperwork.    These  practices  and  others  endanger  our being able to
support  these  events.    During  the  recent Iditirod sled dog race in
Alaska,  the  FCC  actually  monitored  the  race  communications  after
complaints (by amateurs) that packet radio communications were  relating
to non-emergency functions, such as  the movement of officials (see  QST
magazine May 1991 page 59).   Representatives of the FCC  Personal Radio
Branch noted violations of the "no business traffic" rule.
 
Where does that leave us  as special events communicators?   The primary
emphasis is...use common  sense.  Ask  yourself the following  questions
before transmitting traffic:
 
> Does the traffic relate to the health and safety of the public?
 
> Could I use another medium to send the traffic?
 
> Does  the  traffic  have  an  emergency  or tactical nature, or is it
  logistical in nature?
 
> Could it be a violation of the FCC's "no business traffic" rule?
 
Make certain that you can justify your actions before accepting traffic.
Traffic  relating  to  injured   runners  or  riders,  informing   other
communicators of the location of the first few runners/riders in a  race
to  prepare  them  for  operations  and  being a communicator in a `SAG'
vehicle are ways we can perform a valuable service without  transmitting
unauthorized radio traffic.
 
If you have questions/comments on special event communications, refer to
either of the ARRL's publications `Special Event Communications' or  the
`Public  Service  Communications  Manual'  or  ask  your ARRL Leadership
Official.
 
       >>>>>DO's and DONT's for Special Event Communications<<<<<
 
DO use simplex if at all possible, with a repeater as a back-up and  for
talk-in.   Clear the  function with  the repeater  group in writing, and
well in advance.
 
DO arrange for someone who knows the area to handle talk-in, or at least
someone with a good map if no one else is available.
 
DO get a crystal-clear understanding of  the needs of the group you  are
serving.
 
DO arrange  for someone  to be  in charge  as Net  Control.   Even small
events can have  messy communications without  this.  The  group needs a
leader.  You are the best one for this in many cases.
 
DO  arrange  for  relief  operators.    Everybody  needs lunch or coffee
breaks.
 
DO arrange for your people well  in advance, but check on them  the week
before to make  sure they are  still available.   If you can  have extra
people or standbys available, do so.   Excuse people as soon as  you can
as long as their  job is finished and  all other positions still  needed
are covered.
 
DO have the NCS keep track of who is where so he knows whom to call when
asked to contact a person or checkpoint.
 
DO  keep  your  EC  or  DEC  informed  of  what  you  are  doing and who
participates.    He  can  help  you arrange publicity.  Public-relations
releases before  and after  the event  can help  us all  get our message
across that we are here  with the ability to serve.   The EC or DEC  can
also help you get the operators you need.
 
DO tell  your operators  exactly what  their assignments  are and remind
them of the general guidelines  for public service events.   Assignments
and changes in these guidelines should be made known to the entire group
before the  event begins,  or during  its progress  if the change occurs
then.
 
DO  thank  your  operators  and  share  any  feedback you get with them.
Courtesy and thoughtfulness pay off.
 
DO have Amateur Radio operators working in teams of at least two  people
if  possible.    Make  sure  that  at  least  one  member of the team is
monitoring the radio at all times.
 
DO  identify   vehicles  as   Amateur  Radio   Communications  Vehicles.
Operators should  be identified,  too.   A call-letter  badge or ARES or
RACES patch is sufficient.  Use baseball caps with an ARES patch or  the
group logo.
 
DO maintain a  courteous, professional image.   You may  be working with
several  agencies  including  police,  fire,  first aid squads, National
Guard, etc.  Extend every possible courtesy to members of these  groups.
Make  sure  they  know  who   you  are  and  what  your   communications
capabilities are.
 
DO use standard ARRL message forms when necessary for official  requests
and messages.
 
DON`T over identify!  You must identify your station only at ten  minute
intervals during a  series of transmissions.   However, don`t  jump into
the net every ten  minutes just to identify.   For example, if  you only
engage in a short exchange of  transmissions every half hour or so,  you
will fulfill the identification requirement if you ID at the end of each
exchange.
 
DO  use  tactical  call  signs.    Check-point  or unit numbers or other
special identifiers  are legal,  provided the  station requirements  are
fulfilled.    Use  standard  Amateur  Radio operating procedures for all
communications.
 
DO  make  certain  the  frequency  is  clear  before making a call.  The
channel  can  get  very  busy  during  "tactical  operations".  When you
complete an exchange with another  station, use the prowords "clear"  or
"out" so  other stations  will know  the frequency  is now  available to
them.  Keep transmissions as short as possible.  Resist the tendency  to
ragchew or ramble.
 
DON`T apply first  aid unless you  are trained and  certified to do  so.
Call for medical assistance and  an ambulance or medical personnel  will
be dispatched to your location.
 
DON`T transport an ill or injured person in a private vehicle.  This  is
the job of the medics and the police.  An emergency vehicle is  properly
equipped, and can get through traffic much faster than a private car.
 
DON`T  handle  routine  business  or  commercial  communications.   This
includes communications regarding  dollar amounts of  walkathon pledges,
etc.  The press and broadcast stations may quote or rebroadcast  amateur
signals, provided the signals  rebroadcast do not contain  references to
the broadcast.
 
DO enjoy yourself!  Amateur Radio public service is fun!
 
DO prepare the night before.   Make sure your batteries are charged  and
take spares if needed.  Have a clipboard with paper and pencils, gas  in
the car, miscellaneous spare parts  you may need and maps  if available.
Know where you are going and when you must be there.
 
DO arrive on time on the day of the event.  If you are not familiar with
the location allow extra time to get there.  Checking the map the  night
before to plan your  route will not guarantee  that you make every  turn
correctly.
 
DO introduce yourself to the person  or people you will be working  with
at your station.  Let them know  who you are and why you will  be there.
Stay  at  your  post  unless  you  are  excused.  Make sure both the Net
Control  Station  (NCS)  and  the  officials  you are with know when you
leave.
 
DON`T offer more than you can deliver.  You are there to provide  direct
emergency assistance.   You are there  to communicate the  need for such
assistance to the proper authorities.
 
DON`T leave  the frequency  unless the  NCS knows.   If  you must  leave
early, the more in advance this is known the better.
 
DO inform the  event communications coordinator  if you cannot  make the
event after  agreeing to  be there;  the sooner  this is  relayed to the
person in charge of amateur communications at the event, the better.
 
DO obey the instructions of the  Net Control Station.  The NCS  is there
to respond to general queries from the net or from other amateurs on the
frequency.  Even with only a few amateurs involved, the NCS is necessary
for smooth  functioning.   Address requests  to transmit  to the NCS and
obey his instructions just as on traffic nets.
 
DO transmit as little as possible.  Silence is golden.  Speak as  little
as possible.  Avoid excessive use  of call signs (once every 10  minutes
is all that  is required).   "Net from Checkpoint  1" conveys much  more
information.
 
DO memorize the main operations frequency and alternate frequencies.