[OH-KY-IN] [Flying_Pig_hams] Flying Pig X - volunteer registration is OPEN!

[Steve Lewis]

151 days until Raceday (May 4, 2008).

Volunteer registration is OPEN!  This year, it will be handled online 
(that way the Pig knows who they have, and we hams can too -- to address 
the "hit by a bus" scenario.)

The link is: 
http://www.doitsports.com/volunteer/join-protected-group.tcl?event_id=54204

The group name is "Queen City Emergency Net".  (This is NOT to exclude 
any other amateur radio organization -- but all the ham radio volunteers 
are one pool and have to be called SOMETHING!)

The password is "HAM".

You will then be prompted for: Name, Address, City/State/Zip, gender, 
DOB, e-mail, phone, t-shirt size.  Relative to "Date of Birth" -- if 
you'd like to keep this confidential -- that's fine...some number needs 
to be in there to certify you are either over 18, or over 14 (with 
parental/guardian consent).

If you have any technical or other issues with the process, please let 
me know.  Last year's test was generally successful.

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The Flying Pig "kickoff" breakfast was held today.  A couple of items of 
note:

- the course will end on Pete Rose Way, not along the river.  This will 
provide some EMS egress via Broadway.  GABP and US Bank Arena may prove 
to be a slightly increased challenge for VHF coverage -- we will test 
this in the spring.  (Hopefully not -- but it's possible we will require 
UHF capability for anyone working near the Finish Line.)

- there will be "corrals" that lead "around" US Bank Arena, with 
"festivities" still to be held along the riverfront.

- as always, please stay tuned to http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com for 
event updates.  (Remember the days when news was difficult to come by?)

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A couple of other comments -- we will be dropping 2 "why?" assignments 
("spotter" and "Mike Caruso") this year, trying to add a communicator at 
each water station that is NOT near a mile mark or relay zone, and 
possibly filling some other roles as determined by the race staff.

ALSO -- we're going to split the course in half (geometry to be 
determined) this year and go with two ops nets.  The event has gotten so 
large, so quickly, that the volume of traffic even on a "good day" has 
exceeded our collective bandwidth.

We're probably looking at 2 "course" nets, a "transportation net" (it 
seems that we need some ham radio operators IN the courtesy vans -- and 
just generally, transportation is becoming a bigger issue with event 
growth), and a medical net.  That's 4, plus a "plan B" frequency.

SO -- this is going to cause us to change the admin structure.  There's 
going to be an organized net control point (location TBD).  We will 
appoint an "engineering manager" whose job will be to keep the "physical 
plant" running.  We will also appoint an "operations manager" whose job 
will be to keep operations running -- personnel rotated, etc.

These positions do NOT require membership in any specific ham radio 
group.  They DO require some investment of time before the event. I will 
be looking for recommendations from leadership of ALL of the clubs that 
participate.  I will also be looking for recommendations from ALL of the 
groups on net controls.  We're going to bulk up significantly, with a 
minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 of the best net control operators in 
the Tri-State.

Flying Pig staff cited "the ham radio guys" by name, AGAIN, for your 
professionalism, flexibility, and general good attitude.  I want those 
words to come directly to YOU, and we will be inviting the staff to 
attend a meeting in April to address you and answer questions.

I don't foresee a significant news update before February -- but there's 
much work to be done, so I wanted to get this on your calendars now.

So please sign up, ask questions early and often...and get ready for 
Flying Pig 10.  (It seems that a record number of participants will.)

-73- de N8TFD/Steve
(513) 985-9844 "home"
(859) 386-3995 "work"
(859) 392-4344 fax
(859) 393-6563 cell (Nextel 136*100*8640)