Jan 21 (Sat) Request for ham radio operators for the Women’s March on Washington

Operators should contact Christine, KC3CIF, via email to caxsmith@mac.com

From: Arthur Feller, W4ART
Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2017 8:55 PM
To: Howard F. Cunningham
Cc: Axsmith Christine
Subject: HELP!!

Hi, Folks!!

The folks putting together the Women’s March on Washington (WMW) will be assembling on Saturday morning. What two women thought was a good idea for the day after the inauguration has grown from a few dozen people to a few hundred to, now, about 150,000 people and appears to be growing hourly. So far, 1300 busses have parking reservations at RFK, and that doesn’t include folks coming in by rail or local people.

The organizers contacted me about amateur radio support for the crowd.

Essentially, this is like any other public service event: keep an eye out on the people for health issues, lost and found people problems, heads up to people in the five (for now) first aid tents, shadowing marshals, and sending emergency messages to the DC-EOC, if needed.

We’ve been looking at the Armed Forces Retirement Home for a net control location. Wonder of wonders, a room has been set aside for the purpose and a G5RV antenna is on the roof!! While we may be able to use the space, time may be too short to prepare properly. Another option might be to ask one or two of the area clubs with a trailer or bus if they would bring it to AFRH and we’d operate from there. CAN YOU HELP WITH CONTACTING THESE CLUBS about using their equipment?

Christine, KC3CIF, is recruiting operators and will likely contact you to get help inviting more hams to help out. Expect we’ll need somewhere around 50 to 100 hams to be in the event operation center, near the stage, at RFK for transportation questions, and in the DC-EOC. There rest will shadow marshals or just wander in the crowd to observe and call in case of a problem. Nothing complicated.

Expect the event to go from around 3rd and Independence SW, near the Capitol, west along Independence Ave NW, north on 14th St NW, west along Constitution Ave NW, and right to some point around the Ellipse. Not a big area at all.

Frequency planning isn’t clear yet because I’ve not yet been able to figure out the needs. Expect we’ll use two or three nets with calling and working frequencies. Hope to have this sorted out by tomorrow evening.

That’s the whole thing.

Thanks for your help!! Hope you’ll join us!!!

73, art…..

W4ART Arlington VA

Edit by Mark/W2PAW: This was forwarded to me by Erick Graves WA3G, our AARC Public Service Coordinator. I've trimmed down some of the cruft and forwarding info so its easier to read.