When we talk about communications in the Auxcomm realm, most times it is during emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or even man made. However, community outreach events, such as parades, charity bike events, and marathons, are over looked by many communicators throughout the USA.

Recently I participated in a charity bike event in Illinois. Many charity organizations partner or request local amateur radio operators to assist in communications, through such groups as Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

Though most communications during some of these events are relatively quite, passing traffic on status of the event and check ins from volunteer communicators. I look at this as a great time to hone in on skills, if all positions are covered for communications, this is a perfect time to practice other communication devices, setting up an antenna that was never used, looking at the perspective of “will this work or not”. I also look at these events as mini field day events, making sure all equipment is checked out and working. After all, we all live busy lives lately and assisting with these planned events, is a great way to gather for a short period to learn new skills and practice old.

Now I am not saying all events are quite either. During this recent charity bike event, we had to handle emergency traffic. We had a bike rider fall due to a pothole that also injured a couple of riders. Our emergency communication skills were put to the task. Net Control was contacted, handled the traffic all while contacting 911 for the need of an ambulance. There was the occasional lost rider that Net Control needed to send SAG vehicles to search, helping bikers return to the staging area with flat tires or bike repairs, and completing final route runs at the end of the event making sure no bikers were on the routes.

It is these types of situations that we also learn to be better communicators, in my opinion, we all need to handle the small stuff so we can be good at the big stuff. Because we practice and assist at these planned events, when there is an emergency, situations will tend to go smoothly, when we do not, communications can go south in a heartbeat.

So, communications is not just for emergencies, planned events helps communicators keep their skill levels up. Being Net Control Operators, passing traffic, using ICS forms 214 and 309, or simply walking a 213 message to another group in a staging area.

So whenever there is a planned event that I can participate, I will be all in, as I look at it, communications is not just for emergencies during disasters.

Tom - KD9JSA