Glendora Emergency Response Communications

December 2, 2006 Covina Christmas Parade Radio Operations

Dec 19, 2006

On behalf of the Glendora Emergency Response Communications group I wish to thank all radio operators for giving GERC the opportunity to volunteer our communications capabilities for the Covina Christmas Parade.

By all reports and analyses, our communications system worked very well. All operators arrived on time, were at their stations early, and performed in a very professional manner. Our operators reported that the Marshals were courteous and the reporting system worked well. I was extremely impressed with the professional manner in which Rob Foth, KE6YGF conducted the Net and handled radio traffic. Photo of Rob is above. All messages to and from the information booth, equestrian, band and float check-in stations were handled well and the Parade announcers were notified of the many line up changes in a timely manner. Our operator Roy, KG6RGD riding along in the VIP van reported that the VIP's were impressed with our radio system.

I wish to report that our organization of 19 operators provided a total of 130 man-hours of service on Parade day. Each operator was at their station approximately 5 ?½ hours. My two set-up crew members , Jim KG6TQT and Richard KG6TRD and our Net operator Rob, KE6YGF worked 10 hours each. My own pre-parade preparation and meetings with the City of Covina of approximately 30 hours brings the total volunteer service to 160 man-hours. We are indebted to Jim, KG6TQT who provided his motor home for our Net Station.

We operated on two bands: the regular GERC Net frequency was our primary operating frequency and we had a 440 MHz frequency for the GERC Coordinator and photographer. The Net had the Special Event call sign "W6C."

On January 16, 2007 we will be holding a dinner & meeting of our amateur radio group at my home to discuss our general plans for volunteer work in 2007. At that time we will recognize the operators who volunteered and discuss the 2007 communications activities of the Glendora Emergency Response Communications group. Please refer to your GERC Operators Guidebook for the 2007 calendar of events.

Comments from your perspective on the radio operations of the Glendora Emergency Response Communications group at the Covina Christmas Parade will be most valuable.


Thank you for your enthusiastic support of our amateur radio service!

Mark Hayden, KF6DSA
GERC Coordinator