Introduction to the Event

The MS 150 is one of the most interesting and exciting events an amateur radio operator in Colorado is likely to find short of an actual emergency situation. That is exactly why we are providing our services. Events like this are ideal training environments.

In a typical 150 we will be called upon to pass traffic of all varieties. Medical assignments will probably be involved in passing traffic concerning injuries of varying degrees of seriousness. The logistics of the tour are staggering. Providing water, food and medical assistance for 2,000 plus riders keeps the general net busy straight through the event. And there is the occasional health and welfare traffic to pass.

This can be great fun but it is also critical to the smooth and safe operation of the ride. The MS officials, as well as all those riders, are going to be depending on you to keep things going. 

At some time during the event stop for a moment and imagine that all the communications services you've heard on the various nets had not been handled by amateurs. The most important traffic would have still been handled by other means. But much of that logistical traffic probably would have been missing leaving riders thirsty, starved and generally put upon. That is why we are present. We smooth the way for a successful event.

It is our job to pass the traffic of the MS folks to keep things running. But, REMEMBER, we pass traffic, we do NOT originate it. If you have been assigned to act as a communicator for a tour official, make sure you pass only those messages that originate with with your official. After hours and days with an official, you might start to think you can make some of the more minor decisions for that official thereby reducing their work load. DON'T do it! Unless you have been delegated tour responsibilities by an official don't preempt their job thus placing yourself in a possibly embarrassing situation and reflecting badly on the rest of your fellow amateurs.

Stay at your assigned position! The MS officials are depending you their hams for two basic functions.

1. They can listen in to the net and stay current on the state of the event. Even if you never make a transmission for your assigned MS person, you are still doing them and the MS 150 a valuable service by keeping them up to date on the tour. After each Tour, we always hear from a few of the officials who express their gratitude for this capability.
2. You can pass traffic for them. That's our main reason for participating. We are the lubricant that keeps the whole thing running smoothly. If you unexpectedly disappear and important traffic isn't passed, we aren't going to be cultivating the image we'd like. If you do need to absent yourself for a while, let your assigned MS person know. And if you go off frequency, CHECK OUT of the net so that net control is aware of your status.

Be courteous and polite! It can be aggravating, frustrating and sometimes hostile out there. Try your best to keep a smile on your face. While we aren't paid employees of Multiple Sclerosis Society, we are representing them. It doesn't help you, amateur radio, or the Multiple Sclerosis Society if you denigrate some major failing of the event. Projecting a positive attitude can sometimes smooth over a bad situation. Remember, this is essentially a practice exercise for hams. In a real emergency, you would want to project an image of calm and control to the victims of a disaster to help allay any misgivings they might have about the events they are caught up in.

Be sure to also read the Communications Protocol page. We run our nets somewhat differently than a standard formal net operation.

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