"Hope is not a
Strategy"

I received this in an email from Wally Moran, who was the SAG coordinator for the Swedish Days Bike Ride on Sunday:

"Just wanted to officially thank the ARES Team for being part of the Swedish Days Ride event once again! Having their staff in the cars, and at Kaneland H.S. & Harter M.S. and Klatt Field is a big plus for the event. Their communication and weather support are additional reasons why the event is regarded so highly by the attendees. We got some extra exercise this year when sweeping the routes thanks to Jerry’s expanded sign offerings!

Dave & Debbie, please forward the club’s thanks to your team members if they are not on this distribution list. It's a long day and we appreciate all the work the day of and your prep work beforehand."

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From my EC point of view, it really helps that we're working with a group that understands how to use ARES hams as communicators. 

For my part, I want to add my personal thanks to you who volunteered to work this even on Field Day Sunday: Bob, who handled the critical and sometimes confusing incoming messages from distressed riders; Debby, as net control and weather watcher (thanks for coaxing Mother Nature into giving us a break from the thunderstorms); Kent and "first timer" Damini as back up net controls, loggers and liaisons; Chris and Mike for being our "lonesome tight ends" staffing the "watering hole" at Klatt Field, down in a valley in Plano; George and Gus for patiently staffing an uneventful rest stop at Harter Middle School (we LIKE uneventful!!!); Bargo  (who also set up the SAG radios), Don and Laura for providing clear, accurate, and timely communications from the SAG vehicles.

Again this year, I marvel how effective the area coverage of a good amateur repeater system can be in providing comms for an event such as this one which requires coordination over a wide area. And again, I was impressed with the conciseness and clarity of our comms - something that comes with practice, and is good preparation for any true emergency. Emergency preparation and public service go hand-in-hand!

But most of all, I relish being able to work with and learn from a team of great hams who really know what they're doing!  Thanks.

Dave Harr

Emergency Coordinator

DuPage Amateur Radio Emergency Service  (ARES)