Assignment descriptions are outlined below: 

SAG WAGON Assignments:
We will have many student volunteers signed up and some of them will need to be driven to their location on the course.  Those dropped off, will also need to be picked up again, so please try to keep track to whom you give a ride and bring back, so we’ll have some record of whom we helped.  If you bring someone out, and they don't want a ride back, please ask them to check-in at the Net Control station so we'll know they returned safely.

During the event, SAG Wagons will be used to pick-up walkers who cannot continue.  The dropout rate can be high if the temperature that morning is high.  If the weather is cool, we won’t have too many people needing rides back to the park.

We will begin delivering students at 08:30 AM and retrieving them as the last walker progresses past their position along the route. Our group's motorcycle sweep will be trailing the course to tell us where the last-walker passed.  This information will tell SAG wagons where they can pick-up students to return to the start line. 

In between drop-offs and pick-ups, SAG Wagons will standby to retrieve walkers who need a ride back to the start line. Where the SAG wagons should park during the event is a judgment call.  In simple terms, SAGs can be most effective if they move into position behind the last walker as the event begins to close.  In between, they are probably best stationed at a rest stop or at event's park.  Last year we found that as we began to close locations, SAGs not busy with an assignment followed behind the sweep location and collected people as they needed rides.  This process helped us bring people back quicker and we were able to finish up operations sooner because the waiting time for rides was almost eliminated.

Event parking at the start/finish location for SAG wagons and Motorcycles will reserved so that SAGs will have a safe place to park while they drop off walkers.

SAG Wagons will primarily operate on 446.400 Simplex no PL or on 147.540 simplex with or by cell phone.

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Rest Stop Assignments:
Hams in rest stops provide a communication link between the rest stops and the event organizers. Typically, the types of messages handled are request for more supplies, rides back to the start line and request for minor medical help.

Often, rest stop captains get so busy with the walkers that they don't always notice to ask for more supplies until they are almost out. This is where hams at rest stops can help us anticipate the demand by talking with the rest stop captains before the supplies run out.

Most of the rest stops are in parks and you might not be able to place your vehicle close enough to be effective. This means you might need to be away from your vehicle with a hand-held radio. Hand-held radios running 5-watts work well from all rest stops and will allow you stand near the rest stop table. If you want to sit while on station, consider having a chair available in case the rest stop area doesn't have any seating.

Rest Stops will primarily operate on 446.400 Simplex with no PL or on 147.540 simplex with or by cell phone.

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Motor Assignments:
Motorcycles are the roving ears and eyes of this event. They are almost always the first to arrive on a need that occurs outside of the starting area and rest stops. All of the motorcycles on this event are equipped with dual-band ham radios and can work all the frequencies we will be using.

In bicycle events, most participants wear "Bib-numbers for identification. Walkers aren't issued bibs, but will be issued a wrist strap that we will attempt to get on the left wrist of every walker. If any of the volunteer notices a walker without a wrist strap, encourage them to wear it so we can know whom we are trying to support.

Event parking at the start/finish location for SAG wagons and Motorcycles will reserved so that SAGs will have a safe place to park while they drop off walkers.

Motorcycles will primarily operate on 446.400 Simplex with no PL or on 147.540 simplex with or by cell phone..

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Critical Intersections & Event Control Assignments:
Controlling the flow of walkers out onto the course is important for the walkers safety and the success of the event.  To accomplish this process, some of you will be assigned a dual role where you help logistics at the start and then take a course or control assignment later.  Supporting starting activities is best accomplished using hand-held radios and wearing a safety-vest with your name tag.  Specific instructions on how the flow of people will be managed will be discussed the morning of the walk by Collin Lim KD6YCV.

Difficult intersections can cause safety and directional problems for walkers, which is why we place so many student monitors along the course.  When we fall short of course monitors, or when their is an intersection where traffic is high and could be dangerous, we'll need to place ham operators at these locations to reduce risks.

If we have volunteer cancellations, it isn't likely we will have enough people for all the assignments.  If you are assigned to one location can also help with another location when your initial assignment completes, please let us know.

Motorcycles will primarily operate on 446.400 Simplex with no PL or on 147.540 simplex with or by cell phone.

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Operations & Net Control:
NCS is stationed in Mitchell Park near the parking lot not far from the start/finish line.  In net control assignments will alternate between handling course and local traffic questions. All course communications will go through net control and get logged. When request for help or supplies are received we will be sure the person responsible for servicing the needs are informed, or dispatch to your location.

Net Control will operate on 446.400 Simplex with no PL, 147.540 Simplex with no PL and on the Stanford Repeater's 145.230 Minus, PL=100 frequencies.

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All Ham radio operators:
Years of experience in working these events has shown people find us more approachable when they see our names displayed. Each ham will get a badge that displays their name when they check in with Net Control in the morning.  Richard Tidd is making badges for everyone, so nobody should be without a badge.

SAG Wagons, Rest Stop operators and Motorcycles will be given signs to place on their vehicles to identify them as being part of the event. David Sawyer K1DRS will distribute signs near the Net Control station.

A Safety-vest will help those on motorcycles and in all traffic control roles. If you have a vest, be sure to bring it. For those of you who need a vest, I'll have some at the net control station you can sign-out for this event, but be sure to return any vest you borrow.

Consider bringing your own sun block with a hat and long sleeve shirt in case your assigned location isn't shaded.