Greetings ALL !
I wanted to update everyone regarding the upcoming "200th Massillon Celebration Parade." If you are interested in helping out. PLEASE let me know if you'd like to be included. If you've never volunteered for a parade and provided communications, this is a fantastic opportunity, and loads of FUN!
As you may have heard, this will be the exact same route as the Christmas Parade. It takes place on Friday, July 3rd. The actual parade steps-off at 6:00 pm. Plan on arriving "on post" somewhere in the 3:30-4:00 pm time frame. We should anticipate fairly large crowds attending the parade, so traffic will be heavy, parking will be a challenge, and roads will be blocked-off.
I just received an email last evening from Lauren Kujath (Massillon Parks & Rec.). She is once again the coordinator for this parade. She informed me that we won't receive the parade line-up information until Mon. June. 29th at the earliest. I plan to offer operators your same favorite locations if at all possible. There could be some last minute "tweaking" if logistics dictate otherwise.
New this year - We are providing the option of parking at the church and being "shuttled" to your post(s) along the staging areas and parade route. We've already cleared this with the Mayor and the Police Department. Cody Decker (W8CRD) has generously offered his golf cart, and our own Scott McCamish (N3JJT) will be our "Parade-Uber" for the event.
Since this is being held on the same night as our normally-scheduled monthly meeting, there will NOT be a regular meeting. However, Bruce Mencer (WA8GMX) has offered to man the shack and facilities for anyone who might want to be a part of the excitement and hang out during the parade. We will provide beverages and maybe some light snacks. The repeater will be on the air so attendees can listen to the parade traffic right from the shack. The restrooms will be open and available.
We've also just learned that St. Paul's will be having a "Fireworks on the Lawn" watch party during the same time frame. I think it would be appropriate if we tried to park mostly in the lower "Harvard" lot, if at all possible.
What a GREAT opportunity to showcase our NEW Club Shirts that John & Laurie Sayre have provided for the club ! If you don't have a shirt we will also have traffic vests available. We will be using the W8NP 442.850 Repeater (no tone) for parade communications.
This WILL be an absolute BLAST! ....A once in a lifetime opportunity!!!
Don't be afraid to invite any of your "non-ham" friends to be with you. We will certainly provide extra HT's for listening. Oh, yes ! Our own club trailer will also be a unit in the parade!
73
Don Rankl