JAYCEES ICE FISHING CONTEST IN 2006 A SUCCESS

The 16^th Annual Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza was an outstanding success according to Mary Devine chairperson.  BAARC members contributed again this year by assisting in public safety and contest administrative radio communications.

New logistics greeted BAARC club co-chairs Al, WØRC, and John, WØJGY, this year as the Jaycees moved the tournament and its 10,000 + fisher-people from the usual venue on Gull Lake across Highway 371 to Round Lake, changing the size of the fishing contest area (making it larger) and not allowing any vehicles, trailers, and such at center-ice.

Net control was run very well by Shirley, KCØDCW, from the club communications trailer parked on the south side of the lake about 50-yards from shore.  Both the main VHF repeater was used coordinating arrivals and departures with all on-lake communications taking place on 146.580 simplex.  Shirley also monitored three other frequencies using the North Ambulance radio on several occasions to coordinate patient transfers from snowmobile paramedic units to on-shore ambulances.

Other operators working very hard at the event included: Alan, AAØAS, at the administrative trailer; Terry, KIØFW, at the first aid tent; Paula, WØHA, with one quarter boss; BAARC President Lyle, KØLVF, and Dave, KCØTGT with the head of security; Steve, WØTNT, with a quarter boss; John, W3MQD, with a quarter boss; and, Al, WØRC on his four-wheel-ATV helping with the placement of personnel to minimize operator walking distances.  John, WØJGY, was the ‘utility player’ who helped out doing a little bit of a lot of things.

As always there was a lot to learn about ham radio, public safety radio interface, cell phone and family radio service use as they all are applied to a huge event such as this.  And all in all everything worked very fine with areas to improve for next year noted.

A big thanks to everyone who gave so freely of their time and talents, again this year.

                                                                         John Luce, WØJGY, Public Service Event Coordinator