About
About Us
Welcome to hamradioboston.org, the official information web site of the Boston Athletic Association's Amateur Radio Communications Committee.
Committee History
Prompted by the tragic bombing in 2013 and a subsequent increase in public safety concerns, the BAA formed a Communications Committee late in 2014 with a mandate to review and improve the entire communications program at the Boston Marathon. Security and operational challenges had increased, requiring Amateur Radio to function in a highly-structured environment, one following guidelines of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS). In 2015, as a result of its review, the Committee presented a set of recommendations to the BAA which were accepted and implemented. These included changes specific to the requirements of BAA and its public safety partners, resulting in a considerable body of training, planning and operational documentation and a management structure to support and execute the plans during event day. The committee structure and function are reviewed regularly and changes are made as appropriate.
Leadership
The larger Communications Committee membership is drawn from public safety, the BAA, private ambulance services and commercial communications providers. Six Amateur Radio volunteers were selected to represent, manage and serve the almost 300 volunteers who provide communications for the BAA on event day. These members were chosen based on their common passion for public service, a desire to serve the BAA, and considerable experience with the BAA and its activities throughout the year. While a diversity of talent and interests may be found among the leadership team, a desire to expand, improve and assure the Amateur Radio volunteer experience at the Boston Marathon for years to come is a goal held by all. In the years since, the Amateur Radio Communications Committee has grown to ten individuals responsible for the Amateur Radio Operations at the Boston Marathon.
Initiatives
BAA Boston Marathon
The Committee is responsible to the BAA for the provision of a variety of communications services on Marathon Monday. This complex event demands over six months of planning and preparation and hundreds of volunteers.
hamradioboston.org
The Committee maintains a web site presence which augments the BAA’s web site with information specific to the Amateur Radio service.
Technical Infrastructure Segment (TIS)
The TIS is responsible for all technical communications facilities used by Amateur Radio at the BAA Boston Marathon. Membership is drawn from all Amateur Radio clubs throughout the region with a goal of diverse and strong technical representation and an efficient distribution of resources.
Documentation Segment
The Documentation Segment is responsible for all training, planning, and operational documentation (in many forms) for Amateur Radio communications support at the BAA Boston Marathon.
Amateur Radio Communications Committee
The Amateur Radio Communications Committee membership is comprised of the volunteers below.
C. Blair Sutherland
B.A.A. Telecommunications Coordinator
Andrew Flynn, KC3BIU
Committee Member and Finish Segment Coordinator
Matthew Forman, K6MCF
Committee Member
Matt Knowles, KC1AEI
Committee Member and Volunteer Support Coordinator
Dan Loveman, K1DSL
Committee Chair and Start Segment Coordinator
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Committee Member, MEMA Liaison and Chair Emeritus
Eric Montague, N7ECM
Committee Member and
Technical Infrastructure Segment Coordinator
Jim Palmer, KB1KQW
Committee Member and Course Segment Coordinator
Marty Sullaway, NN1C
Committee Member and
Transportation Segment Coordinator
Ralph Swick, KD1SM
Committee Member and Medical Committee Liaison