Radio operators get ready, a field day is coming
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

This year the annual field of the Montachusett Amateur Radio Association is moving closer to the people. The annual event is now scheduled for Academy Hill in Westminster a change from the peak of Wachusett Mountain.

The goal is to show what hand radio operators can do to as a way to communicate with the world and in emergencies.

"It is a demonstration of what amateur radio can do in situations," said Ray Lajoie, of Leominster.

Lajoie, a long-time member of the club, said that in situations like the aftermaths of Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in China the normal means of communication can get overwhelmed or the infrastructure is damaged.

"This is where we step in," he said. "We work with the emergency workers."

The group is prepared to work with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other groups. He said the club members even shadow the group.

"We work with a wide variety of frequency. We are generated by batteries. We provide what we consider a pretty vital service."

The radio operators send Morse Code messages and can send radio-gram messages. He said messages are sent operator to operator.

"We find out where this person lives and we get it to them," he said. "The field day is a demonstration. It is a practice. It is drill."

The field day will be held from Saturday, June 28, to Sunday, June 29.

Lajoie said he hoped that hundreds of people would show up but he expects that it will probably be 24 to 36 people. The set up starts Friday afternoon but the crowd will show up around 2 p.m. on Saturday and then go all night and through Sunday afternoon.

Lajoie said the field day is sponsored by the national club field day event it allows area members to get together and it is a demonstration of the process for area residents. He said the field day is open to anyone to walk around and watch for any length of time.

He added some members will even let visitors participate and work their radios.

The members of the club doesn't only meet to work on field day events but they do put their radios to the test.

The club does a lot of work in the region especially programming that increases the area's traffic or closes roads.

"We do a lot of community service," he said.

The club works annually at the Groton Road Race, the Longjo Bike Race as well as events in Devens and other triathlons in the area.

The club's members have delivered messages for area residents or to area residents for people stuck in disaster zones, including New York close to Sept. 11 and after the earthquake in China.

"Sadly last year in July we were activated in Gardner. We had a missing person and they went out to search for them. Sadly, it was a co-worker of mine. He had committed suicide," Lajoie said.

The 44-member club is one of 48 clubs in the state.

Lajoie said the members are from Fitchburg and Leominster as well as Sterling, Westminster and Hubbardston. He said the Mohawk Radio Club usually attracts the members from Gardner and west but that members from a variety of clubs will attend the weekend event in Westminster.

Lajoie said no matter where in the country or even in the world, "there is usually a local club near by. We are a network."

To get more information on the Montachusett Amateur Radio Association check out the Web site, at www.arrl.org and www.wlgz.org.