Newington, CT Sept. 26, 2007 - A “Garden Party” of Amateur Radio is planned for October 3 in Washington , DC thanks to Stuart S. Carter, Chief of ARMY MARS, Laura Abshire, Legislative Aide to Congressman Mike Ross and “Pudge” Forrester, W4LTX, Systems Administrator with Rep. Bartlett.

Thanks to a MARS’ invitation to join them in a demonstration and excellent coordination work by Forrester, the October 3 demonstration of Amateur Radio and MARS emergency communications will be right in the open space between the Capitol building and the Botanical Gardens in Washington, DC.  The regional MARS organization is planning on an exercise for this demonstration of emergency communications at the Capitol as well.

Planned at this time are a communication trailer, tent type shelter, four HF transceivers (voice, PSK, and Winlink), and VHF equipment lined up. The local VOA organization and MARS has local repeaters and digipeaters available. Power will come from solar and generators with battery backup. 

Representatives from ARRL headquarters staff will be there with PR materials and ARRL supplied DVD's which would include the negative impact of BPL if current FCC rules are not modified.  In addition, there will be special packets for congressional members and their staff advocating Amateur Radio’s positions on several legislative issues with information to solicit cosponsorship of H.R. 462 and H.R. 2743.

Amateur Radio operations are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.  Hams around the country are asked to aid in the demonstration by making contacts via HF during the day.  While there may be last minute changes, plans are to try to center HF voice contacts around 14.250 and 7.250 and also on PSK at 14.070 .  By showing congressional members our nation-wide capabilities and potentials, we advance the Service in many ways.

Congressman Mike Ross plans to stop by along with Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. Ross has indicated he plans to bring the Arkansas Section Manager to the event.  Army MARS is sending Army MARS Chief, Operations, Mr. Grant Hays in from Arizona.

Aiding with the operations and logistics is Mike Barrett, K3MMB, of the Transportation Security Administration’s Office of Security Operations.

Also being shown is an Emergency Communications trailer owned by the Blue Ridge Association, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and is part of the Southern Baptist North American Missions Disaster Relief Ministries.

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