The 2023 Turkey Day 5K website post could almost be a mirror of the 2022 post.
- ARESDEC provided safety communications.
- Members got up early to volunteer in temps flirting around the freezing mark.
- 1600 (2023) vs 1400 (2022) participants ran or walked the 5K course.
- Is the last planned event of year for ARESDEC’s service agencies.
However, the 2023 event was distinctive in two ways:
#1 – Chris, K0BOM, the organization’s cadet member who is not quite 18 years old but has been an active and growing member for the past four years was selected to be the event’s Mission Coordinator (MC), which is a top-level role that requires leadership, teamwork, and management skills. In his four years with ARES R1D5 Chris has participated in several planned events and weather spotting activities. About a year ago Chris expressed a desire to take on more event responsibilities. To that end Chris was coached and assigned roles involving more responsibilities starting ANCS at Turkey Day 5K in 2022, then NCS at Fall Poker Run 2023, and finally MC for Turkey Day 5K 2023. ARES R1D5 congratulates Chris on a job well done in all his roles and for his determination and resolve to grow and expand his responsibilities and skillsets within the organization. Chris will graduate from high school in the spring of 2024. His future plans include finding a radio/communications role in the public service sector such a police or fire dispatcher. ARES R1D5 is proud of Chris and knows this young man has a promising future ahead of him.
#2 – We continue to experiment with LoRa APRS for location tracking. This was the 2nd time the organization had dabbled with LoRa APRS for a planned event. The use of APRS position tracking for such a small, sufficiently staffed event maybe overkill but it provided an opportunity to continue with our experimentation and confidence level with the technology.
