Save the date! Bike the Barns will be run on September 21, 2025. We’ll post more information for volunteer communicators here as it becomes available.
Category Archives: Public Service
Chicago Marathon 2025
This year the Chicago Marathon will be on October 12, 2025. We are looking for a new coordinator to gather the troops to support the event. If you are interested in coordinating the volunteers (it is a small enough group to fit in one car), drop a note to kb9orn@gmail.com.
Trek 100 – 2025
Trek 100 will be held on June 7, 2025. This ride starts and finishes at TREK Bicycle Corporation Corporate Headquarters, Waterloo, Wisconsin. If you can help with Communications, SAG, Pick up vehicle, sweep radio vehicle, shadow operator and other positions on that day please send an email to John, n9guu@hotmail.com.
Horribly Hilly Hundreds 2025
HHH will be on June 14, 2025. There are opportunities for SAG vehicles, Net Control, Rest Stops and more. This year we are also looking for a new coordinator to wrangle radio volunteers. If you are interested in taking on the role of communications volunteers drop a note to the Dane ARES EC at KB9ORN@gmail.com. Save the date.
Dane/Iowa ARES/RACES In-Person Meeting Feb 26
We are meeting in person this week at the Dane County EOC for our monthly in-person meeting. Tom Kucharski, W9TJK, who coordinates Amateur Radio volunteer communicators for the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan (https://www.weather.gov/mkx/), WI under whose umbrella we reside, will join us to describe how they work with counties in our area. When reviewing the role of Amateur radio communicators in this part of Wiesconsin one of the most frequent concerns that comes up in conversations is related to weather events. We don’t get hurricanes but we get weather which has consistently been a concern on the county and state level. We will meet both in person and virtually on Wednesday evening March 26 at 7PM at the Dane County EOC, 2982 Kapec Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53719. See below for the virtual connection information.
Please also consider these weather related events.
- Dark Skies Severe Weather Seminar
- 9:00 am – 3:30pm at Madison College on March 8th. for more information: https://sites.google.com/view/midwestsstrc-darkskies/home
- Additional Spotter Training Opportunities https://www.weather.gov/mkx/spotter-schedule
- Iowa County – April 2
- 1:30 & 6:30, 109 E Leffler St, Dodgeville, WI 53533, USA
- Dane County – April 16
- 1pm – Fitchburg-Dane County, 2982 Kapec Rd, Fitchburg, WI 53719, USA
- 6pm – Marshall-Dane County, 119 Industrial Dr, Marshall, WI 53559
- Iowa County – April 2
Connection information for In Person Meeting
We do not publicize connection information in this space. If you are interested in joining us for this event and need the connection information please email kc9unz@arrl.net and include your name and call sign.
Dark Skies Severe Weather Seminar – 2025
The Dark Skies Severe Weather Seminar sponsored by the Midwest Severe Storm Tracking/Response Center will be held this year on March 8, 2025 from 0900 CST to 1530 CST at Madison College, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI, Room D1630. It looks to be an interesting program including Alex Harington – Chief Meteorologist, WISC Channel3000, some presentations from Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences; Director, Space Science & Engineering Center UW Madison just to name a few. You will also be able to satisfy the SKYWARN Spotter training on your ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book. For more information please refer to the Seminar website at: https://sites.google.com/view/midwestsstrc-darkskies/home
Badger Challenge 2024 Cancelled
The Badger Challenge was cancelled this year due to flooding and storms. This is not the first year this has happened. It is worth noting that, before you step out to support the ride (or to ride) check their Facebook or Instagram page for announcements.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadgerChallenge
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BadgerChallenge/
Dairyland Dare 2025
The Dairyland Dare for 2025 will be on August 2, 2025. Stay tuned!
Dairyland Dare 2024
The 2024 Dairyland Dare bicycle event is on August 3, 2024. If you are a ham radio operator that would like to volunteer for this event, please fill out the signup form.
Cross-Band Repeating
At our March in person meeting on the 27th Luke, KC9IFF shared a presentation on cross-band repeating and how it is used for Events and Emergencies using Ham Radio. Thanks so much Luke!
Below you will find a recording of Luke’s presentation as well as a link to his slide deck. #HamRadio