Club Activities

 This year the Market-To-Market Relay will be held on Saturday September 28th.  This is a fund raising event to support the Great Plains Trail Network and the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club has been a part of the event for all 17 years.   The organizers know what a great job the "Omaha hams" do of looking after the runners and are looking forward to working with the area hams again.  

The 2024 Edition of the M2M Relay will once again start from Seymour Smith Park Omaha and finishes in Lincoln at the Haymarket District 75 miles later.   Teams of 6, 7 or  8 members each a stages then relay to another runner. Each stage is 3 to 5 miles long. The course follows trails, paved streets and gravel back roads of Nebraska. 

 Our job is to keep track of when the runners arrive at each stage and when the last runner has departed and relay that information to Net Control.   If minor medical assistance is needed we can summon the medical personnel who are available at every other exchange point. Omaha area hams cover the first half and the Lincoln area hams pick up when the race crosses the river at exchange point 9.   Both Net Controls will be in contact with the event organizers to relay how well the race is going and of any issues that have been relayed via the hams.     Mobiles and handhelds are usable, depending on your location.

The exchange points get a bit busy with waves of runners coming and going, so it is best if there are at least two hams at each exchange point especially the later exchanges when the runners have spread out. We arrive before the runners and all the vans and usually, and often we are there before the site setup crew and the exchange volunteers.   We like to schedule two hams allow for a backup if there is equipment failure or if a last-minute personal issue means you can't attend.   That means about 20 volunteers. So we need you.     

Below is the schedule of the times that hams will be needed. The exchange setup crew and exchange volunteers are scheduled to be there about 15 minutes prior to the runners arriving.  You may arrive a few minutes before they do.. Don't panic!  They will be there!   Your departure time is also about 15 to 30 minutes after the last runner should depart your area.   This will let you “beat the traffic” of the team vans, and be on site if the runners are running a bit ahead of schedule.  Exact times are subject to change as we get closer to the date.   

Did I mention that the teams also dress up in costumes during the run?  Teams usually have a theme from characters from Alice in Wonderland - to Let's Storm Area 51.   There are prizes for the Best Team Costume, Best Decorated Vehicle and Best Team Name.   The race is seriously fun!  Even as a spectator!   So Sign Up, play radio and watch the wackiness! 

You can find a link to the course map at https://tinyurl.com/M2MRoute  to see where the runners and the team vans will be on the road - and you  can zoom in to find the location of each site 

Please complete the following form if you would like to volunteer  https://tinyurl.com/OmahaM2M

If you have questions email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 I added exchange point 10 - but I will only staff this if we have enough volunteers to go around.   Lincoln actually staffs this location, but having a ham monititoring our comms would aid in the expected arrival of the first runner and definately when the the  Exchange point 9 has been passed and the last runners are handed off to the Lincoln group.