Tulip Time Volunteers Needed! ~ May 9 & 11

We are looking for volunteers to help out with medical communications for the 2024 Tulip Time parades. This is perhaps our best opportunity each year to represent HARC and amateur radio within our community, and we are providing a critical service to local residents and visitors. It’s also a great time!

Radio operators are paired up with one or more medical personnel and assigned a section of the parade route.  Once on station, we patrol and look for participants or spectators that are in need of medical assistance.  When we encounter a medical need, we relay information regarding the patient’s condition and location to Net Control.  Our Net Control operators work alongside public safety and emergency medical dispatchers to ensure that help arrives as soon as possible.

As to whether Tulip Time volunteers need to be OCEC (Ottawa County Emergency Communications) members, the answer is “NO.”  In addition to OCEC members, ALL members of the Holland (HARC) and North Ottawa (NOARC) clubs are eligible to participate and we welcome all of you!

This year’s parades are on Thursday, May 9th and Saturday, May 11th. We usually meet around noon and are finished by a bit after 4pm on both days. If you’re interested in volunteering, please email me at bossman.mi@gmail.com and let me know which parade(s) you’re available to help.

….Todd Boss W8YHF, 2024 Tulip Time Communication Coordinator