New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) to Provide Communication Assistance to America's Largest Cycling Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Point of contact: info@nyc-arecs.org

NEW YORK, NY (May 4, 2012) The New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) will be providing emergency communications support Sunday May 6, 2012, at the annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour, America’s largest cycling event. This event is one of a dozen that NYC-ARECS will provide support to, as part of its annual Public Service Event calendar.

Held annually the first Sunday in May, the TD Five Boro Bike Tour is America's largest cycling event. The Tour is produced byBike New York, the city’s premiere bicycling organization, in association with the City of New York and the New York City Department of Transportation. The TD Five Boro Bike Tour provides participants the unique and fun experience to bike through all five boroughs – a 40 mile, traffic-free ride for 32,000 cyclists. Proceeds from the event fund Bike New York’s education programs.

NYC-ARECS is an auxiliary emergency communications team made up of New York City based licensees of the Federal Communications Commission who specialize in Amateur Radio emergency communications. Charles Hargrove, NYC-ARECS President said, “Deployment of communication team members to an event with tens of thousands of people such as a marathon, or to a bike-a-thon, spread over a wide geographic area, provides a unique training opportunity.”

Amateur Radio Operators are utilized around the United States to enhance community disaster and emergency plans. Individual members of NYC-ARECS have been providing amateur radio public service and emergency communications since the 1980's. Many members of NYC-ARECS were activated during the 9/11 attack, the New York City Blackout and other city-wide emergencies. Annually, the team works with charitable organizations to provide communication at various venues, as part of their extended mission.

The over-arching mission of NYC-ARECS is to provide professional, timely, quality, and proficient auxiliary radio communications to both government and other organizations. Persons interested in learning more about how the organization can help their organization, or persons interested in joining, should write to: info@nyc-arecs.org.

http://www.nyc-arecs.org

Desiring to Continue to Enhance Support for Their Community, NYC-ARECS Participates in the NYC Citizen Corps Volunteers Creating Change Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Point of contact: info@nyc-arecs.og

NEW YORK, NY (May 2, 2012) Desiring to continue to enhance support for their community, leaders of the New York City Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Service (NYC-ARECS) participated in the Volunteers Creating Change, the NYC Citizen Corps Council's sixth annual Disaster Volunteer Conference which took place on May 1, 2012 at Pace University in New York City.

In celebration of the impact New York City's volunteers make, Volunteers Creating Change, discussed how change originates with an idea, and how these ideas often have a tremendous impact before, during, and after an emergency on individuals, families, organizations, and communities.

Conference speakers included: The Hon. Joseph F. Bruno, Commissioner of the New York City Office of Emergency Management; Keynote Address by Jeff Parness, Founder and Executive Director of New York Says Thank You Foundation; Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares; Sara Farmer, Digital Humanitarian; and Pamela Kellner, RN, MPH, Coordinator of Infection Control for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The panel discussion was moderated by Herman Schaffer, MSW, Director of Community Outreach for the NYC OEM.

Members of NYC-ARECS have donated many decades of volunteering to their communities across New York City. They follow in the spirit of what Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "New York has always been fortunate to be home to everyday people who want to pitch in and help—and we need as much help now as ever before." The over-arching mission of NYC-ARECS is to provide professional, timely, quality, and proficient auxiliary radio communications to both government and other organizations which support their communities across the five boroughs.

The conference was a collaborative project of the NYC Citizen Corps Council, supported by staff from American Red Cross Greater New York, American Red Cross New York State, Disaster Chaplaincy Service, New York Cares, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Office of Emergency Management, The Salvation Army Greater New York Division, and World Cares Center.

Persons interested in learning more about how NYC-ARECS can help their community or organization, or persons interested in volunteering, should write to: info@nyc-arecs.org.

http://nyc-arecs.org