Program_Venues

WCSAR TEAM PROGRAM VENUES
Below is a list of Programs WCSART Has to offer to our Volunteers

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WRSP (Water Rescue Safety Patrol) Program started in the summer of 2005 and is our primary Venue. This program consist of a group of Volunteer Boaters patrolling Lake Quinsigamond, Shrewsbury, MA, to act as 'First Responders' for boaters that are broke-down, or any Emergency situation that may occur out on the Lake. We are not Law Enforcement, but do advise Boaters of the Massachusetts Boating Law s and Rules & Regulations concerning the usage of Lake Quinsigamond and other inland waterways.

Our Season of operation runs from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. We are sanctioned by the LQWA (Lake Quinsigamond Watershed Association), LQC (Lake Quinsigamond Commission), Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation Department, and work closely with the Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Environmental Police Departments when they are patrolling the Lake in their Law Enforcement Vessels.

To become a member of our WRSP Program to qualify as a 'Skipper' for boating operations you must be 21 years old, have passed a US Coast Guard or US Power Squadron Boating Safety Course, have a current CPR or Basic First Aid Card, be familiar with boating operations and a good swimmer. You do not need to own a Vessel (as Worcester County Search & Rescue has a Patrol Vessel based out on the Lake); however, owning your own Vessel is a plus for our program because most of our operational Vessels are personal owned boats. There is a short training program for 'Skippers' for qualification to operate our WRSP Vessel. Our Vessel is a 2006 Angler 173, 18 foot, center cockpit open boat. Callsign (WR3).

To become a 'Crew' Member of our WRSP Program, you must be over 16 years of age, have taken a Boating safety Course, know how to Swim; however, a 'Crew-Member' in training does not need these requirements as you will have time to take the courses needed for qualifications to become a permanent 'Crew.'

All Skippers and Crews must take a 'Check-ride' with a qualified WRSP Members before being allowed to Patrol the Lake for Emergency Assistance to the Boating Public. Contact Bill Latimer or Joe Apicella (our WRSP Team Coordinator) for futher details.

If you are a current member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Power Squadron, or just own a Boat and love the water, please consider expanding your knowledge by joining our program. This is an 'active' program highly visable to the public and provides a volunteer service that is the first of it's kind in the Country. We need volunteers for our 2008 season!

MRSP - Mountain Rescue Safety Patrol

Our MRSP program is simular to our WRSP Program but our focus is patrolling Mountain and Rail Trails while 'hiking' in the woods. If you like to Cross Country Ski, Snow-Shoe, Mountain Bike, or just 'hike' in the woods, this may be the program for you. This is a secondary program venue that only operates in the winter season.

Our Volunteers are a Group of Hikers that Patrol popular Hiking Trails in Mountain areas that are equiped with First Aid, extra Water and Food, Maps, and general knowledge of the area (for lost hikers). Our primary goal is to 'assist' hikers that may be lost, injured, or need assistance to find a particular 'trail' area....to act as First Responders in an Emergency situation to Aid and Assist as needed to the public. Again, we are not Law Enforcement, but try to educate the public and Aid those in need.

Most of our Volunteers are avid Hikers that enjoy the outdoors in both Summer and Winter conditions. Each Patrolling member of our MRSP program is supplied with a back-pack with the necessary supplies, Two-way Radio (FRS, Monitor Ch.1), Mobile Phone, and GPS. All Members must be familiar with basic Land Navigation skills, have basic First Aid and CPR qualifications, and a good knowledge of survival out in the woods in heavy terrain. Orange notification cards (as below) are handed out to hikers.

This is a great program to those that enjoy the outdoors. If you belong to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra Club, Boy or Girl Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Air Force Auxiliary Program, this may be an opportunity for you to expand your skills and knowledge by helping the public in this type of Venue. Please contact Bill Latimer or Chris Maider for further information. Come join a program that is making a national trend to promote safety for hikers, people that love to snowshoe and Mountain Bike.

CJT - Communications Jump Teams

CJT are members of our organization that are Communications Hobbyist such as Amateur Radio Operators (Hams), CB'ers, and members belonging to the MARS (Military Affiliate Radio System) SHARES Network, REACT, ARRL, and the National SOS Radio Network.

Communications Jump teams are established to be dispatched to an effective Areas where Emergency Communications is needed, such as a Hurricane devastated areas, Floods, Earthquakes, and other natural disaster effected areas caused by unforeseen circumstances.

WCSART has Communications Gears for HF, VHF, UHF, operations to be utilized as needed; however, many of our Ham operators already have portable 'field' communications equipment to be utilized if needed. Computer Systems are especially needed using SKYPE and eQSO PMR446 for Communications anywhere in the world using VoIP Technology.

Also, our organization helps support 'other' Communications Organization as needed. We highly recommened our local Ham Operators here in Worcester County to sponsor and support W.E.C.T., Worcester Emergency Communication Team. Please visit their site at www.wect.net or Email Mark Rubin at wb1arz@aol.com .

You do not need to be a Licensed Amateur Radio Operator, as much of our Tactical Traffic and Team Communications is done via FRS, GMRS, & MURS Radio Service. WCSAR Team also has a Satellite Cell Phone that can be used anywhere in the world.. Contact Bill Latimer, for more details on this program. Note: WCSART is License for GMRS Operations.

Ham Operators please check into our Monthly Schedule NET on the 1st Sunday Evening; HF NET on 5403.50 Khz/USB 1930 EST. VHF NET on 146.58Mhz VHF/FM 1900 EST.
NET Control Operator is WA4DDH in Holden, Massachusetts.

VPP - Volunteer Pilot Program

If you are an Aircraft owner, we need you! Our Volunteer Pilots and Aircrafts help support a Network of Volunteer Pilots that are willing to 'assist' in an Emergency situation where personal or supplies is needed to be transported in an Emergency situation. Minimum Requirements are to 'own' your own Aircraft, hold a valid Private Pilots License with a current 3rd class medical certificate. Aircraft must be Insured. Members of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), and EAA are most welcomed. When supplies are needed...moments count in an Emergency. Pilots please help to support this program!

REMOTE ELT RECEIVER SITE ON MT. WACHUSETTS
Princeton, Massachusetts

Our Organization is the first volunteer group in the world to have a Remote Receiver site on 121.5MHZ on Mt. Wachusetts to listen for ELT (Emergency Locator Beacons), EPIRBS (Emergency Position indicating Radiobeacon), and PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Once a signal is heard, our Receiver Computer System is programmed to give a telephone call to a Cell Phone Number which the signal can be heard. Once a signal is heard, a WCSAR Team Member can drive to Mt. Wachusetts and do a DF Bearing of the incoming signal on 121.5 Mhz. Then, AFRCC (Airforce Rescue Coordination Center) is notified and Members of our Group that belong to the US Air Force and Coast Guard Auxiliary Program are notified (as a courtesy information only) to use as necessary if an AFRCC Mission is in progress. Usually, our site will hear a distress signal before the Satellite 'hit' notifies the AFRCC Command Center. Signals received are restricted to the Central Massachusetts area only, and notification is only done at time of signal heard. WCSART has a DF Ground Team and latest technology state-of-art DF (Direction Find) Equipment to track and locate ELT's, EPIRBS, and PLB's.

If you have a volunteer organization already established, or you are an individual that would like to start a Water Rescue or Mountain Rescue program in your area as described above, please contact our organization for Information and Support. These types of Venues can be a real asset to Lake Regions and Mountain Terrain areas that have a need for this type of public service to the Community. Contact us at wcsarteam@cs.com

WRSP - Water Rescue Safety Patrol

MISSION STATEMENT

URBAN SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM

WCSAR Team does not have a training program for Urban SAR Team; however, many of our members do belong to CERT Teams and other established Groups doing this type of Venue. We will only support (when called) additional personal needed if a large missing person search is established where the general public is used. Many of our members are qualified through NASAR (SAR TECH II, III) and other Groups to be qualified to assist as needed. WCSART recommends persons in Massachusetts interested in training for Missing Person Searches to contact CMSART (Central Mass Search & Rescue) or BMSART (Berkshire Mountain Search & Rescue). We support Urban SAR but do not have a training platform to establish a dedicated Team for missing person SAR.

SKYWARN

We here at WCSART highly recommend everyone to Join SKYWARN. This is a group of trained volunteer spotters that assist the National Weather Service. Several of our Team members belong to SKYWARN. Check out their Website for further information.

Past missing person search with WCSAR Team Members. Many of our Team Members are assigned as Team Leaders when assisting in Searches with other Groups.

MRSP Team in action

WRSP Team Vessels in Operation