Special Event This Mothers Day (2016)

Announcement from past President Gary Elliott

For the last few years the ROSIES have been my guests on Mother's Day for the ROV's famous Pancake Breakfasts, (PCB). This year will be most special because of a convergence of five or six events that are taking place and will never be replicated again. Imagine the ROSIES enjoying a PCB on as ship that they help build. Most of the ROSIES that go to the PCB also are docents at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, and now aka the ROSIE park, because I ain't spelling it out again. In fact it is the longest name for a unit the NPS system.

This year is the 100 year anniversary of the NPS, with celebrations lasting all of 2016. In conjunction the ARRL http://www.arrl.org/ ; (an amateur radio organization) will assist the NPS with much volunteer information about many of the units. The amateur radio function is National Parks On The Air (NPOTA) http://www.arrl.org/NPOTA. The ROV has a fully functional WWII Radio Room (Morse Code only) and will be used for NPOTA. It will also send out replica messages traffic via amateur radio during the PCB. The Radio Room received from the City of Richmond in 2008 a historic preservation award.

It will be an unique and special Mother's Day on board the ROV with all the ROSIES, a WWII ship: USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235), PCB, NPOTA, and message traffic. This combination of events will never be repeated. Hopefully the ROSIES will be able to talk on the amateur radio; they love to talk to the visitors every Friday at the ROSIE park. I will be sending out a press release as Mother's Day approaches. Would you like to receive a copy?

Regards, Gary Elliott

Some Notes on Museum Ships on the Air (2001-2009)

An occasion we look forward to each year is the Museum Ships Amateur Radio Weekend. Originally conceived and organized by the USS Salem's Amateur Radio Club, the annual 48-hour event is now sponsored by the Battleship New Jersey ARC and participation grows every year. Often there are nearly 100 museum ships around the world that fire up their radios to make contacts with each other and all interested amateur radio operators. Many, like the Red Oak, are using their original WWII-era radios as well as some contemporary ham gear.

The purpose of an amateur radio special event is to give exposure to, or commemorate someone or something historical that is tied to the location of a specific amateur radio club. For example, the Southern Vermont Amateur Radio Club has an event to celebrate the American victory at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. The scope of the Museum Ships Special Event is obviously more broad both in the extent of the geography that is covered (worldwide) and the nature of the museum ships involved (everything from a railcar/passenger ferry on Lake Michegan to a World War II battleship in Pearl Harbor).

With anywhere from a few hundred to over 1,000 contacts each year we have an opportunity to talk to many people about the Red Oak Victory during this event and extend its reach to people that would not have a chance to make a personal visit. The enthusiasm for museum ships among the amateur radio community is well evidenced by the number of contacts we make. And without exception, the people we speak to show a genuine interest in the history of our ship. Many have stories of their own to relate about working in the ship yards or sailing aboard a Victory ship during the War. In addition to our long-distance contacts we are able to talk to dozens of hams in the Bay Area. All are encouraged to come take a tour, and to bring their children and grandchildren.

ROVARC members have also activated stations on other museum ships in the San Francisco Bay Area including the Lightship Relief and USS Potomac, both at the Port of Oakland.

All in all it's a rewarding experience for the ROVARC members who participate and the many people around the country and the world who we contact on the air. And ultimately it provides some exposure to the ongoing work being done to restore the Red Oak Victory and create a fine museum for people of all ages to enjoy. We look forward to participating in this annual event every year.

The Sounds of Museum Ships Weekend (2001-2009)

Radio contacts on Museum Ships Weekend are not merely an exchange of callsigns as in a contest. We like to provide information about the ROV and also let the people we talk to relate their memories of the historic ships of WWII and the people who built and served aboard them.