*NEW* Rally Registration Procedure Now Available!

Volunteer registration for the Cochrane Winter Rally is now available. Please review this posting carefully, as there are changes from previous registration procedures. We will be using a Google Forms tool this time. Please do not look for the usual registration links on the RallyWest web page. The URL for the form is provided below. Progress urges us forward!

On the Cochrane Winter Rally Volunteer Registration form, questions with a red star are required information. There is a progress bar at the bottom of each page and buttons to navigate amongst the pages.

The form requests your email address. The address you provide will be the one to which rally organizers will send event related messages. A response receipt will also be sent to this address when you submit your information. These receipts have a tendency to end up in SPAM folders, so please check there if it does not show up in your inbox. In the receipt email there is a button to edit your response should you need to do so later.

We gather contact and profile information about you so that we can keep you up to date with event plans. Additionally, should there be a safety concern or an emergency, we want to be able to contact you, notify a friend or family member on your behalf, or provide this information to authorities / first responders. Please ensure that contact information you provide is correct. Messages that bounce back at us are not getting the job done!

If you indicate that you will be driving to the event, then you will be asked questions about your driving skill and the vehicle that you intend to bring to the rally. We use this information to help assign suitable roles. Select the responses that you feel best describe your situation.

You will be asked if you are a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. Only if you answer YES to this question will you be taken to the Radio Operator Questions section.

When asked for your callsign, please provide the one government assigned callsign that you intend to use for the rally. If you want to include other callsigns that are registered to you, then please add them to the free form text comments at the end of the registration form.

There is a question on the form about the radio equipment that you plan to bring to the rally. We use this information to help assign suitable roles. Some areas of the course require more robust radio configurations to reach the repeaters. Please choose the option that most closely describes the equipment that you plan to use. If you are bringing more than one set of equipment, then make your selection based on the configuration that you will rely on most at the event. If you do not have your own radio equipment and need to borrow something, then please indicate this and get in touch with us as soon as possible to make arrangements.

There is a question on the form about your APRS capabilities. While it is not required for most rally radio operator roles, we increasingly rely on APRS for navigation, positioning, and information distribution. We encourage our operators to deploy an APRS configuration that has a graphical display, as this can show your current location, your assignment location, and the routes you need to use. It will also give you the best access to information that is disseminated with this tool. Some operators have not yet acquired such equipment and use a one-way tracker. This, too, can be helpful if the operator gets lost and needs navigational guidance. Consider using APRS at this event.

There is a question on the form about your crossband capabilities. If you're not sure what this is, then just respond NO. Certain assignments rely on the ability to be outside of your vehicle while remaining in radio contact. If you have such capabilities and are willing to deploy them at the rally, then please indicate YES.

As noted earlier, there is a free format question near the end of the form for additional comments. Please provide any information or concerns that you believe were not addressed earlier in the form.

Once you are done, remember to click on the SUBMIT button at the bottom of the page. You should receive an email receipt shortly after doing so.

To accommodate feedback that we have received, we will try to keep the number of mass emails to a minimum. We will usually post material in the Rally Radio Recce Blog where everyone can find it at their own discretion. That means it is up to you to check the blog regularly so that you have the latest information. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

If you click on the URL below it will take you to the volunteer registration form. It works best with a Google Chrome browser, though other modern browsers seem to be adequate.

https://forms.gle/11zHNTj7hj8M22788

We hope you'll be joining us for a great time at the Cochrane Winter Rally!

73,
Dana, VA6DJH
Garry, VE6GDS