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16 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 22, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville React faces membership crisis By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville club that has served the community for nearly 40 years with two-way radio communication has launched a membership drive to keep its diminishing craft alive. Oakville React (Radio Emergency Associated Citizen Team), a non-profit organization founded in 1968, provides two-way radio communication to just about anyone who needs it for planned events. "We do things like the Santa Claus parade," said Jack Livingstone, vicepresident and membership chair of Oakville React. "We'll communicate with each other and if there's a gap somewhere, we'll get the front of the parade to slow down a bit, or if there's a bunch up we'll get them to speed up. It's a way to keep the parade going smoothly." In addition to the Santa Claus parade, Oakville React provides radio services for sporting events, charity functions and has even helped the local government during emergency situations. In November 1979 Oakville React assisted in the evacuation of OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) during the Mississauga train derailment in which a 106-car train loaded with poisonous and explosive chemicals derailed. "As the gas was expanding they decided to evacuate the hospital and we were there. We had a radio with the mayor, we had a radio in the hospital, we had radio communications between the police and the mayor and whoever else needed communications," said Livingstone. React has also aided in search operations for missing persons, but with the emergence of cellphones interest has shifted away from radio services. "It has made it so we're not needed as much," said Livingstone. "People are also more interested in the Internet now, so you don't have a lot of people getting into this hobby anymore." Nowhere is this lack of interest more apparent than with Oakville React's membership, which has dwindled to just 15 people. "That's why we're trying to get this Jack Livingstone membership drive going because all of our members are kind of old and retiring, including myself I guess," said Livingstone. "We haven't had anybody come along in about two or three years to ask about the club or want to join. We're just dwindling down to nothing." Members are required to attend one meeting each month at a cost of $10 a year. Oakville React will provide the VHF radio as well as the training on how to operate it. "They'll come to three meetings and, by that time, we'll have a vote among members as to whether or not to accept the person," said Livingstone. "Sometimes you'll get people who are coming just to get a radio and that's the last we see of them. We want people who are committed." Despite the club's decline in popularity, Livingstone insists the two-way radio is far from obsolete. 2007 VOLVO XC70 % $ * 1 559 LEASE PER MO. LEASE RATE 48 MOS. W. BRONTE RD. PACIFIC RD. Q.E.W. E. 3RD LINE VOLVO OF OAKVILLE 770 Pacific Road, Oakville (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com SOUTH SERVICE RD. WYECROFT RD. Limited time offer through Volvo of Oakville and Volvo Car Financial Services Canada on approved credit to qualified retail customers only. 48 month term $0 down, $0.00 first payment and $0.00 security. Lease APR 1%, total lease obligation $26,834.00, taxes, license, insurance and retailer charges extra. Lease has 80,000 km allowance ($0.16 per km excess). Payment and security deposit may vary by choice of extra equipment. Purchase at end of lease for $19,396.00 plus taxes. Offer ends June 30th 2007, Volvo of Oakville may lease for less. *Some terms/conditions apply. *See Volvo of Oakville for full details. *See Volvo of Oakville for details on scheduled VIP offer, some limitations and specific criteria apply. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Volvo Canada Corp. "Volvo for Life" is a registered trade mark used under license by Volvo Cars Canada Corp. and its affiliates. Volvo of Oakville is not responsible for errors or omissions in this ad. Visit volvoofoakville.com One clear advantage the radio has over the cellphone, says Livingstone, is that during an event like a walk-athon, the event co-ordinator, who would have to make multiple calls on a cellphone, can use a radio to get simultaneous access to all of the people equipped with a radio. "It's instant," said Livingstone. "It's like a window on what's happening in the other areas. You connect to everybody at the same time." Livingstone says the radio also trumps cellphones in the area of reliability noting that the equipment necessary for cellphones to function easily can get knocked out in an emergency. "The first thing that happened in New York on 9/11, all the cellphone stuff was on those towers and when they came down that was it, they had no more cellphone communications," he said. "In an emergency we have back-up generators so we'll be on the air." Even with its extensive history and practical implications in today's world Livingstone remains cautiously optimistic about the response he will receive to Oakville React's membership drive. "If we get one more member, we'll be happy." Anyone interested in joining Oakville React may call 905-845-6561 or e-mail oakvillereact@cogeco.ca. Royal Mattress is having a HUGE CLEAR-OUT! COME IN NOW AND SAVE hundreds of dollars on an ENORMOUS SELECTION of sleep sets! 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