ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION Section Manager (SM) – Tom Walsh, K1TW Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Phil Temples, K9HI Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – Arthur "Bo" Budinger, WA1QYM Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) - Ed Parish, K1EP Public Information Coordinator (PIC) - Bob Salow, WA1IDA Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ State Government Liaison (SGL) – Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG Technical Coordinator (TC) – Dan Brown, W1DAN AUGUST 2015 EMA SECTION NEWS Are you ready for Boxboro! 2015? This month the focus of attention is on the ARRL New England Division Convention in Boxborough, MA from August 21-23. The Boxboro convention is less than two weeks away and the website is constantly updated. <http://www.boxboro.org>. Recent updates include a sign up schedule to operate the Convention special event station, W1A, and update-to-date information on the convention program and prizes. BOXBORO VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED Volunteers are still needed to staff the ARRL New England Convention in Boxboro, MA on August 21-23. There are volunteer opportunities for Saturday and Sunday. Assignments are made in 2-hour shifts, and include a free lunch to show appreciation for your efforts. If interested, please contact the Boxboro Volunteer Coordinator, Andy (KB1OIQ) Stewart, at kb1oiq@arrl.net. EMA STAFF NEWS Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Marek, KB1NCG, our newly appointed EMA Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) wasted no time reaching out to the EMA staff to begin communicating his vision and ascertain the status and activities of our Field appointees. Official Observer (OO) Program Ed, K1EP, handles Official Observer Coordination for the EMA section. ARRL reports the OO program has been in existence for more than 85 years? Information about this ARRL activity and the OO qualification process may be found at <http://www.arrl.org/official-observer-1>. Section Traffic Manager (STM) Marcia Forde, KW1U, EMA Section Traffic Manager hosted the Traffic Handlers picnic on August 2 in Concord, MA. The EMA July 2015 BPL and PSHR report from KW1U: - BPL: None this month - PSHR: KW1U, KC1CIC, N1IQI, N1TF, N1LKJ. The Brass Pounders League (BPL) is awarded to Traffic Handlers who report a total of 500 or more points or a sum of 100 or more origination and delivery points for any calendar month The Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognition is awarded to those who operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. COURSES TECH-IN-A-DAY, August 22, 2015, 9 AM – 5 PM The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is holding a free Technician study course at the Boxboro 2015 convention. Registration and full details are at <http://www.boxboro.org/techcourse/> FLEA MARKETS August 16, Cambridge MA Flea at MIT, Third Sunday April thru October August 22-23, Boxboro Convention (Saturday and Sunday) <http://www.boxboro.org> SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE AIR August 21-23: W1A special event at the Boxboro Convention W1B NE QRP Club’s special event at the Boxboro Convention CLUB AND OTHER NEWS Copies of the Massachusetts Senate and Governor’s Field Day proclamations are now on the EMA web site at <http://ema.arrl.org/node/2108>. “The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club has been asked to once again provide communications for the Run to the Rock Road Race. This large event will be held this year on September 12, 2015. We are seeking volunteers for this 4 1/2 hour morning event (7:30 am to noon). The Race will continue to use three race courses as it has in the past which encompasses a large geographic area of Plymouth. We need approximately 35-40 licensed amateur radio volunteers to effectively cover the courses and stations. For complete information on the event, please visit: <http://www.runtotherock.webs.com>.” From Henry Brown, K1WCC. The Falmouth Amateur Radio Club purchased a new Elecraft K3S for the club and it was in use during Field Day at the SSB station during the tent collapse but came away unscathed, as did all of their gear (except for a couple of tents). The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association (CAARA/W1GLO) and the North Shore Radio Association (NSRA) have been cooperating in providing radio communications along the routes of over 16 events that impact Greater Cape Ann (Gloucester, Ipswich, Rockport, Essex and Manchester) this year and may grow to over 20 events before year's end. These include road races, cycling, aquatic (boating and swimming) races, and many local parades and other public events as part of our public service obligations as members of ARRL. In addition we are working with the Community Emergency Response Team and other emergency services to provide trained radio operators that can be available in the event of severe weather or other major area disasters. We also participate in drills and exercises to prepare for such emergencies. Hank McCarl, President, CAARA The MMRA will be holding a general membership meeting at the Boxboro convention, Sunday August 23 at 11AM. Members, former members, and non-members alike are all invited to attend the meeting, which will feature a virtual walkthrough of several of the MMRA repeater sites. SILENT KEYS The Billerica Amateur Radio Society reports the passing of Stan White, N1TT on July 19, 2015. Stan for many years was a member of the Boxboro Convention committee and Flea Market chairman. LOOKING AHEAD With September just around the corner, amateur radio activities in the Eastern Massachusetts section usually pick up. If you have interesting news to communicate or are interested in applying for an ARRL Field appointment, please let me know. My deadline is the 1st of each month. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW k1tw@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------