ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION
Section Manager (SM) – Phil Temples, K9HI
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Tom Walsh, K1TW
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) – Rob Macedo, KD1CY
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
JULY 2014 SECTION NEWS
I had a great time visiting with many of you this past Field Day
weekend. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! My final tally included
touring twelve different sites, stretching from Cape Cod to the
Merrimack Valley. They ranged in size from a well choreographed, seven
transmitter-category operation with dozens of participants, to one
dedicated individual operating a battery-powered QRP CW rig atop a
mountain trail. Although several clubs’ operations were scaled down
from previous years, I was delighted to see (what appeared to me) more
youngsters in attendance, along with more attention to publicity and
signage.
Field Day is a wonderful affair that spotlights our hobby service to
the public in a positive light. It also brings us together to hone our
operating and emergency communications skills in a friendly,
competitive manner; to share camaraderie and enjoy good food. And
perhaps, if we’re especially lucky, someone will teach us to tie a
better knot. It’s hard to quantify the value of a Field Day experience.
To those groups I visited: I want to thank you for allowing me to
distract you briefly from your operating and mentoring activities with
my questions and requests for photos. For those of you whom I missed, I
offer my apologies; your efforts did not go unnoticed.
And to all participants: thanks for your dedication and hard work in
helping to make this year’s ARRL Field Day one of the best ever!
I’d like to welcome Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG, of Gloucester as our new
Massachusetts State Government Liaison. He replaces outgoing SGL K3HI.
Hank has been instrumental in helping us to secure proclamations
honoring Amateur Radio from state offices for the past several years.
As noted in a June 24 special bulletin to all Eastern MA ARRL members,
the Governor’s office and the State Senate passed a Proclamation and
Resolutions, respectively, recognizing Amateur Radio’s contributions to
the citizens of the Commonwealth, and congratulating the ARRL on its
100th anniversary. (See <http://ema.arrl.org/node/2059>.)
On July 28, the State House of Representatives issued a Citation
offering “its sincerest congratulations to the American Radio Relay
League in recognition of its 100th anniversary and its affiliate, the
Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, for providing service and education
to the Cape Ann Community.” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo signed the
Citation. Thanks, CAARA!
Congrats to PART of Westford for making a successful Field Day contact
with NA1SS aboard the International Space Station! They’ve posted a
YouTube video of KB1SWZ making the contact, available for viewing at
<http://tinyurl.com/ngzjeow>.
Three Eastern MA clubs will operate special event stations in
conjunction with the Thirteen Colonies celebration, July 1-6. K2H,
representing Massachusetts, will be activated by: PART of Westford, the
Cape Ann ARA in Gloucester, and the Southeastern MA ARA in Dartmouth. A
special endorsement will be attached for stations contacting
participating stations WM3PEN in Philadelphia, and W3FT in Baltimore.
Stations working one state or, as many as all thirteen, will be
eligible to receive a certificate. A “Clean Sweep” indicator will be
affixed for those lucky enough to make contacts with all thirteen. More
info can be found at <http://13colonies.info>. Thanks, SEMARA Zero
Beat!
The World Radiosport Team Championships are almost upon us, and
WRTC2014 still needs help for various tasks. Site support: about thirty
site team volunteers are still needed. If you can help, contact
<k1ki@wrtc2014.org>. Hq-to-site transportation: drivers are needed to
transport teams between the headquarters hotel and the various
operating sites. If interested, contact <w1cu@cunitz.us>. Airport
transportation: a few drivers are still required to make airport runs
to pick up incoming competitors and visitors. Contact
<k1ar@wrtc2014.org>. Dispatch help: W1UE could use some help in
dispatching material from the Milara site. Contact
<egan.dennis88@gmail.com>. Host stations: Ten visitors to WRTC2014 are
looking for places from which to operate the contest, either individual
or multi-op. If you have an empty seat or are willing to share your
station, contact <ni1l@gmx.org>.
This SM was proud to award Public Service Commendation Certificates to
K1KOD and N1EA who were present at the Genesis ARS Field Day on June
28. As you may recall from a story last month, Kevin and Dave assisted
with communications during a medical emergency on the Plymouth
repeater.
The Marconi Cape Cod Radio Club, KM1CC, in Wellfleet hosted special
guest Princess Elettra Marconi on June 20. She made several HF contacts
under the control of station trustee Barbara Dougan, N1NS. The Princess
is the daughter of Guglielmo Marconi, the famed ‘Father of Radio’ who
received the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work in
wireless communication.
Norwood ARC members and other area amateurs mourn the loss of James A.
Buckley, Jr., N1LMT (SK), of Walpole.
The Minuteman Repeater Association Board has decided to staff a booth
at the ARRL Centennial Convention in Hartford this month. They’re
looking for volunteers to help.
The Federation of Eastern MA AR Associations has announced that the
dates of the next New England ARRL Division Convention in Boxboro will
be August 21-23, 2015.
Algonquin ARC members assisted with a joint Marlborough/Hudson
Household Hazardous Collection Day on June 21.
The Southeastern MA ARA has announced plans to participate in the Yaesu
System Fusion test. A Yaesu DR-1 digital system will replace the
existing 147.000 MHz Dartmouth repeater, according to SEMARA Repeater
Committee Chairman W1RJC. The repeater is dual mode; it will repeat
conventional analog FM along with Yaesu’s new C4RM digital mode
transmissions.
Quannapowitt RA held its annual banquet at the Reading Senior Center on
June 19.
The Wellesley ARS Program Committee has been soliciting input to help
promote a club membership drive.
This SM attended the New England Division Cabinet Meeting on June 21 in
Westborough.
Chelmsford natives KB1LQC and KB1LQD recently vacationed in London,
where they met with AMSAT-UK’s G3VZV at the RSGB National Radio
Centre.
The Norfolk County RA held its annual “Strawberry Festival” meeting at
K1HRV’s QTH on June 11. After adjourning the meeting, NCRA members
“enjoyed a delicious serving of strawberry shortcake prepared by our
host Dave and XYL, Toots.”
South Shore amateurs mourn the loss of Silent Key Frederick J. Butts,
NG1A, of Milton.
The North Shore RA will provide communications for the following public
service events: July 19–Blackburn Challenge Rowing Race Around Cape
Ann; July 20–Reids Bike Ride, Lynnfield to Gloucester; July 28–Cycle
for Shelter Bike Ride, round trip from Haverhill to New Hampshire. If
you can assist, please visit <http://www.nsradio.org>.
An addendum to last month’s story about the Oak Meadow School’s
(Littleton) high altitude balloon project launched on May 29 from
Jaffrey, New Hampshire: “SpaceCat-II” carried APRS and a MicroFox
transmitter, and numerous area hams participated in tracking the
payload. After positional data was lost, the last APRS data indicated
that the payload’s trajectory took it out over the sea. Lt. Cmdr. Eric
Hurley, captain of the US Coast Guard vessel Jefferson Island,
eventually contacted the launch team. His 110-foot long patrol boat
located the payload approximately seven nautical miles north of
Provincetown. KB1ZHX speculates, “Since the capsule had been drifting
for a week, it didn’t actually land there, but instead, drifted from
afar.” The Coast Guard promises to mail the package to the school when
they return to their base in Portland, Maine.
The Genesis ARS recently provided instructional sessions in obtaining
the Radio Merit Badge to the scouts of Troop 9 in Plymouth. GARS Vice
President Judy Attaya-Harris, KB1SRO arranged the sessions that
utilized PowerPoint material as well as hands-on use of equipment, and
“open dialog” with educational posters and handouts. GARS members N1IR,
KB1EVY, KB1CGP, KB1WFS and KB1WFP also participated. According to Judy,
several of the scouts were also on hand at the GARS Field Day.
Geri, KB1ISG scored publicity for the Boston ARC’s Field Day in Hingham
with an interview on radio station WATD, 95.9 FM in Marshfield.
The Brookline Tab ran an online story June 19 about a newly licensed
amateur, Milo Dantowitz, KC1BZR. The 7-year-old first grader attends
the Dexter Southfield School in Brookline. It’s believed that Dantowitz
became the youngest person in the state to get a ham license. The full
story can be found at <http://tinyurl.com/mn8ra4k>.
Finally, from the “Does-this-count-as-Field-Day-Publicity?” Department:
Billerica ARS members set up their Field Day site at a new QTH this
year: a club member’s home in Chelmsford. Unknown to the BARS gang at
the time, they inadvertently tied off one end of an antenna onto a
neighbor’s property. Rather than informing the group they were
trespassing, the aggrieved neighbor instead complained to the local
constabulary. A Chelmsford police officer responded, but the officer
understood when the group explained to her what had happened. BARS
president (and ARRL New England Vice Director) K1TWF asks, “When this
shows up in the police blotter, can we count it for PR points?”
73,
K9HI
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Phillip Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
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