Section News, August 2011

Section Manager (SM) - Phil Temples, K9HI
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) - "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
State Government Liaison (SGL) - Shawn O'Donnell, K3HI
Technical Coordinator (TC) - Eric Falkof, K1NUN

Our section--in fact, our entire region--seems to be experiencing its
share of severe weather lately. Numerous SKYWARN activations have been
declared over past several weeks. So it's timely to acknowledge the
substantial effort invested by the dedicated crew at the Taunton
SKYWARN Amateur Radio Club, WX1BOX. They've also been busy teaching
SKYWARN training sessions across New England--most recently in
Marlborough and Beverly.

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association hosted Massachusetts State
Senator Bruce Tarr at a recent Sunday morning breakfast gathering at
their clubhouse on July 17. Sen. Tarr brought with him the joint
House-Senate Resolution that proclaimed Amateur Radio Week in the
Commonwealth. This Section Manager, along with Section Emergency
Coordinator KD1CY was on hand for the "meet and greet." See
<http://ema.arrl.org/node/1881>.

Congratulations to KD1CY for his contributions to the
soon-to-be-published ARRL Emergency Communications Manual!

Amateurs across New England were saddened to hear of the passing of
Roger Perkins, W1OJ of Bolton. Roger was well known in VHF/UHF circles.
He was also a contester, and involved with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.

Amateurs across Massachusetts will participate in the statewide
Hurricane Hannah simulation on August 8, 2011 from 7 to 9 PM, which
will "test the capabilities of our communications networks during the
response phase of a severe storm scenario in the face of significant
infrastructure damage to landline, cellular phone, and loss of
commercial power." The exercise is unique in that it involves ARES, but
also, RACES, SKYWARN, and MARS programs. Many of the state's Emergency
Management Agency Directors will be participating directly by
"reporting damage assessments to state and federal authorities before
and simultaneously with resource requests." Participants' documentation
can be downloaded at <http://tinyurl.com/3sz49tq>. 

Last month marked the 60th anniversary of the start of the Novice class
license in the United States. Although existing licenses are still
renewable, new Novice licenses were no longer issued after 2000. I
recall proudly my start in the Amateur Radio hobby-service as WN9EAY.
How many of my fellow readers began their Amateur Radio careers as
Novices? Take a peek at <http://www.novicehistory.org>.

It's only a few days until the Eastern MA NTS Traffic Handlers Picnic
in Raynham on August 7. Details can be found at
<http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/114>.

Want to know more about WinLink 2000? Check out WL2K for the "Digitally
Challenged" at <http://www.winlink.org/node/23>.

The Raymond J. Levesque Memorial ARC has a new meeting location in the
Stop and Shop Community Room, 2nd Floor, 815 Grand Army Highway in
Somerset.

The Genesis Amateur Radio Society is conducting a Technician license
class and volunteer exam testing session at the Jordon Hospital in
Plymouth, beginning August 12. Details are at
<http://ema.arrl.org/node/1880>.

The Framingham Amateur Radio Association has a wide-ranging lineup of
speakers and presentations for the coming year: from EmComm, to
restoring antique radios, to Linux in the ham shack, DXpeditions and
more!

Is your club in the process of lining up presentations and guest
speakers for the coming year? Be sure to check out the Eastern MA ARRL
Speakers List at <http://ema.arrl.org/node/1816>.

N1JOY has posted an interesting time-lapse video of the recent Martha's
Vineyard DXpedition at <http://www.hamcow.net>.

This SM was recently appointed to the ARRL Program & Services
Committee's Sub-committee on Field Services, chaired by ARRL Delta
Division Director K5MC.

The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club has been asked by the
organizers of the Plymouth Boys & Girls Club "Run To The Rock Road
Race" to assist them with their communications needs on September 10,
2011. For more information, visit <http://ema.arrl.org/node/1879>.

Eastern MA ARRL Official Observer Coordinator K1EP is looking for a few
good men and women to join the Official Observer program. For more than
85 years, OOs have assisted amateurs in operating their stations in
compliance with FCC regulations. The OO program serves as the first
line of "eyes and ears" for the FCC. It is the backbone of the Amateur
Auxiliary. OOs are certified in the Auxiliary by passing a mandatory
written examination. For qualifications and a job description, visit
<http://www.arrl.org/official-observer-1>.

I was honored to present a plaque commemorating 35 years of ARRL club
affiliation to the Pilgrim Amateur Radio Club in Provincetown MA on
July 12.

The Pilgrim ARC is planning to relocate its 2-meter repeater onto the
Truro water tower. This will provide a big signal boost to Ptown! PARC
successfully raised over $1200 in donations to fund the repeater's new
antenna and other materials.

PART of Westford mourns the loss of Silent Key N1PPS of Harvard, MA.

The Boston Amateur Radio Club is holding its End of Summer Get-together
on August 27 at the Bare Cove Fire Museum in Hingham. Club members
combine an HF operation with a cookout. Two HF stations will be on the
air from 12 Noon until 5 PM; the cookout will be held from 2-4 PM. For
more information, or to make a reservation, contact <kb1p@arrl.net.>

North Attleboro area hams assisted the Town with traffic, shuttle bus,
and lost child communications and coordination for the six-hour North
Attleboro "Block Party" event on July 26.

Word has it that Metro Boston DEC KB1NCG is putting the finishing
touches on a design for a new Eastern MA ARES business card!

Are you curious to know what DSTAR sounds like? KB1MGI suggests
listening to the New England DSTAR Live Scanner Audio Feed at
<http://tinyurl.com/4xg6h73>.

A dozen hams from the Massasoit ARA, Whitman ARC, Taunton Area
Communications Group, the Pilgrim Amateur Wireless Association, and the
Genesis ARS provided communication support for the Middleboro YMCA on
July 10, 2011. The Triathlon included a one-mile swim in Lake
Tispaquin, a 24-mile bike race and a six-mile run. Two hundred people
participated in the event.

The New York Times ran a fascinating photo slide show feature entitled
"A Living Message From The Past" on ship-to-shore radio and Morse code
at <http://tinyurl.com/3f3jn2k>.

Not everyone has to be an old-timer to appreciate Morse code. Members
of the Eastern MA ARRL staff treated two-dozen eleven-year-olds at the
Boston College St. Columbkille Summer Camp in Chestnut Hill to an
hour-and-a-half presentation on ham radio, radio theory and Morse code
on July 12. The campers were especially fascinated with the Morse code
practice oscillators (courtesy WZ1B) and K1NUN's homebrew key made from
a doorknob and a paperclip! More details can be found at
<http://ema.arrl.org/node/1884>.

The Whitman ARC will staff a booth to present Amateur Radio to the
general public at the annual Marshfield Fair on August 19-28. If you
wish to volunteer, contact Bill Hayden, N1FRE at
<wf.hayden@verizon.net> or call 781-447-6898.

Did you know that Hanson, MA is home to the Museum of Antiquated
Technology? The museum contains antique radios, cars and more. Whitman
ARC members toured the museum on July 9.

MARS, RACES, ARES and SKYWARN (MRAS) leaders met recently for a
coordination meeting at the MA State EOC in Framingham on July 30.

ARES DEC WQ1O of Marstons Mills recently taught a radio communications
workshop he developed for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Sandwich
on July 14. According to Frank, "The goal is to try and make radio
communications interoperable and efficient." WQ1O reports that he may
soon be conducting an Amateur Radio course at Spaulding before too
long.

Mark your calendars for the Head of the Charles Regatta, on Oct. 21-23,
2011. Volunteers are needed. To sign up, contact K1EMS at
<k1ems@arrl.net>.

Pentucket Radio Association reminds its members about unofficial summer
activities. Although PRA has no regular meetings in July or August,
members are invited to gather informally to watch a movie at Chunky's
or enjoy a Sunday breakfast at Elsie's Egg House.

The Bristol County Repeater Association and Project HamCow are looking
for ham volunteers to assist at the 2011 Cranberry Trifest on August
27-28 at the Ted Williams Camp in Lakeville. Contact N1JOY at
<n1joy@arrl.net>.

73, K9HI