ARRL Volunteer Resources Committee Report: STM’s Comments

Jim Ward, N1LKJJim Ward, N1LKJ writes:

I found the VRC Report regarding traffic disturbing.

We all know that since the inception of electronic mail, traffic handling has been seriously effected. When I first got into traffic handling and later, became Net Manager of Boston’s Eastern Massachusetts Two Meter Net, we used to average 400 checkins per month. After more and more hams got into the computer age, the checkins dropped to about 280 each month. Checkins have remained at that figure ever since.

There is no question that e-mail has hurt, but hams have stepped forward by creating messages like welcoming new hams to the hobby. How can anyone find these message offensive and label them “canned traffic,” “crap traffic,” etc.? They’re missing an opportunity to deliver this traffic and welcome a new ham to the hobby. They’re missing an opportunity to talk to a new ham and tell him or her about local clubs, the ARRL, ARES, and RACES. There was even one SM who complained about birthday and holiday traffic. I guess Scrooge and the Mad Hatter still live.

Gil, W1GMF, one of the stations who originates “welcome to ham radio” traffic receives hundreds of messages from hams to whom this traffic is delivered. The hams thank him for sending it. STMs from all over the country have thanked Gil for what he and other hams like him are doing. Sure, there are a few disgruntled STMs–but they very much in the minority.

The NTS is alive and well. It remains a training place for ARES and RACES operators to enhance their skills in copying, sending and acting as a Net Control Station. I can only speak for my area of operation. The local nets, the First Region Net and the Eastern Area Net are all handling a lot of traffic by dedicated traffic handlers.

To those who wish to “bury us” I would say, “You are a little premature.”

Jim Ward N1LKJ

ARRL Section Traffic Manager,
Eastern Massachusetts Section

APRS Tracker Boxes Needed!

APRS logoBruce Pigott, KC1US writes:

“The communications coordinator for the Red Cross First Aid Committee has asked for help in tracking rescue launches during the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (See also http://ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=176.)

We are looking for seven autonomous trackers available on October 17-19 (Friday through Sunday) that can be strapped down in power boats and turned on by hams. They will be removed from the launches each night. Two receiving setups will be at Net Control and the Cambridge Emergency Operations Center. The trackers have to be mostly waterproof and use a minimum of switches. We want use a UHF channel to avoid problems on VHF. This will be an excellent opportunity to display another aspect of amateur radio to multiple public service agencies. With 7,000 rowers and an estimated 300,000 spectators, our presence is a crucial part of the event.

All suggestions about APRS use or volunteers for the event will be appreciated.

Thank you and 73,
Bruce Pigott KC1US

kc1us03@amateur-radio.net

Hurricane Workshop, Bourne MA 7/30/03

Hurricane from spaceKD1CY writes:

Hello to all….

The following statement concerns a Hurricane Workshop in Bourne, Massachusetts that is open to the public. This is similiar to the workshop that was done in New Bedford, Massachusetts in early May. Below is the specific information on this workshop, all are welcome to attend.

NOUS41 KBOX 281343
PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
945 AM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

…HURRICANE AWARENESS WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY EVENING IN BOURNE…

COME AND JOIN US FOR A FREE HURRICANE AWARENESS WORKSHOP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS…WEDNESDAY JULY 30TH FROM 7 PM TO 830 PM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. THE HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE BOURNE BRIDGE/STATE POLICE BARRACKS OFF TROWBRIDGE ROAD. THE PROGRAM IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE – TAUNTON MA
MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BOURNE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE CAPE COD REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMERICAN RED CROSS NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY

IT HAS BEEN 49 YEARS SINCE NEW ENGLAND HAS BEEN HIT BY A MAJOR (CATEGORY 3) HURRICANE AND 12 YEARS SINCE A HURRICANE OF ANY KIND HAS MADE LANDFALL HERE. THIS WORKSHOP WILL DISCUSS THE REALITIES OF NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES AND WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THIS TYPE OF DISASTER.

AGAIN…7 PM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEDNESDAY…JULY 30TH. TROWBRIDGE ROAD RUNS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE BARRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE BOURNE BRIDGE ROTARY CIRCLE. FOLLOW TROWBRIDGE ROAD 1/4 MILE DOWN ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE TO BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL…IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PEEBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PROCEED UP THE DRIVEWAY FOR PARKING AT THE BETH BOURNE AUDITORIUM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL. ADMISSION IS FREE. SEE YOU THERE.

$$
FIELD

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

VRC’s Field Organization Report Released

ARRL FlagThe ARRL Volunteer Resources Committee has released its final report to the Board of Directors. The long-awaited report concludes that the “state of the Field Organization is ‘fair'” even though it is “not what it should be” in order to “meet overall obligations to provide emergency communications at the national level.”

The report is based in part on the results of questionnaires returned by many of the field organization’s Section Managers.

To better understand the report, read the accompanying Section Manager Survey Results.

N1IQI Awarded Brass Pounders League Award

N1IQI BPL award presentation
BPL awardW1GMF wrote:

The presentation of a BPL bronze medallion from the ARRL was made to Loren Pimental, N1IQI at the July 15, 2003 meeting of the Massasoit Amateur Radio Association for points assessed from traffic handling over a period of 6 months.

Presenting the award to Loren (center) were Phil Temples, K9HI, ARRL Section Manager (left) and Jim Ward, N1LKJ, Section Traffic Manager (right).

Congratulations, Loren, on this recognition of your participation in this important aspect of amateur radio.

Head of the Charles Regatta Volunteers Requested

Head of the CharlesJeff Arnold writes:

Once again, on behalf of the American Red Cross First Aid Station Committee, I would like to ask for your help in working the 2003 Running of the Head of the Charles Regatta.

This year the dates are Friday-Sunday, October 17, 18, 19.

Please mark your calendars and get back to me as soon as you can. Please pass this e-mail on to others so that we can bring in some new blood to our team.

Please reply to this e-mail and reply with:

name, call sign
address
e-mail
which of the 3 days you can work,
& preference to land or boat position.

I am starting this early so that everyone can get this marked on their calendar.

Jeff

**************************************************
Jeffrey Arnold

RWJeffA@comcast.net
N1FWV@amsat.org
http://home.comcast.net/~rwjeffa/
**************************************************

“ADA Classic” Finds Ham Support Invaluable

American Diabetes Assn logoAmateur volunters performed valuable public service by giving their time and effort to assist in the two- and seven-day “ADA Classic.” The ride raised funds for the American Diabetes Assocation and traversed portions of MA, NH, ME and VT. The Classic was supported by 17 volunteers and the staff, including 15 amateur radio operators. The support team also included four bike mechanics with vans, an EMT in his own vehicle, three rest stop vehicles and two “SAG” wagons.
Mike Goldberg, K1LJN recounted their efforts.

“On July 11, Jim Evans, N1HTS, Ted Haskell, W1EID, Bill Lacy, KB1ICA, Steve Witley, KB1HMZ, Dennis Howland, KB1IDQ and I showed up at Woburn Mall and began to distribute tasks among each other. Some of us headed to pick up a 34-foot cargo truck to haul the gear. The others went to pick up the cargo and window vans. All were returned to the Mall to be filled with water jugs, water coolers, ice chests, first aid supplies, cases of snack foods, route vehicle handbooks, paper towels, pens, etc.” Goldberg added, “We installed two-meter mobile equipment in each vehicle. In addition there were two large pickups. All were loaded by 5 p.m., except for 400 pounds of ice which was loaded later.”

The Woburn Mall donated the use of a vacant store which was used for registration of about 150 riders for The New England Classic, 150 and 550.

Goldberg resports the group had one major medical incident, along with assorted falls and bee stings.

The riders efforts netted $256,000 for ADA Research and Education.

Amateurs who participated in the two-day event were:

Charlie Reed, N1VI
Maureen Polson, N1RBE

Seven-day participants were:

Jim Evans, N1HTS
Mike Goldberg, K1LJN
Scotti Goldberg, N1PUI
Ted Haskell, W1EID
Bill Lacy, KB1ICA
Dave Humt, EMT, N1XAJ
Al Kinnon, KD1EA
Faith Linsky, N1RUN
Tracey Thompson, KB1EFT
Paul Magrath, K1KZL (Chief Bike Mech)
Don Salls, N1ZYF (Top Kick)
Steve Witley, KB1HMZ (Gear Guy)
Dennis Howland, KB1IDQ (ADA Staff)

New MA RACES Plan Available

RACES logoTom Kinahan, N1CPE wrote:

We’ve spent some time updating procedures for the Massachusetts RACES program, including defining the Massachusetts Emergency Frequency Plan or MEFP, updating net operation activities requiring the usage of and defining the terms “Over”, “Out” and “Break” in the course of a controlled net to indicate what the NCS requests, a list of available VHF Simplex frequencies to pass traffic or other coordination, updated contact information on RACES, ARES, SKYWARN and MARS leadership, updated sample RACES appointment forms and updated club contact information courtesy of the ARRL.

Please download a copy and keep it with your station records.
This document is dated July 1, 2003 and approved by myself, Steve Finks W1SBF the State Communications Officer, and Stephen McGrail the Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Accept no substitutes or previous versions at this time.

Get your copy at:

http://www.qsl.net/n1cpe/racesplan.pdf

or

http://n1cpe.dnsalias.net:81/racesplan.pdf

Please forward this message as needed for the widest distribution among Amateur Radio Operators in Massachusetts.

Thank you,

Tom Kinahan N1CPE
Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer

Cape Cod ARES Summer Exercise 7/19/03

ARES logoMembers of the Cape Cod ARES will conduct a summer communications exercise Saturday, July 19. The exercise, dubbed “Operation Long Haul” will test the ability of “EOCs, three field teams and multiple zone-based home relay stations to provide general communcations and relay coverage of the operational zones.” See http://ares.ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=105 for the details.

KD1SM Public Service List – July 17, 2003


       PSLIST                                              July 17, 2003

    Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division

Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing
a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur
Community are needed and welcome.  Please contact the person listed to
identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.

The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as
http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv

   **** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****

Date     Location      Event                       Contact      Tel/Email

Aug  9   Concord    NH NH Classic MS 150 bike ride David KA1VJU 603-398-3667
 to 10    to Henniker NH and return                        ka1vju@cnharc.org
Sep 12   Provincetown MA MS Challenge Walk         John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Dennis MA                                        n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 13   Dennis     MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Truro MA                                         n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 14   Dennis     MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Brewster MA                                      n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 21   Madison   CT Bike Tour for MS             Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016
          to Moodus CT                                        aa1wm@arrl.net
Sep 22   Moodus    CT Bike Tour for MS             Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016
          to Madison CT                                       aa1wm@arrl.net
Oct 11   Pepperell  MA Fall Classic Soccer         John KB1HDO  978-772-5406
 to 13                                                    kb1hdo@hotmail.com
Oct 17   Boston     MA Head of the Charles Regatta Jeff N1FWV   978-536-2842
 to 19                                                     rwjeffa@attbi.com

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE
and Ralph KD1SM.  Our usual distribution is via packet to NEBBS, via
Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists,
and on the World Wide Web (see URL above).  If other mailing list
owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to
oblige.  Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in
its entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the URL
below is included.  Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

(via packet) KD1SM@K1UGM.#EMA.MA.USA,
(via Internet) KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the
information is from another published source.  We very much appreciate
the assistance we have been receiving from our 'scouts'; everyone is
welcome to send us postings.

Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most
recent version of the PSLIST.

Cape Cod ARES Drill 7/19/03

Members of the Cape Cod ARES [held its] summer communications exercise Saturday, July 19. The exercise, dubbed “Operation Long Haul” will test the ability of “EOCs, three field teams and multiple zone-based home relay stations to provide general communcations and relay coverage of the operational zones.”

According to Cape and Islands District Emergency Coordinator Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, the exercise will utilize high frequency Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS), VHF/UHF FM and SSB. O’Laughlin adds, “we’ll attempt communications with other ARES districts if the opportunity arises.”

The drill will be the first CCARES exercise in which a field team conducts an NCS operation on the 6 meter band.

A description of Operation Long Haul can be found in the ARES web site links under “Departments/Programs | Training”.

Flea at M.I.T. Sunday, July 20, 2003

MIT


Steve Finberg, W1GSL writes:
Subject: FLEA at MIT This Sunday July 20th Cambridge MA

This coming Sunday...

*******************************************************************************
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Summary: Buy Sell SWAP Ham Radio Electronics Computers 9AM - 2PM

+++ Now even more Buyers Parking !!!
Thanks to TKT we have use of their new parking lot
across Albany St from the SWAPFEST !!!

*** !!!! In our Traditional GARAGE and the adjacent lot !!!! ****
so come rain or shine or super heat the Flea is on !!!

********* $1 buyers discount with hardcopy of this notice ********

COMPUTERS - ELECTRONICS - HAM RADIO - COMPUTERS - ELECTRONICS - HAM RADIO
FLEA all SUMMER at MIT
Sunday July 20th 2003
9AM-2PM

Come to the city for a great flea - plenty of free parking.

MIT's electronics and ham radio flea will take
place on the third Sunday of each month this summer,
April thru October.

There is tailgate space for over 600 sellers and
free, off-street parking for>2000 cars!

Buyers admission is $5 (you get $1 off if
you're lucky enough to have a copy of our ad)
and sellers spaces are $20 for the first and
$15 for each additional at the gate.

The flea will be held at the corner of Albany and
Main streets in Cambridge; right in the Kendall
Square area from 9AM to 2PM, with sellers set-up
time starting at 7AM.

*** Attention Sellers ***
Prepaid vendors.. Season Pass or monthly,
will be admitted FIRST.
Separate lines will form prior to gate opening
for prepaid and nonprepaid vendors

!! RAIN or SHINE !! Have no fear of rain, a covered
well illuminated tailgate area is available for all
sellers (6'8" clearance).

Talk-in: 145.23- (PL 88.5) W1BOS/R and
W1XM/R-449.725/444.725 (PL 114.8/2A).

Sponsors: MIT Electronics Research Society
MIT UHF Repeater Association (W1XM)
MIT Radio Society (W1MX)
Harvard Wireless Club (W1AF)

For more info / advanced reservations 617 253 3776

********** $1 buyers discount with hard copy of this notice ************

Mail the coupon below by the 5th of the month to be a Prepaid Vendor.

FLEA at MIT 2003 Rates

SELLERS

This year each vendor must have a Cambridge Vendor License.
We will do all the paperwork to get the one day Cambridge licenses.
To keep the spaces affordable we are discounting your first space.
To use your spaces the named vendor MUST be present.
Rates include one admission per space.

Advance $17 First space - includes $10 Cambridge Vendor License
$12 Additional Spaces
Must be received by the 5th of the month.

Gate Admission $20 First Space - includes $10 Cambridge Vendor License
$15 Additional Spaces
Admission is after the prepaid vendors

Early Bird Buyer -Admission after the prepaid vendor line is admitted. ~ 7:15AM
** You may not sell. **
$15 per person at the gate.
$70 Season Early Bird Buyer

cut and return
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FLEA at MIT 2003 Advance Space Application 7/03

____April ____May ____June ____ July ____Aug ___Sept ____Oct
@ $17 for the first each month + $12 each additional

Name ________________________ Call __________ $ Included______

Address ________________________ Phone __________ Make Check to
The MIT Radio Society
City ____________________ State _______ Zip _______ PO Box 397082
Cambridge MA 02139
E-mail _____________________________________________

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Steve Finberg W1GSL w1gsl@mit.edu
PO Box 82 MIT Br Cambridge MA 02139-7082 617 258 3754
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