Month: May 2009

Hello to all..

The following is an updated Massachusetts Statewide Hurricane Drill – Hurricane Madison 2009 Exercise Participants Manual. This Manual is in Word and PDF Document format and can be seen at the links below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/2009_Hurricane_Madison_Mass_Drill_Participants_Doc_Rev_2.doc

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/2009_Hurricane_Madison_Mass_Drill_Participants_Doc_Rev_2.pdf

The name of the hurricane was changed from Wanda to Madison to coincide with MEMA Region Two’s naming of the hurricane. The idea of updating the document with a graphical/tabular track of the hurricane using Hurrevac was dropped due to an all day activation of SKYWARN for severe weather on Sunday May 24th precluding the time needed to add that information to the document. The document has been updated with Winlink/Airmail resource information, page numbers for the document and other associated minor changes.

An exericse controllers document has been created for net controls/alternate net controls and coordinators for the exercise and has been updated with the hurricane name change and additional suggestions/corrections to that document. The ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Management team working with MEMA will get that distributed to all appropriate personnel along with the participants manual.

We hope to have a successful exercise with strong participation across the commonwealth. Thanks to all for their continued support of ARES, RACES and SKYWARN.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section 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://ares.ema.arrl.org

http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

Greetings from the Dayton Hamvention. This is my first time at Dayton and I’m looking forward to a great weekend.

We will be having the Massachusetts Statewide Hurricane Drill on Monday June 1st from 7-9 PM. Exercise scenario details and information will follow no later than Monday May 18th. Below is a PR document put together by Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Manager, Mike Neilsen-W1MPN. The PR document is listed below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/Hurricane_Drill.pdf

Thank you for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section 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://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

PSLIST

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

Apr 19 Boston      MA BAA 5K and Invitational 1 mi Bob WA1IDA    508.650.9440
                                                              wa1ida@arrl.net
Apr 20 Hopkinton   MA Boston Marathon              Bob K1IW marc2009@mmra.org
       to Boston   MA                signup at http://marc.mmra.org 
Apr 26 Groton      MA Groton Road Race             Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Apr 26 Needham     MA Run of the Charles Canoe Race Tom KB1OKP   781.395.5538
       to Boston   MA                                         kb1okp@arrl.net
May  2 Mrth'sVnyrd MA MS - Ride the Vineyard       Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
May  3 Boston      MA Walk for Hunger             Eric KA1NCF w4h@nsradio.org
                                     signup at http://wfh.mmra.org
May 16 Westford    MA Apple Blossom Parade         Terry KA8SCP  978.490.8150
                                                              ka8scp@arrl.net
May 17 Devens      MA Parker Classic Road Race     John KK1X    john@kk1x.net
Jun  7 Boston      MA Bikes Not Bombs bike rides   Bob WA1IDA    508.650.9440
       and southern suburbs                                   wa1ida@arrl.net
Jun 27 Quincy      MA MS Cape Cod Getaway          Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Jun 28 Provincetwn MA MS Cape Cod Getaway          Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Jul  3 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  4 Princeton   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  5 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul 25 Devens      MA Memory Ride for Alzheimer's  Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul 26 Haverhill   MA Cycle for Shelter            Ross KB1MGD   603.382.2742
                                                          rscoe2001@yahoo.com
Aug  8 Stratham    NH MS Seacoast Escape           Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 11 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 12 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 13 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 26 Berkshires  MA MS Bike&Hike the Berkshires  Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Oct 11 Boston      MA BAA Half Marathon            Bob WA1IDA    508.650.9440
                                                               wa1ida@arrl.net

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE and Ralph KD1SM. Our usual distribution is via Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists, and on the World Wide Web. 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 Web address below is included. Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

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.

Dear ARRL Member:

I am contacting you as part of the ARRL Legislative Action “Grassroots” Program and asking you to get involved by writing to your Congressman — Edward Markey.

One of the biggest challenges that amateurs face is antenna restrictions – those implemented by local governments and those originating from deed restrictions and building development covenants.  As you may know, the FCC’s PRB-1 limited preemption order offers amateurs some relief when facing zoning and building restrictions.  However, PRB-1 does not extend to include covenants, conditions and restrictions (known as CC&Rs).  These deed and property use restrictions strongly and negatively affect the ability of Amateur Radio service licensees to perform valuable emergency and disaster communications.  Finding a method to extend the PRB-1 protections is a key component of the ARRL Legislative Action Program.

Recently Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) introduced House Bill H.R.2160 – the “Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009”.   If enacted into law, H.R.2160 would instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security to undertake a study and report its findings to Congress within 180 days. The study would spell out uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief. The study shall:

* Include recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts.
* Include recommendations for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in planning and in furtherance of the Department of Homeland Security initiatives.
* Identify unreasonable or unnecessary impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio communications — such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential antenna installations — and make recommendations regarding such impediments.
* Include an evaluation of Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat 56 [1996]).
* Recommend whether Section 207 should be modified to prevent unreasonable private land use restrictions that impair the ability of amateurs to conduct, or prepare to conduct, emergency communications by means of effective outdoor antennas and support structures at reasonable heights and dimensions for the purpose in residential areas.

While the bill does not automatically extend PRB-1 to include CC&Rs, it takes a first big step in that direction by determining the extent that things such as CC&Rs impede the Amateur Service in performing public and emergency service communications.

H.R.2160 has been assigned to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  Getting the bill out of committee is the first major hurdle to overcome – and that is where you play an essential role.  Your Congressman is a member of that committee.  We need you to let them hear your voice of support for H.R.2160.

Attached to this email is a draft letter for you to personalize and send to your Congressman/woman.  I am asking that you first personalize the letter (including your name and address).  After that, I ask that you send the letter to Chwat & Co, our representation in Washington.  To facilitate the process, please either email the letter directly to Chwat & Co. at arrl@chwatco.com or fax the letter to their office at 703-684-7594 (Do not send it only to your Congressman by US Mail because it can take weeks before they receive it due to security scanning processes).  Their staff will be hand delivering your letter (along with the letters of others) directly to the various Congressional offices.  If you choose to send your letter directly to your member of Congress, please still email or fax a copy as directed above.  This will allow Chwat’s staff to most effectively represent the ARRL in this process.

H.R.2160 can go a long way towards assisting thousands of amateurs who are restrained unreasonably by CC&Rs.  However, it is going to take a concerted effort by all amateurs for this effort to be successful.  Time can become critical – so please act quickly in contacting your Representative.  Together our voices can be heard and make a difference.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, or the ARRL Regulatory Information office at reginfo@arrl.org

Thanks and 73,

Tom Frenaye, K1KI
ARRL New England Division Director
P O Box J
West Suffield CT 06093
860-668-5444
frenaye@pcnet.com