Contents
Contact
Rob Macedo, KD1CY
50 Mandell Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email: kd1cy.rob@gmail.com
Introduction
Radio amateurs have a proud history of providing communications during times of emergency. Some choose to volunteer directly and serve agencies’ communications needs, like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, or local and state emergency management. But the majority participate through the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. ARES® is comprised of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Since the 1930s, ARES members have responded to local, regional and national disasters, including: the attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York City; the central Massachusetts ice storms in December, 2008; and communications support at Cape Cod shelters in March, 2018.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)
Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Training may be required or desired to participate fully in ARES. Because ARES is an Amateur Radio program, only licensed radio amateurs are eligible for membership. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable, but is not a requirement for membership.
ARES in Eastern Massachusetts
Eastern Massachusetts ARES serves 190 communities in eight counties east of the Worcester County line from the New Hampshire state border to Cape Cod and the Islands. The organization maintains a liaison with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency through its Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) program as well as the National Weather Service Norton/Taunton Office’s SKYWARN™ program.
ARES members have distinguished themselves in service to the National Weather Service through its SKYWARN program, and have a proven track record of providing communications support at marathons and public events. They hold periodic training workshops, along with regular on-air nets.
How Do I Get Involved?
It’s easy to apply. You should reside in Eastern Massachusetts but other residents of the Commonwealth are also welcome, particularly if you live near the Worcester County line. Additionally, due to a reciprocal agreement with New Hampshire ARES we are accepting memberships from New Hampshire.
Start by visiting the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Online Database and filling out the registration form. By submitting your registration form via the online database, the Section Emergency Coordinator and the District Emergency Coordinator for your geographic area will be notified of your application and the District Emergency Coordinator for your area will be in contact with you giving you more information on ARES.
ARES Section Leadership
Section Manager: Jon McCombie, N1ILZ
Section Emergency Coordinator: Rob Macedo, KD1CY
Assistant Section Emergency Coordinators:
- Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (Administration & Planning) – Stu Solomon, W1SHS
- Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator (Operations & RACES) – Michael Leger, N1YLQ
District & Assistant District Emergency Coordinators:
Geographical:
- Bristol County – Phil McNamara, N1XTB
- Cape & Islands – Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O
- Cape & Islands ADEC – Henry Brown, K1WCC
- Essex County – Jim Palmer, KB1KQW
- Middlesex ADEC – Alan H. Martin, W1AHM
- Middlesex ADEC – Tim Miranda, W1MWS
- Metro Boston DEC – Mark Duff, KB1EKN
- Metro Boston ADEC – Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP
- Norfolk County – Stu Solomon, W1SHS
- Plymouth County – Phil McNamara, N1XTB
Functional:
- (High Frequency Net) – Marc Stern, WA1R
- (Hospital Liaison) –John O’Neill, K1JRO
- (IT/Database) – Phil McNamara, N1XTB
- (Special Operations) – Mark Duff, KB1EKN
- (RACES Region 1) – Terry Stader, KA8SCP
- (RACES Region 2) – Michael Leger, N1YLQ
- (Operations) – Steve Schwarm, W3EVE
Emergency Coordinators:
- Cape Ann Area/Cape Ann Amateur Radio Club: Dean Burgess, KB1PGH
- Nantucket Island: George Allen, N1NBQ
- Sturdy Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club/Greater Attleboro Area: John C. Benson, N1FLO
- Greater New Bedford/Acushnet area: Edward A. Caron, KA1RSY
- Stow area: Robert M. Glorioso, W1IS
- Walpole area: W. D. (Don) Rolph, AB1PH
- Marlborough area: Eric Williams, KV1J
- Metro Boston area: Joe Chapman, NV1W
Public Service Honor Roll
Each month in QST‘s Field Organization Reports column, the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognizes the efforts of Amateur Radio operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. There are chances that you’re already involved with some aspect of Amateur Radio that would apply to the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR).
Take a look at these categories and descriptions to see where your Amateur Radio activities fit in. At the end of each calendar month, just add up your qualifying points. If it reaches the 70-point level (or more), you’ve qualified for the Public Service Honor Roll! Report the good news with your call sign and monthly PSHR point total to your ARRL Section Manager or Section Traffic Manager. The ARRL section leaders, in turn, would forward the report onto ARRL Headquarters so that Headquarters staff may prepare these for listing in the Field Organization Reports segment of QST‘. [via http://www.arrl.org]
For additional details, see http://www.arrl.org/public-service-honor-roll.