a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
I’ve posted the December, 2002 Section News and NTS traffic totals to the ARRL Hq. website at http://www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=EMA.
This column marks a passing, as it is the final issue of Section News to be published in QST. All future columns will be carried only on the web. -Phil
What’s going on:
It began with a simple request from John Newell, kb1fpm,the father of a son that was a new ham, looking for a net strictly for young operators… The request was picked up by a CEMARC delegate, Roger, kB1XKB, posted to the CEMARC list, went through several replies, and other discussions direct. All comments were positive, and all agreed that a net was needed that encouraged our young operators to get on the air. We had, but don’t now have, an active YOUTH NET, in Eastern Mass. We had both 2 meter and HF nets that went silent as the Net Control operators grew up and went their own way.
As it stands now, the MMRA have agreed to provide a linked system for the Youth Net, a trained YOUNG net control operator and a Repeater Control operator to get it started, and Ann Weldon, ka1pon, has agreed to mentor, help organize, and get the net on the air.
What is needed now from your clubs, is a campaign to reach all of the young operators you know of, both in the club and friends and relatives of members, to determine the best time to conduct a Youth Net. Please put this request in your club newsletters, mail lists, and make it a topic on all club on-air nets. Have parents and young people forward their suggested day/time comments to either AnnWeldon@aol.com or n1dhw@arrl.net as soon as possible.
On the occasion that is the eve marking the anniversary of the most deadly
attack on our nation, September 11, 2001, I want to take a moment to
recognize the heroes in our community. Before I continue with that message,
however, I believe it is important that we not forget the death and
suffering of the victims and rescuers, and to recognize those of you reading
this message that have suffered the loss of friends and family one year ago
in NYC, or the Pentagon… Much has been said about the heroic efforts of professional public safety
personnel, individual citizens, and our public officials on that day. More
eloquent voices than mine have documented the monumental efforts of the
rescue crews, and the sacrifice and contribution of the thousands of
volunteers who helped with the recovery. I will not try to add to that
chorus.
I would, however, like to talk about some of those recovery volunteers;
Amateur Radio operators. They came from all over the nation, but
particularly from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Most came from the
ARES community, but also individuals and teams from Amateur Radio clubs
participated. Subtle, but important support for their efforts was also
garnered from family and employers. We (EMA) proudly sent two teams of
volunteers to the New York City recovery area (a.k.a “ground zero”), after
it was certain that we would not be needed in our home community. It is my
distinct honor to acknowledge the efforts of our volunteers in that mutual
assistance team effort.
Within an hour after the attack, ARES volunteers and key club individuals
help activate every important repeater and network throughout EMA, as we
tried to ascertain if the attack was extended to Boston. Phone and cell
phone service was crippled at the time, but as we were to learn that
afternoon, from the public overwhelming it and not from battle damage.
Once the situation had clarified itself, the ARES DEC staff and other key
ARES members swung into action. We had assistance from several clubs,
including a complete Emergency Radio Team from the Boston Amateur Radio Club
(BARC). The situation was chaotic down there, and it took the better part
of two days to get it figured out. My able partner was in this early effort
was Paul Vanasse, W1PEV, of RI. Paul assumed “command” of the RI effort and
worked together with me to send a contingent of MA and RI hams to the area,
once the particulars of logistics and security could be worked out. We
shared information, intelligence, and honed our strategy until the winning
one was arrived at. Those of you, who know Paul, know that he is man of
energy and determination, as well as having a pleasant and positive
attitude.
On our end, I needed someone to lead our team to the area. He had to be an
ARES “professional”, and available. That was Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, thanks
in part to his employer, EMC, and his family. Steve has years of public
service experience as a ham, and has held various positions in the ARRL
field program. Steve also has experience working with such groups as his
church and the Boy Scouts, and has such understands how to motivate support
in clubs etc. Steve organized a superb team of experienced hams, including
such veterans as Middlesex DEC Ed, N1VSJ, and former Norfolk/Bristol DEC,
Lou, N1UEC. Lou brought his formidable technical talents to bear in the
face of what was originally characterized as “electronic hell” by the LI/NYC
SEC. I also had a most able logistic assistant, Bob Salow, WA1IDA, in
obtaining much needed safety supplies for our deploying volunteers.
It is just as important the note the dedication (“courage”) of the other DEC
’s to remain in our home area. All wanted to go, but they realized that
they might be needed to respond to any possible additional attack in our
home area. Since the attack occurred in the zenith of the hurricane season,
Rob, KD1CY, was needed to respond to any weather exigency. Since the most
vulnerable area to hurricanes is Cape Cod and the Islands, Frank’s WQ1O,
continued presence there was crucial. This was all happening just a few
days after the attack, and we did not know if Boston was next. That is why
it was important to have Bill, N1VUX in place in the city, and he also
worked tirelessly on the website keeping everyone informed.
Finally, I want to again thank those ARES members who went to the NYC area,
performing so well that I received several phone calls and emails praising
our effort. Your readiness, preparation, and dedication were amply evident
to those we served. We even had a complete team in reserve, ready to deploy
to the area for a period in the October timeframe, headed by Carl,N1FY.
Although they were ultimately not needed, their effort to get ready and
remain in standby is very noteworthy.
For those who have been ARES members for years, and those of you who have
just joined us, thanks for being there! My best to you and your family.
73.
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
Section Emergency Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts Section
Pager: 1-800-759-8888 PIN 1155084
Admin: w1mpn (symbol for at) arrl.net
978-562-5662 Primary/Voice Mail
978-389-0558 FAX/ EFax Voice Mail
Hello to all,
I am Trustee for the USS Salem Radio Club – K1USN in Quincy, Ma. This e-mail is being sent to as many Ham Clubs as possible from listings on the ARRL web site. We would like to try to enlist help from the Ham community with our efforts to encourage newcomers to our great hobby.
During the past year, we have hosted 6150 Scouts as part of our onboard Overnight Scouting Program. These Scouts have come from throughout the entire New England area plus NY, NJ and PA. We even hosted 14 Scouts from the UK back in January! Part of their 24 hours onboard the USS Salem is spent being introduced to Ham Radio and Morse Code. We have two complete HF stations and a VHF/UHF station in Radio Room 5 which are part of our demonstrations onboard. Most Scouts have an opportunity to make a contact on the air and have often gotten to speak with our good friend KE6ZYK – Mike at Mc Murdo Station, Antarctica! The Scouts also receive K1USN QSL cards, Official Radioman wallet cards, ARRL literature including QST magazines and most importantly- AN INTEREST IN AMATEUR RADIO!!
We need your assistance to help us transform these 6000 + “Sales Leads” into prospective Hams! We need to compile an accurate list of Clubs throughout this area that would be willing to give additional onsite demonstrations and offer License Classes.
Please feel free to pass this e-mail along to people from any other Ham Clubs throughout the Northeast that might be willing to assist these youngsters . Remember- The future of Amateur Radio is in the hands of EVERY Ham!
Want to upgrade to Extra? Studying the 800 questions? Need some help?
Solution: Come to FARA’s “crash” courses!
Dates: Sept. 21, Oct. 19 2002
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Where: FARA club shack in downtown Framingham (basement of the Danforth Museum building, entrance on Lexington Street next
to public library parking garage)
NO fee! NO text needed!
For more information, call 508-881-2301 (before 9 pm please) or 508-879-8097, or e-mail fara@fara.org
Thanks to FARA training director Ed W1NXC for putting together this great new FARA class!
The July/August EMA ARES newsletter is posted to
http://www.emaares.com/Newsletters/Newsletter-Latest.html *July/August Headlines*
ARES at Boxoboro Convention 8/23-25
— No ARES Net 8/25
Homeland Security Grant Training Set to Start September 1
Hurricane Season * Cape Cod Drill #9, #10
Skywarn Training Session at MIT a success (2002-07-28) Skywarn
Activations — July 23rd Outbreak included a Tornado/Downburst NWS
Taunton Now Has WX1BOX Call-Sign to be Used in All Future NWS Ham Ops
* ARES News from ARRL Letter*
Homeland Security Grant Training Set to Start September 1
Bulletin listings of ARES/RACES Responses nationwide
* Every Month*
Calendar: PSE, Training, Drill
Website updates
Following an absence of several years, there will be a VHF/UHF/Microwave session at this year’s New England Division ARRL Convention. These programs will occur from 9 AM until 1PM Sunday, August 25, immediately followed by the convention prize drawings at 2PM.This session will meet in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel, so there will be plenty of seating. Bring all of your friends!
Sunday will provide a “laid back” atmosphere for the VHF program, without competition from the many other Convention events held on Saturday. In contrast with Saturday, parking at the Boxboro Woods Holiday Inn is readily available on Sunday, and many dealers are eager to make “deals” rather than transporting their unsold merchandise back home.
Of course your $10.00 registration ticket (purchased at the door) provides admission on both days. Friday’s events held at the convention site will require preregistration and an additional fee.
Lew Collins, W1GXT, is serving as the VHF Program Chairman for the convention.
Check the Convention web site at http://www.boxboro.org for updates on the convention program, lists of commercial exhibitors, and other information.
8:30 AM Informal gathering for conversation and coffee
9:00 AM “Introduction to VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating” presented by Grant “Chip” Taylor, W1AIM, Cabot, VT
This presentation will provide an overview of VHF/UHF propagation and technology. It will include practical hints for expanding your horizons on the bands above 50 MHz. This talk will be of interest to the newcomer as well as to the experienced VHFer.
10:00 AM “Your Rig Covers Six Meters – Now What?” presented by Dave Olean, K1WHS, Lebanon, ME
This presentation, which focuses mostly on antennas, will enable owners of the new “all band” transceivers to realize the potential of their new radio to work world-wide DX on 50 MHz. In addition, there will be some discussion of the other aspects of station design, such as feedlines, amplifiers, etc.
11:00 AM “Antennas for the Microwave Bands” presented by Paul Wade, W1GHZ, Shirley, MA
This presentation will describe a variety of easily constructed antennas for use on the bands above 1GHz. If you have dreamed of having an antenna with over 20 dB of gain, this talk is for you!
12:00 Noon “Predicting Radio Line-of-Sight Using the USGS Digital Topographic Maps” presented by Matt Reilly, KB1VC, Stow, MA
For years the USGS has provided digitized topographic map data in the form of their Digital Elevation Map datasets. This presentation will show you how to use a web service that utilizes this data to plot the radio signal path between any two points in the continental U.S.
Check the Convention web site at http://www.boxboro.org for updates on the convention program.
73,
Lew Collins
W1GXT
VHF Program Chairman
“…This week, ARRL section managers were asked to recommend up to five students to sign up to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications on-line course. These individuals also will receive additional training to become instructors and mentors…”SB QST @ ARL $ARLB050
ARLB050 Emergency Communications Training to Begin September 1
ZCZC AG50
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 50 ARLB050>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT August 16, 2002
To all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB050
ARLB050 Emergency Communications Training to Begin September 1
Amateur Radio emergency communications training supported by a $181,900
federal homeland security grant will begin within a few weeks. The
League was among several dozen nonprofit organizations designated to
receive some $10.3 million in federal money to boost homeland defense
volunteer programs. During its first year, the grant–from the
Corporation for National and Community Service special volunteer
program–will reimburse the cost of Level I ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Course training for up to 1700 volunteers.
I’ve posted the 10/2002 Section News column on the ARRL EMA web page at
http://www.arrl.org/sections/?sect=EMA. I have also appended our STM’s traffic totals.
I hope to see all of you at Boxboro!
Phil Temples, K9HI
ARRL Section Manager,
Eastern Massachusetts Section
The [New England Division] Convention Committe has granted CEMARC a place on the activity schedule to hold our summer meeting on Sunday morning at 9:00am. I hope that at least one delegate from each radio club in Eastern Mass. will take the time to attend. If you can’t attend, please ask for someone from your club to attend and represent the club.I would like to ask each delegate to submit agenda items to me as soon as possible. I realize that many clubs do not have summer meetings, so I’m asking those of you receiving this note to forward it on to your own club members for discussion topics, that would be of interest to such a potenially large audience.
Remember,CEMARC meetings are open to all amateur operators, not just the club voting delegates.
I look forward to hearing your suggestions for the agenda soon, also looking forward to meeting with all of you at the Convention.
Check for latest info.
Frank Murphy – n1dhw EMass. ACC
The ARRL New England Division Convention in Boxboro, MA on August 23-25, 2002 promises to be bigger and better than ever.
This year’s banquet speaker is the ever-entertaining ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP.
On-site parking has been straightened out this year.
A recent email indicated that hotel rooms have been sold out.
This Convention promises to be one of the biggest and best yet!
See www.boxboro.org for additional information.
Skywarn is pleased to announce a bonus training session for the 2002 season. On Sunday, July 28th, 2002, NWS meteorologists will present the Skywarn Spotter Training course at MIT, Cambridge, in room 6-120 from 1 to 4pm…
MAP http://whereis.mit.edu/bin/map?locate=room_6-120
Talkin: W1XM 449.725-/114.8 is on the top of the tall building opposite the classroom. From 2m, try BARC 145.230-/88.5 (our usual Skywarn frequency WARA 146.64/csq will be hard to hit from building 6.)
www.emaares.com/skywarn.html
Our thanks to jhawk and the W1MX team and to NWS-BOX for pulling this together for us.
— bill n1vux at arrl.net
“I hope you’re all enjoying the summer and had fun at FD! I am […] the chairman of the W1A effort in Boxboro this year.
<…>
I need volunteers for two-hour stints, Saturday and Sunday, to help supervise the Station (i.e., be the control operator). You can even run pile-ups during light times! I will also need volunteers to help set-up and take down. This activity is comparable to a Class 1A Field Day effort, except when you’re done, you can retreat inside an air-conditioned building next to a bar!
If any of you are interested, please respond via email to me ASAP. All control op time slots are currently open, so first-come, first-served.
Please pass this along to anyone you know […]
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
w1es@arrl.net
“Field Day 2002. For some, it was the culmination of weeks of hard work and planning. For others, it was a wonderful occasion to socialize with old friends and to make new acquaintances…”I and other members of the EMA ARRL and ARES staff traveled throughout Eastern Massachusetts June 22-23 to visit with many of the radio clubs involved in this annual event.
I’ve included my thoughts, observations and photos at EMA Field Day 2002. I hope that you will take a moment and visit this page.
On behalf of the EMA ARRL staff, I want to thank everyone who particpated in Field Day. Good job!
73, Phil Temples, K9HI
k9hi@arrl.org
It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Jim Ward, N1LKJ as the new Eastern Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager effective June 1,2002. Jim replaces outgoing STM Bill Wornham, NZ1D of Townsend, MA…
Jim Ward has been licensed for over ten years. He currently holds a General Class license. Jim has been an active traffic handler for over 10 years, and has served as Net Manager of the Eastern MA Two Meter Traffic Net (EM2MN) for eight years. *N1LKJ* enjoys DXing, PSK, Packet and RTTY modes.
A retired commercial property manager, Jim has been married 40 years this September to his wife, Diane. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Jim inherits a well-managed operation from NZ1D. I want to thank Bill for his efforts! I’m sure that Jim can count on Bill’s sage advice, as well as the assistance of all the wonderful traffic handlers in the EMA section.