Public Service

PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, August 07, 2005 Quincy, MA

Members of the USS Salem Radio Club were allowed to remove their radio equipment from onboard the Heavy Cruiser, USS Salem yesterday. An agreement was reached with United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Board Chairman, James Sheets, six weeks after being denied access to their equipment by the current Executive Director.

Twenty-five club members from around the South Shore spent several hours dismantling, packing and removing their club station, K1USN, which had been onboard since 1997. During the past eight years club members had spent thousands of volunteer hours demonstrating Amateur Radio to several thousand visitors enabling many Scouts to speak with stations as far away as McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Club members also originated the International Museum Ships Weekend. This annual radio event takes place during mid July and has grown to include participation from more that 80 other Museum Ships from around the world. Radio Amateurs activate the radio rooms onboard to help bring much deserved recognition to these vessels, their crews and current volunteer staff. Some clubs will even transmit using original WWII vintage transmitters. The club was unable to participate during this year’s event.

Members of the Battleship New Jersey, NJ2BB, Radio Club, in Camden, NJ
( www.nj2bb.org/ ) have now volunteered to sponsor the International Museum Ships Weekend.

Club members would also activate the K1USN club station during Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other patriotic celebrations. Members also manned a display booth at the Marshfield Fair and had distributed USS Salem informational literature to operators throughout the world in addition to maintaining a club website ( www.qsl.net/k1usn ).

Terms of the agreement with the USNSM call for the club to relinquish use of the name “USS Salem”. The club will be renamed the K1USN Radio Club.

Information about future club activities can be obtained by contacting the Club Trustee at haroldpugh@verizon.net

Harold Pugh Trustee K1USN RADIO CLUB
78 Temple St.
Abington, MA 02351

Bill O’Hara, writes:

We need to hear from people about volunteering on the ship for our Scouting program. I need volunteers to schedule for any Saturday during the next two months.

Bill O’Hara, N1EY
who_icrr@adelphia.net

Bill O Hara, N1EY, writes:

We need people to help out the Scouting Program. We have very few volunteers. I have only three persons scheduled including myself. Radio Room 5 shall be open at the bare minimum on April 9th.

Anyone welcome to checking out the radio room and its operations should come by on the 9th. Pi K1RV shall be giving tours.

We require help every weekend. This should not be news to any club members. I shouldn’t even have to put an email in the manner that JC did every week.
I think that people should hold themselves accountable and be responsible. Other individuals arrive every week and work to man other stations such as CIC, sickbay, gunnery, engine rooms, or act as tour guides.

If we are truly interested in maintaining this ship, then people should be showing up.

April 9th – 225 scouts
April 16th – 85 scouts
April 23rd – 50 scouts morning; 155 scouts afternoon
April 30th – 203 scouts
May 7th – 170 scouts
May 14th – 225 scouts
May 21st – 225 scouts
June 4th – 177 scouts
June 11th – 210 scouts

This is the primary source of revenue to pay for badly needed repairs to the ship. Few club members are helping out. W1BT works very hard and is at the ship many times during the week to keep the juice running.

We also have not handled other club tasks such as getting the transmitters in RR 2 up to sniff and scratch standards. Nor we have done anything like getting a working teletype circuit.

Bill O Hara, N1EY writes:

We need people [this weekend, April 2]. Any volunteers? I can not run the show by myself. I need some club members to show up.

Give me a call at 617-792-3126 or email me [at who_icrr@adelphia.net].

The scouting activities aboard the USS Salem in Quincy are in danger of collapse. This, according to Harold “Pi” Pugh, K1RV, in the wake of the resignation of USS Salem Scout Coordinator “JC” Cunningham, W1AI.

Despite numerous pleas for ham assistance, Cunningham and company have been unable to recruit any new volunteers. Wrote Cunningham, “I received zero volunteers, so I have cancelled all K1USN activities on the USS Salem for tomorrow (3/12/2005). I hereby resign as Scout Coordinator!”Pugh, who coordinated the program prior to Cunningham, praised W1AI’s efforts. “I want to personally thank J.C. for all his hard work during the past several years maintaining this program! …I know how difficult it can be to keep up the momentum.”

“We have had a wonderful time during the past eight years running the International Museum Ships Weekend and other K1USN operations,” added Pugh. “These have helped draw much deserved attention to the USS Salem, but those activities may not be enough to keep K1USN ‘afloat.’ On more than one occasion we have been threatened with eviction from the ship if we can’t find a way to regularly assist the Overnight Scouting Program.”

Pugh stated the group now has an “immediate need” for someone to step forward to become the new Scouting Coordinator. He added that the group can give the next coordinator all the training he or she needs to get started.

“As J.C. has stated in the past, the Scouting Coordinator does NOT have to live nearby the ship. All the main duties can be handled by e-mail and phone.”

Concluded K1RV: “We need to find a way to get some more of the hams in Eastern Massachusetts to want to help save this program.”

Amateurs in Eastern MA are encouraged to forward this message to anyone who might be interested in salvaging the USS Salem’s Overnight Scouting Program.

JC Cunningham, W1AI writes:

I sent a message last week asking whether we should shut down the K1USN scouting program. The responses were quite underwhelming. I got responses from about 10 people, including 2 who actually volunteered to help with the scouts. We lost about 4 subscribers to the list as a result of my message.

Everyone – if you want to see this program continue, email me this week volunteering to help with one or more of the following sessions. If you really want to see the scouting program continue, also forward this message to other hams in Eastern Mass.

Saturday morning 5 March….(24 scouts expected) [1 volunteer so far; 1 more would be nice]

Saturday afternoon 5 March….(158 scouts expected) [1 volunteer so far; 3 more needed]

Saturday morning 12 March…(40 scouts expected) [2 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 12 March…..(154 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday morning 19 March…..(100 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 19 March……(164 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 26 March…..(24 scouts expected) [2 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 2 April…(215 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 9 April….(225 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 16 April….(85 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday morning 23 April….(50 scouts expected) [3 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 23 April……(155 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 30 April….(203 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 7 May…(170 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 14 May …(225 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 21 May…(225 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 4 June….(177 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

Saturday afternoon 11 June….(210 scouts expected) [4 volunteers needed]

All morning sessions are from 9:30am to 10:30am on Saturday. All afternoon sessions are from 3pm till 6pm on Saturday. Volunteers should plan on arriving 30 minutes early to help with setup, and staying a few minutes late to help with cleanup.

No experience is necessary. Our experienced volunteers will show you what needs to be done. There are jobs for no-code Techs and even unlicensed individuals!

Here’s the deal. This message is going out to almost 100 subscribers. If I get 30 or more person-session signups as a result of this message, I will assume that there is still interest in this program, and I will commit to acting as volunteer coordinator until June 30. If I do not, then I will resign as volunteer coordinator and shut down the program until such a time as someone else decides to start it up again.

Your response to this message determines whether we introduce 2656 scouts to amateur radio over the next 4 months, or shut down the K1USN scouting program.

You decide.

JC, W1AI
W1AI@hamtestonline.com

J.C. Cunningham, W1AI writes on K1USN@YahooGroups.com:

What if we had an opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio to 73 youngsters – the potential next generation of hams – and nobody showed up?

I still need volunteers for Saturday, 2/12/2005, from 3pm to 6pm, to demonstrate amateur radio to scouts visiting the USS Salem.

Please email me at W1AI@hamtestonline.com if you can help! If I do not have at least 3 more volunteers by Friday morning, I will be forced to cancel again! We’ve been doing that a lot recently! Let’s not let another group of scouts down this weekend!

No prior experience is necessary. We can train you!

Live too far away from Quincy, MA? You can still help! I’m looking for someone to take over the task of volunteer coordinator. No prior experience on the USS Salem is required. We can train you! All you need is reliability and good people skills!

JC
W1AI@hamtestonline.com

JC Cunningham, W1AI writes:

The USS Salem K1USN radio club is going to be busy with the scouting program in the coming months:

* Sat Jan 22 – 25 scouts in the afternoon
* Sat Feb 12 – 73 scouts in the afternoon
* Sat Mar 5 – 68 scouts in the morning and 160-190 in the afternoon
* Sat Mar 12 – 40 scouts in the morning and 172 in the afternoon
* Sat Mar 19 – 100 scouts in the morning and 119 in the afternoon

What are you going to do to help?

Several people have expressed disappointment that the scouting activities are always on Saturdays, when they are unavailable for a variety of reasons. Well, there’s one activity that needs to be done during the week (either days or evenings). That’s the job of volunteer coordinator. I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now, and I’m ready to pass the torch. I plan to stay active with the scouting program, but primarily in the role of occasional volunteer.

What you need to do this job is:

* Good organizational skills
* Good communication skills
* The ability to get along with people

What the job entails:

* Find out from the ship what scouting events are coming up
* Send emails (and/or make phone calls) to get volunteers
* Send more urgent emails (and/or make phone calls) if your first email doesn’t raise enough volunteers
* Make sure that enough people, with sufficient USS Salem experience, have volunteered to get the job done
* Letting the ship know by Friday morning what our participation will be
* Send a final email letting everyone know what will or won’t be happening

The volunteer coordinator does not ever have to go to the ship. In fact, this is a job that could just as well be done from Hawaii as Massachusetts! (Know that would be my preference!) That makes it perfect for people who want to help out, but who live a long ways from Quincy!

Please contact me to volunteer, or if you need more information.

JC Cunningham, W1AI

Outgoing USS Salem K1USN Radio Club Scouting Program Volunteer Coordinator

http://www.hamtestonline.com
W1AI@hamtestonline.com

The library at the Southeastern MA ARA is about to get a whole lot more interesting, thanks to the efforts of Bob “Whitey” Doherty, K1VV. Doherty is donating a set of DVDs with ham-related materials to the club’s library for use by its members. Doherty has personally produced and created many of the titles himself.

“Over the last couple of years, we have put together a number of video DVDs. We’ve donated some to the ARRL. They sell them on their web page.” Doherty adds, “We receive no compensation for this, nor do we expect any.”

K1VV says some of the DVD programs have been shown on Braintree cable television.

The set includes:

* New England Museum of Wireless and Steam
* International Lighthouse Weekend
* Real Radio Ft Burnside RI W1NZR Military Radio equipment.
* Marconi 100th Anniversary Cape Cod, January 18,2003
* FISTS CW Event on the USS Salem Quincy, Ma.
* South Shore Fox Hunters’ Association
* STEAM UP at the New England Museum of Wireless and Steam
* JOTA- Scouts Jamboree On the Air, Cape Cod, Ma.
* SET- Simulated Emergency Test Bridgewater, Ma.
* BPL – Broadband Over Power Lines
* ARRL – Trip and tour of the American Radio Relay League Newington, Ct.
* The Mighty 4 Watter – CQ Magazine April 1956 rebuilt Tube QRP rig
* 1934 Collins 30FX Transmitter Restoration by Don K1DC
* Museum Ships Event – USS Salem Quincy, Ma.
* DXCC – ARRL DX Century Club

In response to K1VV’s offer, another SEMARA club member has donate a new DVD player to the club.

—Thanks, SEMARA Mailing List

Harold “Pi” Pugh, K1RV writes:

“I want to give everyone an update on the K1USN Six Meter repeater. The repeater will soon be located on the Cohasset water tower thanks to the dedicated work of a few individuals. This will give increased coverage and will allow for better access and control of repeater operations.

This repeater will round out our stable of repeaters in the South Coast. The South Coastal Affiliated Radio Clubs – SCARC (SCARC because the people on the south shore are members of many clubs SNS, Marconi, Salem, Capeway,Whitman ARC, etc. )will have 145.39 (IRLP) 443.6 (ECHOLINK) 145.25 and 53.33 machines for their usage. (These repeaters are open for all to use!)

This new site will provide excellent 6 meter coverage from Cape Cod to NH and will be the first 6 meter repeater that is in our backyards. Since this repeater will be one of the local machines we are asking for small donations to help defray the costs. One of the guys just ordered 350 feet of cable and we would like to help him out with the costs. We are also looking for a 70 cm control receiver.

If anyone can help with a small donation it would be greatly appreciated. If you can help then send your donation to:

Bob Callahan – W1QWT
56 Acorn St.
Scituate, MA. 02066

Bob’s e-mail address is w1qwt@comcast.net

I’d also like to let everyone know that NS1N and KC1HO have been busy upgrading both Norwell repeaters. They will have lots of exciting features.

They have purchased new Kenwood repeaters for both the (443.600 88.5HZ)UHF and (145.250 77HZ) VHF machines. Also the VHF machine has a new Hustler G144-7 antenna and lowloss hard-line. A new controller with many exciting features is controlling these machines.

A Kenwood transceiver has been purchased and hooked up to allow the linking of these machines to other area repeaters and the UHF machine has had upgrades to its echolink system.

Anyone wishing to support this system please contact NS1N-

KARL S JOHNSON, SR – NS1N
39 RICHFIELD RD
SCITUATE MA 02066

Karl’s e-mail address is ns1n@msn.com

Our November 11th Veterans Day 2004 operation was a tremendous success! We had a dozen operators and made over 500 contacts on HF, VHF and IRLP. Thanks to all who helped make this a success! HRO even loaned us an IC-756-PRO-II from their Salem, NH store!

73, Pi – K1RV / K1USN