ARRL Rolls Back Outgoing QSL Bureau Rates to 2011 Prices

ARRL flagvia ARRL Web:

ARRL is rolling back Outgoing QSL Bureau rates to 2011 levels. Effective May 15, 2019, the new rates will be:

  • $2 for 10 or fewer cards in one envelope.
  • $3 for 11 – 20 cards in one envelope, or
  • 75 cents per ounce for packages with 21 or more cards. For example, a package containing 1.5 pounds of cards — 24 ounces, or about 225 cards — will cost $18.

No transaction service fees.

Any cards received before May 15 will be charged the current rate. There will be no adjustments for cards received before May 15.

More information is on the ARRL website.

K1VR Presents at Nashoba Valley ARC Meeting, March 21, 2019

Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes:

The Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club’s March meeting will be Thursday, March 21st at 7:30 PM at the Pepperell Community Center (in Pepperell).

Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, our newly-elected ARRL New England Division Director, will join us this month. Fred suggested discussing antenna zoning (his specialty) and current ARRL matters (his new job). He’s an accomplished speaker, a contester and an alumnus-affiliate of a local college radio club, so the session just might easily meander following audience interests.

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Need directions? Click here and put your own address in box “A”.

Thanks and 73. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Section Manager Presentation at PART of Westford, March 19, 2019

PART of Westford logoAt the [PART of Westford] meeting next Tuesday, March 19, our speaker will be Tom Walsh, K1TW, Section Manager for the ARRL Eastern Massachusetts section.  He will explain the various activities and appointments within the section:

“My talk is focused on the ARRL Field Organization which consists of the volunteers in a section, many of which make ARES run among many other kinds of activities.  I have a volunteer staff of 11-12 who in turn manage about 100 volunteers throughout the section, many of who are PART members already.  I explain how a section is organized and how people can be involved.”

Please come with questions about ARRL activities within the section.

ARRL Leadership Talk at Billerica ARS Meeting, March 6, 2019

Billerica ARS logoThe Billerica Amateur Radio Society will feature presentations by Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, and ARRL New England Vice Director, Mike Reisbeck, K1TWF, at its monthly meeting in Chelmsford on March 6, 2019 at 7 PM. Mike will discuss the ARRL Board of Directors meeting; Tom will describe the proposed hands-free cell bill now in the Massachusetts Legislature. Additional information and directions can be found on the club’s web site.

[This talk was rescheduled to March when a dangerous ice storm forced cancellation of the original February meeting.]

ARRL New England Director Election Results Announced

ARRL flagARRL has announced the results of contested elections for Director and Vice Director. Ballots were opened and counted on November 16 in seven contests within five ARRL Divisions.

In the New England Division Director contest,  Lincoln, MA amateur Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, edged out incumbent Tom Frenaye, K1KI, by a count of 1,432  to 1,383. 

Hopengarten will take office at noon on January 1, 2019.  

 
 

[Full story]

Barry Porter, KB1PA, Appointed as Section Manager in Southern Florida

photo of Barry Porter, KB1PAA former Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager is back in a familiar leadership role:  Barry Porter, KB1PA, has been appointed to serve as Section Manager for Southern Florida beginning October 1st. 

A resident of Delray Beach, Barry is a native of Milton, Massachusetts. He was licensed in 1984 and was one of the founding members of the Aleppo Shrine Amateur Radio Club and the Boston Computer Society’s Amateur Radio Group.

“I was very active promoting the melding of ham radio and computing, and did a lot of packet radio. Through packet radio, I got involved with public service activities, and worked nine Boston Marathons. I became involved  with Massachusetts Civil Defense and RACES and later I was appointed as a District Emergency Coordinator and Section Emergency Coordinator.”

Barry succeeded Luck Hurder, KY1T, as the Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager, filling out the remainder of Luck’s term. KB1PA would go on to serve two additional terms of his own.

Barry was involved with emergency communications during hurricanes Gloria and Bob.  “During this period I was a very active traffic handler and a net control.”  

KB1PA moved to Florida in 2004. While living in four-land, he’s been an Assistant Section Manager, an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, and an Emergency Coordinator. Barry was the only nominee for the position after Jeff Beals, WA4AW, announced that he would not seek a new term of office after serving since 2014.

Congratulations to Barry Porter, KB1PA in his new role as the Southern Florida Section Manager!

 

ARRL Board Adopts Volunteer Monitoring Program; Official Observer Program to be Retired

“The ARRL Board of Directors has adopted the recommendations of the Official Observer Program Study Committee, which would retire the Official Observer (OO) program and institute the Volunteer Monitoring (VM) program. The Board took the action at its July 20 – 21 meeting in Windsor, Connecticut, instructing that the transition “be implemented as soon as practicable.” Under the terms of the new program, current Official Observers will be invited to apply for appointment as Volunteer Monitors (VMs). The Board expressed its appreciation for the OOs and their dedicated volunteer service over the years.”

[Full story, ARRLWeb]