Organization

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Organization

ARRL New England Director Election Results Announced

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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]

All / Organization

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

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

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!

 

Amateur-Auxiliary / Organization

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

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

“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]

Emergency Communications / Organization

New Section Emergency Coordinator: Rob Macedo, KD1CY

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL flagEastern Massachusetts Section Manager Tom Walsh, K1TW, has announced the appointment of Rob Macedo, KD1CY as Section Emergency Coordinator.

“Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, has found it necessary to step down as the SEC for EMA.  Rob Macedo, KD1CY, has accepted the role of SEC going forward.  Rob, because of his previous SEC experience will be able to step in immediately,” Walsh said. 

KC1CIC will continue in a new role as an ARES District Emergency Coordinator for NTS liaison.  “I extend my since thanks to both Greg and Rob for their ongoing significant contributions as volunteers in the Eastern Massachusetts section,” K1TW added.

All / Field Day / Organization

Section Manager’s 2018 Field Day Message

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL flagSunday, June 24 is Amateur Radio Day in Massachusetts:

In Massachusetts, at the urging of State Senator Bruce Tarr, N1UIU, Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker signed a proclamation declaring June 24 as “Amateur Radio Day” in the Bay State.

In addition, both the Massachusetts Senate and House have issued resolutions declaring Amateur Radio Week in Massachusetts coinciding with Field Day.

EMA Section Manager Visits:

Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager, Tom K1TW, and EMA Assistant Section Manager, Phil K9HI, are planning to visit several Field Day locations together on Saturday, primarily in Middlesex and Essex counties.

Safety:

Remember Safety First in every aspect of a field day operation. Go here for helpful guidance on keeping your field day safe: <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/05/23/field-day-safety-officer-checklist/>

Participate:

You can participate as an individual from home, or in the field, or through a local club. If you do not have a home station, then visit a club operation.

Find a club operation nearby:

Use the Eastern Massachusetts (EMA) Field Day locator at <http://fd.ema.arrl.org/>.

Add your club to the locator:

Make sure your club is listed on the Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Locator web site. Go to <http://fd.ema.arrl.org/> and enter your information so others can easily find you.

Earn extra points during Field Day:

Don’t forget you can earn extra points by sending a radio gram to the Section Manager, Tom K1TW or to the Section Emergency Coordinator, Greg KC1CIC. Here are the details on how to create and send a field day radiogram including the schedule of the traffic nets on Saturday June 23: <https://ema.arrl.org/field-day-traffic-tips/>

Wishing everyone in Eastern Massachusetts ARRL section a very enjoyable, safe, and successful Field Day.

73,

Tom Walsh K1TW

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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
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Emergency Communications / Organization

Important ARES Leadership Reorganization in Eastern Massachusetts Section

- by k9hi - Leave a Comment

ARRL flagAs part of a renewed emphasis on ARES throughout the Eastern Massachusetts section, Greg Bennett, KC1CIC has been appointed as Section Emergency Coordinator. The appointment was made on May 23, 2018 by Section Manager Tom Walsh. As Greg assumes his new role, Tom thanked outgoing SEC Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG for his service to the section for the past three years.

Greg brings a great amount of experience to the job. Greg is currently an Assistant Section Traffic Manager. KC1CIC has been a licensed amateur since 2014 and possesses over ten years of radio communications expertise learned in the military special forces.

Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, is active daily on the HF and VHF nets, and he is no stranger to emergency communications and public service.  He constructed his own ‘Go Kit’. He’s an effective manager and the author of articles on digital communications and emergency power. 

I have complete confidence that Greg will accomplish the goals I have set forth for the ARES program in Eastern Massachusetts. Those new goals include raising the profile of EMA ARES; developing a section emergency plan; restructuring our current leadership; revitalizing the program through new member recruitment; revamping instructional materials; and conducting regular section-wide Simulated Emergency Tests. 

Please welcome Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, to his new Section Emergency Coordinator role and give him your support.

Tom Walsh K1TW
ARRL Section Manager
Eastern Massachusetts
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
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Organization

N1BLF Now Recording Eastern MA Section Audio News

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Bob Zeida, N1BLF
Bob Zeida, N1BLF

A Dartmouth amateur is now producing audio recordings of monthly Eastern MA Section News.

For over thirty years, Bob Zeida, N1BLF has volunteered his time with the Talking Information Center, a nonprofit reading service that broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually impaired and print-impaired listeners. Bob has also recorded ham-related materials from QST and CQ Magazine for the Courage Kenny Handiham System.

“It struck me that your section newsletter […] would be a nice opportunity for me to promote ham radio activities by inserting audio commentary about some of the local ham radio clubs throughout Massachusetts.” In addition to entire audio recordings, Bob will select certain materials from the section manager’s letter to include in his weekly TIC hobby program. “I would pick and choose by weekly broadcast time-frame those activities that would coincide with the audio airing date.”

N1BLF’s first recording of the January, 2018 Section News can be found online.