All

Hello to all..

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), who is in coordination with MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) has launched a Communications Campaign on H1N1. Below are details on the communications campaign and what you and your family should know to stay protected this flu season:

Links to Flu Wallet Card and 60-Second Flu Video:

Flu Wallet Card: http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/Wallet_Card.pdf

Flu 60-Second Video: http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/60_sec_Vaccine_Hands_new.wmv

Greetings,

Please see important information H1N1 below and tune into WBVC tomorrow night at 7pm…

Mike

Michael L. Raskin
Associate Director
Operations and Field Services
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
400 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702-5399
Office:   508.820.1422
Main:     508.820.2000
Cell:       617.828.5852
Fax:       508.820.2030
www.mass.gov/mema

From: Joshi, Archana (DPH) [mailto:Archana.Joshi@state.ma.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:31 PM
Cc: Liisa Jackson ; Monahan, Josh; Daly, Steve; Jones, Brenda; Somers.Tarah@epamail.epa.gov; Regan Checchio; Michael Raskin ; Ann McCobb; Baggs Judy ; Betsy Fijol; Bob Landry ; Bob Leupold ; Brent Reagor ; Dave Black; Diane Fielding; Dorisca, Betsy; Doug Halley; Ed Wirtanen; Ellen Hartnett; Ethan Mascoop; Gail Nixon; Gerard Cody; Heidi Porter ; Ira Grossman; Jack Wallace; James A. Garreffi ; Jennifer Murphy; Jim White ; John R. Fralick ; Judy Jelloe; Justin Snair; Karen DaCampo ; Karen D’Angelo; Kathy Fox ; Kathy Whittaker; ksweet@townofmaynard.net; Leslie A. Cahill; Leslie Chamberlin ; Linda Fantasia; Lise Mespelli ; Louis Fazen; Mark Oram; Melissa Stuart; Mercer, Leila; Michael Delfino ; Michele D Cavallaro ; Nancy Bennotti; Ravi Nadkarni ; Robin Chapell; Ruth Mori ; Sam Wong; Scott Moles; Sharon Mastenbrook; Sheila Miller; Shelly Newhouse; Steve Calichman; Victoria Parsons; Walter Sweder; Wendy Diotalevi
Subject: FW: MDPH – H1N1 Communications Campaign
Importance: High

FYI

From: Bowen, Nyca (DPH)
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 1:05 PM
To: DPH-DL – All DPH Staff
Subject: H1N1 Communications Campaign
Importance: High

Flu Facts : What You Need to Know

Tune in to a live broadcast tomorrow, Thursday, September 10 th to see
Dr. Lauren Smith discuss the latest information on H1N1 (swine) Flu.

Dr. Smith will be on Channel 5 WCVB Boston at 7:00 p.m.

I want to let you know about the work we are doing to educate the residents of Massachusetts about the H1N1 Flu this fall. Our strategy incorporates a number of new messages, particularly around vaccination.  The DPH Communications Office is in the process of launching a communications campaign that incorporates messages about key areas of H1N1, with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with flu.  It has 3 main objectives:  Vaccination – encourage people to get a seasonal flu shot, and an H1N1 flu shot, especially if they are considered high-risk; Prevention – increase behaviors that prevent the spread of flu such as hand washing and covering your cough/sneeze; and Mitigation – encourage people to stay home when sick and to keep their kids home when sick.

The campaign involves messages in a variety of languages, through multiple channels and across several media markets. The channels of communication for the campaign will include:

       The Press:  Medi a relations will continue to form the backbone of our communications response.  In addition to regular briefings, we will proactively support our response by pitching relevant stories to support our messages around vaccination, prevention and mitigation.

·        Print:   advertisements will be placed in the Metro, as well as Spanish, Portuguese Chinese, Vietnamese, and H aitian Creole language newspapers.  The print campaign will also include display advertising on mass transit on the 5 major transit authorities in the state.  A copy of one of our web ads is attached as an example of some of our work.

·        Radio:  paid ads and public service announcements in multiple languages will be distributed to stations throughout Massachusetts.  Particular attention will be paid to utilizing ethnic radio outlets.

·        TV:  We are partnering with Channel 5 (WCVB) to conduct a live television show which will air this Thursday at 7:00.  Tune in as Heather Unruh leads a discussion with Dr. Lauren Smith, Medical Director of DPH and Dr. Richard Besser, National Health Correspondent for ABC that answers all the basic questions about H1N1. In addition to this live TV show, we will be taping a 30 minute television show that will air statewide on Comcast OnDemand as well as on cable access stations.  And we will be placing advertisements on both the Boston and Springfield area TV and cable stations, including a Spanish language station.  A copy of one of our TV ads in English is attached to this email.  ( Please note, you many need to save the file to your desktop in order to view.)

·          Social Networking : A variety of social media will be utilized including podcasts, You Tube videos, Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

The campaign began this week, and will continue throughout flu season.  As always, we will continue to use the DPH H1N1 webpage and blog to disseminate a wide variety of information for the public as well as providers and various target groups.  Our website has recently undergone a major revision in an attempt to make the massive amount of information on it more manageable.  You can find it at www.mass.gov/flu .

Please feel free to share this information with your colleagues and family.

Thank you.

Suzanne Crowther, MPH
Director, Communications
Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Office:  (617) 624-5195
Fax:      (617) 624-5206
Email:    suzanne.crowther@state.ma.us
Blog:       http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us

Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Workshop Saturday 10/3/09 in Acushnet, Massachusetts..

There will be an Emergency Communications Workshop on Saturday October 3rd,
2009 from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at the Acushnet Emergency Management Agency on 14
Thomas Street in Acushnet Massachusetts. This session is being put on by the
ARES Section Staff through the efforts of South Coastal Massachusetts ARES
Emergency Coordinator and Acushnet Communications Officer, Ed Caron,
KA1RSY, and the cooperation of the Acushnet Emergency Management Agency
Director, Jerry Bergeron, W1AFD. This Emergency Communications Workshop
will provide the background and information to serve Amateur Radio Operators
when they need to respond to a communications emergency or when supplemental
communications via Amateur Radio is required. It will feature an
Introduction and Conclusion to Emergency Communications, and five 1-hour
training sessions on topics including:

Overview of Eastern Massachusetts ARES-RACES-SKYWARN Programs
Net Operations
NTS Traffic Message Handling
Basic Overview of ICS
Go Kits

This training will also feature a 1-hour lunch that will be provided at no
coerced cost to any Amateur who attends the session. The presentations will
be given by other Amateur Operators well versed in the topics listed above.
The training will be a worthwhile endeavor not just for emergency
communicators but for anyone who is an Amateur Radio Operator, and wants to
learn more about the hobby.  Preregistration is requested but is not
required in case anyone would like to attend at the last minute. Please try
to preregister by Monday September 28th, 2009 to assure the meeting place
is setup properly and we have enough refreshments for breaks between
lectures and for the lunch break. We will, however, accept any last minute
preregistrations after that day or any walk-ins as long as space permits.

Directions to Acushnet Emergency Management Agency Headquarters:

Please see the link from the Acushnet Emergency Management Agency (AEMA)
web site for directions to the facility:
http://www.acushnetema.com/directions.htm

Talk-In will be on the 145.490-Fairhaven Repeater PL: 67.0 Hz.

GPS users:
Please note that many GPS devices attempt to take you to Thomas Street via
roads that are no longer in existence via Pembroke Avenue. For best
directions, please utilize the directions link provided in this press
release via the Acushnet EMA web site and if using a GPS follow Main
Street to either Hope or Cushman Streets per the directions on the web
site.

For any additional information and to preregister for the workshop, please
contact:

KA1RSY-Ed Caron ka1rsy@comcast.net
KD1CY-Rob Macedo rmacedo@rcn.com

This training should be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in
learning more about emergency communications and amateur radio in general.
Please forward this on to anyone you feel may benefit from this workshop.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator 
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Den Connors, KD2S, the first president of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) of Pepperell, Massachusetts, passed away September 3 from lymphoma. He was 58. Connors, an ARRL Life Member, conducted the first amateur packet radio contact with all-American hardware and software, using the Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Terminal Node Controller (TNC) with Lyle Johnson, WA7GXD (now KK7P). [Full story, ARRL Web]

KD2S was one of the early movers and shakers in the New England Packet Radio Association. In addition to his digital contributions, Connors was also an active participant in ARES and RACES.

“Den was on our crew for Region 1 comms for Seabrook and storms,” writes Terry Stader, KA8SCP, an Eastern MA ASM and MA Region 1 RACES Officer. “He worked the emergency management side for many years. He will be missed.”

Photo, above: Den Connors, KD2S, circa 1982 courtesy TAPR

Steve Schwarm, W3EVE writes:

I need several more hams to help with the Jimmy Fund Walk Sunday Sept. 13. This event is run on the Boston Marathon course and runs for most of the day. The majority of the activity is on the last half of the course. We have hams on the buses like the Marathon and a ham at each first aid/water station. This is a low key activity. We use 2 meters for this event.

Drop me an email if you can help. If you have questions feel free to call my cell phone at 508-922-9688.

Frank Murphy, N1DHW writes:

The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services has planned a Field Exercise on Saturday, 26 September at Camp Wonderland in Sharon, MA.  This event will focus on disaster operations training for key members of the Command staff and Volunteers.  We have participated in this event for several years, and ham radio support has been and continues to be a vital part of this exercise.  The drill will simulate a specific, large scale disaster response, and work on building response capacity in a number of different areas.

The drill will begin with registration at 0830, followed by a Disaster Services Organization role-specific training from 0930 to 1030, with the live exercise beginning at 1030.  Lunch will be served from canteen kitchens as part of the drill.  A brief time for assessment is planned before the event is completed at 1545pm.

Communications will be managed from the fully outfitted Communications van as in a realistic situation.  About 20 hams are urgently needed for assignments as shadows for Salvation Army commanders and managers, specific field operations, and at the food and supply locations.

If you are able to participate, or have any questions, please contact me at n1dhw@arrl.net.

–Thanks, Boston ARC The SPARC, August, 2009

This message contains some points with regard to the approach of Hurricane Bill near our area.  Although the impact of the storm appears to be no greater than what we would experience during other times of the year, the storm could be especially dangerous to boating and beach enthusiasts.

I am requesting that you assist our safety outreach in the following ways:

1.    Remind friends and family about the dangers of storm generated surf, which may be especially prudent since the hot weather may beckon people to go swimming.  There are many websites that explain the “riptide” phenomena and safety measures.
2.    Please listen for ham maritime mobile stations and verify they have current storm information.  Please encourage them to monitor the weather radio, and if they tell you they are using a marine radio, remind them to monitor Marine channels 16 (156.8 MHz) and 22A (157.1 MHz).
3.    For those of you on the coast this weekend, please report all flooding and “splash-over” (water carried ashore by crashing waves) to SKYWARN observers.
4.    If you (especially our SKYWARN cadre) are asked by other citizens what you think about the storm, encourage these folks to familiarize themselves with the storm by visiting National Weather Service (NWS) websites, listening to weather radio, and watching TV and web broadcasts.  Remind people that weather safety issues are exclusively the responsibility of the NWS.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

de W1MPN

——————————————————————–

ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio™

Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
w1mpn@arrl.org

 

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association has again set up to operate amateur radio on Thatchers Island, off Cape Ann from Friday, August 07, 2009 at 05:00 PM until Sunday, August 09, 2009 at 6:00 PM EDT.

According to CAARA’s Briggs Longbothum, AB2NJ, “The Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a ‘Special Use Permit’ for the club’s activity at the North Tower.” Briggs adds, “The Thatchers Island Association is being very supportive of our plans.

CAARA intends to stream live video of the operation via UStream from its web site. To view the festivities, visit the current home page at: http://caara.net.

Gordy Bello, K1GB writes:

On Sunday Sept. 13, [the Framingham Amateur Radio Association] will be taking part in the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and MRC (Medical Reserve Corps) Emergency Readiness Fair at the Peter Noyes School in Sudbury from 12 noon to 3 PM.  There will be other organizations represented as well.

This is a great PR opportunity to inform the public about EMCOMM.  We will be speaking to the public and handing out brochures, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association reports that the Town of Chatham is proposing the construction of a Titanic Memorial Museum centered on the 2012 anniversary of the famous sinking. Bob Courtemanche, N1WAT and Barbara Dougan, KB1GSO attended a recent planning meeting.

According to Courtemanche, plans are in the early stages but “would emphasize the importance of radio and have a working radio station on site.” It is hoped that the Falmouth ARA might “play a role in the setup, repair and operations.” Another planning meeting is scheduled for October.

Thanks, Falmouth ARA Newsletter, July 2009

Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur Community are needed and welcome. Please contact the person listed to identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.

The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv.

**** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****

Date      Location     Event                       Contact        Tel/Email

Jul  3 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  4 Princeton   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul  5 Fitchburg   MA Fitchburg Longsjo Classic    Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
Jul 11 Mt.Washngtn NH Newton's Revenge Race        Cliff N1RCQ   603.279.7763
                                                             n1rcq@cnharc.org
Jul 12 Wrentham    MA Hockomock YMCA Triathlon     Steve W3EVE   508.384.7697
                                                               w3eve@arrl.net
Jul 25 Devens      MA Memory Ride for Alzheimer's  Ralph KD1SM kd1sm@arrl.net
       through Harvard, Lancaster, Berlin, Clinton, Shirley, Hollis NH, ...
Jul 26 Haverhill   MA Cycle for Shelter            Ross KB1MGD   603.382.2742
                                                          rscoe2001@yahoo.com
Jul 26 Winchendon  MA Mass State Triathlon         John N2YHK   n2yhk@wpi.edu
Aug  8 Stratham    NH MS Seacoast Escape           Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Aug 15 Mt.Washngtn NH Auto Road Bicycle Hill Climb Cliff N1RCQ   603.279.7763
       weather date Aug 16                                   n1rcq@cnharc.org
Aug 22 Westminster MA 250th Anniversary Fireworks  Bill N1UZ    978.502.8067
                                                                n1uz@arrl.net
Aug 29 Lakeville   MA Cranberry Trifest            Tony N1XRS 508.998.0295x204
                                                      aduarte@acushnetema.com
Aug 30 Lakeville   MA Cranberry Trifest            Tony N1XRS 508.998.0295x204
                                                      aduarte@acushnetema.com
Sep 11 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 12 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 13 Cape Cod    MA MS Challenge Walk            Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 13 Hopkinton   MA Women Sprint Triathlon       John N2YHK   n2yhk@wpi.edu
Sep 13 Hopkinton   MA Jimmy Fund Marathon Walk     Steve W3EVE   508.384.7697
       to Boston   MA                                          w3eve@arrl.net
Sep 20 Dartmouth   MA Buzzards Bay Triathlon       Tony N1XRS 508.998.0295x204
                                                      aduarte@acushnetema.com
Sep 26 Berkshires  MA MS Bike&Hike the Berkshires  Jim KB1JKJ kb1jkj@arrl.net
Sep 27 Westminster MA 250th Anniversary Parade     Bill N1UZ    978.502.8067
                                                                n1uz@arrl.net
Oct 11 Boston      MA BAA Half Marathon            Bob WA1IDA    508.650.9440
                                                              wa1ida@arrl.net

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE and Ralph KD1SM. Our usual distribution is via Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists, and on the World Wide Web. If other mailing list owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to oblige. Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in its entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the Web address below is included. Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the information is from another published source. We very much appreciate the assistance we have been receiving from our ‘scouts’; everyone is welcome to send us postings.

Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most recent version of the PSLIST.