Public Information – Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

WX1BOX QRV for SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 7, 2019

November 27, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton Amateur Radio Station, WX1BOX, will once again be active for SKYWARN Recognition Day 2019. In addition, for the thirteenth straight year, the National Weather Service Gray, Maine Office will also be active under call-sign, WX1GYX. The Boston Amateur Radio Club will also be active as they have been over the past several years at the Blue Hill Observatory under call-sign WX1BHO from 9 AM-3 PM Saturday December 7th, 2019. This will be the 20th year of SKYWARN Recognition Day and its anticipated that 80-100 NWS Forecast Offices will be participating once again this year. …

Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

Whitman ARC to Operate at Plimoth Plantation, November 30-December 1, 2019

November 12, 2019November 12, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Whitman Amateur Radio Club members will operate a special events station over the Thanksgiving weekend, November 30-December 1, 2019, at the Plimoth Plantation, the home of the Mayflower II in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The participants will demonstrate Amateur Radio to tourists and visitors. In the past the group has logged over a hundred HF and VHF contacts with US and foreign amateurs, including a contact with Plymouth, England. Volunteers are need for setup, breakdown, and station operations. Antenna and setup takes place on Friday, November 29 from 10 AM to 12 noon. On-air operations run in shifts on Saturday from 8:00 AM …

NTS / Public Information

KW1U Featured on Ham Talk Live! November 7, 2019

November 9, 2019November 9, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Eastern MA Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U, was the featured guest on Episode #189 of Ham Talk Live! on November 7, 2019. Marcia spoke about NTS message handling on the nationwide podcast and live call-in talk radio show hosted by Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. The weekly show is simulcast on shortwave station WTWW on 5.830 MHz.

Nashoba Valley ARC Members Participate in “Massasoit Fall Camporee,” October 4-5, 2019

October 12, 2019October 13, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Members of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club (NVARC) participated in Eastern Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s “Massasoit Fall Camporee” at Camp Collier, near Gardner on October 4-5, 2019. The camp is situated deep in the woods on a 500-acre tract of land owned by a preservation trust and leased to the Boy Scouts. Participating were: Bruce Blain, K1BG; Stan Pozerski, KD1LE; Jim Wilber, AB1WQ; Owen Salter, KC1KZT; Skip Youngberg, K1NKR; Phil Erikson, W1PJE; Dan Pedtke, KW2T; Dennis Marandos, K1LGQ; and George Kavanagh, KB1HFT. A 130-foot long wire and a vertical were erected for HF contacts, thanks …

Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

Barnstable ARC Exhibition at Harwich Cranberry Festival, September 14-15, 2019

October 5, 2019October 6, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) conducted a highly successful public information effort at the Harwich Cranberry Festival September 14-15 in Harwich. The annual festival drew 150 exhibitors and over 7,000 participants. It featured crafts, music, and food. BARC set up a special event station K1PBO at the festival entrance to promote Amateur Radio to greet festival attendees. A large-screen television displayed locations contacted around the world. Magazines and other items were handed out to the public. Many BARC members helped to make the event a success. Al Ryan, WW1RF, served as event liaison while Mark Avery, N1ZPO, provided technical …

Cape Cod ARES at Falmouth Community Emergency Preparedness & Fire Prevention Fair, September 21, 2019

September 21, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Cape Cod radio amateurs participated in the seventh annual Falmouth Community Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention Fair at the Gus Canty Community Center, Falmouth, on September 21, 2019 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The fair featured “more than 60 organizations and numerous children’s activities, including a Touch-A-Truck in the parking lot.” Falmouth Hospital ARES (W1HQH) had a table prominently on display, staffed by Tom Wruk, KB1QCQ, Gene Bradeen, KX1C, and Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O. “We set up some display kit gear and answered questions from the public on communications,” writes Cape and Islands District Emergency Coordinator WQ1O. “It was great …

NTS / Public Information

KW1U Featured on Pittsfield Community TV, WTBR-FM, September 18, 2019

September 18, 2019September 18, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U, was the featured guest on Ham On! (episode 3), simulcast on Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7. The early morning program was produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV. Marcia discussed the ARRL National Traffic System and her experiences with message handling. The 60-minute program can be viewed online at <http://www.pittsfieldtv.net/CablecastPublicSite/show/32638?channel=1>. [Ed. note: the video may not play properly in all browsers.]

Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

Blackstone Valley ARC Amateur Radio Day at Bellingham, MA Public Library A Great Success

September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Members of the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (BVARC) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, conducted an innovative “Amateur Radio Day” at the Bellingham (MA) Public Library on September 14, 2019. BVARC Board of Governor’s member Mickey Callahan, K1WMC, proposed the idea to the club officers and received a commitment of support to hold the outreach event in nearby Bellingham. Along with BVARC President Matt Penttilla, N1AQ; Vice President Marc Caouette, W1MCX; and Rhode Island Section Manager Bob Beaudet, W1YRC, they tackled the logistics and formulated “a simple plan on how to present Amateur Radio and promote the club in a fun, …

Annual Marshfield Fair Amateur Radio Exhibit, August 16-25, 2019

July 28, 2019August 6, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will sponsor a ham radio exhibit and special events station at the 152st Annual Marshfield Fair August 16-25, 2019, from 1600Z-0059Z. The club will operate under the call sign NN1MF on the following frequencies/bands: 18.160, 14.260, 7.260, and 3.860 MHz. The station will also be active on EchoLink via the WA1NPO-R, and IRLP: 8691. Contacts will be acknowledged with a certificate and QSL at: Whitman ARC, PO Box 48, Whitman, MA 02382.

PART of Westford Field Day 2019: A Successful Public Relations-Public Information Effort

July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

PART of Westford‘s Field Day Chairman George Allison, K1IG, reports a successful public relations/public information effort on the part of PIO Lela Smith, KC1ACV and others. “The club entertained a total of 75 participants and visitors this year, including the mayor of Leominster, a representative of the Billerica EMC, a Carlisle selectman, and a contingent of soldiers from the 211th Military Police Battalion who were sent by their commanding officer to get some experience in field communications. One of the officers from this group is now interested in joining PART,” reports George. PART also netted a lengthy article …

Algonquin ARC Field Day Event Featured on Community Cable Program

June 29, 2019July 4, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Algonquin Amateur Radio Club members were featured in a Marlboro Community Television (WMCT) news segment in connection with their recent Field Day event June 22-23, 2019 at the Marlboro Fire Department, according to AARC Activities Chairman Joe Reynolds, KA1GDQ. The story begins at 9:26 into the video.

Field Day / Public Information

States, Counties, Municipalities Recognize Amateur Radio’s Contributions in Advance of Field Day

June 19, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

From the ARRLWeb: Each year as ARRL Field Day approaches, state and local governments traditionally take advantage of the opportunity to honor Amateur Radio in the form of various proclamations. [Full story]

Framingham ARA Field Day, McAuliffe Public Library, Framingham, June 22

June 12, 2019June 19, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Sumner Weisman, W1VIV, writes on the FARA list: Greetings to all hams, The Framingham Amateur Radio Association‘s annual Field Day is coming soon! We hope you will stop by and say hello. Date — Saturday, June 22. Place — McAuliffe Public Library, Water Street, Framingham Operating time — 2 pm to 6 pm. We can’t promise, but there will be opportunities to operate as well. We hope to see you there. 73, Sumner Weisman, W1VIV

“Triple Play:” MA Hams Receive Amateur Radio Proclamations, Resolutions from House, Senate, and Governor

June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Massachusetts ARRL staff received copies of proclamations and resolutions congratulating the Amateur Radio community for its service to the Commonwealth, and for the upcoming annual Field Day exercise June 22-23, 2019. The Massachusetts House of Representatives document “offers its sincerest congratulations to the American Radio Relay League in recognition of The ARRL Field Day and the Tireless Work of Amateur Radio Operators.” The document was signed by Robert A. DeLeo, Speaker of the House. The Massachusetts State Senate weighed in with a resolution, adopted May 9, 2019. “[The Senate] extends its appreciation to Amateur Radio operators as they celebrate Amateur …

Public Information

Brown Bag Learning Series: “The Fascinating Hobby of Amateur Radio” at Framingham Library, June 7, 2019

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019 - by k9hi - 2 Comments.

John Iwuc, KB1VXY, president of the Framingham Amateur Radio Association will give a “brown bag” talk at the Framingham Public Library, 49 Lexington Street, in Framingham entitled, “The Fascinating Hobby of Amateur Radio” from 12-1 PM on June 7, 2019.

Public Information / Youth

Sci-Tech ARS at Science on the Street, Framingham State College

April 30, 2019September 22, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Rishi Bhagat, KC1BKX, writes: On Saturday, April 27, 2019, Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) and its host New England Sci-Tech joined the “Science on State Street” event on the campus of Framingham State University (FSU). STARS set up a large cube tent with an IC-7610, large display monitor, and a buddy pole for people to learn about ham radio. The radio was staffed by Rusty, K1FVK, and Bruce, N9JBT, while outside the tent Marcel, AC1DO, Janet, KC1IKP, and Bob, K5TEC, provided related activities and information. For more information about Science on the Street, visit http://christa.org/science-festival/ .

Public Information / Youth

New England Sci-Tech Participates in 2019 Cambridge Science Festival

April 16, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Leaders of New England Sci-Tech (NEST) staffed three exhibit tables this past weekend at the Cambridge Science Festival with “ham radio, meteorites, 3D space, and constellation night light kits.” “We had 35 children make kits at the fair and more were made at [New England Sci-Tech] last evening when about 30 people came for the first night, ” writes NEST founder Bob Phinney, K5TEC. New England Sci-Tech is a non-profit STEM+ education center and makerspace dedicated to project-based, hands-on learning for youth and families across theNew England community. According to the Cambridge Science Festival’s organizers, “the annual 10-day (and night) celebration of science, technology, …

Public Information / Public Service

KD1CY to Participate in 2019 National Hurricane Conference

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

Eastern Massachusetts ARRL field organization staffer Rob Macedo, KD1CY, will participate in the National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 23, 2019. According to Rob, “All Amateur Radio sessions are free. They will be on Tuesday April 23, 2019 from 11:30 AM-1:15 PM EDT (10:30 AM-12:15 PM CDT) and 2:30-6:00 PM EDT (1:30 PM-5:00 PM CDT). Each presenter will not only give an overview of their respective group but also how their group handled both the historic 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season.” KD1CY is Section Emergency Coordinator and ARES SKYWARN …

Public Information

“Locals Keep Ham Radio Alive and Well”

April 6, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

New Hampshire’s “Seacoast Online” carried a well-written story and video featuring ham radio and Rochester, NH amateur Mark Pride, K1RX, in its April 6, 2019 edition: “In a time when social media platforms are often criticized more for their divisiveness than their ability to bring people together, a number of Seacoast residents are tapping into a different network to forge connections worldwide. Local interest in ham radios has been growing at an accelerated rate in recent years thanks to lower entry hurdles, according to clubs and operators. They say it’s put new generations one twist of a dial or tap …

Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, Volunteers Requested, April 27, 2019

April 4, 2019April 4, 2019 - by k9hi - Leave a Comment

The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will again be participating in the Cape Cod Mini Maker Faire, Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Mashpee High School, 500 Old Barnstable Road, in Mashpee. According to FARA president Brent Putnam, W1NCH, “We need volunteers to assist with station setup, operating, greeting the public, and helping the kids to make Morse code sounders.” If you are available to assist, or have any questions, please contact Brent, W1NCH, at W1NCH@arrl.net. For more information about the Faire, see http://capecod.makerfaire.com/ -Thanks, http://www.falara.org/announcements/capecodmakerfaire2019