Public Information

Public information, amateur radio publicity

Public Information

“Social Distancing? COVID-19 Made it Real. Ham Radio Made it a Hobby”

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“A close-knit culture, with separation at its core” is a story and accompanying video produced by Christian Science Monitor staff photographer Anne Hermes. It explores how Amateur Radio operators are taking COVID-19 and social distancing in stride and features interviews with Eastern MA hams. It portrays the hobby in a very positive light. Eastern MA Public Information Coordinator Kayla Creamer, W2IRY, was instrumental in working with Ms. Hermes to identify individuals and clubs for interviews and subject material.   “The Christian Science Monitor, commonly known as The Monitor, is an internationally known nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles in electronic …

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Operating / Public Information

Maine Bicentennial Special Event Operation Pays Homage to the Original Nine Counties–and Boston, Massachusetts

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The Maine Bicentennial Special Event,  March 16-22, 2020, recognizes Maine’s original nine counties from when the state was chartered in 1820.  There will also be three other special event stations operating from Jameson Tavern in Freeport, Portland, and Boston in recognition of their contributions to Maine’s Statehood.   Boston is the “longest continuously serving capital” in the United States, and served as capital for the District of Maine until 1820.The Maine Bicentennial Special Event committee was formed from members of the Wireless Society of Southern Maine, along with members from the PenBay ARC.According to the Committee, “We suspect most participants will be …

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Public Information / Youth

Enthusiastic Third-Graders Learn about Amateur Radio at St. Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton

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Phil Temples, K9HI, has combined his passion for ham radio and involvement in the Boston College “Read Aloud” program to bring a message about ham radio to Mrs. Cafarelli’s third grade class at the St. Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton. A BC Read Aloud volunteer for the past sixteen years, Phil shared his unpublished children’s story manuscript entitled “Ashanti’s Ham Radio Saves the Day” with the class last month. It was well-received, despite the fact the manuscript lacked illustrations.  (Several of the kids volunteered to draw pictures for the book.) This month, K9HI brought along a Baofeng dual-band handheld for …

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Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

Message to US Educators: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity

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The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal US education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS will open a proposal window February 1, 2020 for ham radio contacts that would be held between January 2021 and June 2021. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations whose proposal features a way to draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The window for accepting …

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Public Information

“Ham Radio: a Hobby Still Alive and Thriving”

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The Boston University News Service carried this favorable story about Amateur Radio, Alan Lewis, K1ALL, and Whitman Amateur Radio Club members, written by Lillian Eden, published January 22, 2020, entitled, “Ham radio: a hobby still alive and thriving.” “Alan Lewis pledged to do two things when he retired: learn to weld and get an amateur radio license. He did both, and then took his amateur radio license one step further.   “Almost immediately after getting his license, Lewis said he started getting involved in the public service aspects of amateur radio, including emergency communication.  “Amateur radio, or ham radio, for a …

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Emergency Communications / Public Information / Public Service

ARES/SKYWARN Exhibit at 19th Weatherfest-AMS Annual Meeting

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Stu Solomon, W1SHS, writes: On Sunday, January 12, 2020, ARES/SKYWARN for Eastern Massachusetts and WX1BOX of the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office were represented at the 19th annual Weatherfest component of the 100th annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society (AMS).  The Boston Weatherfest event was free to the public and very well attended. The ARES/SKYWARN group were in good company with approximately 50 other exhibitors including NASA, The Blue Hill Observatory, The Mt. Washington Observatory, NOAA, The National Weather Service, New England Sci-Tech, local news stations, multiple universities as well as industry leaders in climate and environmental research and …

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Public Information

Local Amateurs Featured on WBZ Late Night Talk Show

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Three Eastern Massachusetts amateurs appeared January 13, 2020, on Bradley Jay’s “Jay Talking” on WBZ-AM (1030 kHz) to discuss Amateur Radio. Jim Idelson, K1IR, Bruce Tinkler, N9JBT, and Marty Sullaway, NN1C, described the hobby, history, types of equipment, DXing, radiosport, and how to obtain a license. They also described their own experiences getting started in the hobby.   NN1C emphasized the fact that the hobby allows one to make friends with people all over the world. Through Amateur Radio, Marty had the opportunity to meet with a number of other hams on his first trip to Israel. Bradley took several callers’ …

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Affiliated Clubs / Public Information / Youth

New England Sci-Tech, STARS Exhibit at AMS Annual Meeting, Boston, January 12, 2020

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New England Sci-Tech (NEST) / Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) will staff an exhibit at the 19th Annual WeatherFest at the American Meteorological Association Annual Meeting in Boston on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 12 noon to 4 PM, according to NEST’s Bob Phinney, K5TEC. According to the WeatherFest web site, “We love to have hands-on, interactive experiments and booths by organizations, university, government, television, radio and private industry.  Exhibit space is free.  All you need to do is staff your booth with enthusiastic people who can capture the imagination and inspire children of all ages.”

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Public Information / Technical

K1IR Promotes Tower Safety Month on “Ham Nation” Broadcast

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Jim  Idelson,  K1IR,  was  featured  in  the first of three episodes  on the Ham  Nation video blog  as a part of “Tower Safety Month.”  The Sudbury native has created a nationwide initiative called the Zero Falls Alliance to promote safe tower practices and “a vision of an always-safe amateur radio where every ham fully understands the potential risks – and has the knowledge and tools to keep those risks at bay.” The first in the series aired on December 4, 2019. The second is scheduled to be shown on December 11.

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Emergency Communications / Public Information / Public Service

WX1BOX QRV for SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 7, 2019

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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. …

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Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

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

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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 …

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Affiliated Clubs / Licensing Education & Training / Public Information

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

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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 …

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Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

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

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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 …

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Emergency Communications / Public Information / Public Service

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

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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 …

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NTS / Public Information

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

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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.]

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Affiliated Clubs / Public Information

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

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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, …

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Affiliated Clubs / Operating / Public Information

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

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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. 

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Affiliated Clubs / Field Day / Public Information

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

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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 …

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