Regulation & Advocacy

[UPDATE: On June 28, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a Citation recognizing ARRL’s anniversary. The text is included at the end of this story.]

The Executive and Senate branches of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have recognized Amateur Radio and the ARRL with a Gubernatorial Proclamation and Senate Resolution, respectively. The Governor recognized an “Amateur Radio Day” while the Senate resolved to “join in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the American Radio Relay League.”

Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI accepted the documents today from Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) at his State House office. Separate copies of the documents are being mailed to Ed Emco, W1KT, the ARRL Section Manager of Western Massachusetts. Also assisting with the project was newly appointed State Government Liaison Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG, of Gloucester.

Temples will tour various Field Day sites on June 28-29 to show the proclamation and resolutions to ARRL clubs and groups participating in the annual exercise. Tarr, who is also a licensed ham, plans to tour several Field Day sites in his district with copies of the documents as well.

Here is the text of the Gubernatorial Proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION

His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick

Whereas Amateur radio has always played a significant role in developing world-wide radio communications; and

Whereas The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has approximately 14,000 amateur radio operators, who continually demonstrate their value in public assistance; and

Whereas Amateur radio operators are constantly vigilant in case of tornado, flood, hurricane, or other local emergency, in order that they may use their equipment and skills to assist local and state officials; and

Whereas Massachusetts amateur radio operators have generously donated their time, equipment, and knowledge to provide communications support and technical training to local service clubs, organizations, and interested citizens; and

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim June 13th, 2014, to be,

AMATEUR RADIO DAY

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-third day of May, in the year two thousand and fourteen and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

By His Excellency

Deval L. Patrick

Governor of the Commonwealth

William Francis Galvin

Secretary of the Commonwealth

*      *      *

THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE

RESOLUTIONS

CELEBRATING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE

WHEREAS, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS ARE CELEBRATING OVER A CENTURY OF THE MIRACLE OF THE HUMAN VOICE BROADCAST OVER THE AIRWAYS AND, IN 2014, THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE IS CELEBRATING A CENTURY OF PROMOTING AND ADVANCING THE ART, SCIENCE AND ENJOYMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO; AND

WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE IS THE LEADING ORGANIZATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO IN THE USA AND SERVES OVER 164,000 MEMBERS, MOSTLY LICENSED RADIO AMATEURS, IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD; AND

WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION’S HEADQUARTERS IN HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, HAS BEEN HOME TO THE HIRAM PERCY MAXIM MEMORIAL STATION SINCE 1938 AND RECEIVES VISITS FROM NEARLY 2,000 INDIVIDUALS A YEAR; AND

WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE’S MISSION IS “TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE ART, SCIENCE AND ENJOYMENT OF AMATEUR RADIO” AND MEMBERS SPAN THE GLOBE, SUPPORTED BY THE ORGANIZATION’S PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, PUBLICATIONS AND EXPERTS; AND

WHEREAS, AMATEUR RADIO HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A BRIDGE BETWEEN PEOPLES, SOCIETIES AND COUNTRIES BY CREATING FRIENDSHIPS AND SHARING IDEAS; AND

WHEREAS, AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS HAVE ALSO PROVIDED COUNTLESS HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICES BOTH IN EMERGENCIES AND TO OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THESE DECADES, NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATE HEREBY JOINS IN CELEBRATING THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE TRANSMITTED FORTHWITH BY THE CLERK OF THE SENATE TO THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE.

SENATE, ADOPTED, JUNE 23, 2014.

THERESE MURRAY
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

OFFERED BY:
SENATOR BRUCE E. TARR

*      *      *

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, House of Representatives;

Be it hereby known to all that the Massachusetts House of Representatives offers its sincerest Congratulations to the American Radio Relay League in Recognition of its 100th Anniversary and its affiliate, the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association, for providing service and education to the Cape Ann Community. The entire membership extends the very best wishes and expresses the hope for future good fortune and continued success in all endeavors.

Given this 28th day of June, at the State House, Boston, Massachusetts

By: Robert A. DeLeo

Speaker of the House

Offered by State Representative

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

In conjuntion with ARRL Field Day, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a Resolultion late last week “honoring Amateur Radio operators as they celebrate Amateur Radio Week and participate in Field Day.”

Like the Governor’s Proclamation, the Senate Resolution was brought about through the efforts of State Government Liaison, K3HI, Local Government Liaison Hank McCarl, W4RIG, by several club presidents; and, by one licensed Amateur in particular who happens to be a Massachusetts State Senator: Bruce Tarr, N1UIU.

Although a copy was not available to tour during Field Day, hard copies of the Resolution have been transmitted to ARRL Headquarters, and to Eastern and Western MA Section Managers Phil Temples, K9HI and Ed Emco, W1KT, respectively.

Sen. Tarr writes about the Resolution in his blog at http://www.tarrtalk.com/2011/06/arrl-field-day-event.html.

Just in time for Field Day–Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick has declared June 25-26, 2011 to be “Amateur Radio Week” in Massachusetts.

The Proclamation was signed at the Executive Chamber in Boston on June 15. The official document was awarded on June 21 to ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager Phil Temples, K9HI who met wtih Bianca Hoffman in the Governor’s Office on Beacon Hill. Last year’s proclamation was secured through the diligent efforts of the Hampden County Radio Association in Western Massachusetts. (See <http://ema.arrl.org/node/1712>.)

Several individuals worked to secure this year’s proclamation, according to Temples. “I want to acknowledge the work of our State Government Liaison, K3HI, along with effort by several club presidents–and in particular, one of our Local Government Liaisons, Hank McCarl, W4RIG of Gloucester,” remarked Temples. “Hank set up conversations with the office of the Senate Minority Leader–who is, coincidentally, a licensed amateur, and a member of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association.” Temples added, “We hope also to secure a Senate Resolution honoring Amateur Radio before the start of Field Day.”

K9HI plans to tour with the official Proclamation throughout Eastern Massachusetts during the Field Day weekend.