a field organization of the National Association for Amateur Radio®
Youth activities in the section
Starting on April 1, 2019, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will accept applications from US schools, museums, science centers, and community youth organizations (working individually or together) interested in hosting contacts with orbiting crew members on the International Space Station (ISS). Contacts will be scheduled between January 1 and June 30, 2020. [Full story]
Andy Wallace, KA1GTT, writes on the BARS web site:
I am excited to bring back Bruce Blain, K1BG to speak at [the Billerica Amateur Radio Society]. You may remember his talk with us about The Entry Level License: What’s Worked and What Hasn’t. Bruce has an eye for spotting opportunities about influencing the young folks and getting their interest piqued for amateur radio.
Recently, Bruce enlisted three other Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club members to assist him in judging a school science fair. This was an opportunity for NVARC to connect with youth and educators and parents, with the hope of generating more budding hams. You can see how this has potential for rejuvenating our hobby.
Bruce will describe what happened and I am sure he will field questions we all have about why ham radio’s average age keeps climbing each year and what we can do about it.
Please come and support Bruce, and thank him for speaking for a fellow club.
[See also: NVARC Members Participate in Bromfield Science Fair]
This weekend, Newton, Massachusetts native Marty Sullaway, NN1C, will be among the young voices heard from the K3LR Superstation, an 11-acre antenna farm of 13 towers in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, owned by Tim Duffy, K3LR. Duffy reports that “Team Exuberance” members will operate from the station in the two-transmitter, multioperator (M2) category for the CQ World Wide WPX Contest (phone), March 30-31, 2019. [Details]
Bruce Blain, K1BG, writes in the March, 2019 issue of Signal:
As part of my continued effort to explore how to connect youth with Amateur Radio, I decided to learn more about an annual activity that I know takes place in my town—The Bromfield Science Fair. The Bromfield School is the public middle/high school in Harvard, MA. I’ve been aware of their science fair ever since my children attended school there. During the past year, I reached out to Deb Pierce, the teacher at Bromfield who coordinates the event, and found out how to participate.
I had two broad goals: to introduce young people to amateur radio, and to find a champion amongst the Bromfield faculty—someone who would incorporate amateur radio into the curriculum, or sponsor an after school activity like an amateur radio club. Four of us actively participated in judging the event on the afternoon of March 8th—me, Jim AB1WQ, Phil W1PJE, and Skip K1NKR. Community organizations like NVARC select projects that fit into their broad scopes of interest and judge those projects. Frankly, none of this year’s projects were specifically amateur radio related, but a number had some connection to the broad subject of “electromagnetics”. We split into two teams of judges – Jim and I and Phil and Skip. Of the seven projects we reviewed, three jumped out at all of us:. “Constructing a Polarimeter” by seniors Liam Makosky and Jacob Catalina, “Remote Sensing” by junior Lucy Bodtman, and “Harnessing Kinetic Energy from Footsteps for Electricity” by 8th grader Imogen Slavin. Awards were presented in the evening.
NVARC was also given the opportunity to have a table to display information regarding amateur radio. Stan KD1LE, Ralph KD1SM, and Phil W1PJE helped with the table and took some photographs. The science fair winners were given an introduction into amateur radio as well, and a number of teachers showed interest in what we are doing (no volunteer yet). We had two parents (of students) and two other students show great interest in our table. So the long term outcome of this effort is yet to be determined. The best part about an activity like this is that it can be duplicated at any science fair at any high school anywhere. I live in the town of Harvard, but NVARC members live in some 20 or so communities in the area. It all takes a few hours of time one day a year, and is an amazingly rewarding activity. I’m already planning on doing it again next year. If two kids per science fair per year across the country got interested in amateur radio, the number of kids getting into the hobby would explode overnight. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out in YOUR town. You can reach me at k1bg.bruce@gmail.com or at 508-341-5124.
From ARRL Hq. web:
Some alumni, faculty, and staff of Boston College are in the process of trying to restart the Boston College Amateur Radio Club. They would appreciate hearing from current BC students and alumni who are interested in participating. Contact Jim Repetti, WJ1R, at wj1r@arrl.net.
From the NU Wireless Club web site:
This week during our usual meeting time [Thursday, March 14, at 503 Hayden Hall] we will be hosting Pete MacLellan from Lutron, who will be speaking about his experience at Northeastern and at Lutron. Come to hear about coop experiences, and an exciting company in the Boston area who hosts many Northeastern coops, many of which are part of Wireless Club!
For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio Technician license exam.
Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course.
The Technician level course runs on Saturday, 9 AM-4 PM and Sunday, 9 AM-1 PM, followed by the FCC Technician exam at 1:00, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick. [Full description]
For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course.
The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.
Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.
For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.
Uncommon Service to Nautical Radio will host a special event operation W1BSA aboard the USS Massachusetts in Fall River, on Apr 27, 2019 from 1000-1600 ET. Look for W1BSA on 14.259 and 7.259.
“The Scouts stay overnight on the ship Friday and on Saturday nights,” writes Rick Emord, KB1TEE. “We have been doing this event since 2015 and have tried to showcase Amateur Radio.” Rick adds, “we have put some of the Scouts on the air and we look forward to seeing them and other visitors to Battleship Cove.”
Stations may QSL via USTNR c/o Rick Emord, 135 Wareham St., Middleboro, MA 02346.
New England Sci-Tech is offering ongoing Amateur Extra study sessions for high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a General level license. This slower-paced course will get you ready to take the Amateur Extra license exam. You may jump into this course at any time, pay one course fee, and take nine weeks worth of classes. A different topic group is covered each week; all topics covered in nine-week intervals. Take the exam whenever you are ready.
The course runs most Thursday evenings, 6-9 PM from February 28, 2019 until May 30, 2019 as a combination “study group” and keynote presentations by experienced instructors. Study group meets 6:00-6:30, presentations run 6:30-8:15 approximately, and remainder of time is Q and A with instructors or more study group time. Regular homework reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. [Full description]
Newton teen Marty Sullaway, NN1C, was featured in the March 1, 2019 Amateur Radio Newsline broadcast in a segment entitled, “YOUNG CONTESTERS OF TEAM EXUBERANCE LIVE UP TO THEIR NAME.” He’s interviewed by the anchor about a group of youths working together as a multi-operator contest team for CQ WPX later this month.
Marty was also mentioned for the lead-in to the next story announcing nominations for the 2019 
Young Ham Of The Year Award:
NEIL/ANCHOR: A team of young hams is being assembled for the CQ Worldwide WPX contest March 30th and 31st. Co-leader Marty Sullaway, NN1C tells how it all started.
MARTY: The idea for this project came from Violetta, KM4ATT. Violetta was the one who approached Tim Duffy, K3LR, the owner of the K3LR superstation, to make this a go. She was inspired by her operations from PJ2T as part of the Dave Kalter Youth DX project, and wanted to continue her operating career.
NEIL: Planning is a major undertaking, but the team is fulfilling that role as well.
MARTY: Part of multi operator contesting is working together as a team to build the contest plan, as well as figuring out all the logistics for the actual contest operation. So as a youth team, we are internally handling all the logistics regarding flights, hotels, meals, contest scheduling, operator scheduing, station information and handbooks; and really making this a comprehensive effort. We are taking this extremely seriously, and we hope our diligent planning will pay off, all of this being handled by fantastic youth. So we’re really looking forward to that.
NEIL: Marty also talked to me about the goals of this event.
MARTY: We really view this as an excellent opportunity to get youth involved in amateur radio contesting, youth that already know how to contest get more experience, work together as a team, have fun (because we do this to have fun, right?), and gain skill. So this is an activity in skill building, team building, networking, having a lot of fun on the radio contesting… Hopefully this is the start of some bigger work to engage youth in contests in North America.
NEIL: To provide funding for some of the young hams to get to the K3LR superstation, a GoFundMe page has been set up. You can find it at TeamExuberance.org.
** IN SEARCH OF NOMINATIONS FOR THIS YEAR’S YHOTY AWARD
NEIL: Youthful exuberance is, in fact, one of the core criteria we look for in candidates for Young Ham of the Year. We just heard from Marty Sullaway NN1C who was Amateur Radio Newsline’s Young Ham of the Year for 2017. Last year’s winner was Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, of Montgomery, Alabama. We have opened up the nomination period once again and are in search of candidates who, like Marty and Bryant, have offered the amateur community the best of their talents. All information is available on our website, arnewsline.org, under the YHOTY tab. You’ll be able to download a nomination form which is due back to us before midnight on May 31st.
Bruce MacKinnon, KC1FSZ, writes on the Wellesley ARS mailing list:See also: “Winter Field Day Association“
Sean Waite, WA1TE, writes:
If you know any young hams, could you please direct them to this survey?
https://goo.gl/forms/4d0S5HpM5fV1jK1Q2I’m in contact with the ARRL and am trying to gather information to feed them about how they can help get more of the younger crowd involved, and also retain others. I also have offered to yell from whatever mountains I can to help amplify any reasonable initiatives they come up with.
Target demographic is 26 and under. Like it or not, those of us in our 30s aren’t as young as we think we are.
Thanks and 73,
Sean Waite, WA1TE
ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology alumnus Mariusz Zielinski, KB1MDS, invited ARRL Lifelong Learning Manager Kris Bickell, K1BIC, Lifelong Learning Administrator Ally Riedel, KM3ALF, and ARRL Communications Content Producer Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, to witness an exciting November 2 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, Massachusetts, where Zielinski teaches. [Full story]
The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association will participate in the 61st annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The JOTA event will occur at Falmouth’s Gus Canty Recreation Center at 790 Main Street, from 10 AM-5 PM.
FARA members hope to show all attendees (specifically any Scout–boy or girl) what ham radio has to offer and get them on the air.
Volunteers are needed to operate several stations as demos and to get folks on the air:
For more information, visit http://www.falara.org/announcements/jamboreeontheairjotaoctober20.
Rob Leiden, K1UI, writes:
Barry Hutchinson, KB1TLR, is heading up the [Jamboree On The Air] operation at Camp Greenough. There will be a merit badge class and several rigs on the air using different modes.
[See also: https://barnstablearc.org/?q=node/224]
For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults interested in wireless communications and electronics, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the Amateur Radio TECHNICIAN license exam.
Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent a few days before the course.
The TECHNICIAN level course runs on Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm and Sunday, 9 am to noon., followed by the FCC Technician exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.
Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.
For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-technician-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.
For junior high and high school students, homeschool students, and adults who already have a Technician level license, this fast-paced, two-day course will get you ready to take the GENERAL license exam. Topics range from the science of radio electronics to the FCC rules governing the radio spectrum. Some preliminary reading and study is necessary to get the best results from this course. Material will be sent approximately a week before the course.
The GENERAL level course runs Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm and Sunday, 9 am to noon, followed by the FCC General exam at noon, at New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.
Included with course fee: printed handouts, lecture study guide, license fee if tested at our location, a guest pass to the NEAR/STARS Radio Room and radio club meetings for 2 months, and free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate during the course. Advance registration and payment required.
For more information and to register, visit <https://www.nescitech.org/product/weekend-general-class/>. For questions, e-mail bobphinney at nescitech.org or call 508-720-4179.
Glen Dowden, KC1GKT writes:
The Falmouth Amateur Radio Association is looking for volunteers on October 6 through October 9, 2018 for Mass Jam.
Mass Jam is held at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds in East Falmouth. The event brings Scouts from all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island for a weekend of activities. Mass Jam provides the scouts the opportunity to participate in fellowship and activities throughout the weekend. We would be providing an opportunity for Scouts to learn more about Amateur Radio and the opportunity to get on the air. Falmouth Amateur Radio Association can provide the necessary equipment (Radio equipment and antennas), but we will need operators. All operators at the event will have to be registered as volunteers at the event and will have to take the Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Training (this is available at http://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/).
If you are available or are already planning on attending the event with your local Scout Troop/Post/Ship and are interested in assisting with operating, please reach out to Glen.dowden@gmail.com and indicate dates and times you are available. This is a great opportunity to reach Scouts from your local area.
Thank you,
Glen KC1GKT
Falmouth Amateur Radio Association