DECEMBER 2015 SECTION NEWS

ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION  

Section Manager (SM) – Tom Walsh, K1TW 
Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Phil Temples, K9HI
Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – Arthur "Bo" Budinger, WA1QYM 
Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) - Ed Parish, K1EP 
Public Information Coordinator (PIC) – (open) 
Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG
Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U 
Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ 
State Government Liaison (SGL) – Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG 
Technical Coordinator (TC) – Dan Brown, W1DAN

To contact a section staff member simply address an email to their call
sign at arrl.net or visit <http://ema.arrl.org> for additional
information. 


DECEMBER 2015 SECTION NEWS


Rob, KD1CY, ASEC reports holding a SKYWARN class on November 18 from
7:00 to 9:30 PM at the Belmont High School Auditorium, 221 Concord
Avenue, in Belmont.

Marcia, KW1U, STM reports only one BPL for November was KW1U.  Those
making PSHR included KW1U, N1IQI, N1TF, AC7RB, N1LKJ, KC1CIC, and
N1LAH. 

Note a correction to last month’s news where KC1CIC was listed
incorrectly as KB1CIC. 

The EM2MN is still meeting on the Quincy repeater nightly except
Tuesday when it meets on the Sharon repeater.

A reminder that MARIPN meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on 3978 kHz
at 6 PM; MARI CW meets daily on 3565 kHz at 7 PM; EM2MN meets daily as
noted above at 8 PM; and HHTN meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the
Minuteman linked repeater network at 10 PM.


FLEA MARKETS

February 13, 2016
The Algonquin ARC Flea Market is in Marlborough, MA.  Details on their
web site at <http://www.qsl.net/n1em/>


ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOSTON MARATHON:

Preparations are underway once more for the Boston Athletic
Association’s Boston Marathon, April 18, 2016.  Nearly 300 trained
Amateur Radio volunteers staff the event, providing vital
communications services across the entirety of the 26 mile course. 
Volunteers are recruited, selected, and managed by the BAA’s
Communications Committee which is entering its second year of service. 
“A major initiative of the Committee this year is to bolster the
technology we use on Marathon Monday,” said Communications Committee
member Matthew Forman, K6MCF.  “To do so, we’re forming a Technical
Infrastructure Subcommittee (TIS) and seeking Amateurs who can offer
current skills in Analog and/or Digital modes (UHF/VHF), repeaters, and
infrastructure.  We’d like to have the TIS consist of one
technically-seasoned member from Amateur Radio clubs in Massachusetts,
southern New Hampshire, and the northern parts of Connecticut and Rhode
Island,” said Forman. 

Another Committee member, Mark Richards, K1MGY, will be assisting in
representing the TIS to clubs and other interests.  “A diversity of
talent, and the involvement from and representation to this work by
area clubs is vital to creating volunteer opportunities for everyone
and making sure that Amateur Radio is a part of this extraordinary
Marathon for years to come,” he said.

Richards will be contacting clubs and soliciting their assistance.  You
may reach him directly at <k1mgy@hamradioboston.org>.


YCCC MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM FOR WRTC 2018: 

The Yankee Clipper Contest Club has announced a Matching Gift Program
for donations made to WRTC2018. YCCC has allocated up to $1000 to
matching donations made by other individuals to WRTC2018 through WWROF
from now through February 28, 2016.  Questions may be addressed to Tony
Brock-Fisher, K1KP, <president@yccc.org>. 


CALLING ALL AFFILIATED CLUB PRESIDENTS:

ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI has invited
Affiliated Club Presidents to attend the next Division Cabinet meeting
on January 9, 2016 at the Sheraton Springfield Hotel in Springfield,
MA. Says Tom, “We usually have 30 or more people attending from clubs
across New England. This will be an opportunity for you to provide
direct input to the ARRL on policy issues.” The meeting will run from
9:00 AM until 4:00 PM, with coffee and snacks at 8:30 AM and a break for
lunch at 12 Noon. Tom asks for a contribution of $15 to help cover some
of the cost for breaks and for lunch.  Those interested in attending
need to send an RSVP to Tom, K1KI, <k1ki@arrl.org> by January 5.

NEWS: 

From Andy, KB1OIQ, PART of Westford’s President comes a reminder they
meet for an 8 AM breakfast on the first Saturday of every month at the
Westford Regency hotel in Westford, MA on Rt. 110.

PART of Westford held its holiday dinner in Littleton on December 16. 


Harvard Wireless Club (HWC) President Douglas Maggs, KK4UHK reports
that HWC has been successful in convincing the Harvard Office of
Student Life to reinstate the club as a student organization. Says club
station manager, Bill Collins, W1PL, “This will allow HWC to
participate in the annual student organization fair, giving it the
opportunity to attract new undergraduate members.”

SYM KB1REQ reports the Harvard Wireless Club, W1AF, and Northeastern
University Wireless Club, W1KBN, represented EMA in the college and
university class of the ARRL November Sweepstakes.

Kudos are in order to Cape Ann ARA member Richard Copithorne, KR1G.
He’s has been conducting public outreach to his local library in
Rowley. Says Richard, “I got my QST, read it, and took it down to my
local library to see if they would post it on their shelf. I said I
could bring them the current issue each month.  They thought that was
good.” Additionally, the librarian asked further about ham radio.
Richard thinks this could perhaps lead to a public presentation about
Amateur Radio at the library. He has approached the children’s
library, too. 

Genesis ARS held a “show and tell” presentation at its recent
meeting on November 30. GARS meets on the last Monday of each month at
7:30 PM in the Plymouth Airport Community Room on South Meadow Road. In
lieu of a December meeting, GARS members gathered for their annual
holiday party on December 10 at Isaac’s Restaurant.

K1WCC conducted the Steamship Portland special event operation under
the call sign W1P for the tenth consecutive year. Henry was QRV on
November 27 from 0800-1600 ET on 75, 40, and 20 meters. This special
event station recalls the sinking of the Steamship Portland in 1898 off
the Massachusetts coast with the loss of 200 lives. Visit
<http://www.qrz.com/db/k1wcc> for more details and QSL information.

The Wellesley ARS discussed the possibility of establishing a club
station at a recent meeting. Long-time member Jack Logan, N1TPU,
donated his Amateur Radio equipment to the club for the purpose. 

The Nashoba Valley ARC has information on its upcoming meetings and
links to its excellent newsletter on the NVARC website at
<http://www.n1nc.org/>.

Nashoba Valley ARC members are looking ahead to February 2016 and World
Thinking Day, when Girl Scouts and girls worldwide participate in
activities and projects with global themes. According to club member
Jill Galus, KB1SWV, the Thinking Day on the Air last February was quite
a success and was highlighted in an article on the ARRL’s website.
Jill’s troop intends to participate; interested club members are
encouraged to contact K1NKR or KD1LE. The program might consist of
helping girls send their name in Morse code, teaching them about
propagation, understanding time zones, and helping them to make
contacts on the air.

The Quannapowitt RA held its annual Christmas holiday party and Yankee
Swap on December 16 at 7:00 PM at Reading Senior Center in Reading.

The Billerica ARS holds its annual holiday party and Yankee swap after
the seasonal rush on January 6 in Bedford, MA.  Details are on their
web site at <www.w1hh.org>.

From the "It's-Beginning-To-Look-A-Lot-Like-Ham-Radio-Christmas
department: Stoneham amateur Brian Gudzevich, WO1VES is into the
holiday spirit in a big way. He's constructed a large outdoor display
featuring Morse code lighting in his Christmas tree! Says Brian, "the
display itself features somewhere around 30,000 lights and is computer
controlled and animated.  The lights are synchronized to music, which
is transmitted on 89.3 FM." Brian runs the show every night from 5 PM
to 10 PM. "I'm always willing to accommodate people who can't make it
during those hours. So just let me know you are coming, and I'll make
sure it is on." Brian's QTH is at 83 Franklin Street in Stoneham.


LAST WORD:

As I finish my first year as section manager, I have to come to
appreciate more than ever the contributions made daily by hams in
Eastern Massachusetts on behalf of Amateur Radio.  Best wishes to all
for a happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year.  
 
73,

Tom, K1TW

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Thanks to Phil Temples, K9HI, as Assistant Section Manager for his help
in preparing this month’s news.

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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
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