I want to wish all ARRL members in the Eastern Massachusetts Section a very happy and prosperous New Year. It’s an honor and a great pleasure to serve once again as Section Manager in one of the most active sections in the country!
I’d like to thank outgoing SM Mike Neilsen, W1MPN for his capable stewardship of the field organization during the past term. Mike will continue to play an active role in Amateur Radio locally, representing ARRL on the Massachusetts State Interoperable Executive Committee.
Eastern MA has an ARES program that is second to none, thanks to the superb leadership of Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Rob will continue to serve in the role of SEC, and also, SKYWARN Coordinator for National Weather Service Taunton and Southern New England.
Some familiar faces and call signs are stepping down from section-level positions while continuing in their ARES roles. I’d like to publicly thank the following people for their contributions as Assistant Section Managers under Mike’s administration: KD1CY, N1FY, KA8SCP, and N1BDA. They will continue in their leadership roles in ARES under Rob.
Also stepping down after years of service are Bob DiMattia, K1IW, Technical Coordinator, and Mike, K1LJN, Official Observer Coordinator. Incoming OOC Ed Parish, K1EP will succeed K1LJN. Ed is an accomplished engineer and an active contester on HF and VHF who brings years of technical and on-air experience to the position.
Bob Salow, WA1IDA will assume the vacant Public Information Coordinator position. Bob has held various leadership and organizational roles, and he was the founding president of the Boston Amateur Radio Club.
I’m very pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Sample, KB1PQB as Assistant Section Manager/Youth Activities. Jason is an active member of Venture Crew 47 ARC (KB1PAL), which is sponsored by the North Shore Radio Association. We’re indeed fortunate to have someone with his youth and energy on the staff.
There’s a quote on the ARRL Web site that I like very much. It says, “Real ham radio happens ‘in the field’ where amateurs practice their avocation.” Members of the ARRL have a unique opportunity to see their avocations recognized through section field organization appointments. For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, these appointments are: Emergency Coordinator (EC); Local Government Liaison (LGL); Official Emergency Station (OES); Official Observer (OO); Official Relay Station (ORS), Public Information Officer (PIO); and Technical Specialist (TS). You can find additional descriptions of each appointment at http://www.arrl.org/sections/view/eastern-massachusetts. You can soon expect a major recruitment drive to begin to increase the number of these active field appointments. I stress “active” because we want to bolster our ranks with persons who are genuinely active and interested in benefiting our community.
What other changes might you expect to see over the coming months? Effective immediately, I’m bringing back the traditional Section News column that once graced the back section of our monthly QST magazine. On January 1, 2011, look for Section News on the ARRL World Wide Web site at
Recently, a well-known and respected amateur remarked over the air, “I used to check into the traffic nets, but it’s just no fun anymore.” He went on to name a number of reasons why he no longer participates. One of the pressing needs for Eastern MA (and all sections, for that matter) is to create a resurgence of activity in the National Traffic System. For the sake of ARES and emergency communications preparedness alone, it’s urgent that we strengthen our traffic networks at the local and section levels. That means the following: (1) training more new hams in how to prepare, relay, and deliver formal, written message traffic; (2) more net check-ins; (3) more message origination; and (4) sending more liaisons to region nets, among other activities. I have some ideas on how we might accomplish these things and welcome your input as we brainstorm how to achieve these goals. I’ll be developing approaches for implementation with my staff in the coming weeks and months.
It will be challenging to increase NTS activity, but it’s absolutely essential if we are to fulfill one of the missions of our service, as laid out in the Basis and Purpose of the Amateur Radio Service:
“Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.”
As many of you know, I’m on the club speaking circuit. I visit clubs and present about the ARRL field organization, and other topics. Generally, I can tell at a glance if a club is thriving by how many younger faces I see in the audience.
It’s imperative that we not only recruit, but also, engage and retain younger amateurs in our hobby. Often, younger amateurs might feel disconnected from their peers or isolated among their older, fellow amateurs. That’s why I’m appointing an Assistant Section Manager for Youth Activities to identify where the younger hams are in the section, what they’re up to, and to coordinate activities that interest them.
These are just a few of my goals and objectives for the coming two years. I look forward to hearing from you all on how we together might strengthen the ARRL—and Amateur Radio—in Eastern Massachusetts.
Very 73,
Phil Temples, K9HI
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A huge thanks to W1MPN and his section staff for his leadership and their contributions to the section for the past two years.
K5TEC reports his Tech class at the Dexter School in Brookline currently has six youths ranging from grades 4-6. The school holds an open house every Tuesday evening with informal ham mentoring for the general public.
Bristol Co. RA will meet in a new QTH at the Union United Methodist Church, 600 Highland Ave., Fall River beginning Jan. 3. This is the same location where their VE sessions are held.
Quannapowitt RA held a memorial at its recent meeting to honor the memory of SK W1HFR. QRA members also voted to donate $100 in W1HFR’s name to the Lazarus House.
Southeastern MA ARA planning a Tech class sometime in late January or early February, possibly at the Dartmouth police station. Check their web site at semara.org for updates.
Boston ARC operated W1BOS/MQE multi-xmtr at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton during the recent SKYWARN Recognition Day.
Is your club sending a delegate to the New England Division Cabinet Meeting on Jan. 15 in Springfield? For more info, email k1ki@arrl.org.
N1JOY was contacted by National Grid saying that a stubborn QRN/ power line problem interfering with the Bristol Co. RA 145.450 repeater has been repaired.
K9HI presented on the Courage Center Handiham program at a recent Whitman ARC meeting.
Attention 6m fans: don’t forget the weekly net in S.E. Mass. on 50.200 MHz (USB) at 8:30 PM. K1AHA in Dartmouth is net control station.
Condolences to W1KLV of E. Orleans for the recent loss of his XYL, Hedy.
Cape Cod Explorer Post 73’s Jan. 4 meeting theme will be construction of 2-meter omni-directional antennas and General class question review. Post 73 meets in the Dennis PD Hq. in S. Dennis.
Silent Keys N1BAN and W1LIO to be honored with donations of $250 each by the Wellesley ARS to the ARRL Educational Foundation and the Young Ladies Radio League, respectively.
Kudos to the Harvard Wireless Club (W1AF) for their recent contact with the International Space Station, NA1SS! Also, HWC fielded five ops for the recent CQWW SSB competition.
Cape Ann ARA experimenting with streaming video of their meetings over the internet.
The Boston ARC honored KB1JKJ with its Ham of the Year award. Also honored for his contributions was WA1IDA with a paid, lifetime membership.
Attention clubs: don’t forget ARRL Kids Day on 1/2. Details can be found at http://www.arrl.org/kids-day.
Rumor has it that Pentucket RA members consumed vast amounts of pizza at their recent meeting at Papa Gino’s in Haverhill.
Speaking of pizza–Minuteman RA holding its Mid-Winter Pizza Gathering on 1/19 at 7PM at Pizzeria Uno in Newton. Also, don’t forget to QNI the MMRA “Technical, Informational And Other Stuff” Net held each Tuesday night at 8PM on the MMRA linked repeater system.
Algonquin ARC flea market will be held on 2/19 in Marlborough. For more info, visit http://www.qsl.net/n1em/2011flier.pdf.
A CPR class will be conducted in Middleboro around the end of January. All hams are welcome. Contact N1XTB for more info.
Kudos to North Shore RA for finishing #1 in Field Day 2010 in EMA, and #15 nationwide!
Billerica ARS reports that six of its members participated in the recent CQWW SSB contest.
Police AR Team of Westford mourns the recent loss of N1SWB of Lowell.
There is renewed interest in 10m among Genesis ARS members. Look for activity in and around 28.400 MHz in the Plymouth area.
South Shore Hospital in Weymouth now has a ham club! SSH ARC (W1SSH) held its first meeting on 12/11. Eighteen people attended.
Pilgrim ARC in Provincetown was recently granted the call of Silent Key K1TCO. PARC will use Doc’s former call for special event operations.
de K9HI