January 2020: EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS (EMA) SECTION NEWS
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Welcome to the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL section newsletter.
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To see all the monthly section news, which is updated regularly, visit <https://ema.arrl.org/>.
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UP FRONT
LOCAL AMATEURS FEATURED ON WBZ LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW
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.
WBZ in Boston is a Class A clear channel AM radio station heard widely throughout the Eastern North America. Read more at <https://ema.arrl.org/?s=WBZ>
You can listen to the show on Jim Idelson’s blog, The Driven Element, at: <https://blog.thedrivenelement.com/2020/01/ham-radio-on-wbz/>
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EMA SECTION STAFF CHANGES
Ed Parish, K1EP, has left the EMA Staff after many years of service to our section. Ed first served as our Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) until the closure of that program this past September. During the ARRL transition of the OO Program to the Volunteer Monitoring Program, he has also been serving as an Eastern Massachusetts Assistant Section Manager (ASM).
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NE DIVISION DIRECTOR AND VICE DIRECTOR ATTEND ARRL BOARD MEETING
Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, made their way to the ARRL Board meeting held on January 17-18 in Windsor, CT. Two important results concerning ARRL Leadership changes are now public and are the subject of the next two stories below.
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MIKE RAISBECK, K1TWF, ELECTED ARRL FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
The ARRL Board of Directors has elected Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts as First Vice President during its recent meeting January 17-18, 2020 in Connecticut.
According to the League’s web site, “[Mike] was first licensed in 1961 as KN1TWF, becoming K1TWF in 1962, and has held that call ever since. His home club is the Billerica Amateur Radio Club [sic], where he has held various posts. On the air activities include DXing, contesting, and recently, caring for a DMR repeater in the attic. He is a Volunteer Examiner and a Volunteer Counsel.
“Of particular interest to Mike are the social and organizational aspects of the Amateur Radio. For over 20 years he has been serving on the Board for the ARRL New England Division Convention, and he is currently president of that organization, which runs an annual convention and funds a number of scholarships to young hams every year.”
Raisbeck’s election to his new post leaves the office of New England Vice Director–a position in which he previously served–vacant for the present.
You can read more about K1TWF on the League’s web page at: https://www.arrl.org/first-vice-president.
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HOWARD MICHEL WB2ITX REPLACED BY BARRY SHELLY, N1VXY, AS INTERIM CEO
At the January 17-18 ARRL Board meeting, the Board of Directors did not elect Howard Michel, WB2ITX, as the ARRL Chief Executive Officer. Instead. Barry Shelley, N1VXY, was chosen as interim CEO beginning on January 20. Mr. Shelley was ARRL’s Chief Financial Officer for 28 years and CEO during 2018 before his retirement. The board has created a search committee to select the next CEO.
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MASSACHUSETTS DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW
Our friends in the Western Massachusetts (WMA) section have posted additional guidance on what documents may be helpful to have with you when operating mobile now that the Massachusetts Distracted Driver Law has passed.
Check the information put on the Western Massachusetts section page at <https://wma.arrl.org/important-info-on-the-new-distracted-driving-laws.html>
Here are excerpts from the Western Massachusetts posting:
“The best ways to avoid being ticketed for your lawful use of amateur radio while mobile is to have the appropriate documentation in the vehicle with you.”
“The first item to print out and have with you in the car is the actual text of the Massachusetts General Law on the subject. That would be MGL Part 1, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 13.”
“The second item is your valid FCC amateur radio license.”
Thanks to Ray Lajoie, KB1LRL, WMA section manager and his staff for their excellent help on this.
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MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: NORTHEAST HAMXPOSITION (FORMERLY BOXBORO) IS MOVING
The 2020 Northeast HamXposition will be held July 24th, 25th, and 26th at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, conveniently located in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
The new venue offers us much-needed additional capacity for forums, a larger flea market, and ample parking right in the hotel’s main lot. For those staying at the convention hotel, your room rate includes a complimentary breakfast buffet.
For more information, visit https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/27/major-announcement-northeast-hamxposition-formerly-boxboro-is-moving/
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NEW AFFILIATED CLUB SERVICE OFFERED: YOUR CLUB ON THE WEB!
We understand it’s difficult to recruit and retain a webmaster for your club. In fact, some clubs’ web sites have fallen into disrepair. That’s why we’re excited to offer this new service to ARRL affiliated clubs—a hosted page on the EMA ARRL web site. The address is of the form, https://ema.arrl.org/<Your Club Name>. The pages would be maintained by our webmaster, with input from your club officers.
What would the page look like? Check out the new Wellesley Amateur Radio Society page at: https://ema.arrl.org/wars .
Questions? Contact ASM Phil Temples, K9HI, at k9hi@arrl.org.
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT RADIO CLUB?
Please visit <https://ema.arrl.org/affiliated-clubs/radio-clubs-of-yesteryear/> and send any information you might have to our Assistant Section Manager (ASM) Phil Temples, K9HI, at <k9hi@arrl.org>.
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FLEA MARKETS:
February 15, 2020 Marlboro MA Algonquin ARC 25 Union St Tim KA1OS 508-919-6136. https://www.qsl.net/n1em/
A full list of New England flea markets can be found at https://ema.arrl.org/2019/10/11/new-england-area-flea-markets-october-4-2019/
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PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS
2020 BAA Marathon Volunteer Registration Open until Friday, February 7 at 5 PM.
<https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/06/2020-baa-marathon-volunteer-registration-now-open/>
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NEWS FROM EMA.ARRL.ORG:
Each day on the section web site we bring you news and information from Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. Visit https://ema.arrl.org for the latest.
Here’s a selection of the stories from January 2020:
* Cape Cod ARES Ice Show Exercise on 1/25/20 Successful – Several Off-Cape Stations Also Participated <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/26/cape-cod-ares-ice-show-exercise-on-1-25-20-successful-several-off-cape-stations-also-participated/>
* Natick High School Robotics Team Members Receive Technician Tickets <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/26/natick-high-school-robotics-team-members-receive-technician-tickets/>
* “Ham Radio: a Hobby Still Alive and Thriving” <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/23/ham-radio-a-hobby-still-alive-and-thriving/>
* KM1CC to Commemorate Marconi’s First Transatlantic Wireless Transmission <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/18/km1cc-qrv-to-commemorate-marconis-first-transatlantic-wireless-transmission/>
* ARES/SKYWARN Exhibit at 19th Weatherfest-AMS Annual Meeting <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/16/ares-skywarn-exhibit-at-19th-weatherfest-ams-annual-meeting/>
* Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club Assists in Post-earthquake Support for Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/14/nashoba-valley-amateur-radio-club-assists-in-post-earthquake-support-for-arecibo-telescope-in-puerto-rico/>
* “Framingham residents successful in fight to halt ham radio tower construction. For now.” <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/11/framingham-residents-successful-in-fight-to-halt-ham-radio-tower-construction-for-now/>
* Newly-Formed Hudson High School ARC Flourishes Under Teacher’s Guidance <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/08/newly-formed-hudson-high-school-arc-flourishes-under-teachers-guidance/>
There are many more stories on the website. Please visit the website for the latest news.
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES
The first Monday of every month is a test of the Massachusetts RACES and ARES communication capabilities. The monthly ARES VHF Net is at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system.
To see all the recent news on Eastern Massachusetts ARES please visit <https://ema.arrl.org/category/emcomm/>. This site is constantly maintained with the latest happenings by our EMA SEC, Rob, KD1CY.
If you are interested in joining Eastern Massachusetts ARES, visit <https://secure1.ema.arrl.org/qilan/ares/EMA/ARES_about>.
To find out more about EMA ARES visit <https://ema.arrl.org/ares/>.
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Section Traffic Manager (STM), Marcia KW1U
The December section traffic manager report may be viewed at <https://ema.arrl.org/2020/01/13/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-december-2019/>
This report lists all the PSHR and BPL recognitions for the month and details the very extensive level of NTS activity across the state.
December BPL recipients: KW1U, N1IQI
December PSHR recipients: W1RVY, KW1U, N1IQI, N1TF, KD2JKV, N1LAH, KC1HHO, KE1ML.
Find the list of all NTS daily nets in Massachusetts here: <https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/>.
To see more news on Eastern Massachusetts Traffic Handling and Nets visit <https://ema.arrl.org/category/nts/>.
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NET REPORTS
FIRST REGION NET (1RN) REPORT (CW)
Eric, W1RVY, is manager of 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net. Eric reports the December net had 61 sessions that handled a total of 70 pieces of traffic and a total of 173 check-ins for the month.
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Section website: <https://ema.arrl.org/>
Section Facebook page: <https://www.facebook.com/easternmaarrl/>
Section Leadership: <https://ema.arrl.org/organization/#Section_Leadership>
Section Public Service List: <https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/05/ema-public-service-list/>
Section Speaker List: <https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/16/eastern-ma-club-speakers-list/>.
To join EMA ARES visit <https://secure1.ema.arrl.org/qilan/ares/EMA/ARES_about>
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FINAL WORD
Congratulation to Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, on election as ARRL First Vice President. Mike’s service to the section, ARRL and hobby has spanned decades.
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ACKOWLEDGEMENT
This January section news has been jointly produced by Phil, K9HI, Assistant Section Manager and Tom, K1TW, Section Manager.
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
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