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Welcome to the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL section newsletter
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To see all the monthly news, which is updated regularly, visit <https://ema.arrl.org/>.
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Staff Openings
If you have public relations experience and would like to be considered for the open PIC staff appointment, please contact me at <k1tw@arrl.org>. Likewise, we have numerous openings at the local level for field appointments as an EMA Public Information Officer (PIO).
The Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) position remains unfilled.
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SLOW SPEED TEST (SST) EVERY SUNDAY EVENING
00:00-01:00 UTC Mondays
19:00-20:00 EST Sundays
The K1USN Radio Club sponsors the one-hour weekly Slow Speed Test (SST) every Sunday evening at 7 PM EST. For those who prefer a more leisurely CW pace or are new CW operators this just might be what you’re looking for!
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ARRL Sponsored On-line Amateur Radio Exams
If you can’t find an in-person exam session in your area or feel unsafe attending one, don’t panic. You can be tested via one of the many remote video-supervised sessions online.
Remote video exam sessions are conducted using an online video conferencing platform, like Zoom, and a web-based examination system with on-screen tests.
Video-supervised online exam sessions are not restricted by location because the exams are administered online. Therefore, there aren’t any online sessions specific to a state nor would an exam candidate be limited to testing only with a team in their state. An examinee can pick any team offering online exam sessions and examiners can participate from different areas of the country.
The online exam-taking process is more complicated and takes more time than the in-person exams. The examinee must read, agree to, and follow the specific Volunteer Examiner (VE) team’s requirements and instructions and have the needed technology in order to take a video-supervised online exam.
For more information, check out this informative YouTube video produced by Dave Casler, KE0OG, at <https://youtu.be/DVDMPLMvAiA>
or visit the ARRL’s website at: <http://www.arrl.org/findonlineexam>.
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ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION CABINET MEETING
Eastern MA ARRL-affiliated club presidents, the Section Manager, and section staff participated in an online New England Division Cabinet Meeting on January 9. Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, heard updates of club activities across the division. They also briefed attendees on some important board actions and solicited input.
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HAMXPOSITION IS A “GO” SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2021
While many other large ham conventions have already cancelled their 2021 plans, the HamXposition Committee has announced that it intends to convene an in-person convention at the Best Western Royal Plaza in Marlborough on September 10, 11, and 12. “We believe our September date should be sufficiently into 2021 that the COVID vaccine program will have had time to be executed, and things will be back to relative normal,” says 2021 HamXposition Chair Bob DeMattia, K1IW. DeMattia adds, “The committee will continue to monitor the situation. To make things a bit easier in case we have to postpone or cancel, online tickets sales will not open until August 1.
To follow developments and news about the convention, visit <https://hamxposition.org>.
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WHITMAN ARC AMATEUR EXTRA CLASS UNDERWAY
The Whitman Amateur Radio Club will hold weekly Amateur Extra license class sessions for about ten weeks beginning on January 28, 2021. For more information, visit <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/01/29/amateur-extra-license-class-offered-by-whitman-arc-beginning-january-28-2021/>.
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PART OF WESTFORD MEMBERS CO-AUTHOR CQ MAGAZINE ARTICLE
The December 2020 issue of CQ magazine featured an article by PART members Bob Glorioso, W1IS, and Bob Rose, KC1DSQ, entitled, “A Simple Dual-Band Upgrade for Your 40-Meter Dipole.” The article describes an easy modification to a 40-meter dipole antenna to allow it to resonate on 15 meters as well, and it has some good (and easily understood) antenna theory.
The two Bobs (W1IS and KC1DSQ) also spoke at the January 19, 2021 PART meeting, giving a presentation they called, “My Dipole Has Gain?”
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KC1DKY DISCUSSES FOX HUNTING ON WILMINGTON CABLE TV SHOW
Nick Mollo, KC1DKY, and his daughter were recently featured on Wilmington Cable Television to talk about fox hunting. Visit <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/01/27/kc1dky-foxhunting-activities-highlighted-on-wilmington-cable-tv/>.
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K1USN PRESENTATION: CW SPEEDS AND PROSIGNS IN HAM RADIO CONTESTS
Tim Shoppa, N3QE, will present, “CW Speeds and Prosigns In Ham Radio Contests” at the K1USN Radio Club meeting online on February 2, 2021 at 7:30 PM. Shoppa is the Contest Editor for CQ Magazine.
For details, visit: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/01/28/n3qe-cw-speeds-and-prosigns-in-ham-radio-contests-at-k1usn-radio-club-meeting-online-february-2-2021/>.
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KW1U TO BE FEATURED ON PITTSFIELD COMMUNITY TV & WTBR-FM, FEBRUARY 10
Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U, will once again be the featured guest on the program, Ham On! simulcast on Pittsfield Community Television and WTBR-FM 89.7. The early morning program is produced and moderated by Western MA Assistant Section Traffic Manager Peter Mattice, KD2JKV. Marcia will talk about the ARRL National Traffic System message handling.
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES
ARES Report – Section Emergency Coordinator, Rob Macedo KD1CY
Eastern MA ARES will conduct a section-wide exercise in collaboration with Cape Cod ARES called “Operation Frozen Days” on Saturday, February 6 from 1000 AM-1200 PM. Exercise details can be found at: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/01/30/eastern-massachusetts-ares-exercise-operation-frozen-days-saturday-2-6-20-1000-am-1200-pm-edt/>.
Eastern MA ARES will schedule a series of online Zoom ARES training sessions during second half of February and into March. The sessions will include NTS training, working closely Marcia Forde, KW1U, Section Traffic Manager. Also, ARES will work with NWS Boston/Norton to host online SKYWARN training seminars as we head into spring. Additional info will be posted on the Eastern Mass ARRL web site at <https://ema.arrl.org>.
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS NTS
NTS Report – Section Traffic Manager (STM), Marcia Forde, KW1U
The nets continue to be busy and we have been adding new net attendees and traffic handlers. Peter, KC1HHO reports Jack, KB1SYL has begun the training program available on EM2MN and Shannon, KC1OHT has expressed interest in getting involved. We welcome these newcomers to the program. Other newly licensed hams have also been checking into that net. Also Bob, KC1KVY has become a regular on the First Region Net and therefore available to assist with “thru” traffic.
Joe, W1HAI reports that HHTN has had to temporarily discontinue the link to the Mt Greylock repeater due to technical difficulties. Among other things this has resulted in the loss of a new NCS for that net, Matt, KC1JPU. It is hoped these problems can soon be resolved. Meanwhile we will miss that outlet to the westernmost counties of the state. The MARI CW net has added a new check in, Rob, K2MZ from Worcester. It’s great to have another outlet into Worcester County.
MARIPN has been growing and regularly getting 8 or 9 check-ins and is handling more and more traffic. As that net continues to grow perhaps we will be able to extend to nightly sessions. For now however we continue to meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The full report for the month of December may be found at: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/01/10/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-december-2020/>.
FIRST REGION NET (1RN) REPORT
Eric, W1RVY, is manager of 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net. Eric reports the December net had 62 sessions that handled a total of 107 pieces of traffic and a total of 172 check-ins for the month. Betsy, K1EIC, is manager of 1RN Cycle 2, the afternoon phone net. Betsy reports the December net had 62 sessions that handled a total of 203 pieces of traffic.
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Division website (NEW): <https://nediv.arrl.org/>
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://secure.ema.arrl.org/qilan/ares/EMA/ARES_about>
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FINAL WORDS
It’s important to remember that the ARRL staff at Headquarters and the leadership try their utmost to serve the membership reliably and faithfully to the best of their abilities. On occasions, they will make mistakes. But the vast majority of the time, they succeed in their mission. All too often the positive interactions go unnoticed and unreported. Only the negative ones are remembered.
On that note, I want to share with you a portion of David Minster’s (NA2AA) recent column from “Second Century: A Culture of Yes” from the January 2021 issue of QST:
“…The ceo@arrl.org email address gets very little feedback from members. I make every effort to answer every single email I receive. I also make it a habit to reach out via email to those of you who express concerns publicly about the ARRL. I urge you to take positive action. Before ranting, reach out. Give me—give us—the chance to find a way to work with you.” -David Minster, NA2AA, Chief Executive Officer, ARRL
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This monthly 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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