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Welcome to the January 2023 ARRL Eastern Massachusetts (EMA) section news
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Visit <https://ema.arrl.org/> for frequent updates to the news
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NEW YEAR, NEW SECTION MANAGER
After four very successful and productive terms (eight years) as Section Manager, Tom, K1TW chose not to stand for a fifth term. I (Jon, N1ILZ) am pleased to take the reins as your new Section Manager. You can find a few words about me at https://ema.arrl.org/jon-mccombie-n1ilz/ I’m available for questions, chats, talks, etc. – please give me a call, or send me an email, or originate an NTS Radiogram (I’m very active on NTS). I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can in the next year, whether in person or over Zoom!
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NEW SECTION STAFF APPOINTMENTS
To my great relief, Tom, K1TW, has agreed to stay on staff as an Assistant Section Manager to serve as my mentor as I take over the Section Manager role. Thanks, Tom!
Paul, K1YUB, has stepped up to serve as Section Youth and New Ham Outreach Coordinator for EMA Section. Paul has some great ideas for how to engage new hams – not just younger people – and I very much look forward to working with him to make this happen. Paul will be meeting with his counterparts at the upcoming HamCation, and I look forward to his report, which I’ll include in upcoming Newsletters.
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“FOXHUNTING OF A DIFFERENT KIND”
Mike Cormier, K1MJC, of Waltham, describes a unique “foxhunt” he embarked upon this month: hunting down a Radio-Sonde:
“… As it descended and got closer to the ground, I zoomed in on that area and realized it was just a short drive from where I lived. So, I decided to get my 70 cm meter Yagi, jump in the car and head in that direction more precisely Pretty close to the location. It predicted it would be on the ground.
“To my surprise, when I got in the area, I could hear the Radio-Sonde loud and clear, and I proceeded to an address that I had put in my GPS, got out of the car with the Yagi in one corner of the parking lot …”
The full story at: https://ema.arrl.org/2023/01/15/fox-hunting-of-a-different-kind/.
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CAPE ANN ARA TO OFFER “TECH IN A DAY” FEB. 25, 2023
The Cape Ann ARA will offer its highly successful “Tech-In-A-Day” on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the CAARA clubhouse at 6 Stanwood Street, Gloucester, MA. Registration is from 8:00 to 8:30 AM. The class runs from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM and includes the volunteer exam.
Details can be found at: https://ema.arrl.org/2023/01/21/cape-ann-amateur-radio-association-to-offer-tech-in-a-day-class-february-25-2023/.
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BOSTON MARATHON 2023 LOOKING FOR HAM RADIO VOLUNTEERS
Planning is well underway for the 2023 Boston Marathon! The BAA will close volunteer registration on Friday, February 10, 2023. Returning volunteers should have received an email from the BAA with details about how to register.
New volunteers can sign up via http://register.hamradioboston.org/. Ham Radio Boston has also provided a step-by-step guide on how to select Amateur Radio volunteer positions during the registration process: <https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002389087-2023-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide>.
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MASSACHUSETTS W1AW/1, VOLUNTEERS ON THE AIR SIGNUP
This year, the ARRL is honoring volunteers with its Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) operating event. The event starts January 1 and ends December 31, 2023
Twice a year, for one week, each state will be activated as W1AW/1 (for call area 1 Massachusetts, for example). To make this happen, we need ops to get Massachusetts on the air.
Would you like to be an W1AW/1 activator for the first session this spring? The first MA session is Wednesday, April 12 through Tuesday, April 18.
Would you like to know more? Contact Larry, W1AST, at W1AST@arrl.net.
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NOTABLE NETS
Do you have a fun or important net you wish to publicize? Send me the details to n1ilz@arrl.org
This month’s highlighted net:
North Star Digital Net: DMR STEM Talk Group (#31630) on BrandMeister, Tuesdays at 2000 EST.
The net allows for the unbiased exchange of information with an opportunity to talk with other digital enthusiasts. The format remains informal and interactive. There is no fixed membership nor any geographic confines, so all are encouraged to drop by and join the dialog. Details at: http://www.northstardigitalnet.us/
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UPCOMING EVENTS
HAMCATION 2023
Join the HamCation organizers February 10-12, 2023, in beautiful Orlando, Florida for HamCation 2023.
See https://www.hamcation.com/ for info and details.
ALGONQUIN ARC FLEA MARKET
The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will hold its Marlborough Flea Market on February 18, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
See https://www.qsl.net/n1em/AARC_Flea_Market_Flyer_2023.pdf for info.
FLEA AT MIT
The monthly MIT flea market (a.k.a. “Swapfest”) will be returning on Apr 16, 2023.
See https://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/ for more info.
NEAR-FEST XXXIII
The one-and-only NEAR-Fest is coming April 28-29, 2023.
See https://near-fest.com/ for more info.
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NE 2023 HAMXPOSITION
The Northeast’s Premier Amateur Radio Convention, serving the ARRL New England Division, returns August 25-27, 2023.
Visit <https://hamxposition.org> for more details.
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NTS NEWS
Section Traffic Manager – Marcia Forde, KW1U
Visit: <https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/>
The full complement of NTS net schedules may be found at: https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/net-schedule/
Marcia’s latest report can be found at <https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-stm-report-for-december-2022/>
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ARES NEWS Section Emergency Coordinator – Rob Macedo KD1CY
Visit: <https://ema.arrl.org/ares/>
News concerning ARES and Emergency Communications in the EMA section is updated regularly on our web site:
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N1ILZ FOR A FINAL
Happy New Year 2023! I’m excited for all the great things this new year has in store: ARRL’s Volunteers on the Air (VOTA) year-long event, more in-person events like HamCation in FL, NEAR-Fest in Deerfield, and HamXposition in Marlborough, to name a few. I will try to reach out to as many hams in our section as I can, in person or via Zoom. I borrow my personal motto from a popular (?) TV nighttime drama: “How can I help?” Please, reach out to me, via email (n1ilz@arrl.org) or NTS, or whatever works for you. I look forward to serving you in the next two years!
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION LINKS
Where to find stuff:
New England Division website: <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/eastern-ma-public-service-list/>
Section Speaker List: <https://ema.arrl.org/eastern-ma-club-speakers-list/>
To join EMA ARES visit: <https://secure.ema.arrl.org/qilan/ares/EMA/ARES_about>
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The EMA monthly section news is jointly produced by Phil K9HI, Assistant Section Manager, and Jon N1ILZ, Section Manager.
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1ilz@arrl.org
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