March 2019: EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS (EMA) SECTION NEWS
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Welcome to the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL section newsletter.
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To see the complete monthly section news, which is updated regularly,
visit <https://ema.arrl.org/>.
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UP FRONT
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ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION CONVENTION, SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2019: NEW BRANDING,
BUT THE SAME GREAT SHOW
The 2019 ARRL New England Division Convention (now branded as
“Northeast HamXposition @Boxboro”) web site is now live, at
https://hamxposition.org. Don’t worry, though, the old
“boxboro.org” address still works, too.
Sign-ups for speakers and volunteers are now available, as are
applications for commercial, non-profit, and club vendor tables. Ticket
pre-orders will be available in early June.
The three-day convention is held September 6-8, 2019 at the Boxboro
Regency Hotel and Conference Center (formerly the Boxboro Holiday Inn),
242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA 01719.
Be sure to make your reservations early as the hotel fills up quickly.
See https://hamxposition.org/trave
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HAM RADIO @IEEE INTERNATIONAL MICROWAVE SYMPOSIUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Boston area amateurs have been requested to provide an Amateur Radio
presence at the IEEE International Microwave in Boston, June 2-7, 2019
at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston’s Seaport
District.
Local amateurs will equip and staff an ARRL booth in the trade show area
of the conference stocked with ARRL books and literature for display and
raffle. It is hoped the booth will also feature a remote radio capable
of HF, VHF, and UHF and satellite capability. Conference attendees can
ask questions about how to get involved in ham radio, either as a hobby
or as a vehicle for student learning.
Although the conference site is well-served by public transportation,
event coordinators are exploring the possibility of complementary (or
reduced) parking rates for volunteers. In addition, the conference
organizers have scheduled an “Amateur Radio Social” Tuesday, June 4
at 6:30 PM featuring keynote speaker Howard Michel, WB2ITX, ARRL Chief
Executive Officer.
If you would like to be involved in this high-profile event, please
register at:
<https://docs.google.com/forms
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2019 SKYWARN TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, has posted the 2019 NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN
Training Class Schedule for the spring season. Please distribute widely
to anyone interested in becoming a SKYWARN Spotter. Additional SKYWARN
Training classes are in planning. This includes a class in the
Rowe/Charlemont, Mass area, Granby/Hartland, CT area, Western Hampshire
County Massachusetts, Eastern Franklin County Massachusetts and
potentially other locations in Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts.
There will also be a slate of SKYWARN classes in the
fall.http://wx1box.org/2019/03
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IT SEEMS TO ME
-Phil Temples, K9HI
One measure of the success of our hobby-service is arguably the health
of our local radio clubs. In Eastern Massachusetts, some clubs are
active and vibrant while others are less so. Of course, there’s a wide
range in between. What sorts of things can keep your club healthy so it
doesn’t end up “running on fumes”? Here are some ideas that might
help reinvigorate your local club. (Your mileage may vary.)
SCHEDULE INTERESTING, INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS. Do this, and you’re
practically guaranteed to bring in some fresh (and older, but absent)
faces to your monthly meetings. It still amazes me that most clubs do
not take advantage of our Eastern MA Speakers List. (You can find the
URL at the end of this story.)
APPOINT AN OFFICIAL GREETER. Nothing is worse than visiting a radio club
for the first time and feeling isolated and alone. Station someone at
the door to shake everyone’s hand and pass out “HELLO MY NAME IS”
tags. You may not think your group is “cliquish” but it’s a very
easy trap to fall into. Ask members to wear their callsign badge. And if
your group doesn’t have callsign badges then make it a club project to
order them. Be sure to take a moment to have introductions at the
beginning of each meeting. Ask folks to share with the group their main
interest in the hobby.
USE YOUR CLUB NET TO DRIVE MEETING ATTENDANCE. Don’t have a net? Why
not? A weekly on-air net is a great way to strengthen social bonds. Make
sure your net is fun. Have a topic- or question-of-the-week. Nets are a
great way to remind folks what’s in store at the next club meeting: a
new homebrew project, raffle prize, or whiz-bang presentation.
HAVE YOUR VE TEAM DO MORE THAN CONDUCT EXAMS. You may be missing a great
opportunity to recruit new blood at test time! At the beginning of each
session, be sure to have someone pitch your radio club. You might
consider granting a free, one-year membership to each successful
candidate. Your radio club doesn’t have a VE team? Give your pitch at
other nearby VE team session! There may be one or more teams in your
area who aren’t affiliated with a radio club and won’t mind you
promoting your club. Or start a VE team within your club.
PROMOTE IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. When was the last time your club
meeting was announced in the local (printed or online) community
newspaper? Invest a little time and effort and you might snag someone
who fondly recalls ham radio as a teenager and now has time to rejoin
the hobby. Just a single, new recruit drawn into your club could make
all the difference down the road.
BE VIGILENT AGAINST BURN OUT. Finally, don’t be complicit in allowing
your club leaders to burn out. It’s easy to “let the other guy” do
it. Step up to the plate and volunteer. Attention, club officers: what
happens when it’s time for you to take a breather? The next wave of
leaders won’t create themselves. Be sure you’re grooming your
successors now. Go out of your way to find that quiet, unassuming member
and see if you can convince him or her to take on more responsibility
gradually over time. You’ll be glad you did.
Over and out.
Eastern MA Speakers List:
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/1
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FLEA MARKETS:
Sunday, April 7, 2019
9 AM – 12 Noon
Framingham Flea Market
Keefe Technical School
https://w1fy.org/flea
April 13, 2019
8 AM – 12 Noon
Seacoast Amateur Radio Flea Market
Hampton, NH
http://www.w1wqm.org/flea/Flye
April 21, 2019
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Flea at MIT
http://web.mit.edu/w1gsl/Publi
PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS:
April 15, 2019
2019 BAA Marathon
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/01/0
April 28, 2019
Groton Road Race
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
April 28, 2019
Run of the Charles
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
SPECIAL OPERATING EVENTS:
April 14-15, 2019
WCC Amateur Radio Association will participate in Maritime Radio Day.
See
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
April 26-27, 2019
KM1CC Marconi Birthday Special Event Operation, April 26-27, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
April 27, 2019
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The USTNR club will be operating from the Battleship USS Massachusetts
BB59, from Fall River, MA. They will be on the air as W1BSA.
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
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NEWS FROM THE WEBSITE:
Each day on the section web site we bring you news and information from
Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. Here’s a selection from this month:
“Team Exuberance” to Take Over K3LR Superstation for CQ WW WPX
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/2
Waltham 146.64 “Live Stream” via Broadcastify
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/2
VHF/UHF Activity Nights
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/2
2019 SKYWARN Training Schedule Posted
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
“Ham Operators Train for the Worst”
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
NVARC Members Participate in Bromfield Science Fair
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
YuKanRun Fool’s Dual 5K Run, Gloucester, March 31, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
QRA Presentation: HCJB “The Voice of the Andes,” March 21, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
Effort Under Way to Revive Boston College Amateur Radio Club
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
SKYWARN Training, Natick, May 4, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
K1IG Featured on “QSO Today” Podcast
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/1
You-Do-It Arduino Day 2019, Needham, March 16
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
FCC Takes a New Tact in Combatting Unlicensed Radio Broadcasting
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
Pilgrim ARC Launches New Web Site
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
New England Sci-Tech General Class Course, Natick, March 16-17, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
Gloucester 440 Repeater on Wolf Pack Network
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
W1DYJ to Present FT8 Talk at Minuteman Repeater Association, March 20,
2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
ARRL Launches Intro to Emergency Communications Courses for 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
New England Sci-Tech Amateur Extra Course, Take Any 9 Sessions
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
NN1C Featured on Newsline: “Young Contesters of Team Exuberance Live Up
to Their Name”
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
Framingham ARA to Feature KD1CY ARES Talk, March 7, 2019
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
WRTC 2018 Movie Now Available Online
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES
To see all the recent news on Eastern Massachusetts ARES please visit
<https://ema.arrl.org/category
maintained with the latest happenings by our EMA SEC, Rob, KD1CY.
To find out more about EMA ARES visit <https://ema.arrl.org/ares/>.
If you are interested in joining Eastern Massachusetts ARES, visit
<https://secure1.ema.arrl.org/
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.
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EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS NTS
Section Traffic Manager (STM), Marcia KW1U reports:
Find the list of all NTS daily nets in Massachusetts here:
<https://ema.arrl.org/national
To see news on Eastern Massachusetts Traffic Handling and Nets visit
<https://ema.arrl.org/category
NTS RECOGNITIONS:
Details on these recognition programs is found every month in QST Field
Organization column along with a listing of the nationwide recipients.
* Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR):
Congratulations to the following Massachusetts folks who qualified for
the Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) in February 2019: K1BML, NV1N,
KC1HHO, WA1LPM, N1LAH, KD2JKV, W1RVY, N1IQI, N1TF, KW1U, KC1CIC
* Brass Pounders League (BPL):
Congratulation to Marcia, KW1U, who qualified for the Brass Pounders
League (BPL) in February 2019.
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NET REPORTS
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FIRST REGION NET (1RN) REPORT (CW)
Eric, W1RVY, manager of 1RN Cycle 4, the evening CW net reports that
in February there were 53 sessions, 56 pieces of traffic handled and
159 check-ins.
FIRST REGION NET (FRN) REPORT (SSB)
(No report)
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SILENT KEYS
We regret to announce the passing of Lowell M. Bursch, KB1FHJ, of
Natick, and William F. Santelmann, Jr., N1AU, of Peabody.
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT RADIO CLUB?
Please visit
<https://ema.arrl.org/affiliat
send any information you might have to our Assistant Section Manager
(ASM) Phil Temples, K9HI, at <k9hi@arrl.org>.
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Section website:
<https://ema.arrl.org/>
Section Facebook page:
<https://www.facebook.com/east
Section Leadership:
<https://ema.arrl.org/organiza
Section Public Service List:
< https://ema.arrl.org/2019/03/0
Section Speaker List:
<https://ema.arrl.org/2018/04/
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FINAL WORD (Tom K1TW)
So Now What?
That’s the name of the ARRL’s newest podcast aimed at helping
newcomers to the world of Amateur Radio. You can find the first episode
here: <http://www.arrl.org/so-now-wh
I have great hope this is going to fill an urgent need in Amateur Radio,
namely, “what does a newcomer do after passing his or her first license
test?”.
To help fill that need, “ARRL is launching a new bi-weekly podcast
geared to those who are just getting started on their Amateur Radio
adventure.” Good move in my opinion; but let’s not stop there and
leave it just up to Newington. Newcomers need and welcome your helping
hand be it through club meetings or mentoring them along the way. There
has been a lot of focus on attracting young people to the hobby and this
is indeed critically important. But let’s not also forget ham radio is
for everyone; young and old.
Tune in to the podcast if you are new to the hobby and if you are more
experienced lend a helping hand to add to the fun and enjoyment of
everyone you encounter in this fantastic universe of Amateur Radio.
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Acknowledgement: My thanks to Assistant Section Manager, Phil Temples
K9HI, for stepping in and producing this months EMA Section News!
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73 until next month.
Tom, K1TW
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
k1tw@arrl.org
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