March 2023 Section News

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Welcome to the March 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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Happy April Fools’ Day! Happy Equinox! Happy Spring! I hope you are happy and healthy as we proceed into the warmer months. Whatever holiday(s) you celebrate, I hope they are sunny and bright, and filled with joy!

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INTER-CLUB COOPERATION AT THE CAPE COD MINI MAKERS FAIRE

A few weeks ago, members of the Barnstable Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and Falmouth Amateur Radio Association (FARA) had a great time putting amateur radio’s best foot forward with a jointly staffed booth at the Cape Cod Mini Makers Faire. The clubs came together to demonstrate ham cube-sats, several ARES go-kits, demonstrate ham radio and get the word out about all the fun things we can do with ham radio, to an audience that skewed young.

Are your clubs getting together to promote amateur radio and/or to support public service events? Tell me about it! (n1ilz@arrl.org)

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MASSASOIT ARA GETS THE WORD OUT ABOUT HAM RADIO

The Massasoit Amateur Radio Association conducted a “Show & Tell” presentation on April 1, 2023, from 1 to 3 PM with displays of Amateur radio equipment and portable “go-kits” that can be used to support Emergency Shelter operations when phone service is unavailable.

For more information, visit https://www.bridgewaterpubliclibrary.org/events/1405.

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) MEETS HAM RADIO AND CREATES … POETRY?

What happens when a ham tells the OpenAI ChatGPT about his love for ham radio and his local club, then asks it to generate a poem? I’d not suggest that ChatGPT is in line to be the next Poet Laureate, but the output was clever and at least a little amusing (tip o’ the hat to Jack, W1WEF):

The airwaves crackle with excitement,
As we gather ’round the radio tonight,
A community of voices, all united,
In our love of communication’s might.

We are the Barnstable Amateur Radio club,
A fellowship of enthusiasts and friends,
We come together to learn and teach,
And our bond of camaraderie never ends.

Field Day is our annual highlight,
A chance to test our skills and our gear,
We camp out, we set up, we operate,
And we revel in the challenges we share.

But our club is more than just fun and games,
We’re committed to public service too,
From fundraising races to emergency training,
We help our community, through and through.

At festivals and public events,
We proudly showcase our hobby’s appeal,
We share our passion for ham radio,
And inspire others to give it a feel.

Weekly nets and Zoom meetings,
Keep us connected, no matter where we roam,
And in this great fraternity we’ve found,
A sense of belonging, a true home.

So here’s to the Barnstable Amateur Radio club,
To the memories we’ve made and those to come,
We’re proud of all we’ve achieved together,
And we’ll keep on shining, like the sun.

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EASTERN MA SECTION MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Jim Idelson, K1IR, was recently appointed to the ARDC Grants Advisory Committee. Jim, past YCCC President (2001 — 2002), has been involved in amateur radio since 1971, and he credits the hobby with helping him achieve a productive and fulfilling career in technology and business. Details at https://nediv.arrl.org/2023/01/31/k1ir-appointed-to-ardc-grants-advisory-committee/

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SKYWARN AND ARES IN THE NEWS

Amateur Radio will again be represented at the 2023 National Hurricane Conference which will be held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana (http://www.hurricanemeeting.com). This year, the workshop will be done both live at the conference and over YouTube livestream so this will be a “hybrid workshop.” The conference theme is to improve hurricane preparedness as it has been in past years. Full story at https://voipwx.net/2023/04/01/2023-national-hurricane-conference-amateur-radio-hybrid-workshop-monday-4-3-23-830-am-1220-pm-cdt-930-am-120-pm-edt/.

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ARRL’S VOLUNTEERS ON THE AIR (VOTA)

ARRL’s Volunteers on the Air (VOTA) event is on! It’s a year-long operating event to celebrate ARRL’s Volunteers. It’s similar in nature to the 2014 ARRL Centennial Celebration and the 2018 International Grid Chase. But there are no registrations to fill out or applications to send in. Instead, scores are driven entirely by QSOs uploaded to LoTW.

Earn VOTA points by making two-way radio contacts (QSOs) with ARRL volunteers (Officers, Division and Section Staff, VEs, Members). Also, ARRL is activating W1AW/# stations in all 50 states and several US territories world-wide. Phone, CW and digital QSOs all count on all ham radio bands, DC to daylight, EXCEPT the 60/30/17/12-meter bands. Satellite contacts count, terrestrial-repeater contacts don’t.

Details are at https://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-air or send your questions and comments to me via email (n1ilz@arrl.org).

Are you enjoying the VOTA event? Have suggestions for your fellow hams? Or for the League? Please drop an email to Jon — N1ILZ at n1ilz@arrl.org.

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MASSACHUSETTS W1AW/1, VOLUNTEERS ON THE AIR SIGNUP

As part of VOTA, 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 operators to get Massachusetts on the air. There’s still time to sign up! 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’d like to get some publicity?

Send me the details to n1ilz@arrl.org

This month’s highlighted net:

The Cape & Islands 6-meter FM Net is thrilled to be back on the air! Much thanks to repeater trustee Ralph, N1YHS, for recent repairs to the 6m repeater in Barnstable, Cape Cod, MA (53.010 MHz (-) [173.8 Hz PL] ! The net resumes its usual operation every Wednesday evening at 1900 Eastern Time. Stop by for friendly conversation, daily quote, this-day-in-history, and just general fun, while spurring activity on the 6m FM band!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

FLEA AT MIT
The monthly MIT flea market (a.k.a. “Swapfest”) will be returning on
April 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/>

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NORTHEAST 2023 HAMXPOSITION

The Northeast’s premier Amateur Radio convention, serving the ARRL New England Division, returns August 25-27, 2023

Visit <https://hamxposition.org>.

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PROJECT BIG E 2023 IS RAMPING UP!

Yes, Project “Big E” is back again and doing another booth at the Big E this year. Changes will be made to how the booth will be arranged and presented to the public.

2023 dates are Friday, September 15 thru Sunday, October 1. We will be applying for another grant and if we get one, we will be able to provide admission tickets and parking reimbursement again this year.

Last year was a lot of fun for everyone and we hope you will join again for another Big E.

Stay tuned to this section of the newsletter for updates as we get closer.

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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-february-2023/

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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: <https://ema.arrl.org/ares/>.

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N1ILZ FOR A FINAL

Is your club taking advantage of the ARRL Club Commission program? If not, your club is literally leaving money on the table!

One of the benefits of being an ARRL Affiliated Club is a commission for recruiting new ARRL members and securing timely ARRL member renewals. The commission structure has been updated and the process has changed to make it more lucrative and easier for the clubs. All membership dues are sent to ARRL to be processed and the club receives a commission payment directly from ARRL. No more complicated adjusting funds around credit cards, checks and cash. ARRL does all the processing. As a result, your club could earn money while promoting the many benefits and programs of ARRL to ensure that amateur radio is protected and continues to be strong.

Details at https://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-benefits then expand the Club Commission Program section. Or send questions to me at n1ilz@arrl.org.

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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 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, Tom K1TW, 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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