Eastern Massachusetts ARRL

Edmond (“Ed”) Weiss, W1NXC has been named by ARRL as the winner of the 2002 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year award. Weiss, a long-time member of the Framingham Amateur Radio Association, was nominated by fellow members.

Weiss is retired from the New England Telephone Company. He worked as a transmission engineer. W1NXC holds an Amateur Extra and commercial General Class license. He is also a registered professional engineer in Massachusetts.

Weiss served in World War II as a radio officer and is a member of the Society of Wireless Pioneers. The head instructor for Framingham Amateur Radio Association since 1978, Weiss has also completed the ARRL Emergency Communications courses and is a certified instructor for level I, II, and III.

“It is indeed an honor for someone to win the Herb S. Brier award,” said Phil Temples, K9HI, Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager. “Nominees from across the country must demonstrate a high success rate by way of numbers of students who pass their license exams and a high percentage of those who begin a course who successfully complete it.” Temples added, “candidates must also display extraordinary personal commitment. The endorsements and testimonials supplied by fellow club members and students are key in winning the award. I know that Ed’s fellow club members hold him in high esteem. He’s very deserving of this award.”

“Herb S. Brier, W9AD, long-time CQ Novice Editor, represented the spirit of effective, caring Amateur Radio instruction. The ARRL sponsors this award, in conjunction with the Lake County (IN) Amateur Radio Club, in his memory to recognize the very best in volunteer Amateur Radio instruction,” according to the ARRL web site.

Weiss will receive an engraved plaque and a $100 credit for purchase of ARRL publications. The award will be co-presented at a special “FARA Night Out” activity by K9HI and ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI.

[I knew the late Herb Brier while growing up in Indiana. Herb’s cheery demeaneor on the air and selfless dedication to all newcomers to the hobby was legendary. Way to go, Ed! -K9HI]

Bob Salow, WA1IDA writes:

We have been asked again to support emergency communications for the third annual Triathlon held in Boston. Formally known as the “Monster Challenge, Tri-Boston,” this world-class race is sponsored by Monster.com (the job-finding web site) for the benefit of the AIDS Action Committee. The event is basically unchanged from last year.

The triathlon consists of a swim in the harbor around the World Trade Center (WTC) in South Boston; bike from there through downtown Boston, Charlestown, across and around Cambridge, and back to the WTC; and run from the WTC into and around the Marine Industrial Park and finish at the WTC. Exhausting? Yes for the racers, no for us hams.

Date: Sunday, 31 August 2003
Ham start: 0600
Ham finish: 0930 to 1100

The ham start time is governed by road closures and access to the station locations. It is important to be at the assigned locations on time (even if you are the first one there) – the triathletes move very fast (I don’t know how they do it), so the course is occupied quickly.

Yes, I know it is the day before Labor Day. The upside is it starts early and ends early, leaving plenty of weekend enjoyment time. Your help is greatly needed to continue this as a superb event and to uphold our reputation for dependable support. Our assignments consist of monitoring hazardous and critical locations along the course, and the medical/support stations. As we did last year, we plan to use a 2-meter repeater and/or a 70-cm repeater. Hand-held with a good battery is the way to go.

If you can help, please contact me as soon as possible. I will email the assignments and more detail early, and for most, you can go directly to your station. If you reply from an email address other than the best for you, let me know. Also, please send me a phone number. Parking should be available very close to each location. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Thanks and 73,

Bob Salow, WA1IDA
508.650.9440
wa1ida@arrl.net

EMa Section Traffic Manager Jim Ward, N1LKJ posts some insightful comments in response to the recent ARRL VRC report on the EMa NTS web site at http://nts.ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=16.

Bruce Pigott, KC1US writes:

“The communications coordinator for the Red Cross First Aid Committee has asked for help in tracking rescue launches during the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (See also http://ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=176.)

We are looking for seven autonomous trackers available on October 17-19 (Friday through Sunday) that can be strapped down in power boats and turned on by hams. They will be removed from the launches each night. Two receiving setups will be at Net Control and the Cambridge Emergency Operations Center. The trackers have to be mostly waterproof and use a minimum of switches. We want use a UHF channel to avoid problems on VHF. This will be an excellent opportunity to display another aspect of amateur radio to multiple public service agencies. With 7,000 rowers and an estimated 300,000 spectators, our presence is a crucial part of the event.

All suggestions about APRS use or volunteers for the event will be appreciated.

Thank you and 73,
Bruce Pigott KC1US

kc1us03@amateur-radio.net

KD1CY writes:

Hello to all….

The following statement concerns a Hurricane Workshop in Bourne, Massachusetts that is open to the public. This is similiar to the workshop that was done in New Bedford, Massachusetts in early May. Below is the specific information on this workshop, all are welcome to attend.

NOUS41 KBOX 281343
PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
945 AM EDT MON JUL 28 2003

…HURRICANE AWARENESS WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY EVENING IN BOURNE…

COME AND JOIN US FOR A FREE HURRICANE AWARENESS WORKSHOP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS…WEDNESDAY JULY 30TH FROM 7 PM TO 830 PM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. THE HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED 1/4 MILE FROM THE BOURNE BRIDGE/STATE POLICE BARRACKS OFF TROWBRIDGE ROAD. THE PROGRAM IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE – TAUNTON MA
MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BOURNE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE CAPE COD REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMERICAN RED CROSS NSTAR ELECTRIC COMPANY

IT HAS BEEN 49 YEARS SINCE NEW ENGLAND HAS BEEN HIT BY A MAJOR (CATEGORY 3) HURRICANE AND 12 YEARS SINCE A HURRICANE OF ANY KIND HAS MADE LANDFALL HERE. THIS WORKSHOP WILL DISCUSS THE REALITIES OF NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES AND WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR THIS TYPE OF DISASTER.

AGAIN…7 PM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEDNESDAY…JULY 30TH. TROWBRIDGE ROAD RUNS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE BARRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE BOURNE BRIDGE ROTARY CIRCLE. FOLLOW TROWBRIDGE ROAD 1/4 MILE DOWN ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE TO BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL…IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PEEBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PROCEED UP THE DRIVEWAY FOR PARKING AT THE BETH BOURNE AUDITORIUM AT THE BOURNE HIGH SCHOOL. ADMISSION IS FREE. SEE YOU THERE.

$$
FIELD

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEMARA ARES Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

The ARRL Volunteer Resources Committee has released its final report to the Board of Directors. The long-awaited report concludes that the “state of the Field Organization is ‘fair'” even though it is “not what it should be” in order to “meet overall obligations to provide emergency communications at the national level.”

The report is based in part on the results of questionnaires returned by many of the field organization’s Section Managers.

To better understand the report, read the accompanying Section Manager Survey Results.

Amateur volunters performed valuable public service by giving their time and effort to assist in the two- and seven-day “ADA Classic.” The ride raised funds for the American Diabetes Assocation and traversed portions of MA, NH, ME and VT. The Classic was supported by 17 volunteers and the staff, including 15 amateur radio operators. The support team also included four bike mechanics with vans, an EMT in his own vehicle, three rest stop vehicles and two “SAG” wagons.
Mike Goldberg, K1LJN recounted their efforts.

“On July 11, Jim Evans, N1HTS, Ted Haskell, W1EID, Bill Lacy, KB1ICA, Steve Witley, KB1HMZ, Dennis Howland, KB1IDQ and I showed up at Woburn Mall and began to distribute tasks among each other. Some of us headed to pick up a 34-foot cargo truck to haul the gear. The others went to pick up the cargo and window vans. All were returned to the Mall to be filled with water jugs, water coolers, ice chests, first aid supplies, cases of snack foods, route vehicle handbooks, paper towels, pens, etc.” Goldberg added, “We installed two-meter mobile equipment in each vehicle. In addition there were two large pickups. All were loaded by 5 p.m., except for 400 pounds of ice which was loaded later.”

The Woburn Mall donated the use of a vacant store which was used for registration of about 150 riders for The New England Classic, 150 and 550.

Goldberg resports the group had one major medical incident, along with assorted falls and bee stings.

The riders efforts netted $256,000 for ADA Research and Education.

Amateurs who participated in the two-day event were:

Charlie Reed, N1VI
Maureen Polson, N1RBE

Seven-day participants were:

Jim Evans, N1HTS
Mike Goldberg, K1LJN
Scotti Goldberg, N1PUI
Ted Haskell, W1EID
Bill Lacy, KB1ICA
Dave Humt, EMT, N1XAJ
Al Kinnon, KD1EA
Faith Linsky, N1RUN
Tracey Thompson, KB1EFT
Paul Magrath, K1KZL (Chief Bike Mech)
Don Salls, N1ZYF (Top Kick)
Steve Witley, KB1HMZ (Gear Guy)
Dennis Howland, KB1IDQ (ADA Staff)

       PSLIST                                              July 17, 2003

    Public Service Volunteer Opportunities in the New England Division

Listing public events at which Amateur Radio communications is providing
a public service and for which additional volunteers from the Amateur
Community are needed and welcome.  Please contact the person listed to
identify how you may serve and what equipment you may need to bring.

The most up-to-date copy of this list is maintained as
http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv

   **** Every event listed is looking for communications volunteers ****

Date     Location      Event                       Contact      Tel/Email

Aug  9   Concord    NH NH Classic MS 150 bike ride David KA1VJU 603-398-3667
 to 10    to Henniker NH and return                        ka1vju@cnharc.org
Sep 12   Provincetown MA MS Challenge Walk         John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Dennis MA                                        n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 13   Dennis     MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Truro MA                                         n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 14   Dennis     MA MS Challenge Walk           John N1PYN   508-588-3250
          to Brewster MA                                      n1pyn@arrl.net
Sep 21   Madison   CT Bike Tour for MS             Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016
          to Moodus CT                                        aa1wm@arrl.net
Sep 22   Moodus    CT Bike Tour for MS             Scott AA1WM  203-676-1016
          to Madison CT                                       aa1wm@arrl.net
Oct 11   Pepperell  MA Fall Classic Soccer         John KB1HDO  978-772-5406
 to 13                                                    kb1hdo@hotmail.com
Oct 17   Boston     MA Head of the Charles Regatta Jeff N1FWV   978-536-2842
 to 19                                                     rwjeffa@attbi.com

This list is published periodically as demand warrants by Stan KD1LE
and Ralph KD1SM.  Our usual distribution is via packet to NEBBS, via
Internet mail to the arrl-nediv-list and ema-arrl distribution lists,
and on the World Wide Web (see URL above).  If other mailing list
owners wish us to distribute via their lists we will be happy to
oblige.  Permission is herewith granted to republish this list in
its entirety provided credit is given to the authors and the URL
below is included.  Send comments, corrections, and updates to:

(via packet) KD1SM@K1UGM.#EMA.MA.USA,
(via Internet) KD1SM@ARRL.NET.

We make an attempt to confirm entries with the coordinator unless the
information is from another published source.  We very much appreciate
the assistance we have been receiving from our 'scouts'; everyone is
welcome to send us postings.

Refer to http://purl.org/hamradio/publicservice/nediv for the most
recent version of the PSLIST.