ARRL EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS SECTION Section Manager (SM) – Tom Walsh, K1TW Assistant Section Manager (ASM) – Phil Temples, K9HI Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) – Arthur "Bo" Budinger, WA1QYM Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) - Ed Parish, K1EP Public Information Coordinator (PIC) - Bob Salow, WA1IDA Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG Section Traffic Manager (STM) – Marcia Forde, KW1U Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) – Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ State Government Liaison (SGL) – Hank Mc Carl, W4RIG Technical Coordinator (TC) – Dan Brown, W1DAN To contact a section staff member simply address an email to their call sign at arrl.net or visit <http://ema.arrl.org> for additional information. SEPTEMBER 2015 SECTION NEWS EMA STAFF NEWS Affiliated Club Coordinator - Bo Budinger, WA1QYM Please welcome New England Amateur Radio Inc. (NEAR) as the ARRL’s newest affiliated club in the Eastern Massachusetts Section. NEAR is a unique type of amateur radio club as it is not designed to particularly serve local amateurs as is most all other clubs. NEAR has as its goal to promote education and growth of amateur radio as a STEM activity and a communications hobby as well as support for emergency preparedness and public service throughout New England. It seeks to collaborate with other radio clubs and nonprofit organizations for education and charitable purposes. One of the major goals of this organization is to introduce more youth to amateur radio and STEM sciences. It will provide educational services, volunteer examiners and grants to any club wishing to promote ham radio to local youths. In addition NEAR is looking for help from local clubs to promote and facilitate their goals in a collaborative manner. The principal founders of this club are Marek Kozubal, KB1NCG, SEC and Metro-Boston District Emergency Coordinator and Bob Phinney, K5TEC, of the Clay Center Amateur Radio Club. Further information on NEAR can be found at: <www.ne1ar.org>. Section Traffic Manager – Marcia Forde, KW1U Marcia Forde, KW1U, EMA Section Traffic Manager is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Bennett, KC1CIC, of Hull as Assistant Section Traffic Manager effective immediately. Greg has been filling in as acting manager of EM2MN. Greg has been very involved in digital message handling on both VHF Packet and HF Pactor. He has written an article about getting started in digital messaging, available at <http://nts.ema.arrl.org/misc/Getting_Started_with_NTS_Digital.pdf>. The Brass Pounders League (BPL) is awarded to Traffic Handlers who report a total of 500 or more points or a sum of 100 or more origination and delivery points for any calendar month The Public Service Honor Roll (PSHR) recognition is awarded to those who operators who are active in many aspects of public service. This includes net operations, traffic handling, emergency operations and public service communication support. - BPL: None this month - PSHR: KW1U, KC1CIC, N1IQI, N1TF, N1LKJ, AC7RB FLEA MARKETS September 20, 2015: Cambridge, MA Flea at MIT, Third Sunday April thru October October 16-17, 2015 : Deerfield, NH Near-Fest http://www.near-fest.com:8084/nearfest/ NEWS Get ready for Boxboro 2016. Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, Boxboro Chairman and ARRL New England Division Vice-Director announced at the Boxboro Saturday evening banquet that Boxboro will now be an annual convention. Many people contributed in numerous ways to making this year’s Boxboro convention a huge success. The New England Division ARRL convention reflects well on the energy and health of amateur radio in our region. Gordon West, WB6NOA, seemed to be everywhere and wow what a keynote speech he delivered on Saturday evening. Boxboro had not one but two special event stations going all weekend under challenging HF propagation conditions. W1A, in the main building featured an outstanding array of remote operating capabilities while W1B was just perfect for those seeking the thrill of operating a portable QRP station. Thanks to all the vendors, exhibitors, clubs, speakers, volunteers, attendees and the hotel. It was an incredible weekend but if you missed it we hope to see you in 2016. Part of Westford has announced nominations for club officers with the election to be held at the September 15 meeting. Andy Stewart, KB1OIG, says “After the elections, one of our speakers will be Rick (W1RAG), who will give us his "Field Day Retrospective" slideshow. This serious sounding slideshow is really a very amusing look at ourselves from Rick's unique perspective. Otherwise known as the "Silly Slideshow", Rick's annual presentation will surely have you laughing and smiling.” Members of the Algonquin ARC fielded a team of over a dozen amateurs to assist in the Marlborough Labor Day Parade on September 7. The Billerica Amateur Radio Society (BARS) moved to a new meeting location in Chelmsford on September 2 and promptly got things rolling with a talk by Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, on QRP operating called “Less is More”. The new location for regular meetings (first Wednesday each month) and VE sessions (second Thursday each month) is the Matthews Memorial Church. More info is available on the club webpage <http://www.w1hh.org> Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC and Wrentham CERT members teamed up to assist with the Lake Pearl Plunge Road Race on August 22 in Wrentham. The South Shore Hospital Amateur Radio Club coordinated Amateur Radio communications for the Run To The Rock Road Race on September 12. The 4 1/2 hour event used three separate courses encompassing a large geographic area of Plymouth. The annual Head of the Charles Regatta is seeking amateur volunteers. The three-day event is one of the largest public service events in New England, held October 16-18, 2015 along the Charles River in Cambridge and Boston. To volunteer, contact Steve Schwarm, W3EVE at <steve.w3eve@gmail.com>. The Cape Ann ARA conducted a very successful Tech In a Day session at the Boxboro. CAARA’s Stan Stone, W4HIX says, “Not only did we graduate 30 new Techs, but we got a mention on Gordon West’s segment on ‘Ham Nation’, and were asked to come back to Boxboro next year.” PART of Westford was well represented at the recent New England Division Convention in Boxboro, according to President Andy Stewart, KBOIQ. “AB2OC, K1IG, myself, KB1MGI, and KA8SCP gave presentations, while N1AEW and KB1SWZ represented AMSAT at their booth.” Andy also played a key role as Volunteer Chairman for the Boxboro Committee. Foxhunters in and around the town of Sudbury were in involved in the attempted recovery of a downed radio-controlled airplane recently. Amateurs listened for the plane’s CW beacon on 220.268 MHz consisting of a pulse lasting of a quarter-second broadcast every two seconds. The plane reportedly has an eight-foot feet wingspan, a white fuselage, dark blue bottom, and a white top. It was last reported heard in the vicinity of the North Sudbury fire station. No word on whether it was found. North Shore amateurs assisted with communications for the Cape Ann Around the Cape Road Race on Labor Day. Members of the Framingham ARA are conducting a demonstration at the Natick Community Senior Center on Friday, October 16 at 2:00 PM and Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 AM. According to FARA’s W1HAI, the Friday demo will include a presentation on the history of Amateur Radio, the number of ways to communicate, how to get started, talk on the air and answer questions. FARA’s Saturday morning segment will coincide with the 58th Jamboree on the Air. Waltham ARA repeaters on 146, 222, 440, and 900 MHz were temporarily QRT on September 3 for a few hours, reports WARA’s John Flood, KB1FQG. It’s thought that a nearby lightning strike knocked out power at the Bear Hill site. Two upcoming public service events are in need of additional Amateur Radio volunteers, according to Brett Smith, AB1RL. The Jimmy Fund Walk will be held on September 27. Says Smith: “This is an all-day walk along the Boston Marathon route to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. And, on October 11, the BAA Half-Marathon will take place along the Emerald Necklace in Boston. If you’re interested in assisting in either event, contact Brett Smith at <ab1rl@brettsmith.org>. Acknowledgement: Thank you to Phil, K9HI, for his help with the September news. LOOKING AHEAD Please send items of news and club activities for inclusion the section news by the first of each month. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW k1tw@arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------
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