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Welcome to the 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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UP FRONT
DIVISION DIRECTOR ELECTION
This is now underway as a three-candidate race.
In the New England Division, the three candidates for Director are:
– the incumbent, Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, of Lincoln, MA
– past New England Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, of West Suffield, CT
– Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, of Hollis, NH
New England Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, of Watertown, Massachusetts, was uncontested and has been declared elected.
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NORTHEAST HAMXPOSITION: LAST CALL FOR TICKETS
September 10-12, 2021
Committee Chair Bob DeMattia, K1IW, writes:
“With less than two weeks to the convention, I’d like to take this opportunity to brief you on a few things.
First, we will be closing down registration for the Friday DXCC dinner and Saturday Grand Banquet at 12 Noon on Friday, September 3. This gives us enough time to send the final totals to the hotel. The hotel allows us to go 5% over on these numbers. This allowance permits us to sell only a handful of tickets at the gate. So, if you want to guarantee a seat, be sure to order your tickets by September 3 at 12 PM.
General ticket and flea market online purchasing will close on Wednesday, September 8th at 8 PM. You may still purchase these items at the gate if you prefer.
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“DISCOVER THE HF EXPERIENCE” AT W1A AT HAMXPOSITION
The YCCC is sponsoring the special event station at HamXposition. According to coordinators Gerry Hull, W1VE, and Marty Sulloway, NN1C, they hope to combine operating with a “Discover the HF Experience” program showing new hams the fun of HF radio. “We will have three operating positions,” writes Gerry. “Two of the stations (W1A@W1KM and N6A@WA6TQT) will be remote, and the third will be a local station at the HamXposition, with dipole antennas. Perhaps you will come and just explain what HF is all about, perhaps make a QSO or two, or just enjoy some operating time. However, explaining what we do and how we do it should be our primary focus.”
Operating hours for W1A/N6A are:
• Friday 6pm – Midnight
• Sat: 9am – Midnight
• Sun: 9am – 12 noon
For full details, visit <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/08/29/w1a-n6a-special-event-station-discover-the-hf-experience-event-elmer-call-up/>.
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“THE SKYWARN STORM SPOTTER PROGRAM” IN SEPTEMBER 2021 QST
Kudos are in order to SKYWARN Coordinator and Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, of New Bedford, for his article, “The SKYWARN Storm Spotter Program” published in the September 2021 QST. The two-page article discusses the importance of Amateur Radio storm spotters, adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic, and becoming a trained spotter.
You can vote for Rob’s article to win the September 2021 QST Cover Plaque Award by visiting: <http://www.arrl.org/cover-plaque-poll>.
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WBZ SPECIAL EVENT OPERATION CAPPED WITH HAM RADIO APPEARANCE ON THE MORGAN WHITE SHOW
Amateur Radio will be the topic of discussion on the Morgan White show on Boston’s WBZ AM 1030 on Saturday, September 18 between the hours of 10 PM and midnight.
“With thanks to Cory Golob, KU1U [Sabattus, Maine], he put me in touch with another ham who has us on the Morgan White show–right in the middle of our WBZ special event operation,” writes Hampden County Radio Association President Larry Krainson, W1AST.
The Morgan White interview was organized in conjunction with a special event commemorating the 100th anniversary of WBZ radio. From September 17-19, New England amateurs will use the 1×1 callsigns W1W, W1B, and W1Z, in addition to the Hampden County Radio Association’s club callsign, WB1Z.
The 50,000-watt, clear channel station is the oldest commercial radio station in New England. It began operations on September 15, 1921, at the Westinghouse Works building on Page Boulevard in East Springfield, Massachusetts broadcasting with just 100 watts.
The special event is a joint effort of the Billerica Amateur Radio Society (BARS) and the Hampden County Radio Association (HCRA). It’s being coordinated by HCRA President Larry Krainson, W1AST. [See <https://nediv.arrl.org/wbz100>.]
Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC, President of the Nashua Area Radio Society, has been invited to speak on the show along with a prominent Boston-based radio historian, Dr. Donna Halper, from Lesley University in Cambridge.
Topics to be discussed will include the history of WBZ, the WBZ ham radio special event, and Amateur Radio in general. At this time, it is not known how many minutes of airtime will be allotted to Kemmerer and Halper.
“Fred is an excellent speaker. He’ll be a great representative of the ham community,” adds Krainson.
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WHITMAN ARC TECHNICIAN CLASS BEGINS SEPTEMBER 2
The Whitman Amateur Radio club will conduct a Technician class via Zoom beginning on September 2, 2021, on Tuesdays and Thursdays for approximately four weeks. Please email Ross, W1EKG, at <bavarianradio@comcast.net> or <warc.training@gmail.com> or call 781-447-9104 to be put on the email list for the Zoom class.
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MITRE-BEDFORD ARC OFFERING FIVE-WEEK TECHNICIAN COURSE
The MITRE-Bedford ARC is offering a five-week, in-person/virtual introductory amateur radio course on Fridays from 4-5 PM from September 10 through October 8. Visit <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/08/16/mitre-bedford-arc-to-offer-five-week-licensing-class-beginning-september-10-2021/> for more information.
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AREA FOXES ACTIVE IN AUGUST
We know of two fox hunts which occurred this past month: one in Westford, thanks to Andy, KB1OIQ; the other, in Waltham, courtesy of Mike, K1MJC.
On August 15, hunters were instructed by Andy to “head to Jack Walsh Field in Westford to 1) seek the Koalas; or, 2) seek the little bears, then the polar bears, but ignore the bear cubs.”
Later on August 27, Mike, K1MJC, instructed hunters to go to a conservation area “whose name might be considered another polite name for a person who is a ‘hoarder.’” Further clues were, “there are two entrances, one is a ‘paine,’ but I would not want to ‘school’ you on the better entrance!”
If you haven’t tried fox hunting, it’s easy. One can do it with little more than an H-T and a rubber duck. Give it a try!
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NTS NEWS
Section Traffic Manager – Marcia Forde, KW1U
Visit: <https://ema.arrl.org/national-traffic-system/>
The July Traffic Report can now be found at <https://ema.arrl.org/massachusetts-traffic-report-for-july-2021/>.
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MARISN SLOW SPEED CW NET DEACTICATED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
MARISN, the Massachusetts Rhode Island Slow Speed CW Net is now deactivated until further notice. Net Manager Rob Zarges, K2MZ, has relocated and now has a job which keeps him out many evenings making it impossible for him to continue as net manager. This and lack of net control stations as well as low participation has led to this decision. If in the future an interest is expressed, we will consider activating this net again. We thank Rob for his efforts in organizing this net for the purpose of practicing CW while at the same time learning CW traffic net procedures. Meanwhile all are welcome to join us on MARI CW net nightly at 7 PM on 3565 kHz. Training will be provided as needed. Check in at the speed you can copy and net control will match your speed.
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WHERE TO DISCUSS ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION ELECTIONS
Meet the candidates in person at Northeast HamXposition. There will be a special candidates forum on Saturday afternoon.
ARRL does not permit campaigning on ARRL funded platforms, so the EMA section news will only carry news and not campaign material about the election. Similarly, I will not be sending out any emails to the section.
If you wish to discuss the candidates and their vision for the Division you are encouraged to do so within your club resources such as meetings and mailing lists, by contacting the candidates directly, or on the group.io list found at <https://groups.io/g/NE-elect>.
This is an important division election. An informed electorate is important. Sign up at: <https://groups.io/g/NE-elect>.
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ARES NEWS
Section Emergency Coordinator – Rob Macedo KD1CY
Visit: <https://ema.arrl.org/ares/>
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator, KD1CY-Rob Macedo, has provided an Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section report. The details of the report are written here: <https://ema.arrl.org/2021/09/07/eastern-massachusetts-ares-report-august-early-september-2021>.
The VoIP Hurricane Net, which involves several Amateur Operators from the Eastern Massachusetts section, was active providing critical information during Hurricane Ida as it impacted Louisiana and Mississippi. The national ARRL web site ran a story which can be seen here: <http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-voip-hurricane-net-funnel-ham-radio-reports-to-forecasters-during-ida>.
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FINAL WORD FOR THIS MONTH
Full ARRL members of the New England Division who are in good standing as of September 10, 2021, will receive a ballot in the mail no later than October 1, 2021. Completed ballots must be received at the designated PO Box in the envelope provided by noon Eastern Time Friday, November 19, 2021.
Please take the time to learn about all three New England candidates and make an informed decision on who you believe will best represent the New England Division as Director. There are numerous information sources available online regarding their vision and accomplishments.
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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 Tom, K1TW, Section Manager.
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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Thomas D Walsh, K1TW
<k1tw@arrl.org>