BAA Marathon Postponed

March 13, 2020: The Boston Marathon has been rescheduled to Sept. 14 due to the new coronavirus, marking the first postponement in the race’s 124-year history. The Marathon had been scheduled for April 20.

 

March 12, 2020: One of Amateur Radio’s premiere public service events, the BAA “Boston” Marathon, will be postponed to September, according to WCVB Channel 5.

Courtesy WCVB.com:

“Organizers of the 2020 Boston Marathon will postpone this year’s race amid concerns about COVID-19, sources tell 5 Investigates.

“The 124th running of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon was set for April 20, Patriots’ Day. Organizers are now looking to reschedule the event for September, although an exact date has not been determined, sources tell 5 Investigates.

“Legislators are talking about creating a special holiday in the fall in order to have the marathon be held on a holiday, WCVB has learned. The bill would be subject to the same approval process as other bills.

“The Boston Athletic Association had said it was working closely with state and local officials and would adhere to policies put forth by the Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

“The race has only been fully canceled or postponed once — in 1918, when a military relay race was held during World War I.”

[full story]

K1USN Radio Club Closed for Next Two Weeks

“Pi” Pugh, K1RV, writes on the K1USN Radio Club mailing list:
 
Effective immediately, starting on Friday, March 13th the K1USN Radio Club will be closed and remain so for at least the next two weeks. This unfortunately will effect our regular monthly VE exam session scheduled for this Saturday, March 14. We hope to be able to announce the resumption of VE exams very soon.
 
We have all seen the escalating news broadcasts and health care announcements regarding the Covid – 19 Corona Virus. Given the close quarters of our club room as well as the average age of the majority of our members we have decided to remain closed.
 
An announcement will be issued during the next two weeks advising about any changes at K1USN.
 
Your support and understanding is appreciated.

Change of Venue: Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC Meeting, March 17, 2020

Sturdy Memorial Hospital ARC logoRay Cord, K2TGX, writes on the SMH ARC mailing list:

This is to announce that due to restrictions imposed on Sturdy Memorial Hospital activities for outside groups because of the coronavirus we will be moving the club meeting scheduled for this coming Tuesday, March 17th. Thanks to Steve, N1LEO, and his brother for offering to host the meeting.

The new location will be Stone-E-Lea Golf Course Club House, 1411 County Street, Attleboro, MA. Times will remain the same: ARES EmComm meeting at 7:00PM, Business meeting at 8:00PM.

Hope to see you all there, bring your N-95 masks and hand sanitizer.

CANCELLED: Pentucket RA Meets on May 19, 2020

Pentucket Radio Association logoDavid Robertson, KD1NA, writes on the Pentucket RA mailing list:

Because of the Virus situation I feel we should cancel the coming PRA meeting that was to be held on the 19th of this month. Instead we should hold the next meeting on April 16th. This way we can discuss setting up for NEAR-Fest. I have ordered the early entry tickets.

73,

Dave KD1NA

CANCELLED: Northeastern University Wireless Club Meetings

From the NUWC mailing list, March 12, 2020 at 4:59 PM:

This has been a very busy week for everyone. After the university elected to move classes online and recommended against large gatherings, we consulted with our faculty advisors and CSI to see what the best path moving forward is. Until further notice, we have decided to suspend our general meetings along with our workshop series with IEEE. The lab space will remain open for as long as academic buildings are open, but we discourage against group meetings. This is still a developing situation, and we will notify you as things change.

CANCELLED: North Shore RA Meets March 16, 2020

“We had made the decision [to cancel] last night and then this morning (March 13, 2020) we got notice from our meeting place PMLP cancelled all use of the auditorium until further notice.” -Rick, KB1LYJ

 

NSRA logoThe North Shore Radio Association will hold its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2020, in the Peabody Municipal Light Plant auditorium, 201 Warren St Extension, in Peabody  (talk-in 145.470 repeater). 

CANCELLED: PART of Westford March 17, 2020 Meeting; Breakfasts Still A “Go”

PART of Westford logoTo All PART of Westford Members,

In light of guidance from the State of Massachusetts regarding older adults having a higher risk related to COVID-19, and avoidance of mass gatherings, the March PART meeting is canceled.  This is the only PART activity being canceled at this time; until further notice, the monthly Saturday breakfast (next scheduled for April 4) is still on, and the weekly Owl Diner breakfasts will be held as desired by the attendees.

Items of interest for PART members regarding COVID-19 will be posted on the WB1GOF.org website.

PART is still conducting other activities, and even if there is an epidemic going around, this great hobby of ours provides plenty of ways to interact.  Some suggestions include:

1. Monitor the WB1GOF repeater.  It’s possible that some of our members will be in quarantine, and they may need help with groceries or other tasks.  They may just want to hear a friendly voice.  Be sure your HT batteries are charged. If you need help and you can’t reach someone on the phone, get on the air and let someone know.

2. At the ragchew after the Sunday night net, offer suggestions or help in dealing with local issues.  Since there’s no club meeting in March, we can hold a “virtual meeting” after the net.

3. I’ve heard rumors that foxes may soon be on the loose.  This is ideal fox hunting weather (reasonably warm, and no ticks), and the foxes are eager to be running wild after being cooped up all winter.  A walk in the woods is great exercise, and there’s virtually no chance of picking up the Coronavirus.  If you’re not a fox hunter, the club’s hunters would be happy to give you a demonstration — join the NE Massachusetts Fox Hunter users group at: https://groups.io/g/NEMassFoxHunters and read the PART Fox Hunting guide at: http://www.wb1gof.org/activities/Foxing/.

4. The CQ-World Wide WPX (SSB) contest is the weekend of March 28-29.  Check out the rules at: https://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm and join in the fun.

Coping with the epidemic is going to be a challenge for the community and the nation, but challenges like this are what ham radio is for. Let’s do this together.


George  K1IG
PART President
WB1GOF.org

CANCELLED: Cape Ann ARA Tuesday Evening Open Houses

CAARA logoGardner H. Winchester II, KA1BTK, writes on the Cape Ann ARA mailing list:

In light of Governor Baker’s Declared State of Emergency to Support the Commonwealth’s Response to the Coronavirus <https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-baker-declares-state-of-emergency-to-support-commonwealths-response-to-coronavirus>,  I am going to cancel the Tuesday Night Open House at CAARA until further notice.  You can use the facility at your own discretion but please follow safety guidelines and keep gatherings to a minimum, 6 or less. Elderly and those with reduced immune systems should refrain from visiting at all times, until the all clear is given.  Please keep in touch and connected via our repeaters, the Gloucester 2-meter machine at 145.130 MHz with a PL tone of 107.2 Hz, and our 70-cm System Fusion Digital machine at 443.700 MHz with  a PL tone of 107.2 Hz.  This digital machine is also connected to several other repeaters through out New England.

CANCELLED: Cape Ann ARA Meets March 14, 2020

CAARA President Hank McCarl, W4RIG, writes on March 11, 2020:

 

With Bill sick and not able to cook the special dinner, the requests from the Governor of the Commonwealth, and advice from several CAARA Board members I believe we should cancel both the Board and Members Meetings on this coming Saturday March 14.  Let me know if you have any objections – keep in touch via the repeater.

CAARA logo
The next Members Meeting of the Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association will be held at 12 noon at the clubhouse at 6 Stanwood Street, Gloucester, MA. See map and directions to the site.

The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL-affiliated club whose mission includes: providing health and safety communication services for emergencies and disasters on Cape Ann and in other areas when requested, educate and train new amateur radio operators and to maintain a well-tuned disaster team, conduct FCC testing for new licenses and those wishing to upgrade, provide educational services and demonstrations to local area schools and community organizations such as the Boy Scouts, conduct public demonstrations and educational events, assist public utilities in finding radio frequency interferences that could potentially harm or hinder emergency communication activities, and create a positive, supportive environment for our members that promotes camaraderie and fellowship.

CANCELLED: Dan’s Tech Night, March 12, 2020

Dan Pedtke, KW2T, writes:

Next Meeting IS CANCELLED. No March 12, 2020 meeting, due to coronavirus.

Sorry, our building hosts have suggested that we cancel our meeting for this month due to this unusual situation with this spreading virus. As I originally suggested, you should stay home out of fear of COVID-19.

TechNight is held every 2nd Thursday of the month, from 7-10 PM, at the Grady Research Building in Ayer, MA. It is open to anyone with an interest in radio or electronics, from age 6 to 100. Though it is directed mainly at the Ham Radio enthusiast, it also covers general electronics and computers. Amongst the marvels of radio technology like antennas, impedance matching, and software radio, we will discuss things like the Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ARM Cortex and the like, and even a little about LINUX and PC applications that work with radios. Meetings also include a period where anyone can ask questions about anything, or repair and test stuff people bring in. On occasion, the meeting will involve building a kit of some sort, that the participants have agreed to buy as a group. See the Topics page for more details.

CANCELLED: Algonquin ARC March 12, 2020 Meeting

I have decided to cancel the March AARC meeting after consulting with the officers.

Much of our club membership falls into the CDC-identified vulnerable population which has been advised by federal and state agencies to minimize contact to reduce risk of exposure to novel-coronavirus.  Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency this afternoon, and many companies and educational institutions are restricting domestic travel, large meetings, and offsite meetings. 

There is no reason to make a decision regarding the April meeting at this point.  If the situation continues, we have time to investigate streaming or other remote meeting options for April.

I also encourage members to check into the weekly club net, Sundays at 1900 on 446.675, PL 88.5.

Thanks,

Mike, w1ku
AARC acting president

 

AARC logoThe Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will meet on Thursday, March 12, 2020. Jim Idelson, K1IR, will present on tower safety.

AARC meetings are held at 7:30 PM in the library of the 1st Lt. Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School in Marlborough, 25 Union Avenue. Use Door #1 at rear of building.

Harvard Wireless Club Meets March 10, 2020

Hey Everyone,

I know that in light of the college asking everyone to leave campus by Sunday, a lot of plans are in flux.  During these uncertain times our emergency preparedness skills are as important as they ever have been.  Given that we expect an attendance of less than 25 people today, our meeting and elections this evening will still take place as planned.  I encourage all underclassmen to consider running for a position.  Radios have arrived and will be distributed.

 

Allen Liu, KC1HBB  

Harvard Wireless Club official shieldAllen Liu, KC1HBB, writes on the HWC mailing list:

The wireless club will be meeting at our shack on Linden Street [in Cambridge] at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 10th.  We will be having elections for next year’s board and handing out radios to licensed members who have not yet received theirs.  There will be food (likely pizza).  […]

Dayton Hamvention Officials Keeping an Eye on Coronavirus Situation

From ARRL Web:

03/03/2020 — With Dayton Hamvention® 2020 a little more than 10 weeks away, Hamvention officials say they are closely following the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Show organizers will post updates as the May 15 – 17 event nears, but they’re optimistic that coronavirus will not be an issue.

“At this time, the Hamvention Executive Committee has been in contact with the Greene County Public Health Department, and we do not anticipate any impact because of this issue,” a March 3 Hamvention statement said. The Greene County Public Health Department reports that no cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ohio.

“Greene County Public Health is working closely with the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and are prepared to respond, should there be a community spread of COVID-19,” the Hamvention statement noted. “The current risk to the general public is very low. Travel advisories are in effect, and can change anytime, so please see the CDC Travel Advisory webpage before traveling.” [full story]