Hello! I’m sure by now a lot of you are getting a case of cabin fever. February is kind of a transition month where there may be some decent days in which to get out and do something. Hopefully one thing on the list is a visit to the Algonquin club’s Hamfest coming up on Feb 15. I always look forward to that to see friends, sell some treasures, and one thing I do is use it as an opportunity to do some mentoring. I hope other sellers do the same thing. Especially when someone just passed their test and is exited to get started.

   I got the opportunity to go visit some clubs last month. It is nice to see new faces in attendance. One thing I do observe is some clubs are thin with attendance and are adding Zoom to the meetings to get others in attendance and to have guest speakers from distances present to the club. I am seeing that clubs that is showing some growth are the ones actively interacting with new hams helping to get started an on the air. Now that it’s come back, we do publish the new ham report on our Western Ma. website. Clubs should have someone looking at who is in their footprint and reach out to them. VE teams are encouraged to get an email address on a separate sign-up sheet so you can email the club presidents that this person passed. I have been doing it…IT WORKS!

   I know we are a little early but clubs are starting to look ahead to Field Day. A couple of clubs are going to new sites in June. Let me remind those that if you are having a group field day, please let me know where. I like to visit and meet and greet people and observe your operation.

   You may not have noticed but on the WMA website you see my name with the articles published. I have been working with Gil, WK1H, our webmaster and am learning how this WordPress thing works. Gil has been keeping an eye on me so I don’t blow anything up. This is to assist Gil with content when he cannot due to family or business. See, Even I can be mentored in things. Many thanks Gil!

   Anyone that is a VE, in the January QST (p.78) and elsewhere, the announcement came out that They have started transitioning to an electronic platform using ExamTools.com. You will be able to use that to conduct your sessions and will automatically upload the results. No more mailing! They will be phasing out sending exams and forms also. This all will take place during this year. VE liaisons should be discussing this to your team to learn the new procedures and look at how you will be administering the test’s. The good thing is you can still do paper along with electronic at least for now.

   That’s enough mischief for now. Hope to see you at Marlboro or Mt Tom hamfest’s or at a local club near you!

73

Ray AA1SE