New Ham Report Sept.

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Report for 2025-09-01

Jessica Pion, KC1YFA – FCC
29 Myrtle Ave
Holyoke, MA 01040-3513

Peter K Sullivan, KC1YCW – FCC
74 Barrett St Unit 308
Northampton, MA 01060-1728

Nathan H Chung, KC1YCX – FCC
15 Stearns Ct Apt 1L
Northampton, MA 01060-4264

David Hunt, KC1YDK – FCC
21 Field Rd
Longmeadow, MA 01106-1004

Stanley J Ambo, KC1YDL – FCC
278 Lockes Village Rd
Wendell, MA 01379-9735

Salvatore Algieri, KC1YFZ – FCC
436 Southbridge St PMB 2
Auburn, MA 01501-2442

John C Ansell, KC1YFG – FCC
PO Box 412
Manchaug, MA 01526-0412

Vinesh Kanagavel Chithra, KC1YDX – FCC
50 Meadow Ln
North Grafton, MA 01536-1108

CALLING ALL AMATEURS! CALL TO ACTION!

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CALLING ALL AMATEURS! CALL TO ACTION!

                       Your help is needed!

   On Tuesday the 16th, the section managers and the affiliated club coordinators had a meeting with David Minster NA2AA and have announced an all-out effort to get Bill H.R. 1094 and S. 459 which is the HOA bills passed so that hams in HOA restrictions can have reasonable accommodations to have antennas installed for amateur radio and emergency communications. This effort is a widespread effort and open to ALL hams regardless of membership or status. If they have an active callsign as an amateur they can participate and help.

   The League along with one of their directors, Robert Stratton, N5AUS and the lobbyists and others have worked hard to make sure this is well worded, with the best plan of attack to help ensure we are successful, and easy to help out for us. The ARRL Letter on Thursday Sept. 18 will launch the effort and will be supported by podcasters, QRZ.com and many media outlets to get the word out.

   The process is simple. Go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ enter your callsign and click on “Send My Letters” and your done. Clubs also can participate by editing a prepared letter with the necessary information specific to the club and send the appropriate documents (one for each representative and senators) to n5aus@n5aus.com to get it prepared and sent to the correct people.

   If you have questions you can email myself or Mr. Stratton at the above address. I may post additional information here as needed. But, again, this will be very widely publicized.

Thank you for your assistance in this very important effort.

73

Ray Lajoie AA1SE Section Manager. Western Mass

Section Manager’s Report. Sept 2025

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Did you hear a loud scream lately? That was August flying by! Wow, Fall is just a few weeks away. It was a busy month for sure.

   Earlier this month I made a road trip and visited the NOBARC hamfest. Saw a number of people there and some treasures getting bought. I did not go there to sell. Instead, I was sitting in on their VE session which is now using the ExamTools web app for administering the tests. This is going to be the new standard as the ARRL is no longer producing any printed materials. Running the test electronically allows for the tests to be graded using your cellphone camera or any camera for that matter which I thought was pretty slick. Also, the paperwork and test results are instantly uploaded directly to the league for FCC processing. It is important before you start is get registered on ExamTools website as you need to get verified as an examiner, get a signature uploaded and a couple of other things. Embrace the future folks! Fear not! You can print out forms and test questions if needed. There are groups that can assist if needed.

   Of course, the big one was last weekend in the HamXposition convention. I don’t have the numbers but what I did hear was the inside vendors was sold out, there were over 60 forums which is more than Dayton and the flea market looked nearly sold out. I was running the flea market this year and with the help of my friend N1MGO, and the volunteers for the entrance. It ran pretty smooth. (I guess I did not goof it up too much! 😊) I did hear a fair amount of positive feedback and a good time was had there. I look forward to next year where I hope to see more growth and variety.

   With September here is the time clubs will be meeting again after their summer break. The ARRL has announced that 2026 will be celebrated as “The Year of the Club” There will be activities surrounding this and they are cooking up some incentives to encourage clubs to operate under their club callsign among other things. Details are in the works so stay tuned. This is a great tool to use to try to build up your club. People want more out of their club than just the usual old business, new business and who’s presenting what. Members need to participate and engage others to be creative and have some great fun. Don’t get discouraged if one thing flops, try something else. Keep trying and you may find that winning solution. What works for one may not work for the other. Invite your neighboring club along too!

   Chuck, WS1L is getting the plans for an upcoming SET for October. This is a great test of how your skills are in an emergency. It also helps to identify what or where we need to improve on. Contact Chuck with any questions or how to participate. I would love to see some good participation from all parts of Western Ma.

   What are your goals for the upcoming season? Upgrading your license? Mentoring a new ham? Learn to handle traffic? POTA activations? The possibilities are many. As they say…Be Radio-active!

   Have a great month!

73

Ray AA1SE

Announcing the NE and Section Ham of the Year Awards

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The New England Division has created a new Ham of the Year award to recognize and honor those that have made notable accomplishments for Ham Radio. The awards will be given out at HamXposition. This is going to be an annual event. Any member in Western Ma. can recommend an individual by sending me an email describing why and the accomplishments he/she achieved to aa1se@arrl.org. Read the press announcement below:

ARRL NEW ENGLAND DIVISION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEW ENGLAND AND SECTION HAM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

July 23, 2025—The ARRL New England Division is pleased to announce the results of the 2025 Ham of the Year Awards. The nominating committee and judges consisted of Section Managers:

  • Douglas Sharafanowich, WA1SFH, Connecticut
  • Jon McCombie, N1ILZ, Eastern Massachusetts
  • Phil Duggan, N1EP, Maine
  • Pete Stohrer, W1FEA, New Hampshire
  • Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, Rhode Island
  • Paul Gayet, AA1SU, Vermont
  • Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, Western Massachusetts

New England Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, participated as non-voting members.

The judges considered one nominee from each New England ARRL Section. Criteria included, but were not limited to, achievements in the areas of:

  • Club leadership
  • Ham class instruction / volunteer exams
  • Emergency Communications / ARES
  • Technical accomplishments
  • Youth activities

In The Western Ma, Section, Larry Krainson, W1AST was nominated for this prestigious honor.

Larry has taken on many roles for Amateur Radio including a presidency with the Hampden County. Radio Assn, building the club to over 125 members. For 2 years planned the Big E promoting Ham Radio to over a million people. Currently with the convention committee responsible for the increase in vendors and prize value. He is also the WMA Affiliated Club Coordinator. He is also the state manager for the annual 13 colonies special event in July.

For his service to Amateur Radio in Western Ma, Larry Krainson, W1AST has earned the honor of Western Ma. Ham of the Year.

The New England Ham of the Year awardee will be announced in the near future. This individual, along with the Western MA. Ham of the Year, will be acknowledged at the New England Division (“HamX”) in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in late August. For additional information, contact Ray Lajoie AA1SE (aa1se@arrl.org

Section Manager’s Report Aug. 2025

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   “I’m melting, melting!” That seems to have been the theme for this month. Pretty sad you have to walk around carrying a meat thermometer with you! And to top it off, I have been dealing with a sore back. Ok, bad news and complaining out of the way.

   So, if you haven’t heard, the board meeting from the league had announced 2026 will be celebrated as the year of the club. There is a committee with Mike Walters, W8ZY that will be coming up with activities and incentives to get clubs more active and on the air especially with the club call signs. Should be interesting and more to follow on that later. The league has also submitted to the FCC it’s comments on the request for the 70cm band by AST & Science. You can post comments to the FCC by Aug. 5.

   Something else I saw which was a surprise was that SteppIR had folded their tents! This will take place on Aug.31. To see the announcement, go to https://consumer.steppir.com/ They cited “Due to emerging factors.”

   So, the big event is close at hand, HamXposition. Lots of people have been looking forward to this including me. This year I will not be having a forum. One reason is the attendance does not really support it and I will also be taking on a new role there as the head of the flea market…OH BOY! 😊 I guess certain people want to see me roast out there more. Yep, I need to take precautions more. So, you will see something different out there but I will still have my treasures out there. Look forward to seeing you all out there. There are a TON of forums that weekend and the prize kiddie is really good. That group did a good job of putting that part together. They really are trying to make this one of the premier conventions next to Dayton, Hamvention, Huntsville.

   Just prior to that, if you want to take a nice ride in the country is the NOBARC Hamfest which will be August 17 at 371 Old Columbia St in Adams. I plan on going, likely just to visit.

   Something new that is starting in the New England Division is the New England and Section Ham of the year awards which will be awarded at the convention. It will be on a separate posting to learn more.

   Hopefully when the weather cooperates a little more and there is a break between events, definitely get out there and play some radio. I need to do the same thing as I need to work on some set ups outside. My tri-bander is junk and need to get that squared away.

   Ok blink your eyes and it will be September and cooler. Then you will complain about the cold! Hi-Hi

Have a great August!

73, Ray AA1SE

Volunteers Needed at HamXposition

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Calling for Volunteers for HamXposition in August 2025!
Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who make HamXposition possible! Your
smiling faces and eagerness to help make a difference to the attendees.
I’m reaching out to invite you to volunteer (again) this year! Here is the link to the form.
https://registration.hamxposition.org/volunteer/
We have a big need for help this year and have a number of positions for volunteers—
they won’t be assigned in advance, but if you have preferences/restrictions, please note
them on the form.
Examples of volunteer activities:

  • Registration/ticket sales throughout the convention timeframe
    o The convention itself
    o Comedy show on Thursday evening
  • Technical troubleshooting
  • Set-up (Thursday)—some of this is outside
    o Video Equipment in each room
    o Signage
    § Inside the hotel for each room
    § Outside
  • Cones
  • Speaker section
  • Handicapped section
  • Direction Finding
  • Take-down (Sunday afternoon)-some of this is outside
    o Equipment
    o Signage that we have put up, inside and out
  • Limiting access to vendor area as needed when area isn’t open to attendees
  • Flea market
    o Set up
    o Selling tickets
  • Way-finding, for example
    o Forum rooms
    o Tech in a Day
    o Flea market
    o GOTA station
  • Ticket prep for drawings
  • Resource/answering questions
    Time slots?
  • 2 hr time slots available
    o Thursday Aug 21 8-10am, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8pm
    o Friday Aug 22 8-10am, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8pm
    o Saturday Aug 23 8-10am, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8pm
    o Sunday Aug 24 8-10am, 10-12, 12-2, 2-4pm
    Perks?
  • If you work 2 x 2 hr shifts
    o Free admission (or)
    o Lunch voucher for Friday or Saturday (no lunch on Thursday or Sunday)
    (or)
    o Another ticket for the Sunday drawings
  • If you work additional 2 x 2 hr shifts, you can get one additional lunch voucher-if
    you haven’t taken the admission option
    Please reach out with questions. I look forward to seeing you there!
    73 Barbara KC1KGS
    kc1kgs@hamx

New Ham List for July

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Here is the latest new hams for Western Ma. Clubs, use the list and invite those near your area. We have 83 new hams in the first half of the year

Report for 2025-07-01

Derek L Ferguson, KC1WXV – FCC
25 Appaloosa Ln
West Springfield, MA 01089-1714

Nicholas S King, N1NSK – FCC
PO Box 1051
Hancock, MA 01237-1051

Adam Shurtleff, KC1WWY – FCC
29 Walker St
North Adams, MA 01247-2859

Matthew J Arnold, KC1WXL – FCC
18 Bonnydale Rd
Leominster, MA 01453-3006

Stella Schuren, KC1WXJ – FCC
447 Lancaster Ave
Lunenburg, MA 01462-1512

Eric W Smith, KC1WYX – FCC
376 Main St
Oxford, MA 01540-1730

Frank Koch, KC1WWK – FCC
97 Flanagan Hill Rd
Sterling, MA 01564-2313

Michael D Kloter, KC1WZD – FCC
7 Vinton Rd
Sturbridge, MA 01566-1201

Anna A Chinappi, KC1WXY – FCC
194 Granite St
Uxbridge, MA 01569-1231

Michael Ocallahan, KC1WWJ – FCC
14 Victoria Ave
Worcester, MA 01607-1506

Lora M Cameron Landis, KC1WZA – FCC
14 Oregon Rd
Southborough, MA 01772-2013

Section Manager Report July 2025

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Greetings, I’m sure you are still resting from Field Day, scores are being tabulated, pictures shared, etc. Speaking of pictures, I would like to put together something for the League. Please send me pictures of the weekend’s activities. Thanks.

    Field day was a bit of a mix as I find the number of clubs or groups visited were down. I know of some that have ceased their FD activities and there were others that really pushed on improving their operation and I saw some nifty stuff going on. The CMARA club moved to a new location which was more public accessible and put on a public table to promote Ham Radio to others. Quaboag has a new location in the town common in West Brookfield. This location definitely shows promise in being a great location to show off what they can do to support their town. And the NOBARC club also has new digs not far from where they used to be in Windsor. There was a lot of radio activity with room to spare. I want to extend a “Well Done” to those and all the FD sites this year. Of course, as you unwind from this you are now looking to start planning next year’s event. The one thing I do see is by getting younger people into radio were the clubs that improved the most. Something to think about when starting your club meetings in September. I really enjoyed visiting all the clubs this year. Everyone made me feel welcome when I arrived.

   As I mentioned last month, the nomination period is on for the position of Section Manager. To learn more, go to  http://www.arrl.org/section-terms-nomination-information Don’t be bashful!

   On July 8th, my team is holding a new Technician Class license course on Zoom if you know of someone interested in getting their Ham Radio License, see the flyer elsewhere on this website.

   I guess that’s enough jibber-jabber for now. Have a great time in whatever you are doing this summer and thanks.

73, Ray AA1SE

New Ham Report for May

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Report for 2025-06-01

Michael R Sienkiewicz, KC1WVJ – FCC
3005 Prospect St Unit B
Bondsville, MA 01009-7722

Willie Lopez, KC1WUE – FCC
63 Magnolia Ave
Holyoke, MA 01040-3125

Jeffrey L Horan, KC1WTN – FCC
100 Southampton Rd
Holyoke, MA 01040-9788

Liam Cregan, KC1WTW – FCC
63 Golden Dr
Northampton, MA 01062-3405

Elizabeth McKinstry, KC1WUC – FCC
PO Box 5434
Springfield, MA 01101-5434

Daniel Moriarty, KC1WWE – FCC
2 Corashire Rd
New Marlborough, MA 01230-2107

Brian S Dannemiller, KC1WTX – FCC
4 Lincoln St
Greenfield, MA 01301-2016

Dan Alden, KC1WTL – FCC
506 Country Side Rd
Greenfield, MA 01301-9757

Alexander J Wahlstrom, KC1WTM – FCC
213 Northfield Rd
Bernardston, MA 01337-9797

Robert C DeRose, KC1WTP – FCC
157 Thompson Rd
Colrain, MA 01340-9720

Karl Anderson, KC1WTV – FCC
PO Box 45
Conway, MA 01341-0045

Edwin F Sause, KC1WVR – FCC
36 Highland Vlg
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370-1249

Andrew B Robertson, KC1WSX – FCC
16 Sunset Dr
Sterling, MA 01564-2454