Section Manager’s Report October 2026

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Hey, did you hear that sonic boom? It was September going by! Just like the squirrels, we are probably gathering stuff and storing it so we can have projects where it’s inside and warm during the winter when we are not napping. Near-Fest is now a memory for this year. I am seeing the event being affected by the economic climate, 4.20 a gallon for gas, and the likely lack of Geritol. (yes, our advancing ages!) I truly hope things do turn around. These are fun events and the event bean-keepers need to keep things on the positive end of the break-even line. One thing to consider, anyone with tables invite someone on the younger side to tag along. What a great mentoring tool. I did see a couple of people with some youth getting educated on various things about radio. Good job mentors!

   So far, the meetings have started and I do see some of them gathering steam for a successful year. CMARA is working hard with the Worcester Ecotarium with their upcoming ARISS contact event coming in a couple of weeks. Shout outs to The Quaboag club and the Mohawk club on their 40-year anniversaries. A fine accomplishment. May they have many more. Mohawk has been putting on POTA activations every couple of weeks in the summer at various state parks in the area. Activities like these can certainly boost a club and keep them active and participating while promoting ham radio to others.

   Remember, clubs have a lot of resources available from the league to assist in membership, benefits, and individual assistance. Most of it is an email away or a phone call. I am also reachable too. No doubt some clubs could use a little help. It also takes individuals to put forth the effort. If you went to HamX in August there was great stuff in the seminars to promote just that!

   I know I have not been visiting club meetings as much as I would like. Yup the cost of fuel is a factor and time can be as well. I have been really busy lately as well. I will definitely work on that.

   That’s enough gossip for now. Remember the nice warm and hot days we had when the cold stuff returns!

Be well!

Ray AA1SE

Message from the Section Traffic Manager

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Hello all,

This is the first traffic report for the Western Mass Section on its own in quite a number of years. We are starting off pretty small, with just one daily local net based in the section, and two reporting stations (one of them being yours truly), so there is definitely room to grow!

That being said, if you are a traffic handler in WMA and are not shown on this report, I invite you to send your Station Activity Report and Public Service Honor Roll information to me by either radiogram or email. In order to make the QST publishing deadline, reports are due by the 6th of the following month.

The report shows nets covering WMA as well as some that cover both Eastern and Western MA. I’ve used a format very similar to what Marcia has been using in her joint section traffic reports.

If you would like to try sending and receiving third party messages (“traffic”), but don’t know where to start, check out these opportunities and resources:

73

Eric, W1RVY

WMA STM

I added this message as the section has not had a real traffic system for a long time. I encourage members, clubs, everyone to consider adding traffic and message handling as part of your activities, not to mention good practice for when “stuff” hits the fan. Traffic handling has been the root of ham radio since it’s beginnings in 1914. Even in modern times, it is still a useful part of the hobby. There are just more toys to play with it! Reporting activities also adds value to justify our hobby and the spectrum the FCC gives us for free as well as to the served agencies who receives our service free to the communities we serve. Contact Eric or myself with any questions or comments.

Thanks, Ray AA1SE

New Ham List Sept. 2026

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Report for 2026-09-01

Harry T Egan, KD1AAS – FCC
257 Walnut Hill Rd
Barre, MA 01005-9545

James Oconnell, KD1ABU – FCC
24 Pine Grove Dr
Pittsfield, MA 01201-4430

Timothy Dillon, KD1ABR – FCC
10 Taconic St Apt 3
Pittsfield, MA 01201-6932

Connor T Jannicelli, KC1ZZL – FCC
3 Apremont St
Adams, MA 01220-1104

Alexander Babbie, KC1ZYY – FCC
65 Church St Apt 3
Lenox, MA 01240-2569

Larry J Bennett, KD1ABM – FCC
380 Goodrich St
Lunenburg, MA 01462-1616

Christopher Vincent, KD1ABY – FCC
9 Coach House Rd
North Grafton, MA 01536-2032

Section Manager’s Report Sept. 2026

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September is here! That means school is in session, Summer is nearly over, and club meetings are now starting up for a new season. I was fortunate to see some activities personally and am encouraged to see some great stuff going on. I also see that some clubs have experienced growth. There are some clubs experiencing some challenges within the leadership. I surely hope everyone works together to resolve the issues and to keep focusing on continued growth and success.

   I just found out that NOBARC just got a grant from the ARRL Foundation. Not a huge one, but meaningful just the same. Congrats to them! There is money out there. Money for MESH projects, club outreach, repeater updates, etc. Something all clubs can look at to finance whatever they may need. The only downside is you have to be a 501c non-profit. Something that requires managing and yearly reports.

   The New England Convention is in the books and early indicators was similar attendance as last year. If you were there you know there was a lot of quality stuff to see and do. The speakers were great also. The committee has been really consistent lately of putting together a great event. One can only hope we could grow to compete with one or two of the “Big Guns.” As usual, it takes a number of people to put this together before, during and after. Consider joining us next year in some fashion.

   I also have seen that Division 1 (New England) has now entered the land of KD1 callsigns. I got my license as KB1LRL in 2004. That’s a lot of years! There are divisions that are well past that in KR and others in that area. I’ll leave that to chew on a little.

   Just as a reminder the WMA website has a list of presenters that is willing to zoom in or visit to enrich the curious minds at a meeting. Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qLesHfit7-elLKXI-e8sQfpiKtNLCmyTirWFdALmRWE/edit?gid=1857305376#gid=1857305376. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed as things do change.

   I have been notified that Greg Algieri, WA1JXR Has taken a position with the ARRL part time in the RF lab. He will be working mostly at home and will be working on stuff that radiates 😊. Because this is a paid position he had to step aside as the Technical Coordinator and the Assistant Section Manager. Greg did say that it is a temporary position with an unknown time. Hope Greg has a lot of fun with this position.

   With September being here, there is a number of license classes starting up. NOBARC has a live one coming up and the WMA team is looking at one in early October. Time frame will be determined when we can get the presentations updated to the new question pool. Keep you eyes open for others and spread the word. Remember, when you have classes and/or VE sessions, start the mentoring process by a warm welcome and resources to get them started in radio and on the air.

   That’s enough gossip Speaking of gossip, let me know of any going on in your neck of the woods.

Take care and 73

Ray, AA1SE

NoBARC Hamfest August 23

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The Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will be holding it’s annual hamfest on Sunday, August 23.  The hamfest will be held at the George Bowe Field (Adams Agricultural Fair Grounds), located directly off of Route 8 in Adams, MA.

Gates open at 6:30 AM for vendors and sellers, 7:00 AM for buyers.  Admission is $5 for adult, kids under 12 are free.  Sellers and vendors cot will be an additional $10. Talk-in will be on the K1FFK Mt. Greylock repeater, 146.91 MHz, PL 162.2. There will be an amateur radio exam session at 9:00 AM at the hamfest, for anyone wishing to get licensed or upgrade.

Further details available on the hamfest flyer.

New Amateur Reports – August 2026

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Please welcome the new amateur radio operator licensees to the Western Massachusetts section!

Edward S Martin, KC1ZWP
180 Pleasant St
Holyoke, MA 01040-2619

Jean M Beebe, KC1ZYD
69 Daytona Ave
Pittsfield, MA 01201-2209

Craig S Senecal, KC1ZWN
14 Nelson St
North Adams, MA 01247-2308

Cole R Whalley, KC1ZXQ
PO Box 126
Turners Falls, MA 01376-0126

Raymond F Pavone, KC1ZWS
61 Healdville Rd
Hubbardston, MA 01452-1146

Robert G Holmes, KC1ZXT
57 Ball Hill Rd
Berlin, MA 01503-1812

Nicholas Joannidi, KC1ZXZ
46 Conservation Dr
Douglas, MA 01516-2163

Sean P Callahan, KC1ZWK
8 Memorial Dr
Northborough, MA 01532-1632

Christopher J Craig, KC1ZWO
14 Summer St
Northborough, MA 01532-2622

Dan J Jones, KC1ZWA
9 State St
Shrewsbury, MA 01545-3358

Chase A Bonneau, KC1ZWR
20 Preserve Way
Sturbridge, MA 01566-2316

Mark A Dalve, KC1ZWD
PO Box 183
West Brookfield, MA 01585-0183

Anya Kipp-Mcgowan, KC1ZYG
PO Box 20893
Worcester, MA 01602-0893

Section Manager’s Report Aug.2026

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Hi, well for a traditionally quiet month actually turned exiting! The first piece of news is the appointment of Eric Wilhelm W1RVY as the new Section Traffic Manager. Please join me in welcoming him aboard. Eric has been involved with traffic since he got his license and has been a steady participant in traffic nets, and is the First Region Net Manager. For the loyal followers, I have been trying to get this position filled since I started. This section has been quite dormant regarding traffic and my hopes we can get some activity going again. I wish to thank Marcia Forde KW1U DEEPLY for supporting NTS, and Western Ma for all these years. We will continue to work with her in all things traffic as her efforts goes far beyond New England.

   The CMARA club on July 25 put on a very impressive demonstration of ham radio at the Worcester Ecotarium. Earlier they joined together to conduct an ARISS contact event, which is now scheduled for October. This demonstration featured CW demonstration, N1E special event station, an ARISS table, lots of brochures and information, etc. This was an impressive setup indeed! Other clubs can benefit although does not have to be to this scale, quite simply, partner with a venue or event, use your available resources. Just get out there. It provides a club activity, outreach, public service, or just plain FUN! You can see more about this event on a separate post here.

   Now that August is basically here, all thoughts are turning to HamXposition. https://hamxposition.org/ We now are looking for great attendance, education, fellowship, and of course fun. Yours truly will again this year will be in charge of the flea market and tabling my array of treasures which seems to be growing. In the past I used to have a section meeting but due to the timeframe and low attendance I have not been doing that. That does not mean I’m not doing section stuff. Feel free to come to me and chat, indoors or out. The one thing that I enjoy doing selling at the flea market is the opportunity to talk to members, and mentor new hams looking for advice and maybe locating something for their new found hobby. The convention is still looking for volunteers to help out. There are many things to help with and 4 hours will get you a free lunch or an entrance ticket. You can volunteer on the website and pick your time and job. Setting up and take down is one of the biggest needs. (I know that first hand! 😊)

   I am happy to see some good activity going on with some clubs this summer. We have been talking about this for some time and now it’s bearing fruit. Some clubs have invited other clubs to join and I can certainly encourage that more. We talk about it often, doing it is another thing. Just simply in the words of Larry the Cable Guy….” Git ‘er Done!”

   Take care and hopefully will see you at HamXposition!

73, Ray AA1SE

HamX Calling for More Volunteers

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Thanks to everyone who has reached out to volunteer and/or let others know about volunteering!

Currently I have about 40 people, which includes some who are planning to, but are not in the database yet and I am following up with.

We can always use more, esp for Saturday, where we have the biggest need.

Here is the link to the details, which includes the link to volunteer:
https://hamxposition.org/volunteer-with-us/

Please spread the word…and thank you!

73 Barbara KC1KGS
—
Barbara T. Irby
HamX Volunteer Coordinator
kc1kgs@hamx.org

Radio event in Worcester

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The Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) is partnering with the EcoTarium (the former Worcester Science Center) on their upcoming October ARISS contact. As part of the EcoTarium’s STEM education efforts CMARA is running a special event station at the science center where we are demonstrating Amateur Radio in action and educating visitors about “The Science of Radio.”

Our pilot event was put on in June and based on the success of that we planned three additional dates over the summer: Saturday July 25th, Saturday August 22nd, and Saturday September 26th. At each event we will be operating under the N1E call sign and running a variety of exhibits on different aspects of Amateur Radio and the science behind it. Our July event coincided with the EcoTarium’s Robert Goddard Rocket Day, and we pulled all the estops out with seven different exhibit tables staffed and educating museum guests about propagation, modulation, modes of operation, kit building, and of course the ARISS program. Along with the special event station we will be doing new and different things with each of the remaining two events in order to expose the museum guests to as much of the science behind radio as we can.

The EcoTarium originally applied for an ARISS contact in the Summer of 2025. One of the requirements of the application process is that they partner with a local Amateur Radio club. That’s where CMARA comes in. They reached out to us and the club agreed to partner with them. Three club members were chosen to represent the club: George Gumbrell, K3RLZ, Connor Gumbrell, KC1MMT, and Tom Gauvin, NE1NH.  George, Connor, and Tom have been meeting with the Ecotarium and the ARISS team regularly since then working on all the planning and preparation that goes into an ARISS contact.  NASA originally slotted the EcoTarium for a March 2026 contact. Unfortunately, due to the illness of one of the ISS crew members several ARISS contacts had to be postponed and rescheduled to later dates.  The museum’s ARISS contact is now slated for the second week of October. Because the stations orbit is frequently adjusted and due to the complexities of research scheduling the exact day and hour of the contact will not be finalized until the week before. In the interim CMARA is assisting the museum with STEM education and the museum is partnering with a local Worcester school to select a group of school kids who will have the opportunity to ask one of the ISS crew members questions during one of the stations 8-minute passes over one of several Amateur Radio Ground Stations located in various places around the globe.

For more information about the Ecotarium or ARISS you can visit their websites at:

·         EcoTarium: www.ecotarium.org

·         ARISS: https://www.ariss.org/

To find out more about The Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association you can go to their website: https://cmara.org/

CMARA member George Gumbrell, K3RLZ, speaking to a young museum visitor at our Satellite exhibit
CMARA members Greg Algeri WA1JXR, John Nieman, W1CVO, Jerry Bachand, K1YYT, and Dick Jubinville, W1REJ, at our CW and Kit Building Exhibits
CMARA member Pete Bretschneider, KA1QEK, Elmering some new CW Operators.
In the background, CMARA members Preston Sturdevant, KC1WJL, and Joel Desrochers, N1KRL, at our 2M operating position and Corwyn Miyagishima, KN1OBI, and Will Lentlie, N1FTL, at our HF Digital operating position.
 
Inside the well appointed trailer operating the N1E voice station. Band conditions not so hot though.

New Amateur Reports – July 2026

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Please welcome the new amateur radio operator licensees to the Western Massachusetts section!

Thomas A Warner, KC1ZSL
14 Pleasure Ave
Pittsfield, MA 01201-4214

David W Malgeri, KC1ZUX
200 Lakeshore Dr
Winchendon, MA 01475-1014

Brandon Deluca, KC1ZVI
182 Farm St
Blackstone, MA 01504-1323

Oldden C Fox, KC1ZVA
174 Providence Rd Apt 507
Grafton, MA 01519-1542

Dylan J Bonneau, KC1ZUS
20 Preserve Way
Sturbridge, MA 01566-2316

Jeanpaul Bonneau, KC1ZUW
20 Preserve Way
Sturbridge, MA 01566-2316

Evangelia H Pitsillides, KC1ZVF
6 Roseville Ln
Worcester, MA 01603-1848

Michael Pitsillides, KC1ZVG
6 Roseville Ln
Worcester, MA 01603-1848

Chester C Hoyle, KC1ZRH
209 Sunderland Rd
Worcester, MA 01604-2455

Christian A North, KC1ZVJ
121 Francis St
Worcester, MA 01606-3119

Alexandra A Van Gelder, KC1ZRU
5 Berkshire St Apt 2
Worcester, MA 01609-3325

Charles Linton, KC1ZVN
10 Hillside Ave
Southborough, MA 01772-1262

Lori Leinbach, KC1ZVO
10 Hillside Ave
Southborough, MA 01772-1262