Monthly Archives: August 2018

WMA Section Meeting at Boxboro

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During the New England Division Convention at Boxboro on Sunday, September 9, one of the discussion forums scheduled is a “WMA Section Meeting” hosted by Western MA Section Manager Ray Lajoie KB1LRL.

The purpose of this meeting is essentially just to give all ARRL members in Western Massachusetts a platform for discussion of things they would like to see the section change and improve.  Ray’s main focus recently has been to get people appointed to various section staff positions and getting emergency communications plans going, however, any other subject can be brought up and discussed openly at this forum.  The forum should be more of a town hall / open discussion rather than something that is more rigidly scripted.  Come and make your voice heard!

The WMA Section Meeting forum will be on Sunday, September 9th from 12 – 12:50 in the Seminar room.  Check the forum schedule on the Boxboro convention website for more details.

New England Division Convention at Boxboro

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The ARRL New England Division Convention at Boxboro will be on September 7, 8 and 9 at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center.

General Admission grants access to the Flea Market, Forums & Classes, Vendors, and the Theatrical Screening! It also grants you an opportunity to win one of our fabulous Door Prizes.  Among some of the many other attractions at Boxboro are the W1A Special Event Station, the Friday night DXCC/Contest dinner and the Saturday night Grand Banquet.

Those interested in getting their Technician class amateur radio license would find the Tech-in-a-Day class of interest. The class culminates in a license exam session. The exam session is also open to all, so those of us already licensed can easily take an exam and upgrade our license at convention as well.

It’s just $15, good for all three days, and special free admission for full-time students with student ID (including college students!).

General Admission tickets will also be available in advance at some retail locations, and will additionally be sold at the convention.

All proceeds, donations and profits from Boxboro go to the ARRL Foundation.

NoBARC Hamfest

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The Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will be holding it’s annual hamfest on Sunday, August 19.  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.

There will also be a raffle at 11:00 AM.  Presence not required to win the raffle.  Tickets at $4.00 each or 3 for $10.00.  Prizes are:

  1. Yaesu FTM100DR 2m/70cm C4FM/FM mobile transceiver and a Yaesu HRI-200 WIRES-X Internet Linking Kit
  2. Yaesu FTM3200DR 2m C4FM/FM mobile transceiver
  3. Yaesu FT70DR 2m/70cm C4FM/FM handheld transceiver

Section Manager Report July 2018

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Hello, I hope all of had some good downtime and enjoyed the fine summer weather. I have been trying to get some things done, but it seems I get one thing done, two more come up. I’m sure most of you can relate.

So, as we work on our BBQ skills and sunburns, the League is very busy with some long, anticipated items which now is now coming to light. In the upcoming edition of QST, there will be more information regarding ARES and the new structure in greater detail. There is a period from now to the end of October for comments then a final plan is due for around January. Please read carefully and get your comments in. I still could use a Section Emergency Coordinator to help get what I consider a new Ares program off the ground. Two close calls in July. Are we ready??

The other one of interest is the OO program. Guess what, it’s going bye-bye. An entirely new program is launching and they call it the Volunteer Monitoring Program. It is now being negotiated with the FCC for a new Memorandum of Understanding. This new program will have frequent trainings, reporting is different, technical requirements and also will have limited terms and will need to reapply to retain that position. Again, more details will be forthcoming.

These changes can potentially make a section manager’s hair get whiter, rapidly. It is more important now that the section as a whole work together to regroup and pull together as a team to accomplish this work. Crickets cannot do this.

September is coming swiftly and so is our Convention in Boxboro. It is on Sept 7-9. As some of you know I am planning a talk with the Western Ma section as a talk/meeting. They scheduled me as the last talk before the prize drawings. In short, I’m bringing up the rear. I truly hope you can hang around and attend. I am trying my hardest not to bore you, but if you cannot I will highlight the talk in next month’s report.

That’s enough for now. Hope to see you all at Boxboro

73,
Ray, KB1LRL