Open ARRL Field Appointments

This page contains a listing of ARRL Field Appointments that the Western Massachusetts section is actively searching to fill. All of these appointments require full, active ARRL membership. If you are an ARRL member in the Western Massachusetts section that meets the stated requirement of the appointment and are interested in it, please contact the Section Manager.

Section Staff Appointments

State Government Liaison (SGL)

The section’s State Government Liaison is the primary contact for all governmental affairs having the potential to affect amateur radio. The SGL helps inform legislative and regulatory entities of the importance in amateur radio considerations in each bill, and potentially helps muster a section wide amateur radio publicity campaign to bills as needed. The last SGL was KC1VQ, whom passed away April 2018. This appointment has been vacant since. Requires full ARRL membership.

Regional Appointments

District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) for:
Berkshire County North
Berkshire County Central
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Worcester County North

This District Emergency Coordinator is the main coordinator of ARES within the assigned district. Requires a Technician class license or higher, full ARRL membership, and the commitment to take ARRL Intro to EmComm (EC-001) within 1 year.

Local Appointments

Emergency Coordinators (ECs) for:
Franklin County East
Worcester County Southwest

Emergency Coordinaotors are appointed to local areas throughout the section and responsible for leading up the ARES program implementation in the local area they are assigned to (generally a large city or multiple smaller communities). They work with the DECs and the SEC to plan ARES activities, tests and procedures in the area, as well as to promote of ARES membership.  They foster relationships with the local emergency response community to help coordinate ARES responses when activations are required.  Requires a Technician class license or higher, full ARRL membership, and the commitment to take ARRL Intro to EmComm (EC-001) within 1 year.

Local Government Liaisons (LGLs)

Local Government Liaisons are appointed throughout the section and responsible for monitoring proposals and actions by local government bodies which may affect Amateur Radio. They work with the local PIO to alert area amateurs to problems and opportunities involving local government agencies, and coordinate local responses. We have a need for LGLs in most local areas throughout the section. Requires full ARRL membership.

Public Information Officers (PIOs)

Public Information Officers provide local “grassroots” public relations. They give regular and frequent information about amateur services to the public via the local media, school programs, presentations to civic groups, exhibits and demonstrations. They also promote the distribution and airing of ARRL public service announcements and other audiovisual material, and public awareness of club recruiting and training activities. We have a need for PIOs in most local areas throughout the section. Requires full ARRL membership. A professional public relations, journalism experience, or background in dealing with the public media is preferred but not required.

Technical Specialists (TSs)

Technical Specialists serve as a technical adviser to local hams and clubs, helping them with technical questions, problems and radio frequency interference cases. They also represent the ARRL at technical symposiums in industry; serve on CATV advisory committees; advise municipal governments on technical matters, and work with other ARRL officials and appointees when called upon for technical advice. Technical Specialists also speak at local ham clubs and conventions on technical matters. We have a need for TSs in most local areas throughout the section. Novice class license or higher is required, as is full ARRL membership.

Section Manager Report Aug/Sept 2018

Hello everyone, I kind of held off with the monthly report until after Boxboro to include the activities, so this is a two-month edition.

Boxboro had a number of great things going on. I think there was quite a variety of talks to suit everyone’s interest and there was the usual flea market outside which I think was bigger than last year. The weather was cooler and partly cloudy which helped a lot. There has been a downturn of commercial vendors in attendance and I feel there is a bit of concern. Some of the long time “anchors” are not there for one reason or another and the others are feeling the impact. The Nashua club set up a wall in that room which included many educational demonstrations on ham radio which also included kit building. There were a lot of kids there soldering away there. This was a very impressive achievement from them.

So, as I expected with the time and the fact a lot of the westerners had left for Saratoga on Saturday, there was a very light showing for my Section Meeting. I truly appreciate those that came to the meeting. Naturally I was a bit disappointed, but on the upside, I have a presentation in my pocket.

The big thing amongst the ARRL cathedral is the new ARES connect system now going online. Mike Cory from the league was there and did a presentation on it. Sadly, I had to work and could not attend it. I am now looking at this and getting it going for us. All county EC’s should also be looking at this and doing what is necessary to get your county online. This is going to be very important to all as reporting will be taking on a more required role, as will the trainings. Please go to the leagues webpage and view the new changes. This is now open for comments and any comments should come to me as I will send them to the league. The deadline for this is Oct 31.

September is the start of the meeting season for many clubs. I will be out and about visiting clubs during the time and I can be available to do a talk if you want. Just send me an email and we can work out a date for it.

This year our division director Tom Frenaye K1KI is up for reelection and he has an opponent in Fred Hopengarten, K1VR. Fred has a background in law and both actually agree on many things together. Keep your eyes open for ballots when they come out.

Going back to my meeting, the one thing I did stress is to go to this website for news and information, and to make sure in the league’s website it to check off to receive section emails. I continue to ask that those that do visit it to tell others in the clubs and elsewhere. I have a feeling a lot of members do not know what’s going on in the section.

I hope everyone enjoyed Boxboro and good luck in your upcoming seasons.

73,
Ray KB1LRL