Monthly Archives: September 2020

Section Manager Report October 2020

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Hello fellow practitioners of the ether! I’m starting to hear rumors that Santa is only giving sanitizing supplies this year! Makes you wonder don’t it?

If you haven’t found out yet we now have a NE Division Vice Director and that is Phil Temples, K9HI. You may have seen him around or talked to him at the former Boxboro convention. Usually when I see him, he is either running around like a nut, resolving an issue, or talking to lots of people. Currently he is trying to put some kind of virtual replacement to our Hamvention in place. I don’t know about you, but I miss those events. I really hope they come back next year.

One thing that Phil has done is launch the NE Div. website! You can see it at https://nediv.arrl.org/. This is for ALL of New England. Take a moment to have a look. A great start to the new appointment. Welcome Phil!

The Eastern section and myself have had some inquiries about Ham Callsign vanity plates from the MA. RMV Apparently new requests have been stalled due to an upgrade in the system back in 2019-ish. I do not know if it applies to other forms of vanity plates. I am curious how many out there have had this issue going on. Please let me know. The section leaders, and the ARRL really have no influence in getting this resolved and Covid likely have pushed this on a low priority as it is supported by third party software. (Unconfirmed sources, FYI) If you are having difficulty with this, best thing is to contact the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

As you may be aware October and November will be fairly busy as ARES and MARS will be conducting Section Emergency Test (SET). MARS will be including Amateur Operators for their test. Stay tuned to this site and others for information. Anyone is welcome to participate. You can email Bob, K1YO about our SET and if you wish to join in.

I hope everyone is doing good out there and being safe. Radio is certainly a cure for loneliness and boredom if you are stuck at home. I know some of you still had vacations and hope you had a great time. Playing radio outside of your norm allows checking out new antennas, new modes etc. Hope it was worked into your plans.

I hope everyone has a great month!

73,
Ray KB1LRL

 

NEAR-Fest and the Road Ahead

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Dear Friends of NEAR-Fest:
 
Now that NEAR-Fest XXVII and XXVIII have been cancelled there are some important issues with which we must deal…..
 
First, this is going to be a major hit on our treasury because, notwithstanding the reason we are being canceled, we have contracts that need to be honored. 2019 was, as you may remember, was plagued with wet weather for both May and October. Attendance was down and so are our cash reserves. Consequently, the hard facts are that we need to raise some new capital starting this Fall if NEAR-Fest is to survive. 
 
In order to do this beginning soon we will be selling advance admission tickets for NEAR-Fest XXIX ($10.00) and inside parking passes ($10.00) either at Ham Radio Outlet in Salem NH and Ross Hochstrasser’s Clock Shop, 40 Walnut Street, Whitman MA as well as by mail to Michael Crestohl, W1RC, 316 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead MA 01945 with a check or money order and a SASE. 
 
The exciting thing about the advance tickets are that all purchasers of advance tickets will be entered in a special prize drawing for either a Xiegu G90 HF SDR Transceiver (value $425.00) or a Yaesu FT-891 HF Mobile Transceiver (value $559.00). Winner does NOT have to be present to win. 
 
We are going to offer a special “VIP Pass” to NEAR-Fest for those who really want to see us through this difficult and trying time. It will be good for the person to whom it was issued for life, allow that person and the occupants of their vehicle (up to four people) and the vehicle to enter at 8:00 AM on Friday morning. Cost of this VIP Pass is $250.00 and is available by mail only.
 
Additionally, the cost of admission at the Fairgrounds will be increased to $15.00. This added $5.00 is to help alleviate the cost of not having NEAR-Fest XXVII but advance ticket buyers will be able to save this $5.00 per ticket surcharge.  I cannot tell you at this time if this $5.00 surcharge will be permanent. Once we are financially comfortable again we will decide whether or not to restore the cost to $10.00. 
 
In the event that the May 2021 event cannot be held any tickets or passes purchased will be valid and honored at the next NEAR-Fest so no one will lose.
 
We are asking our association and clubs if they can help us sell advance tickets to their members. The procedure will be simple and straightforward. Clubs would determine how many tickets and parking passes their members want, collect the money, send the list with this information along with a check payable to NEAR-Fest to us. We would take care of making sure that the prize draw stubs are properly filled in and put in the prize barrel for the drawing in July. After that takes place we would ensure they are kept safe so they can be put in the prize barrel at NEAR-Fest in May.  The tickets would be sent to the club for distribution to the members. Members should be informed that they are buying admission tickets for our fall event. They are not buying a raffle ticket. However there is no limit on the number of tickets anyone may purchase. Drawing will take place at NEAR-Fest XXIX in May 2021. 
 
Secondly, clubs who have already applied for the 2020 Association and Club Early Entry passes will not have to reapply again in January 2021. 
 
With your help we will survive this horrific nightmare.
 
73,
Mister Mike

Phil Temples, K9HI, Appointed as New England Division Vice Director

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ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has appointed Phil Temples, K9HI, of Watertown, Massachusetts, as New England Division Vice Director. He succeeds Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, who was elected earlier this year as ARRL First Vice President. President Roderick made the appointment after consulting with New England Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and the region’s Section Managers. 

“I want to thank all of those who forwarded their recommendations to Director Hopengarten,” Temples said. “Mike Raisbeck left some big shoes to fill. I look forward to working with Fred, and to advise and assist him with various tasks and board committee assignments. One task I’m especially eager to tackle is launching a New England Division website.”

An ARRL Life Member, Temples has been licensed for 50 years, initially as WN9EAY in Indiana. He has written articles for QST and contributed articles for the ARRL website. He also recently co-authored a chapter in the Amateur Radio Public Service Handbook.

Temples served three terms as Eastern Massachusetts Section Manager and now is an Assistant SM and an Assistant New England Division Director. He’s also held ARRL field appointments as Affiliated Club Coordinator and Public Information Officer and currently serves as program chair for the ARRL New England Division Convention.

Temples has been active in MARS, the National Traffic System, and as an Emergency Coordinator, and he enjoys CW. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Temples has actively promoted instruction and licensing and is a Volunteer Examiner under the ARRL, W5YI, and Greater Los Angeles ARG Volunteer Examiner Coordinators. He’s currently involved with New England Amateur Radio, Inc. in administering remote exam sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Temples is employed at Boston College as a computer systems administrator.

New Amateur Licensees June, July and August 2020

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Congratulations to the latest new hams of Western Massachusetts:

Dale A Winkler, KC1NCL
35 Tanglewood Dr
Milford, MA 01757-1060

Gail Parsloe, KC1NFF
382 Northampton Rd
Apt A
Amherst, MA 01002-2558

Jacob P Morin, KC1NHF
68 Monson Rd
Wales, MA 01081-9714

Alexander N Habermann, KC1NHG
1 Berkshire Sq
Apt 410
Adams, MA 01220-1304

James Javorsky, KC1NJJ
480 Teel Rd
Winchendon, MA 01475-2143

Joseph Quinn, KC1NHV
7 Bradish Farm Rd
Upton, MA 01568-1021

Shridhar Ambady, KC1NIX
16 Seward St
Worcester, MA 01604-2838

Robert Laird, KC1NHX
68 Vaughn Hill Rd
Bolton, MA 01740-1011

Paul Probst, KC1NDV
31 Woodland Rd
Southborough, MA 01772-1813

Reed G Probst, KC1NDW
31 Woodland Rd
Southborough, MA 01772-1813

Frederick J Probst, KC1NDZ
31 Woodland Rd
Southborough, MA 01772-1813

Manuel J Pino, KC1NMN
128 Channell Dr
Agawam, MA 01001-3508

Keen Sung, KC1NOI
608 S Pleasant St
Amherst, MA 01002-2544

Timothy Riley, KC1NOD
PO Box 1422
Easthampton, MA 01027-5422

Thomas A Boido, KC1NMC
3 Cheryl Ln
Southampton, MA 01073-9593

Keith A Korbut, KC1NJU
16 Saffron Cir
Springfield, MA 01129-1513

Chris N Whittier, KC1NNB
PO Box 453
Ashburnham, MA 01430-0453

Jeffrey A Roy, KC1NMZ
56 Hastings Rd
Ashburnham, MA 01430-1112

John W Hedly, KC1NMI
4 Whitman Bailey Dr
Auburn, MA 01501-3368

Korina Paliyannis, KC1NLJ
PO Box 418
Charlton, MA 01507-0418

Andrew T Detsikas, KC1NLT
30 Ross St
Clinton, MA 01510-1309

Tim Barnes, KC1NRP
235 E Pleasant St
Amherst, MA 01002-1557

George F Russell, KC1NSR
112 Worcester Providence Tpke
Millbury, MA 01527-2500

Richard M Chandler, KC1NQK
31 Valentine Rd
Northborough, MA 01532-1338

Stav Zeliger, KC1NRU
19 Eli Whitney St
Westborough, MA 01581-3536