Monthly Archives: February 2025

MTARA Hamfest on March 1

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The Mount Tom Amateur Repeater Association is holding its annual Amateur Radio and Electronics Hamfest on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Drive in Chicopee. All amateurs and those interested are invited!

Admission is $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Doors open at 6:30 AM for vendors only and 8:30 AM for general admission.

The hamfest will feature:

  • A snack bar serving coffee, soda, donuts, breakfast sandwiches and the like.
  • An amateur radio license exam session will be run at 10:30 AM provided by PVVET
  • Several raffles (tickets 6 for $5)

Those wishing to reserve a table for selling, please contact Brian Mullarney N1FI.

Talk-in for the hamfest will be on the W1TOM repeater (146.940 MHz, PL 127.3).

WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie AA1SE will be at the hamfest.

YLRL Scholarships Available for Students

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The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) has announced its Memorial Scholarship program for 2025. The scholarship program is aimed at female amateur radio operators studying radio, communications, electronics or amateur radio related arts and sciences. 

There are three Memorial Scholarship award categories:

•The Ethel Smith, K4LMB, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Mary Lou Brown, NM7N, Memorial Scholarship — $2,500 award

•The Martha “Marte” Wessel, KØEPE, Memorial Scholarship — $1,500 award

“YLRL is committed to investing in women in amateur radio, and we believe that every act of volunteerism through amateur radio, even a small one, helps turn the world into a better place,” said Vicki Zumwalt, N6KLS, President of YLRL. “We hope that our scholarships will not only encourage students to learn more about science, technology, and engineering but also inspire them to take pride in being an amateur radio operator and to encourage others to do so as well.”

The YLRL believes that education in the fields or radio, communications, electronics, and amateur-related arts and sciences will play an important role in shaping the world’s future. Through these memorial scholarships, YLRL hopes to encourage female students to learn more about amateur radio.

To qualify, students must be female, have an amateur radio license, meet the requirements listed on the YLRL website and apply using the online application. Applications are due by April 30, 2025. Winners will be announced in July 2025.

The Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL) is an international non-profit organization of female amateur radio enthusiasts. It was founded in 1939 and is the longest-running YL club in the world.

New Ham Report Feb. 2025

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Here are the new ham report as of Feb 1. Club officials, review the list and reach out to those in your footprint and invite, welcome them. Offer assistance as well!

Report for 2025-02-01

Ian A McIntosh, KC1WCZ – FCC
96 Lyman Barnes Rd
Brimfield, MA 01010-9621

David Gage, KC1WCQ – FCC
228 Barry St
Feeding Hills, MA 01030-2765

Andrew W Serra, KC1VZO – FCC
197 Batchelor St
Granby, MA 01033-9736

Stephanie J Billings, KC1VZE – FCC
8 Shepherds Hollow Rd
Leeds, MA 01053-9707

Francis M Dicarli, KC1WAW – FCC
106 Sandalwood Dr
Wilbraham, MA 01095-1794

David A Dupuis, KC1WDF – FCC
119 Maple Rd
Longmeadow, MA 01106-3101

Richard J Radzick, KC1WBF – FCC
32 Skyline Trl
Hinsdale, MA 01235-9390

Noah J Duarte, KC1VZP – FCC
64 Hawk Hill Rd
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370-9504

Nicholas R Girolamo, KC1VZS – FCC
25 School St
Sunderland, MA 01375-9503

Raymond S Kagels, KC1WCN – FCC
123 Manchaug St
Douglas, MA 01516-2101

Richard K Cote, KC1VZX – FCC
116 Westwood Dr Apt 4
Sturbridge, MA 01566-1352

Jack Sullivan, KC1WBZ – FCC
PO Box 53
Dudley, MA 01571-0053

Section Manager’s Report Feb. 2025

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Hello! I’m sure by now a lot of you are getting a case of cabin fever. February is kind of a transition month where there may be some decent days in which to get out and do something. Hopefully one thing on the list is a visit to the Algonquin club’s Hamfest coming up on Feb 15. I always look forward to that to see friends, sell some treasures, and one thing I do is use it as an opportunity to do some mentoring. I hope other sellers do the same thing. Especially when someone just passed their test and is exited to get started.

   I got the opportunity to go visit some clubs last month. It is nice to see new faces in attendance. One thing I do observe is some clubs are thin with attendance and are adding Zoom to the meetings to get others in attendance and to have guest speakers from distances present to the club. I am seeing that clubs that is showing some growth are the ones actively interacting with new hams helping to get started an on the air. Now that it’s come back, we do publish the new ham report on our Western Ma. website. Clubs should have someone looking at who is in their footprint and reach out to them. VE teams are encouraged to get an email address on a separate sign-up sheet so you can email the club presidents that this person passed. I have been doing it…IT WORKS!

   I know we are a little early but clubs are starting to look ahead to Field Day. A couple of clubs are going to new sites in June. Let me remind those that if you are having a group field day, please let me know where. I like to visit and meet and greet people and observe your operation.

   You may not have noticed but on the WMA website you see my name with the articles published. I have been working with Gil, WK1H, our webmaster and am learning how this WordPress thing works. Gil has been keeping an eye on me so I don’t blow anything up. This is to assist Gil with content when he cannot due to family or business. See, Even I can be mentored in things. Many thanks Gil!

   Anyone that is a VE, in the January QST (p.78) and elsewhere, the announcement came out that They have started transitioning to an electronic platform using ExamTools.com. You will be able to use that to conduct your sessions and will automatically upload the results. No more mailing! They will be phasing out sending exams and forms also. This all will take place during this year. VE liaisons should be discussing this to your team to learn the new procedures and look at how you will be administering the test’s. The good thing is you can still do paper along with electronic at least for now.

   That’s enough mischief for now. Hope to see you at Marlboro or Mt Tom hamfest’s or at a local club near you!

73

Ray AA1SE