HamX Tickets Now Available!
Author Archives: Ray Lajoie
General Class License Upgrade Class
Sign up on our website: http://nobarc.org
Section Manager’s Report Mar. 2025
Well, another month gone. Not like I’ll miss it. It was challenging with the snow and cold we had. Hopefully the worst is over and the good stuff will return,
A shout out goes to the NOBARC club in Pittsfield. They have ramped up Tech classes, and VE sessions to boost their club. Eric KA1SUN, Cory N1XWS, and Chuck WS1L and others have been working on boosting the hobby in them thar hills 😊and their efforts are evident! Other clubs can benefit from this as the evidence is showing favorably that outreach and mentoring is working and benefits YOUR club! It does take some effort by all members to make it happen!
As usual, I was at the Algonquin Hamfest in Marlboro and it was a good one despite the attendance was a bit off. I think the weather scared off some people as a storm was approaching. I know I was quite busy the whole time and I Did spend time doing some mentoring to some newbies. An added bonus to having tables with goodies there. Try it out sometime! The next one is on March 1 in Chicopee for the Mt. Tom club. Hopefully we will have a dandy crowd there. See flyer elsewhere.
With any luck the function of sending an email via the league to the section members is fixed. YAY! Only been 9 months. Gee a rebirth! I will try it when this gets published.
Phil, K9HI, Jon K1ILZ the Eastern Ma Section MGR., myself along with other’s have continued to work on the revitalization of NTS. We are currently regrouping and rearranging things to move things forward more. Anyone can go to nts2.arrl.org and see information user accessible video’s, trainings, and more highlighting our efforts. If you want to get involved we would love to hear from you. Just email myself or k9hi@arrl.org to find out more.
The New England Convention is making some noise as August will be fast approaching. They are looking for speakers and passing out flyers. They were actually at the Marlboro Flea market promoting the event.
At this point all I can say to end this is COME ON SPRING!!!!!
73
Ray AA1SE
New Ham Report Feb. 2025
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
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
New Ham Report. Jan 2025
Here is the listing of our newest ham’s! Clubs should be finding the ones near you and inviting them to meeting’s and offering mentoring to get them active. Promote and grow your club!
Kristopher Boutin, KC1VXU
23 Ruffino Rd
East Longmeadow, MA 01028-3220
Alexander S Moore, KC1VVK
PO Box 29
N Hatfield, MA 01066-0029
Anthony E Gentile, W1AEG
PO Box 29
N Hatfield, MA 01066-0029
Jerry M Sambrook, KC1VWB
104 S Loomis St
Southwick, MA 01077-9441
Robert Jurkowski, KC1VVJ
111 Granville Rd
Southwick, MA 01077-9775
Mark Robertson, KC1VVF
144 City View Rd
Westfield, MA 01085-4120
Mark T Leary, KC1VVL
PO Box 2431
Westfield, MA 01086-2431
Teresa R Flynn, KC1VXR
31 Halfrey Rd
Hubbardston, MA 01452-1169
Tal N Cohen, KC1VVP
118 Arlington St
Leominster, MA 01453-2728
David Wilson, KC1VYF
21 Emerson Ln
Leominster, MA 01453-5037
Zachary X Harrison, KC1VUY
11 The Clearing St
Lunenburg, MA 01462-2510
Daniel T Spulecki, KC1VUO
5 Chestnut St
Blackstone, MA 01504-1102
James Mullally, N1JWM
267 Brattle St
Holden, MA 01520-2030
Jennifer N Lockfort, N1JNL
267 Brattle St
Holden, MA 01520-2030
Adam Porcaro, KC1VVX
PO Box 2
Jefferson, MA 01522-0002
Stephen A McDonald, KC1VUZ
6 Eliot Rd
Northborough, MA 01532-2738
Brian Abend, KC1VYI
6 Mohawk Dr
Westborough, MA 01581-1821
Preston A Hill, KC1VYG
32 Peach Tree Dr
Sutton, MA 01590-4804
Arjun B Ramakrishnan, K3GGS
105 Longfellow Rd Apt 1
Worcester, MA 01602-2769
Upgrade your Ham Radio License!
The Western Mass Train and Test Group will be having a General Class amateur radio license course beginning on February 18. Class meets Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 7-9 PM on Zoom.
This is a free course, but you need to purchase the ARRL General Manual for your study guide.
**Email Ray Lajoie at ray.aa1se@gmail.com with questions**
**To register go to: https://forms.gle/DuvE1duskwLcJK8M6
Upgrade your license to expand your privileges to talk to the world and make friends! Learn new technologies. Great for STEM learning.
Join us! Get your General Class License now!
New Section Government Liaison Appointed
Please join me in welcoming our new Section Government Liaison, Steve Berian KC1KEZ. Steve has stepped forward in taking on this important role which has been vacant for a number of years. He will be monitoring activity at the State House and any other governmental issue that could affect amateur radio in Massachusetts. With the recent passing of the EMA SGL he will also be communicating to that section as well since EMA has done for us for so long. Steve is a member of the Hampton County Radio Association and the Mount Tom Amateur Repeater Association https://mtara.org/.
We wish all the best for Steve and our appreciation for volunteering for this position.
73 de Ray AA1SE