Hello everyone, Gil Hayes, WK1H has stepped down as our club coordinator due to job obligations. I wish to thank him for his contribution to the section.
I am pleased to announce that Larry Krainson, W1AST has accepted the position as club coordinator effective Mar. 22 Larry is currently the President of the Hamden club. Larry is a Life Member and licensed since 1977. He also is the 13 Colonies special event manager for Mass. and is leading the Big E expo display coming in Sept. Larry’s wife, Faye is always assisting him and also has a son who is an Eagle Scout and a Ham.
Please join me in welcoming Larry to the section staff.
Please join us in welcoming Peter Mattice KD1JKV as our newest Assistant Section Manager!
Peter is involved with many things in the hobby, including serving in multiple roles within ARES, within NTS, and he also hosts his own broadcast radio show and podcast dedicated to ham radio.
Peter will be serving mostly as a representative for the section staff within the Northwestern most parts of the section.
It is my pleasure to announce the addition of Grant Fritchey KC1KCE to our Western Mass staff as the new Public Information Coordinator. Grant has leadership experience in a volunteer role especially with the Boy Scouts. Grant also has skills in social media and has also written press releases. Grant is a fairly new ham licensed since July 2018 with a General class ticket going for the Extra.
Please join me in welcoming Grant aboard and best wishes in his goals.
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.
I’m happy to report that my appointment as Western Massachusetts ARRL Official Observer Coordinator has finally been approved and accepted.
I first expressed interest in this appointment in October 2016. Former Section Manager W1KT approved and put the appointment change in with the League. However, League HQ rejected the change and sent out a message to all SMs nationally that all applications for new OO and OOC appointments are being put on hold until a new study and revamp of the entire OO program has been completed.
WMA Section Manager KB1LRL immediately put me in for the OOC appointment again, and given we have not had an OOC here in WMA for so long, League HQ has accepted and approved the appointment.
I look forward to assisting the section in this way. Please feel free to contact me if you need my help in this area!
I regret to inform you of the passing of Roland Chaffee, KC1VQ, whom I recently appointed as the State Government Liaison.
Roland recently moved back up from South Carolina and wanted to get active in the section once again. His obituary is on his QRZ.com profile. 73 Roland.
Contact Info: 100 Kenmore Drive
Longmeadow, MA 01106 w1ast@arrl.net
Back in late 1975, when I was in 7th grade, a friend asked me if I wanted to talk on the “shortwave” radio to meet new people around the world. I told him yes, but I had to check with my parents. Thankfully my parents said yes too. My friends dad took us to novice classes every Monday night at 7:00 pm. In early 1977, I earned my Novice class license and the call sign WB1DBY.
In 1979, I earned my General license and in 1981; a week before starting college; my Advanced Class License.
My first love was cw and ragchewing. I’ve dabbled in RTTY, PSK31, Packet, and some other modes. I got into FoxHunting and discovered I loved doing that. Fast forward to 2013 and I started getting the bug for chasing DX on both SSB and CW and eventually FT8. Ham radio was and still is exciting for me.
In the 80’s I was on the board of the Mt Tom Amateur Repeater Association (MTARA) and helped to build that membership to 330 people. Then came family and very little ham radio activity. Around 1998 I started getting the bug again and got back on the air and soon joined the board of the Hampden County Radio Association (HCRA) where I have held a few positions for the past 20 years. I am currently the club president. I am also a Life Member of the ARRL as well as a member of the YCCC and the FCARC (Franklin County Amateur Radio Club).
My interests in ham radio are many. Chasing DX on cw, ssb and digital, Mentoring, satellite, fox hunting, portable, mobile and Qrp and pretty much anything that interests me. I have been the state manager for K2H Massachusetts for the 13 Colonies Special Event Station every year for the past 5 years, the WBZ SES organizer, VOTA state of MA organizer, on the board to help make the HamXposition better each year. I was on the team that helped to get AB1OC elected to the ARRL New England Division Director. I’ve always felt the need to help out when I can and am not one to sit back and let other do all the work. I always help when I can.
Plus, I run my own business and have since early 1991. Working for myself in the little niche of sales, service and support of Windows based computers and services for small businesses, home based businesses and personal users. After 30+ years I still enjoy the tech, people and challenges very much.
I am married to my very radio tolerant wife Faye for 30+ years and we have one son; in his late 20’s; who currently lives and works along the Maine seacoast. Jacob holds a General Class license (KB1NSN) but is not currently active. I was a Cubmaster and Assistant Boy Scout Leader for 15 years and Jacob is a Eagle Scout. Faye and I live in Longmeadow just outside Springfield. Together we like to camp, kayak and bicycle and explore new places and both of us love reading fiction when we have the time. Ham radio always comes camping with me.
I always have believed that clubs are the lifeblood for keeping hams active in an area. They are a way of bringing hams together to make new friends, share ideas and interests and make ham radio better. That is why I accepted the position of ACC (Affiliated Club Coordinator) for WMA when I was asked.
Affiliated Club Coordinator Description
The ACC is the primary contact and resource person for each Amateur Radio club in the section, specializing in motivating, providing assistance and coordinating joint activities of radio clubs. The ACC is appointed by, and reports to, the Section Manager.
Requirement: Full ARRL membership
Responsibilities:
Get to know the Amateur Radio clubs’ members and officers person to person in his section. Learn their needs, strengths and interests and work with them to make clubs effective resources in their communities and more enjoyable for their members.
Supply interested clubs with SSC application forms.
Assist clubs in completing SSC application forms.
Help clubs establish workable programs to use as SSCs.
Approve SSC application forms and pass them to the SM.
Work with other section leadership officials (Section Emergency Coordinator, Public Information Coordinator, Technical Coordinator, State Government Liaison, etc.) to ensure that clubs are involved in the mainstream of ARRL Field Organization activities.
Encourage new clubs to become ARRL affiliated.
Ensure that annual reports (updates officers, liaison mailing addresses etc.) are forthcoming from all affiliated clubs.
Contact Info: This appointment is presently vacant. If you are interested in this appointment, please contact the Section Manager.
State Government Liaison Appointment Description:
The State Government Liaison (SGL) is an Amateur Radio operator who is cognizant of state legislative and regulatory proposals in the normal course of events and who can monitor and respond appropriately to those proposals having the potential to affect Amateur Radio. This is an active, responsive mission, not merely a passive, “stand by the sidelines and watch” function.
Requirements: Full ARRL membership
Responsibilities:
Collects and promulgates information on state legislation and regulation affecting Amateur Radio and works closely with Clubs and the Section Manager(s) in assuring that the laws work to the mutual benefit of society and the Amateur Radio Service. The importance of working closely with clubs (the critically-important local representatives of Amateur Radio), and ARRL Section Managers, cannot be overemphasized. Keep in close contact with your clubs and SMs!
Guides, encourages and supports individual radio amateurs and clubs in representing the interests of the Amateur Radio Service at all levels, including the federal level, when needed and coordinated with the ARRL Headquarters. The active SGL also cooperates closely with other section-level officials, particularly the Section Emergency Coordinator and the Public Information Coordinator.
Reports directly to the Section Manager regularly and also keeps ARRL Headquarters informed of all appropriate activities and developments involving the interface of Amateur Radio and government legislative or regulatory matters, particularly those with policy implications. Ideally, the SGL will have access to, or a relationship with, the bill room at the state capitol in order to examine legislation as it is introduced. It is also helpful for the SGL to monitor the dockets of relevant state agencies such as the department of environmental protection, which might promulgate regulations affecting Amateur Radio. In addition, the SGL will monitor the news for stories of regulatory or legislative initiatives.
When monitoring and responding to state issues, SGLs should watch for key words that could affect Amateur Radio. Antennas (dish, microwave, PCS, cellular, towers, structures, satellite, television, lighting), Mobile radio, radio receivers, radio interference, television interference, scanners, license plates, cable television, ham radio, headphones in automobiles, lightning protection, antenna radiation, biological effects of radio signals are a few of the examples of what to look for.
In those states where there is more than one section, the Section Managers whose territories do not encompass the state capital may simply defer to the Liaison appointed by their counterpart in the section where the state capital is located. In this case, the Liaison is expected to communicate equally with all Section Managers (and Section Emergency Coordinators and other section-level League officials). In sections where there is more than one government entity (i.e., Maryland-DC and Pacific) there may be a Liaison appointed for each entity.
The job of heading off potentially undesirable state government actions is critically important to the Amateur Radio community! Be active and responsive, and above all, work closely with your clubs, Section Managers, and ARRL Headquarters.
I was first licensed in 1980 while living in Concord MA, having been introduced to ham radio by my son who was licensed at age 13. His call is now K1WU. After a year of WAS and DXing etc., in 1981 I followed in his footsteps and tried traffic handling. I’ve been active in this aspect of the hobby ever since.
I served as STM in EMA for 5 years during the 1980s and in 1984 became active in the TransContinental Corps (TCC), handling traffic between the Eastern, Central and Pacific Areas of the country. I have served as a TCC director for the Eastern Area, as well as manager of Eastern Area Net Cycle 2 (afternoon cycle) and for the past 10 years have been Chair of the Eastern Area Staff which oversees the NTS above the section level. I have been active on nets at all levels on both CW and voice. I run a 24/7 multiband scanning Pactor MBO on HF serving the continental US, with local outlet on VHF packet. I lived on Martha’s Vineyard from 1991 until 2009, but have returned to my home in Concord MA.
I believe the section and local level are the grassroots of the NTS and wish to become more involved in the promotion of traffic handling skills and also further the cooperation between ARES/RACES and the NTS to work together as a team in public service.
Section Traffic Manager Appointment Description:
The STM is appointed by the Section Manager to supervise traffic handling organization at the section level–that is, to coordinate all traffic efforts within the section, regardless of mode or National Traffic System affiliation, so that routings within the section and connections with other networks and digital traffic nodes will result in orderly and efficient traffic flow.
Requirements: Familiarity with traffic handling on all modes; Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL Membership
Responsibilities:
Establish, administer, and promote a traffic handling program at the section level, based on, but not restricted to, National Traffic System networks.
Develop and implement one or more effective training programs within the section that address the needs of both traditional and digital modes of traffic handling. Insure that Net Managers place particular emphasis on the needs of amateurs new to formal network traffic handling, as well as those who receive, send, and deliver formal traffic on a “casual” basis, via RTTY, AMTOR, and Packet based message storage and bulletin board systems.
Cooperate and coordinate with the Section Emergency Coordinator so that traffic nets and emergency nets in the section present a unified public service front.
Recommend candidates for Net Managers and Official Relay Station appointments to the SM. Issue appointments/cancellations and appropriate certificates. At the SM’s discretion, the STM may directly make or cancel NM and ORS appointments.
Insure that all traffic nets within the section are properly and adequately staffed, with appropriate direction to Net Managers, as required, which results in coverage of all Net Control and liaison functions. Assign liaison coverage adequate to insure that all digital bulletin boards and message storage systems within the section are polled on a daily basis, to prevent misaddressed, lingering, or duplicated radiogram-formatted message traffic.
Maintain familiarity with proper traffic handling and directed net procedures applicable to all normally-used modes within the section.
Collect and prepare accurate monthly net reports and submit them to ARRL Headquarters, either directly or via the Section Manager, but in any case on or prior to the established deadlines.
Encouraged to earn certification in Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the ARRL Emergency Communications Course.
Contact Info:
This appointment is presently vacant. If you are interested in this appointment, please contact the Section Manager.
Public Information Coordinator Appointment Description
The ARRL Public Information Coordinator (PIC) is a section-level official appointed by and reports to the Section Manager (SM) as the section’s expert on public information and public relations matters.
Requirements: Full ARRL membership; professional public relations, journalism experience, or background in dealing with the public media preferred.
Responsibilities:
The PIC is responsible for organizing, training, guiding and coordinating the activities of the Public Information Officers (PIOs) within the section.
Goals may range from recruiting potential hams for a licensing course to improving public awareness of amateurs’ service to the community. A successful PIC effectively conveys a story and generates the desired results.
PR activities must be well-timed and well-coordinated within the amateur community, so that clubs, Elmers, instructors and so on are prepared to deal with the interest the PR generates.
Effective PICs will convey this goal-oriented perspective and attitude to their PIOs and help them coordinate public relations efforts with others in their sections.
Advises the Section Manager on building and maintaining a positive public image for Amateur Radio in the section; keeps the SM informed of all significant events which would benefit from the SM’s personal involvement and reports regularly to the SM on activities.
Counsels the SM in dealing with the media and with government officials, particularly when representing the ARRL and/or Amateur Radio in a public forum.
Maintains contact with other section level League officials, particularly the Section Manager and others such as the State Government Liaison, Section Emergency Coordinator, Affiliated Club Coordinator and Bulletin Manager on matters appropriate for their attention and to otherwise help to assure and promote a coordinated and cohesive ARRL Field Organization.
Works closely with the section Affiliated Club Coordinator and ARRL-affiliated clubs in the section to recruit and train a team of Public Information Officers (PIOs). With the approval of the Section Manager, makes PI0 appointments within the section.
Works with the SM and other PICs in the division to develop regional training programs for PIOs and club publicity chairpersons.
Coordinates public relations efforts for events and activities which may involve more than one section, and provides input on matters before the League’s Public Relations Committee for discussion or action.
Establishes and coordinates a section-wide Speakers Bureau to provide knowledgeable and effective speakers who are available to address community groups about Amateur Radio, and works with PIOs to promote interest among those groups.
Helps local PIOs to recognize and publicize newsworthy stories in their areas. Monitors news releases sent out by the PIOs for stories of broader interest and offers constructive comments for possible improvement. Helps local PIOs in learning to deal with, and attempting to minimize, any negative publicity about Amateur Radio or to correct negative stories incorrectly ascribed to Amateur Radio operators.
Working with the PIOs, develops and maintains a comprehensive list of media outlets and contacts in the section for use in section-wide or nationwide mailings.
Helps local PIOs prepare emergency response PR kits containing general information on Amateur Radio and on local clubs, which may be distributed in advance to local Emergency Coordinators and District Emergency Coordinators for use in dealing with the media during emergencies.
Works with PIOs, SM and ARRL staff to identify and publicize League-related stories of local or regional interest, including election or appointment of ARRL leadership officials, scholarship winners/award winners, QST articles by local authors or local achievements noted or featured in QST.
Familiarizes self with ARRL Public Service Announcements (PSAs), brochures and audiovisual materials; assists PIOs in arranging air time for PSAs; helps PIOs and speakers choose and secure appropriate brochures and audiovisual materials for events or presentations.
At the request of the Section Manager or Division Director, may assist with preparation of a section or division newsletter.
Encourages, organizes and conducts public information/public relations sessions at ARRL hamfests and conventions.
Works with PIOs to encourage activities that place Amateur Radio in the public eye, including demonstrations, Field Day activities, etc. and assures that sponsoring organizations are prepared to follow-up on interest generated by these activities.
With the Section Manager’s approval, may appoint club publicity chairpersons or other individuals recommended by affiliated clubs as PIOs. Where the responsibility cannot or will not be assumed by a club, the PIC is encouraged to seek qualified League members who are willing to accept the responsibility of PIO appointments.
