Congratulations to the latest new hams of Western Massachusetts:
Vincent J Melling, KC1MOH
88 Rick Dr
Florence, MA 01062-1046
David R Archambault, KC1MKY
44 Cottage Ave
Southampton, MA 01073-9538
Michael J Gregoire, KC1MOI
10 Brentwood Dr
Wilbraham, MA 01095-2504
Pranee Ngaokaeo, KC1MMA
3 Themeli Ct
North Oxford, MA 01537-1026
Hello Western Ma. As I write this, reports are that Puxatawney Phil did not see his shadow. Early spring? Let’s see!
January 12 I met with other division officials with Fred K1VR in Springfield and Paul W1SEX, Bob K1YO, Aaron KC1CXX and myself introduced our mentoring program which included the distribution of our guide to give to people just getting their license which can be customized to their local area to provide club, and contact information. This was met with very good reviews and was well received. I also traveled to Newington on the 23rd with it and it received the same rave reviews. Unfortunately, there were some copyright protection issues with the original copy that we published here on the website, so until we edit some things to resolve that we had to remove it. I am now looking into a different structure to this and my intention is to bring back an elmering/mentoring program to get our new hams started and on the air. Hang in there.
Now that February has come upon us, our thoughts turn to Hamfest’s starting with Marlboro which is Feb 15. I will be there with my goodies. It is a shame that Framingham has stopped their hamfest. It was a good one and can only hope it comes back. Mount Tom ARA Hamfest is around the corner and I plan on being there as well. As some of you know, I am in the midst of a career change and the new job I get may pull me in a different direction. Speaking of hamfests, most, if not all are aware of the change to what we used to call Boxboro which has now moved to Marlboro at the Best Western for July 24-26. The word that I have been hearing is this is a very positive change as it can accommodate a lot more there to the point that a national convention can occur there. My wish to this is it will bring back vendors that have drifted away from us over recent years.
January also is the time the League board gets together for their regular board meeting and at this time the board minutes have not been approved and released as yet. Two things of note is the departure of Howard WB2ITX. The board did not elect him and Barry Shelly N1VXY is back in as interim. There is no detail about why this all came about hopefully whatever the reasons are, it’s in the best interest for the league and the members. The good thing that came out of it is our Vice Director Mike Raisbeck K1TWF was elected First Vice President for the league. Bad for us is now there is a vacancy for the Vice Director which will be BIG shoes to fill and good for the league that they now have a respected voice with a bunch of years to his credit.
That’s enough razzle-dazzle for now. I hope everyone has a great February and hope to see you in my travels.
73,
Ray KB1LRL
The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club will be holding its annual hamfest at 1Lt Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School at 25 Union St. in Marlborough, MA. The hamfest is very popular among hams in both the Eastern MA and the eastern portions of the Western MA ARRL sections.
The hamfest will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. General admission is $5 and includes a chance at the $200 Cash Door Prize.
An amateur radio exam session will be run at the hamfest at 9:00 AM for those how wish to get licensed or upgrade.
Vendors may reserve 6 foot tables at the hamfest at $15 each if purchased by February 7, 2018 ($20.00 each accepted at the door if space is available). Vendors may arrive at 6:30 AM for setup. For more information or to reserve a table, contact Tim Ikeda KA1OS at 1-508-919-6136 before 9:00 PM or email fleamarket@n1em.org. A mail in order form is also available on the bottom of the hamfest’s official flyer.
Talk in will be on the MMRA Marlboro repeater system: 147.27+ (pl 146.2).
WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie KB1LRL is planning on attending the hamfest.
Hope to see you there!
The Hampden County Radio Association is holding a weekend Tech Class license session over March 21 & 22. Classes run 8 am thru 6 pm Saturday. 8 am thru 2 or 3 pm Sunday with testing immediately after.
Cost is $35 and includes the book and lunch on Sunday. Bottled water will be available on both days.
Location is the room where the HCRA holds it’s monthly meetings, the Auxiliary room at Holyoke Hospital. (http://www.hcra.org/meeting-l
You must register and prepay for the class so you can get your book before
the class begins.
A sign up form is at http://www.hcra.org/licensing-
Please spread the word!
Editor note: This article was first posted on the EMA ARRL website.
The ARRL Board of Directors has elected Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts as First Vice President during its recent meeting January 17-18, 2020 in Connecticut. Mike has served as the ARRL New England Division Vice Director since July 1998.
According to the League’s web site, “[Mike] was first licensed in 1961 as KN1TWF, becoming K1TWF in 1962, and has held that call ever since. His home club is the Billerica Amateur Radio Club [sic], where he has held various posts. On the air activities include DXing, contesting, and recently, caring for a DMR repeater in the attic. He is a Volunteer Examiner and a Volunteer Counsel.
“Of particular interest to Mike are the social and organizational aspects of the Amateur Radio. For over 20 years he has been serving on the Board for the ARRL New England Division Convention, and he is currently president of that organization, which runs an annual convention and funds a number of scholarships to young hams every year. ”
When the President is unable to attend a Board meeting, the First Vice President presides over the meeting.
Raisbeck’s election to his new post leaves the office of New England Vice Director–a position in which he previously served–vacant for the present.
You can read more about K1TWF on the League’s web page at: http://www.arrl.org/first-vice-president.
Our new Public Information Coordinator Grant Fritchey KC1KCE has been busy already by setting up new, official social media accounts for our section. Please consider visiting and following them:
The Franklin County Amateur Radio Club is looking for amateur radio volunteers for the Greenfield Winter Carnival Sleigh Bell Race.
The race will be held Saturday, February 1, 2020. This is a very short race, only 4 miles. We will meet around 9am – 9:15ish at Hope & Olive – coffee and donuts are available – and then be at positions by about 9:45am. The FCARC Leyden repeater will likely be used. The race starts promptly at 10am and we should be done by 11am (the fastest runners are done in about 20 minutes).
To sign up or if you have any questions, contact Erika KC1IJJ.
On Sunday, January 12, 2020, ARRL New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten K1VR held a division cabinet meeting for all ARRL affiliated club presidents and other section officials. During the meeting WMA Section Manager Ray Lajoie KB1LRL, Technical Coordinator Greg Algieri WA1JAR, Technical Specialist Paul Topolski W1SEX and Technical Specialist Bob Meneguzzo K1YO presented a new ham mentoring program.
The intent is to provide access to information, tools and resources to new hams, clubs and VE’s. Ray, Greg, Paul, Bob and others in the section have put together a mentoring guide which is intended to be downloaded by whoever needs it and can edit it specific to their club or group. This should be given to a person that has passed their test to provide basic information, club and contact information so they do not seem lost when they leave the room. Hopefully it will introduce them to an Elmer (Mentor) to aid in getting started.
The guide has been added to the Technical Guidance page here on our website. Please feel free to download it and distribute it to whomever it may help!
Editors note: Generally we do not repost news items off of the ARRL HQ home page unless the news pertains directly to the Western MA section. In this case, we’ve had school based ARISS contacts made in the section in the past and this is another opportunity to repeat an excellent experience. Please consider it!
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is once again seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations — individually or working together — interested in hosting an amateur radio contact with an International Space Station (ISS) crew member. A window to accept proposals will open on February 1 for contacts that would be scheduled between January and June 2021. The majority of ARISS contacts involve schools and educational institutions. ARISS is looking for organizations able to attract a large number of participants that can integrate the contact opportunity into a well-developed education plan.
“ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS,” ARISS said in announcing the proposal period. “Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science.”
Proposal information and documents are available on the ARISS website. Two identical ARISS introductory webinars have been set for January 23 at 9 PM EST (0200 UTC on January 24) and for January 27 at 1800 EST (2300 UTC). Registration is required.
Contacts with ISS crew members run approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. ARISS contacts are voice-only amateur radio communication opportunities. Schools and organizations typically work with a local amateur radio club to assist in handling the technical aspects of carrying out a successful contact with the ISS.
ARISS stresses that because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, schools and organizations must be flexible in accommodating changes in radio contact dates and times.
“Amateur radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity,” ARISS said. “The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using amateur radio.”
Proposal information and more details are available on the ARISS website. Contact ARISS with any questions.