Section Manager Report for June 2019

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Hello there! Once again that annual tradition of Field Day is upon us and I’m sure you are “making the list, checking it twice, to see if RF is naughty or nice!” (ok..lame attempt) But, we are busy getting the preparations together to have a successful event. And I wish you all good luck. Once thing I will remind you all is SAFETY! It’s always good to have 1 or 2 designated for that to check the setup, generator and fuel, even check the weather for those surprise storms. And of course, fire extinguishers and first aid kits and also a good tick repellent.

I made a visit to the MTARA’s meeting and was a nice time there. They had a presenter who has a PC repair business and appears on the local TV a bit, but, the club and the presenter are sharing information about building a “Ham Friendly” PC. That’s a neat idea as there are some pc out there that are not friendly to our setups.

I also made a visit to Mohawk ARC where my SEC, Bob K1YO did a presentation on his ARES planning and getting the service functioning again.

Speaking of Bob, he now has a final draft of our ARES EMCOMM plan and he has put forth a solid effort. He also has utilized a number of people in various roles to ensure the plan is accurate and in within the expectations of our served agencies and can adapt to the changing needs as well. Next time you see him give him a hearty Thank You!

The Franklin County ARC had some members attend the Metacomet Spring Camporee and Scout Show and set up a demonstration of ham radio to the group there. Exposure such as this and others are important to introduce ham radio to our youth and to generate interest in the hobby to keep it going. Great effort and thank you.

I do want to mention I truly appreciate all who send emails to me to keep me informed of activities surrounding areas and clubs to keep me informed of what’s going on. I may not answer all of them and most of them I do keep for some time afterward. I continue to ask that you keep at it and encourage others to do the same.

Again, I hope you all to have a safe and successful field day. I am planning to tour the sites and I am also encouraging my Assistant Section Managers and Emergency Coordinators to do the same. We need to let the section know we are out there.

Very 73!
Ray KB1LRL

Massachusetts Hand-free Mobile Device Legislation Update

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This is a re-post from the EMA ARRL website:

Hands-free mobile device legislation moved one step closer to becoming law, passing in the Massachusetts House on May 16. But by all accounts amateur radio operation while driving will remain unaffected.

Eastern Massachusetts section staff who have been in touch with legislative aides in both the House and Senate have learned the language that defines mobile devices will continue to exempt “federally-licensed 2-way radios.”

“MGL Chapter 90 Section 13 provides for the use of a federally licensed 2-way radio while driving. The hands-free bill being considered (House Bill 3793) does not alter this provision,” according to a staffer in Rep. Ferrante’s office. Another staffer from Rep. Hecht’s office also confirmed the preservation of the existing language in Chapter 90 Section 13 pertaining to federally licensed 2-way radios.

The full text of the H.3793 can be found at
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3793>.

The text of General Law Part I, Section XIV, Chapter 90, Section 13 can be found at <https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section13>.

The Massachusetts Senate is expected to take up the measure in June.

New Amateur Licensees – April 2019

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Western MA ARRL

Congratulations to the latest new hams of Western Massachusetts:

Karl F Zinnack, KC1LGF
63 Thomas Rd
Huntington, MA 01050-9750

Joseph M Byrnes, KC1LHN
175 Loomis Rdg
Westfield, MA 01085-3963

Johan E Reuchlin, KC1LIX
PO Box 550
Great Barrington, MA 01230-0550

Suzanne E Colpitts, KC1LIW
PO Box 91
Housatonic, MA 01236-0091

Daniel Barker, KC1LJX
38 Rich St
Gardner, MA 01440-2714

Shon Rainford, KC1LJY
196 Campbell St
Rutland, MA 01543-1604

John L Moore, KC1LGD
22 Stallbrook Rd
Milford, MA 01757-3582

New England Season Opener Du/Triathlon

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The Worcester Emergency Communications Team is looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Du/Triathlon on Saturday, May 11 from 7:00 AM to around 12:00 PM.

Assignments will vary but will generally include various checkpoints along the route, start and finish line, and shadowing the triathlon coordinators. Times involved with each of the assignments will vary as well.  The event will be held at the Hopkinton State Park and includes a swim, bike and run that travels through Hopkinton, Southboro and Ashland.

More details on the triathlons are available on the Max Performance website.

For more details on the amateur radio assignments or to sign up contact WECT Events, and let us know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL when you sign up.

Employment Opportunities at ARRL HQ

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Just wanted to remind every ARRL member in the Western Massachusetts section of a ham radio employment opportunity at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, CT. Newington is not that far away for some of us in this section, especially for what could be a dream job for a lot of us.

The League is looking for a Contest Program Manager is responsible for all aspects of ARRL’s Contest program, including receipt and processing of entries, quality of results, awards fulfillment, public outreach, program development and promotion, and volunteer coordination and management.

They are also looking for an IT Systems Engineer. This person would be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization’s information infrastructure including desktop clients, server systems, LAN, WAN, e-mail, network storage and printing. This infrastructure supports both local and remote users.

For more information on either of these positions at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, CT, please see the ARRL Headquarters Employment Opportunities page.

Section Manager Report for May 2019

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Hello fellow radio enthusiasts. I don’t about you this persistent rain thing is really getting tiring. 1 day of sun followed by 3 days of rain. It’s getting so I need a canoe to get to my tower.

Things are moving along quite nicely as the ARES staff is starting to come together, thanks to K1YO, we are now bringing on the newest appointee in Bill Fisher W1FSH as the new Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator. It is really great to see the people we appointed for ARES staffing has got very impressive resumes and will certainly be very useful in planning, executing, various activities to train and strengthen this section not only to benefit the communities we live in but to demonstrate to all we can work together and be prepared should a crisis come our way.

One of the hot topics of late is the recently revived bill(s) from the state regarding the hand’s free driving law. Eastern Mass has been watching this closely and the latest is there is wording in it exempting “Federally Licensed” radio operators which will cover us as well as everyone else licensed to operate radios. Our new division director Fred K1VR, has read it and feels comfortable with the wording. By the way, our section could use a state government liaison to observe and communicate to our elected officials of items pertaining to anything radio related. Email me if interested.

Who’s doing field day? I want to know. Any new locations? New groups? Send me the info as I do plan on the visitation tour again this year. I may also put some of it on video and take pictures for a possible project later. I had fun last year despite the driving I did. As you can tell, I have no problem visiting folks in my section!

The next event of note is Near-Fest which is this coming Friday and Saturday I really hope it is not another Soak-Fest. So far Friday may be a bit iffy and Saturday looks to be the winner. Cross your fingers!

That’s it for now. With any luck I will be visiting a club or two shortly. I have been hearing of some great presentations going on so keep it up.

Have a great May and 73!
Ray KB1LRL

ARRL CEO Howard, WB2ITX, to operate W1AW on May 13

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Edit 5/3: This event has been cancelled due to potential conflict of interests and a possible violation of FCC Part 97 rules. For more details, check this post on the ARRL Headquarters website.

Below is a press release from ARRL Headquarters announcing a special event involving ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, and a chance to talk to Howard on the air from Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. All hams that so desire should please feel free to make a contact with Howard while he’s operating W1AW.

Newington, CT – April 29, 2019 – ­­To help members of the amateur radio community get to know Howard Michel, WB2ITX, the relatively new chief executive officer of the American Radio Relay League, a little better, the organizers of the “ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast” are putting on an event that will give ham radio operators the opportunity to chat with him in a very natural setting for all hams – on the air! Michel will be at ARRL’s Maxim Memorial Station W1AW on Monday afternoon, May 13, at 2 p.m. EDT, operating on 20 meters (around the 14.250 MHz frequency on SSB) and will be ready to talk to anyone who wants to “work” him.

Also, to commemorate this event, ARRL is creating a special QSL Card for those who connect with Michel via Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. Organizers hope that this card will become a prized part of most hams’ collections.

Michel was a guest on the March 31 episode of the “ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast” (https://www.icqpodcast.com/download-the-show/2019/3/31/icq-podcast-episode-290-arrl-ceo-howard-michael-wb2itx) when the show’s organizers came up with this idea.

“While interviewing Howard about his management vision for the League, it hit me that hams need to see the new CEO as another ham operator in addition to being the CEO of the ARRL. Our ham metaphor of ‘working’ another ham is a humorous way to engage hams from the US and internationally to ‘put the CEO to work’ on the air at W1AW,” said Frank Howell, K4FMH, ARRL Delta Division Assistant Director and a presenter of the podcast.

“Working” Michel via this event will be a very special event for hams around the world, predict the event organizers. Martin Butler, M1MRB & W9ICQ, said, “This event will attract significant international attention, especially from the UK and Europe due to the ICQ Podcast’s reach.”

Colin Butler, M6BOY publisher of the podcast, added, “There are quite a number of ARRL members in the UK so this outreach ‘across the Pond’ is something we can easily get behind to promote.”

The “ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast” is a free fortnightly radio talk style podcast for amateur / ham radio operators by amateur / ham radio operators. Each episode features a review of the current news, a discussion of a technical feature and the hobby in general, and interactions with listeners from around the world

NEAR-Fest Spring 2019

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The Spring 2019 edition of the New England Amateur Radio Festival will be May 3 – 4, 2018.

The NEAR-Fest is an international event run by and for all radio hobbyists and enthusiasts, including hams”, short-wave listeners, scanner buffs, vintage/antique radio fans, etc. NEAR-Fest is held twice annually, spring and fall, rain or shine, at the Deerfield Fairgrounds, Deerfield NH beginning on Friday at 0900 and ending Saturday at 1500 hours.

Admission is $10. Persons under 18 and over 80 are admitted free of charge upon presentation of government-issued ID. Inside parking is available for $10 and includes a “reasonable amount of flea market selling space” for PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS selling their own personal property. Commercial vendors must register and pay applicable fees. If you are wondering if you are a “commercial vendor” you probably are. One complimentary inside commercial space is available for clubs, estates and other “non-profit organizations” on an “as available” basis.

Overnight camping, trailer and RV hookups are available. Three food vendors provide meals and snacks at reasonable prices. The Deerfield Community Church ladies serve up a breakfast that has to be consumed to be believed. Angelino’s offers hamburgers, steak, sausage submarines and other great “fair food” specialities and Patty’s Polish Kitchen menu features wonderful “Mitteleuropa” cuisine. No one goes hungry at NEAR-Fest.

The program of activities and events at NEAR-Fest is extensive; a huge outdoor electronic flea market, three buildings full of commercial vendors, forums, technical seminars and symposia, demonstrations, exhibits, displays, licensing examinations, special events radio stations, a “jam session”, good food, fellowship, fun and general mishigoss. NEAR-Fest is the largest event of its kind in the Northeast and has once been described as the “Woodstock of Amateur Radio”.

We look forward to seeing you at NEAR-Fest.