Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde KW1U

KW1U

Contact Info:
44 Raymond Rd
Concord, MA 01742
kw1u@comcast.net

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.

Public Information Coordinator VACANT

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.

Technical Coordinator Greg Algieri WA1JXR

WA1JXR

Contact Info:
22 Chase Hill Road
Lancaster, MA 01523
wa1jxr@comcast.net

First licensed as WN1JXR in 1967. Amateur Radio lead me to pursue a career in Electrical Engineering, earning BSEE and MSEE degrees from the Univ. of R.I. I have worked for Raytheon Co. on RADAR Systems for 39 years, currently as a Senior Principal RF/uW Design Engineer.

I’m not a Contester or chase DX, but just a “Rag Chew” QSO operator. I’m mostly a CW Operator, enjoy QRP Operation. One of the founding members of the NE QRP Club. I also enjoy refurbishing and operating the old “hollow state” boat anchor tube rigs from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Enjoy teaching ham radio license classes and giving talks and seminars on Antennas, Transmission Lines, and Antenna Modeling, Circuit Modeling and Vector Network Analyzer antenna measurements.

Enjoy exposing new Ham operators to CW. The first digital mode!
73’s Greg WA1JXR dit dit

Technical Coordinator Appointment Description

The ARRL Technical Coordinator (TC) is a section-level official appointed by the Section Manager to coordinate all technical activities within the section. The Technical Coordinator reports to the Section Manager and is expected to maintain contact with other section-level appointees as appropriate to insure a unified ARRL Field Organization within the section.

Requirements: Novice class license or higher; Full ARRL membership

Responsibilities:

  • Supervise and coordinate the work of the section’s Technical Specialists (TS).
  • Encourage amateurs in the section to share their technical achievements with others through the pages of QST, and at club meetings, hamfests and conventions.
  • Promote technical advances and experimentation at vhf/uhf and with specialized modes, and work closely with enthusiasts in these fields within the section.
  • Serve as an advisor to radio clubs that sponsor training programs for obtaining amateur licenses or upgraded licenses in cooperation with the ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator.
  • In times of emergency or disaster, function as the coordinator for establishing an array of equipment for communications use and be available to supply technical expertise to government and relief agencies to set up emergency communications networks, in cooperation with the ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator.
    Refer amateurs in the section who need technical advice to local TS.
  • Encourage clubs to develop, and TS to serve on, RFI and TVI committees in the section for the purpose of rendering technical assistance as needed.
  • Be available to assist local technical program committees in arranging suitable programs for ARRL hamfests and conventions.
  • Convey the views of section amateurs and TSs about the technical contents of QST and ARRL books to ARRL HQ.
  • Suggestions for improvements should also be called to the attention of the ARRL HQ technical staff.
  • Work with the appointed ARRL TAs (technical advisors) when called upon.
  • Be available to give technical talks at club meetings, hamfests and conventions in the section.

New Website Launch

We’ve relaunched the Western Massachusetts ARRL website on a new platform.

Please feel free to send and any all relevant content and especially latest club news and bulletins to the webmaster. I’ll be happy to post relevant amateur radio related news from around or that affects the WMA section here.

Thanks for visiting!

Assistant Section Manager Ralph Swick KD1SM

Contact Info:
113 Townsend Harbor Road
Lunenburg, MA 01462
Click here to contact the Assistant Section Manager KD1SM.

Assistant Section Manager Appointment Description:

Requirements: Novice class license or higher class; Full ARRL membership

Responsibilities:

  • The ASM may serve as a general assistant to the Section Manager or as a specialist. That is, the ASM may assist the Section Manager with general leadership matters as the Section Manager’s understudy, or the ASM may be assigned to handle a specific important function that does not fall within the scope of the duties of the Section Manager’s other assistants.
  • At the Section Manager’s discretion, the ASM may be designated as the recommended successor to the incumbent Section Manager, in case the Section Manager resigns or is otherwise unable to finish the term of office.
  • The ASM should be familiar with the “Guidelines for the ARRL Section Manager,” which contains the fundamentals of general section management.

About the Western Massachusetts ARRL

The Western Massachusetts (WMA) ARRL field organization serves American Radio Relay League (ARRL) members in the western part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, comprised of Worcester, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Berkshire counties.

Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio in the US, serving members by protecting and enhancing spectrum access and providing a natural resource to the public. Today, with more than 161,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the world. ARRL’s mission is based on five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology, and Membership. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit ARRL Headquarters’ World Wide Web.

For general questions or information regarding the ARRL locally within the Western Massachusetts Section, feel free to contact the WMA Section Manager:
Ray Lajoie AA1SE
245 Leominster Rd
Lunenburg, MA 01462

The website is run using the WordPress running on DreamHost hosting service.  For any website related issues, contact the website team:
Gil Hayes WK1H
Aaron Addison KF1G

For information on the ARRL nationally, contact League HQ directly:
ARRL National Headquarters
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111
Phone: 860-594-0200

Assistant Section Manager Greg Algieri WA1JXR

WA1JXR

Contact Info:
22 Chase Hill Road
Lancaster, MA 01523
wa1jxr@comcast.net

First licensed as WN1JXR in 1967. Amateur Radio lead me to pursue a career in Electrical Engineering, earning BSEE and MSEE degrees from the Univ. of R.I. I have worked for Raytheon Co. on RADAR Systems for 39 years, currently as a Senior Principal RF/uW Design Engineer.

I’m not a Contester or chase DX, but just a “Rag Chew” QSO operator. I’m mostly a CW Operator, enjoy QRP Operation. One of the founding members of the NE QRP Club. I also enjoy refurbishing and operating the old “hollow state” boat anchor tube rigs from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Enjoy teaching ham radio license classes and giving talks and seminars on Antennas, Transmission Lines, and Antenna Modeling, Circuit Modeling and Vector Network Analyzer antenna measurements.

Enjoy exposing new Ham operators to CW. The first digital mode!
73’s Greg WA1JXR dit dit

Assistant Section Manager Appointment Description:

Requirements: Novice class license or higher class; Full ARRL membership

Responsibilities:

  • The ASM may serve as a general assistant to the Section Manager or as a specialist. That is, the ASM may assist the Section Manager with general leadership matters as the Section Manager’s understudy, or the ASM may be assigned to handle a specific important function that does not fall within the scope of the duties of the Section Manager’s other assistants.
  • At the Section Manager’s discretion, the ASM may be designated as the recommended successor to the incumbent Section Manager, in case the Section Manager resigns or is otherwise unable to finish the term of office.
  • The ASM should be familiar with the “Guidelines for the ARRL Section Manager,” which contains the fundamentals of general section management.

Section Manager Ray Lajoie AA1SE

KB1LRL

Contact Info:
245 Leominster Rd
Lunenburg, MA 01462
aa1se@arrl.org

My Radio experience started at a young age when as a kid I would spend hours on a National RBJ style Military receiver swapping coils and tuning the bands.

Set the Wayback machine to 2004 at Hosstraders where I got my license. Since then I have been involved in public service events including the Boston Marathon. I am a member of the Montachusett ARA where for the past ten years have been president. In 2012 I was one of the site managers of WRTC 2014.

My professional career has been with Comcast for the last 20 years. 13 of which was a field tech and now a Business product support tech.

My interest in radio has been primarily the digital modes, lately the FT8 mode. I also work some of the RTTY contests and dabble in the occasional SSB contest. I would like to learn and use CW. The great thing with this hobby, always evolving.

Section Manager Description

The Section Manager is accountable for carrying out the duties of the office in accordance with ARRL policies established by the Board of Directors and shall act in the best interests of Amateur Radio.

The Section Manager is elected to the position by ARRL members within the section and serves for a term of two years. More details on Section Manager elections are detailed on the ARRL HQ website.

Responsibilities:

  • The SM recruits, appoints, and supervises section-level staff to administer the Field Organization’s principal areas of responsibility in the section. These areas are emergency communications, message traffic relay, technical activity / problem solving, volunteer monitoring, government relations, public relations in the general community, information services for amateurs, and cooperation with affiliated clubs.
  • Appoints qualified ARRL members in the section to other volunteer positions in support of Field Organization objectives, and may authorize section-level staff to make such appointments.
  • Keeps well informed concerning matters of ARRL policy so as to administer the Field Organization in accordance with current policy and to provide correct information in response to members’ inquiries.
  • Supervises the activities of the section-level staff, monitors the performance of the Field Organization volunteers, and provides guidance as necessary to ensure that appointees act in the best interests of Amateur Radio and in accordance with ARRL policies.
  • Maintains liaison with the Division Director; makes periodic reports to the Director regarding the status of Section activities; receives information and guidance pertaining to matters of mutual concern and interest from the Director; serves on the Division Cabinet and renders advice as requested by the Director.
  • Conducts correspondence and other communications with ARRL members and affiliated clubs in the Section; makes personal visits to clubs, hamfests, and conventions; responds to members’ questions and concerns or refers them to an appropriate person or office in the League organization; maintains liaison with representative frequency coordinator(s) having jurisdiction in the Section.
  • Writes, or supervises preparation of, a monthly “Section News;” uses electronic communications, such as the Internet, to distribute information about Section activities and to encourage member participation in the Field Organization.
  • Promotes recruitment of new amateurs and new ARRL members.
  • Encourages attitudes and actions which welcome new radio amateurs and integrate them into League and club activities.
  • Each new Section Manager shall be required to participate in a Section Manager orientation training session that is conducted by ARRL Headquarters.

Section Emergency Coordinator Charles Chandler WS1L

Contact Info:
22 A Street
North Adams, MA 01247
chandlerusm@gmail.com

I’ve been a ham since 1983. I started with 2 meter FM, then the DX’ing bug bit and I got hooked, hard. That led me to CW as a preferred mode, then to DXCC and finally to Honor Roll. I also contest a bit. The photo above is me at the K1TTT Superstation in Peru, MA during a recent multi-multi contest effort. I’m on the air most every day. You can find me on the low end of 80 meters rag chewing on CW between 5 and 7 AM. In the evenings I tend to be on 20, 30 or 40 depending on where I can find other stations.

My public service began in 1980, as a part-time summer officer with the Plymouth Police Department. That turned into a full-time position in 1985 and I retired in 2005 at the rank of Captain. My wife Stacie and I moved south and by 2006 I was a lieutenant with the University of Southern Mississippi Police Department, where I served until I retired in 2020 at the rank of Assistant Chief of Police.

My career has involved me in a large number of critical incidents and events, and I have served in a number of ICS roles including Operations and Planning Section Chiefs and Incident Commander. I’ve been a part of responses to things like NCAA Division I FBS football games, NCAA Baseball Regional Championships, Category 4 hurricanes, EF4 tornadoes, and incidents of civil unrest and major criminal incidents. For most of those we used an ICS command format integrating multiple agencies across all disciplines.

Since retiring and moving back home to W1-land I have been volunteering in the radio gang aboard the museum ship USS Slater in Albany, NY. Our last big effort was operating Museum Ship Weekend using all WWII-era gear from the key to the ships wire antennas. I’ve also been working part-time as a crime analyst with the Williamstown Police Department.

73 de Chuck, WS1L

Section Emergency Coordinator Appointment Description

The SEC is the assistant to the SM for emergency preparedness. The SEC is appointed by the SM to take care of all matters pertaining to emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) on a sectionwide basis. The SEC post is one of top importance in the section and the individual appointed to it should devote all possible energy and effort to this one challenging organizational program for Amateur Radio. There is only one SEC appointed in each section of the ARRL Field Organization.

Requirements: Technician class license or higher; Full ARRL membership

Responsibilities:

  • Encourage all groups of community amateurs to establish a local emergency organization.
    Advise the SM on all section emergency policy and planning, including the development of a section emergency communications plan.
  • Cooperate and coordinate with the Section Traffic Manager so that emergency nets and traffic nets in the section present a united public service front, particularly in the proper routing of Welfare traffic in emergency situations.
  • Cooperation and coordination should also be maintained with other section leadership officials as appropriate, particularly with the State Government Liaison and Public Information Coordinator.
  • Recommend candidates for Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator appointments (and cancellations) to the Section Manager and determine areas of jurisdiction of each amateur so appointed. At the SM’s discretion, the SEC may be directly in charge of making (and canceling) such appointments. In the same way, the SEC can handle the Official Emergency Station appointments.
  • Promote ARES membership drives, meetings, activities, tests, procedures, etc., at the section level.
  • Collect and consolidate Emergency Coordinator (or District Emergency Coordinator) monthly reports and submit monthly progress summaries to the SM and ARRL Headquarters. This includes the timely reporting of emergency and public safety communications rendered in the section for inclusion in QST.
  • Maintain contact with other communication services and serve as liaison at the section level with all agencies served in the public interest, particularly in connection with state and local government, civil preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, Salvation Army, the National Weather Service, and so on. Such contact is maintained in cooperation with the State Government Liaison.
  • Section Emergency Coordinators are encouraged to complete ARRL Emergency Communications training Introduction to Emergency Communications (EC-001) and Public Service and Emergency Communications Management for Radio Amateurs.