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