Dear ARRL Member:
There are few times when I have needed to reach out directly to you for your help. This is one of those times.
The American Red Cross (ARC) has asked ARRL for assistance with relief efforts in Puerto Rico. In the nearly 75-year relationship between ARRL and ARC, this is the first time ARC has made a request for assistance on this scale. Hurricane Maria has devastated the island’s communications infrastructure. Without electricity and telephone, and with most of the cell sites out of service, millions of people are cut off from communicating. Shelters are unable to reach local emergency services and people cannot check on the welfare of their loved ones. The situation is dire.
How can you help?
1) Volunteer. ARC needs up to 50 radio amateurs who can help record, enter, and submit disaster-survivor information into the ARC Safe and Well system. There are very specific requirements and qualifications needed for this deployment; for instance, familiarity with Winlink, an Amateur Radio license of General class or higher, and previous experience in disaster response. Deployment will be for up to 3 weeks (at ARC expense). If you would like to be considered for deployment, please complete the following online ARRL form, which asks for your qualifications and skills: Volunteer Deployment Form
2) Donate to Ham Aid. ARRL’s Ham Aid program loans Amateur Radio equipment kits to established Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) groups and partner agencies during disaster response, in order to establish Amateur Radio communications support. Ham Aid is supported by donations from individuals and corporations – including many of our ham radio industry partners. ARRL has previously staged Ham Aid equipment in Texas, and in the last few weeks, we have supplied kits in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Our supply of Ham Aid kits has been rapidly depleted. Your donation to Ham Aid will help us now. Your contributions to Ham Aid are 100% tax deductible. To make a donation online, go to www.arrl.org/arrl-donation-
It has been four weeks since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas. In little over a month, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have left paths of destruction and catastrophic flooding that will impact the lives of people throughout the southeast U.S. and Caribbean for years to come. Throughout these disasters, our trained ham radio volunteers, and especially those in coordinating roles, have helped us meet the requests of our partner agencies and organizations. To all ham radio operators who have been on alert, activated, deployed, or donated, THANK YOU. We are grateful for your service and for your generosity.
73
Rick Roderick, K5UR
ARRL President
NCS’s and Ops Needed For SATERN SSB Net During Hurricane Maria
Greetings:
The International SATERN SSB Net has been in daily operation from 0900 (CT) / 1400 Z until at least 1800 (CT) / 2300 Z (at least until 900 or 2000 (CT) the last two days) since this past Tuesday, 19 September 2017. SATERN had initially planned on terminating the Net operations for Hurricane Maria by today, Friday, 22 September 2017, However, the amount of Health & Welfare messages flowing through the Net the last two days is expected to continue today and likely through at least Sunday or Monday (25 September).
Hurricane Maria is now the fourth activation of the International SATERN SSB Net in a month. As a result, our dedicated group of Net Control and Net Relay Stations are very tired and it is time to reach out for some assistance.
Therefore, I am asking the ARRL, HWN and MARS to reach out to their operators to ask them to assist the International SATERN SSB Net in one of two ways:
- By signing up for a one hour slot as Net Control Operators sometime on Saturday, Sunday and / or Monday. To do this send an email to the following people indicating what time(s) they are available from 0900 (CT) / 1400 Z until 1800 (CT) / 2300 Z any one or more of those three days:
Net Manager Ken Gilliland (AG6SV)
Assistant Net Manager Bob Rogers (WA5EEZ)We are looking for experienced, qualified Net Control Operators who have had some experience as both a Net Control Operator and in handling messages by voice. Net Control Operators with a strong signal (power, antennas, etc.) and / or bilingual would be a valuable additional asset / skill. The Net is operating on 14.265 MHz.
- For those who may not wish to be a Net Control Operator or simply want to do more in addition to that, SATERN always needs Net Relay Stations to simply check-in and assist that hour’s Net Control Station. With Net Control Stations operating from all over the country, they often may not hear a station with message traffic. As a result they rely on the Net Relay Stations to assist them with that. Stations with a strong propagation path into the Caribbean (especially Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and others) are especially valuable. Again, bilingual operators are a particular asset in this operation.
As National SATERN Liaison, I sincerely thank each of you for being willing to help out in this operation.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Bill Feist, WB8BZH
National SATERN Liaison
Bill.Feist@uss.salvationarmy.org
Volunteering in Florida ARES Mutual Assistance
The ARRL has been asked to share the following from the Communications Branch Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management:
“The State of Florida appreciates the service of ARES. State of Florida SEOC and its staff will never request individuals or provide individuals any information on an incident. All requests for individuals in the ARES program in the State of Florida will follow the North Florida ARES Plan and direction of their Section Manager Stephen Szabo. Absolutely no direct communications to the SEOC or its staff is to be made by individuals to request to be deployed or provide services at anytime.”
We also remind ARRL / ARES volunteers who may be assisting in support of the ongoing relief and recovery efforts that the only persons who should be speaking on behalf of the ARRL or its field organization are the ARRL Section Manager or their Public Information Coordinator / Public Information Officer. Unfortunately we have had reports of false information being apparently shared via Amateur Radio channels. This type of misinformation can negatively affect the hard work being done by various Emergency Management agencies involved, as well as the various agencies also providing assistance, and can be harmful to the efforts of the Amateur community trying to assist in the response and relief efforts. ARRL SMs, PICs, and PIOs only provide information publicly where it has been vetted by state officials, and only as directed. Unauthorized false reports can seriously and negatively impact the work of relief and recovery officials as well as damage the good relationships that Amateurs have in those relief and recovery communities. Let the trained PICs/PIOs do their jobs!
Thanks to the hundreds of Amateurs who are providing communications assistance as this story continues to unfold. With everyone working in concert and through appropriate channels, your work is helping make a difference.
Dan Henderson, N1ND
Assistant Secretary, the American Radio Relay League, Inc.
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio
Phone: 860-594-0236
Ray Lajoie KB1LRL Elected Next WMA Section Manager
Nominations for ARRL Western Massachusetts Section Manager closed on last Friday, September 8th. Only one WMA ARRL member submitted nomination paperwork for the election. As a result, Ray Lajoie KB1LRL won the uncontested election. Ray hails from Lunenburg and has long been a member and highly involved with the Montachusett ARA in a variety of roles.
Regarding his election, Ray states “I am looking forward to serving the Western Mass section and visiting the various clubs in the coming future. The months coming will be a lot of fact gathering and looking to see where we need to work on first.”
Ray will take the reins from current Section Manager Ed Emco W1KT on January 1, 2018, whom is standing down from the position after serving in that role for the last 12 years.
Boxboro Speakers & Saturday Grand Banquet
We are still looking for a few more great speakers to fill out our renowned forum program. If you have, or know of someone that has a forum topic, please contact Phil Temples k9hi@boxboro.org, or sign-up on our website at http://boxboro.org/forums-and-classes/speaker-signup. Speakers will receive a $10 coupon toward lunch at the hotel and get reserved close-in parking.
We are also accepting volunteers to staff our ticket booths, assist our speakers, and help out with parking. You can sign up as a volunteer here: http://boxboro.org/volunteer. Volunteers working at least 3 hours will receive a $10 coupon for lunch at the hotel.
Finally, please join us for our Saturday Night Grand Banquet featuring key note speaker Paul Stoetzer, N8HM. With an outwardly appearing modest apartment-based set up, Paul has racked up a huge list of awards. Come listen as he tells us how he did it. The $40 banquet admission also features a full buffet. Get seven of your friends together and purchase a table for 8 for $280, a $40 discount.
Tickets available at http://www.boxboro.org
73,
Bob – K1IW
Boxboro 2017! Publicity Chair
ARRL Request to Contact Your US Senators Supporting S1534 – the Amateur Radio Parity Act
Dear ARRL member,
I am writing to you today because we are at a crossroad in our efforts to obtain passage of The Amateur Radio Parity Act.
Our legislative efforts scored a major victory in our campaign when The Amateur Radio Parity Act, S. 1534 now moves to the Senate, where we need every Senator to approve the bill. This is the companion Bill to H.R. 555, which passed in the House of Representatives in January.
You are one of over 730,000 licensed Amateur Radio Operators living in the United States. Many of you already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL HAMS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS!
If you want to have effective outdoor antennas but are not currently allowed to do so by your Home Owner’s Association, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
If you already have outdoor antennas, but want to support your fellow hams, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
If you want to preserve your ability to install effective outdoor antennas on property that you own, SEND THESE EMAILS TODAY!!
We need you to reach out to your Senators TODAY! Right away.
Help us in the effort. Please go to this linked website and follow the prompts:
https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-us-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act
Thank you.
73,
Rick
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rick Roderick, K5UR
President
ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio®
Nominations Open for Section Manager
Nominations for Western Massachusetts Section Manager are now open! The term is for two years starting on January 1, 2018.
Any candidate for the office of Section Manager must be a resident of the section, a licensed amateur of Technician class or higher, and a full member of the League for a continuous term of at least two years immediately preceding receipt of a petition for nomination. All nomination paperwork must be received by ARRL Headquarters in Newington, CT by 4:00 PM on Friday, September 8, 2017. The nomination forms and other associated information are available on ARRL HQ’s website here.
Due to increased professional commitments as well as some health issues, current Section Manager Ed Emco W1KT will not be running for election again.
WMA STM Looking for Help with the MA/RI Phone Net
We would sure like to see some representation of WMA stations on the combined section phone net – the MA/RI Phone Net – which meets on 3978 kHz at 6 PM Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Thanks,
Marcia Forde KW1U
Eastern MA / Western MA Section Traffic Manager
Call for Speakers for Boxboro
Don’t just attend Boxboro 2017 – BE A PART OF IT!
The Boxboro Committee seeks fresh and exciting presentations for this year’s ARRL New England Division Convention, September 8-10, 2017. We’re looking for talks of both a technical and non-technical nature. As a Boxboro speaker, you will have the opportunity to share your subject and knowledge with Amateur Radio operators from around New England, surrounding states, and Canada.
In addition to forums throughout the day Saturday, we will feature Saturday evening entertainment, workshops on Friday, and a half-day Sunday program.
If you represent a regional club or organization (e.g. YCCC, NEQRP, WRONE, MARS, etc.) we can help facilitate open forums or closed meetings by providing you a meeting space.
Groups who wish to set up information tables should get your requests in early. While the tables are offered without charge, we ask for some volunteer time in return to assist us with ticket sales and other logistics during the convention.
To register as a presenter, please check the Convention’s forums and classes web page or email or call us if you have additional questions.
We look forward to meeting all of you at the convention.
New England QSO Party
The NEQP is a great time to check out antenna systems and offers a moderately paced opportunity to work new states and countries. You’ll find a wide variety of participants, from newcomers to experienced contesters, all interested in making contacts with New England stations.
We’re working to make sure that all of the New England counties are active again this year and would appreciate your help. Get on for at least an hour or two and join in on the fun. Please let me know if you can put in any time at all so we can work on activity from the rarest counties. Will you be QRV? Let us know which county you’ll be on from with a message to info@neqp.org
Oh yes, the NEQP is also lots of fun when mobile. Every time you cross a county line the action starts over again. It’s amazing what a 100w radio and mobile whip can do.
The QSO Party is 20 hours long overall, in two sections with a civilized break for sleep Saturday night. It goes from 4pm Saturday until 1am Sunday, then 9am Sunday until 8pm Sunday. Operate on CW, SSB and digital modes on 80-40-20-15-10 meters. For each QSO you’ll give your callsign, a signal report and your county/state. Top scorers can earn a plaque and everyone who makes 25 QSOs and sends in a log will get a certificate.
Last year we had logs from 179 New England stations and 300 more from around the country and world.
The full rules are here -> http://www.neqp.org/rules.html
The 2016 results were posted over the weekend and the results since 2002 are also available -> http://www.neqp.org/results.
It’s just about a month until the 2017 NEQP. Please make some QSOs even if you don’t want to send in a log.
Thanks!
73 Tom/K1KI