Phil Temples

by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, ARRL Product Development Manager

The annual Northeast HamXposition was held on September 10 &12 and hosted the 2021 ARRL New England Division Convention. This was the first time the annual event was held at the Best Western Hotel in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

The ARRL ‘team’ included Vice President Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, New England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, Senior Member Services Representative Kim McNeill, KM1IPA, Director of Operations Bob Naumann, W5OV, and Product Development Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. In addition, there were several Section Managers and other Field Organization volunteers.

Mike Raisbeck and Phil Temples did double-duty, serving as the convention’s Vice Chair and Program chair, respectively.

Although there were some last-minute cancellations from a handful of exhibitors and presenters, attendance was very good, though smaller than the 2019 show.  W1 QSL Bureau Co-Manager Eric Williams, KV1J, shared that “considering the COVID concerns, I feel that this was remarkably good attendance.”

Among the radio club and organization booths, the Nashua Area Radio Society (New Hampshire) demonstrated a variety of activities to encourage new licensees to become radioactive. An interactive exhibit was also hosted by Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society of Natick, MA, which operates from the STEM educational center and Makerspace hosted by New England Sci-Tech. An ARRL Volunteer Examiner team tested 13 new and upgraded license candidates, including unlicensed individuals who passed exams for their General and Extra Class tickets.

Eric Williams and his team of volunteers offered great support to anyone seeking W1 Bureau needs. Their exhibit also hosted Bob Naumann who checked DXCC and other ARRL Award applications throughout the convention.

On Friday night, Adrian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, presented at the DXCC/Contest Dinner, recapping the DXPedition and IARU Contest activities and activations from Market Reef and Aland Islands.

Bob Inderbitzen gave the keynote address on Saturday morning which included a 9/11 tribute he had prepared, and Color Guard supported by local Scouts. He also attended a Youth Panel and met with many young hams, parents, and their advisors throughout the event, including an undergraduate student in mechanical engineering from Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA, Zachary Sherman, KC1NXK – exhibiting for Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club.

The banquet speaker was Dr. Philip J. Erickson, W1PJE, of Haystack Observatory, a multidisciplinary radio observatory operated by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He discussed HamSCI’s latest ionospheric science investigations with his group at Haystack covering international, national, and even local aspects of amateur ionospheric science supported in partnership with radio amateurs and scientists. During the banquet, Bob was recognized by Emcee Mike Raisbeck as the convention’s first scholarship winner (1990).

An ARRL Membership Forum was held on Saturday, supported by Fred Hopengarten, Phil Temples, Mike Walters, and ARRL Communications Counsel Dave Siddall, K3ZJ – who was in the area and attended the convention. Mike Walters also led a Section Manager & Affiliated Club Coordinator Forum. The ARRL staff team returned from Marlborough with 72 membership applications (127 in 2019); 22% of these from new or previous members. They also returned with 36 award applications and endorsements – including 24 for DXCC and 10 for VUCC.

Carl Achin, WA1ZCQ, writes:

‘Chowdercon’ 2021 is looking good for this Saturday, September 18th on Four Tree Island New Hampshire. We’ll have the usual schedule that has been on-the-plate for decades.

– Friday the 17th: Socializing and Meet-‘N-Greet at Al’s Seafood and Fish Market on RT-1 in North Hampton at 5 PM for the diehard low-power radio amateurs that wish to partake in a WONDERFUL seafood dinner.

– Saturday the 18th is the BIG Day, 7 AM KICKOFF Breakfast at the Golden Egg on RT-1A in Portsmouth NH followed by a caravan of vehicles to Four Tree Island, arriving at approximately 8 AM.

+ Setup of individual stations (rigs & antennas) at the various rooftop-covered picnic tables around the Island.

+ At 12 noon, for those that need a lobster-roll and ‘CHOWDER’ (IT’S CALLED CHOWDERCON FOR A REASON), it’s a short walk to Geno’s Sandwich shop.

+ More operating from the Island after Lunch, and of course, SPRINTING/contesting in QRP Afield (CQ AF) which is always on the SAME DAY as Chowdercon.
https://www.newenglandqrp.org/qrp-afield-2018

+ Around 3 PM station operators start to breakdown and pack-up their gear, and, it’s time for the Annual “TUG-OF-WAR” of the QRPers (5W or less) against the QRPpers (*LESS THAN* 1 Watters)! ALWAYS A FUN TIME! 🙂

+ Caravan over to the historic Warren’s Lobster House at 4:30 PM, just a 5 minute drive from Four Tree Island. IT’S A TRADITION!!! The FAREWELL BANQUET usually finishes-up at approximately 6:30 PM+.

– *** SUNDAY from 8 AM through 2 PM is more operating from the Island for those DIEHARDS that, “FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED” (high-speed Morse-code that is!) 🙂 LOL

– AND, there is usually a final farewell meal at Statey’s, Portsmouth at around 3 PM+++ till the last person leaves/drops. 🙂

https://thestateybar.com/our-menu

‘Chowdercon’ is a TRADITION and a celebration of the END OF SUMMER / BEGINNING OF FALL. A few of us started doing this QRP Event back in 1987 and it grew. In 2006 it was dubbed “CHOWDERCON” … and the rest is history (and QRP tradition).

If you are up for it, please join-in on the, fun, excitement, and good times of Chowdercon. Participate in whatever tickles your fancy.

Sincere 7 3 and Happy Fall,

Carl

http://qrz.com/db/WA1ZCQ
wa1zcq@amsat.org