Maine SM Phil Duggan, N1EP, writes on the Maine ARRL Members list:
It was great seeing many of you at the Augusta Boat Anchor Hamfest in February. It was an honor to present Certificates of Merit to three amazing Maine hams who have made huge contributions to our ham radio community: Bill Mann, W1KX; Al Sirois, N1MHC; and Jose Douglas, KB1TCD.
As you know, I was appointed interim section manager for Maine December 1, 2021. I also ran for the coming 2-year term starting July 1, 2022. No one else was nominated to run for Maine SM by the deadline, so the ARRL has informed me that I have been declared the winner. I look forward to continuing to serve you as section manager. Here are some newsworthy events I thought you should know about. 73 de Phil Duggan, N1EP.
Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club Hamfest & Convention
April 1 through April 2, 2022
Ramada Inn Conference Center, Lewiston
There will be some presentations Friday evening. Saturday morning is the hamfest and more presentations and meetings, including the New England Division ARRL Forum. Amateur radio examinations are also planned. (See below) Details and more info available here: http://www.w1npp.org/pages/MEConvention2022.html
The Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge
The Wireless Society of Southern Maine sponsors the 4-hour Maine 2-Meter FM Simplex Challenge scheduled for March 26, 2022. Details and rules are listed here: http://www.ws1sm.com/2-Meter-Challenge.html
Ham Radio Test Sessions
Saturday, March 19th 9:00 AM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Location: Calvary Chapel 154 River Road Orrington
Sponsor: Pine State ARC Contact: Peter Bither, redbeard104@aol.com, 944-2616
Saturday April 2nd Ramada Inn Conference Center 490 Pleasant Street Lewiston 12:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Sponsor: Androscoggin Amateur Radio Club Contact: Donald Wakeman 751-1166 ka1wal.dsw@gmail.com
Amateur Radio on the International Space
ARISS News Release No. 22-09
Dave Jordan, AA4KN
ARISS PR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Message to US Educators:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity
Call for Proposals
New Proposal Window is February 21, 2022 to March 31, 2022
February 16, 2022 — The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.
The deadline to submit a proposal is March 31, 2022 Proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and the proposal form can be found at https://ariss-usa.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-usa/. An ARISS Introductory Webinar session will be held on March 3, 2022, at 8 PM ET. The Eventbrite link to sign up is: https://ariss-proposal-webinar-spring-2022.eventbrite.com
The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session.
An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact. Amateur Radio organizations around the world with the support of NASA and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe present educational organizations with this opportunity. The ham radio organizations’ volunteer efforts provide the equipment and operational support to enable communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world using Amateur Radio.
Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education@gmail.com.
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ARRL Maine Section
Section Manager: Philip W Duggan, N1EP
n1ep@arrl.org
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The March, 2022 edition of the Maine Telegraph Newsletter, the statewide newsletter for Maine Amateur Radio operators, is now available at: <
The February, 2022 Eastern MA Section Newsletter is now available at 
Mother Nature has made it known that winter is definitely here in Maine the past few weeks. When not clearing walks and driveways of snow and ice, this has been an opportune time to stay in the comfort of our shacks and play radio! I have been busy playing cw QRP now that some sunspots are reappearing, and this week I intend to get some rig-control working on my Kenwood HF rig.