Organization

Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, writes:

New England Division members may recall that earlier this year I asked for expressions of interest in working on the ARRL’s Contest Advisory Committee (CAC). Several good people raised their hands.

I’ve now asked Rudy Bakalov, N2WQ, of Westport, CT to be the New England Representative to the CAC. I first met him during an operating break at K1LZ. As I recall it, we were #1 USA multi-single or multi-two that year. Before selecting him, I asked the CAC Chairman, K9CT, to have a chat with Rudy. As a result of that conversation, they both seem energized about Rudy joining the committee.

So I asked Rudy to introduce himself to the New England Division. He wrote:

“I began my journey in ham radio at LZ1KBD in my early teens, attracted to the hobby by the opportunity to make friends around the world. Soon thereafter I discovered contesting at LZ1V and was hooked for life. After getting my Extra ticket (AD4LC) circa 1993, my US contesting career began, first having a tiny station in a walk-in closet in our NJ townhouse, then joining the teams at K1TTT and K1LZ, and finally building my own stations VE3EID and HQ9X.

“As technology and ham radio in general innovate and evolve, it is inevitable that contesting must evolve as well to remain relevant. I also believe that contesting can be a powerful force in attracting new hams to the hobby.

“I graduated with a BS in Computer Engineering from Technical University of Sofia in 1991, and then pursued an MBA from Wake Forest University. In my professional life, I deal with Board-level and C-suite issues of cyber security strategy, governance, and operations for large global enterprises.

“I look forward to joining the CAC and working with the League to further grow contesting, balancing opportunities to change vs. the spirit and legacy of League sponsored contests.”

I think Rudy will serve New England well.

——————————————————————–
ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Hopengarten, K1VR
k1vr@arrl.org
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The Eastern MA July, 2021 Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/july-2021-section-news/.

The Western MA Section Manager’s report for July, 2021 can be read at <https://wma.arrl.org/blog/2021/07/03/section-managers-report-july-2021/>.

Greetings to all ARRL and ARES members:

After a year of CoViD related event hiatus and isolation, RI ARES has a much fuller schedule this year. We already offered up support to the Multiple Sclerosis MS Ride the Rhode cycling event this past month, with 10 ARES members supplementing the Walpole EMA amateur team. I thank them all for their participation.

We are, for the first time, sponsoring a Field Day effort with two HF stations, a GOTA station, and VHF/UHF stations, at Central Coventry Park off Provident Road in Coventry. Thanks to Adam KC1KCC for undertaking the organizing of this event.

We have several more public service events coming in September and October, and are planning a Summer NVIS exercise, date to be determined. Contact me, Paul W1PJS, for more info.

Through the Winter, several ARES members participated in and earned certification as AUXCOMM operators, courtesy of RIEMA, the RI Emergency Management Agency, for which we offer thanks to Gil Woodside, WA1LAD, and to Tom Guthlein. Thanks also to Ray Perry of Portsmouth EMA, Stephan Coutalakis of Exeter EMA, and the team at Providence EMA for their support in this.

Our nets now number 2 per week, consisting of the weekly VHF 2m repeater net, every Tuesday at 7 PM on the NB1RI repeater network, where we average about 24 checkins each week, the VHF simplex net on 147.420 Mhz and the HF net on 3.980 Mhz, on alternate Tuesdays at 7:45PM following the repeater nets. We encourage all appropriately licensed amateurs to check in and join the group. More info on the simplex and HF nets is available on the repeater nets, and of course on our website at www.RIARES.org. Our thanks to Scott WX1X for recently assuming the role of Net Coordinator. He is doing a great job. Contact him for interest in becoming a Net Control Operator for us, and for more info on our nets.

Additionally, I’d like to announce the RI Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Foundation, soon to be formally an IRS registered 501(c)3 non-profit foundation supporting the NB1RI repeater network and the group overall. Thanks to Jeremy K1JST for working through the nuts and bolts of this project, and to those who have donated funds already. Your donations have been and continues to be greatly appreciated.

And last, which really should be first, I offer my sincere thanks to the RI ARES leadership team and membership for stepping up during this past year of CoViD challenges. I especially thank you all for your efforts while I have been struggling with my own personal challenges over this same period. I thank our Section Manager Bob Beaudet for his unfaltering support of our efforts. We have continued to grow and are running clean and solidly. I look forward to the coming year working with you all to serve our Rhode Island community. Fair winds and following seas to you all. Great job!

Paul Silverzweig
W1PJS
RI Section Emergency Coordinator
FEMA/RIEMA All Hazards ComL
AUXCOMM
Military Auxiliary Radio Service
RI Assoc. of Emergency Managers
     Chair, Radio Comms Committee
Portsmouth RI EMA
Trustee NB1RI Repeater Network
646-522-2262
W1pjs@hollowsolids.com

The June, 2021 Rhode Island Activity Report is now available at <https://nediv.arrl.org/rhode-island-june-2021-activity-report/>.

Earlier today, ARRL life members received an email from the Membership Department asking them to verify that their membership ID and address information were correct.  Many people were rightfully suspicious, thinking the message was a possible phishing attempt.

ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, confirmed late this afternoon that the message was, in fact, legitimate and there was no need for concern. ARRL asks that you reply to the email with the appropriate response.

From The ARRL Letter, June 11, 2021

The Field Services that ARRL HQ provides to its member-volunteers is now in the spotlight with a reorganization and a fresh start to Section Manager and Affiliated Club engagement!

The backbone of ARRL, and the Amateur Radio Service, is the expansive field organization of volunteers. This is especially true of our Board members, our “first among peers,” who provide leadership to this vast network of engaged volunteers. During a marathon series of Zoom calls on Wednesday, June 9 with ARRL Section Managers and most ARRL Board members in attendance, the restructuring of the Field Services organization at HQ was announced.

Bob Naumann, W5OV, who has a lifetime of experience as a radio amateur from contesting, to public service, to working with a number of well-known industry retailers, is now serving as the Director of Operations following the retirement of Norm Fusaro, W3IZ.

Mike Walters, W8ZY, who has been involved with field volunteers for many years and is currently the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) for Connecticut, is now serving as the Field Services Manager.

Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, who was managing Field Services, remains responsible for Radiosport and is also taking on the role of Regulatory & Advocacy following the retirement of Dan Henderson, N1ND.

The meetings went on to discuss the focus the ARRL Board has placed on Field Services, working to create a new standing committee to oversee its revitalization and growth. Also discussed were the initiatives being undertaken with Section Managers to foster collaboration, share content, undertake projects, and set expectations.

The first project will be a focused census that a dozen Section Managers across the country will be driving with local clubs to understand the disparity between the ever-growing number of licensed hams versus the unchanging number of active hams.

We are very excited to turn the page and begin this new chapter for Field Services, and to continue forward with our digital transformation of ARRL.

ARRL Members in the Western Massachusetts Section will have the opportunity to choose a Section Manager, Director, and Vice Director, while members in other New England sections will have the opportunity to choose a Director and Vice Director. Nomination notices were published in the July 2021 issue of QST on page 67 and 68 for Section Manager, Director, and Vice Director along with instructions for submitting nominating petitions.

In Western Massachusetts, Section Manager nomination petitions must contain the signatures of five or more full ARRL members residing in the section. A sample nomination petition is available on the ARRL website at <http://www.arrl.org/sectio-terms-nomination-information>. Petitions must be received by September 10, 2021. If more than one member is nominated, ballots will be mailed from Headquarters no later than October 1, 2021 to full members of record as of September 10, 2021. Returns will be counted November 23, 2021. A Section Manager elected as a result of this procedure will take office on January 1, 2022. If only one valid petition is received from a Section, that nominee shall be declared elected without opposition for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.

In New England, ARRL members will have the opportunity to choose a Director and a Vice Director to represent them for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2022. Any full ARRL member may request official nominating petitions starting July 1, 2021 by letter or email to <cpereira@arrl.org>. Requests must be received no later than August 13, 2021, and completed forms received no later than August 20, 2021. If there is only one eligible candidate for an office, that candidate shall be declared elected for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2022. If there are multiple candidates, official ballots and candidates’ statements will be mailed no later than October 1, 2021. Completed ballots must be received by November 19, 2021. The Director and Vice Director candidate(s) receiving the most votes will be declared the winners that day.

The incumbent Western Massachusetts Section Manager is Raymond Lajoie, KB1LRL, Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

The incumbent New England Division Director is Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, Lincoln, Massachusetts.

The incumbent New England Division Vice Director is Phil Temples, K9HI, Watertown, Massachusetts.

The Eastern MA June, 2021 Section Newsletter is now available at https://ema.arrl.org/june-2021-section-news/.