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Greater Bridgeport (CT) ARC Combined SET, JOTA & POTA for Fun-Filled Weekend

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Greater Bridgeport ARC loogo

Members of the Greater Bridgeport Amateur Radio Club combined the best of a Simulated Emergency Test (SET), Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), and Parks On The Air (POTA), while operating from three state parks on October 16, 2021: 

  • Sherwood Island SP (Park K-1715)
  • Silver Sands SP (Park K-1716)
  • West Rock SP (Park K-1727) (2 stations)

“Our goal [was] to provide community outreach for ham radio, and to help train our new operators,” explained GBARC president Emily Clarke, N1DID.   

During the POTA Event the groups also participated in the CT ARES SET using simplex VHF/UHF as well as DMR.

“I wanted to do the SET from a distance away from our ARES region (Region 1)  so we could simulate simplex communications outside our region.   I was in Region 2, and all our other stations were in CT State Parks in Region 1 or were mobile enroute.  After the SET we turned our attention to our main reason for being in the park, our POTA event,” says Clarke.
 
According to N1DID, the JOTA contact wasn’t actually planned. 
 
“We were doing HF communications for POTA when a huge troop of Scouts walked by.  We asked, ‘Does anyone want to learn about ham radio?’ and they all ran and formed a very disciplined semi-circle around us.  I gave them an explanation about HF communications, then gave a short talk explaining how we and other radio amateurs were active on the air promoting our beautiful state parks.”
 
“We gave additional information about emergency communications. how parents and even scouts can get their technician licenses, and about how they can reach out to local clubs for help with their radio merit badge.  
 
Clarke and her group took  questions from the kids and parents and got a big thank you.  Clarke encouraged them to reach out to the club in the future. “Afterwards the Scout leader came up and took my email address and said ‘I always wanted to do this.’”
 
Although N1DID and the other GBARC members got to interact with the public at the other parks “The 40+ Scouts and parents we met  was the icing on the cake of a wonderful day in the park.”
 
Scouts at GBARC POTA event
Scouts visiting Greater Bridgeport ARC Parks On The Air event

2022 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program Will Open on November 1, 2021

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ARRL Foundation logoApplications for the 2022 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program will open on November 1, 2021. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be awarded in 2022. Scholarship recipients will be notified in May 2022 via USPS mail and email.

All applicants must be active, FCC-licensed amateur radio operators [NOTE: Active foreign amateur radio operators are eligible for the ARDC Scholarships]. All applicants must submit a completed online application.

NEW THIS YEAR: The ARRL Foundation will be utilizing a new Scholarship Management Platform for the 2022 ARRL Foundation Scholarships. Transcripts and any additional required documents must be submitted WITH the application and not emailed separately as was done in the past. A number of scholarships require additional documents, such as a letter of recommendation from a sitting Officer of an ARRL-affiliated club. Applications without accompanying transcripts and additional required documents (if applicable) will not be considered.

The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee will review all applicants for eligibility and award decisions. 

How to establish an ARRL Foundation Scholarship: 

Individuals, groups or clubs wishing to establish an ARRL Foundation Scholarship should go to the Sample Terms of Reference.  If more information is needed, please contact the ARRL Foundation by email at foundation@arrl.org or call Melissa Stemmer, KA7CLO, at 860-594-0348.

K1PCN To Activate Sherwood Island State Park, K-1715, Westport CT, October 17, 2021

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Google map of Sherwood I. State Park POTA activationPeter Cimino, K1PCN, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:

I will be setting up in a clump of tress just north of the West Beach Parking Area. It is flat and shady. Also, you can drive right up to the activation spot. I will be setting up an OCF Dipole for 20, 40 and 80m. Please bring a chair and lunch. I will have water and soft drinks available. Unfortunately it seems that all the restrooms are closed for the fall. I will be monitoring 146.58, the GBARC repeater and DMR talkgroup CT TAC1. If there is enough people, I can set up a second station and if you have a radio but need a battery or antenna to operate, contact me.

I look forward to anyone who would like to try HF. This is a two person job; running the station and logging. I am happy to log and let any of you take control of the station under supervision if needed.

Directions: Sherwood Island State Park is just off Exit 18 off I95. Once you enter the park, proceed straight into the roundabout. Take the first right (west) in the roundabout towards WEST BEACH. Continue straight through the first intersection and take a right (North) at the second intersection (just before the West Beach Parking Area). Continue 100 yards and I will be on the right. Look for my red Toyota Tundra Pick up truck.

GPS N41.114729° -73.334621°. We are 100 yards North of the West Beach Parking area

Any questions, please contact me. Peter K1PCN 203-767-5888

YCCC Qualifications for 2022 WRTC

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Yankee Clipper Contest Club logoDave Malley, W1VEM, writes on the YCCC mailing list:

Congratulations to Bob, WA1Z, and Randy, K5ZD, for qualifying as Team Leaders for the 2022 Italia WRTC championship!

Congratulations also to Dave, K1ZZ; Paul, K1XM; Ed, N1UR; Marty, NN1C; Dennis,W1UE; Gene,W3UA and Robert, WA1FCN.

Nine YCCC members is terrific & my apologies if I missed anyone!

RASON Auction, Gales Ferry, CT, October 30, 2021

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RASON website screenshotTim Rodgers, KC1TWR, writes:
 
Come to the [Radio Amateur Society Of Norwich] fall auction and get some new to you gear or parts!  Our annual Auction is on October 30 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Hall (1650 CT Route 12, Gales Ferry, CT).  This is one mile south of our usual Gales Ferry Fire House 
 
Setup is at 7 AM.  Doors open for sellers at 8 AM.  Buyers are welcome beginning at 9 AM.  The live auction begins at 10 AM.  Talk in is on 146.730 MHz (- Offset, PL 156.7 Hz).  There will be many items up for sale, and food will be available.  Admission is $5 and includes a complimentary donut and coffee. Masks are required on everyone while inside of the building.  Please come to support the club, sell your unwanted radio items, and grow your equipment collection!  
 
Contact Mark KE1IU at KE1IUMark@gmail.com with any questions.  
Additional information can be found at https://rason.org/rason-auction-information/
Please pass this on to your club members, and any other clubs or people who might be interested.

NEAR-Fest XXX Health and Safety Guidelines

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NEAR-Fest logoAs we get ready to return to Deerfield NH in a couple days to resume our beloved hamfest that we have all missed so much for two years it is obvious that there are some fundamental precautions we must institute in order to be in full compliance with all CDC, State and Town Departments of Public Health guidelines.  We do not want to wear out our welcome.  NEAR-FEST IS SAFE FOR ALL must be our motto!

It is our hope that everyone will have been vaccinated.  However we realize that not everyone will be.  If you have not had your shots please take extra care: wear a mask especially inside and use hand sanitizer often. We don’t want anyone getting sick at our event.

The State of New Hampshire does not currently have a mask mandate so neither does NEAR-Fest.  However, we have some common sense requests and recommendations because we want everybody to feel safe at our hamfest:

1:  We are strongly requesting that everyone wear a mask or face shield while inside the commercial buildings, when attending forums and when at the exam session.   Masks will be available at the entrance to these buildings but it is advisable to bring your own as well.  We are also strongly requesting that all attendees wear a mask when buying or presenting your admission ticket or otherwise interacting with any of our staff members.

2:  Our staff volunteers have expressed some concerns and we want them to feel comfortable helping us run the fester.  Remember we cannot do the hamfest without them. They did not volunteer to get Covid.  Many of them aren’t the young healthy kids we once were and have serious concerns about covid either personally or with immediate family members.  We are requesting that everyone put aside all political and personal views about mask wearing and wear them where we have requested out of respect for the dedicated volunteers who run this event.

We  are committed to keeping everyone safe and this request from me is part of this commitment.

3: The use of hand sanitizer is advised especially after handling any items in the flea market and commercial buildings.  We will have hand sanitizer in automatic dispensers as well as masks available at the entrances to the buildings. 

Additionally, we ask that all attendees attempt to maintain a distance of six feet (or two metres) from others as much as possible and avoid crowding others at flea market and commercial vendor tables.  I know this is difficult especially if there is “good stuff cheap”.

These are still difficult and trying times.  We are glad to be back running the hamfest again but the world has changed in the past 18 months and we must change with it.  We appreciate your cooperation which is particularly important because we want to continue holding the hamfest while assuring the local community that we pose a minimal health threat with our presence.

HELP MAKE NEAR-FEST SAFE FOR ALL! 

Stay well!

MisterMike, W1RC, and the entire NEAR-Fest gang

New England Sci-Tech ARS Crew to Participate in JOTA, Lexington (MA), October 16, 2021

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JOTA-JOTI logoTate Aldridge, K1MKD, writes:

With Bruce [N9JBT], Mindy [KM1NDY], and Marc’s help (and flyers from Rusty and Bob), we are hosting a Jamboree On The Air for scouts in Lexington. We will have several radios out and will be making contacts and educating scouts about amateur radio. We would be very happy to see you there!

https://www.jotajoti.info/
Lexington Visitor Center lawn, Lexington, MA
Saturday Oct 16
Scouts are coming from 1-4 and we start set up around 11 – STARS friends are welcome any time!

73,
Tate, K1MKD