Public Relations

Operators Sought for MA 13 Colonies Special Event, July 1-7, 2026

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K2H 250th QSL cardLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

I’m looking for volunteers to serve as special event station operators for 13 Colonies 2026. It runs July 1-7.

If you would like to experience what it’s like to be the “DX” in a pileup and enjoy the rush of making contacts, become a 13 Colonies K2H op.

Your transmitter MUST be in Massachusetts at all times.

This year’s theme is the Declaration of Independence, which was first read in the state 250 years ago.

This is a fun operating event. You can be one of approximately 20 ops in MA. Last year we made close to 20,000 QSOs in just seven days.

The deadline to sign up is May 30th, 2026. If you’re interested in becoming an op for K2H, please contact:

Larry, W1AST
FunHamRadio@gmail.com

 

2026 World Soccer Tournament Coming to Foxborough!

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W1C QSL CardLarry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

The 2026 World Soccer Tournament is coming to Massachusetts. There will be special event stations running each of the following days. This is a worldwide event with games held here in Massachusetts.

There are seven games being played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Hams are needed every day to run a special event station with the call sign W1C. A special QSL card will be available. All modes and bands can be active.

The dates operators are needed:

Sat, June 13
Tue, June 16
Fri, June 19
Tue, June 23
Fri, June 26
Mon, June 29
Thur, July 9

If you are available to operate any or all of these dates, please contact:

Larry, W1AST
FunHamRadio@gmail.com

Sci-Tech ARS Girl Scouts’ “First Contact” event

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STARS patch(2026-03-21, Natick, MA) The Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) in Natick, MA hosted a girl scout troop from Melrose, MA. Sincere thanks go to: Barbara, KC1KGS; Jocelyn (TBD); Seth, KC1PZY; Max, WØMXX; Brad, KC1TUY; Zachary, KC1NXK; and Bob, K5TEC, for helping teach the scouts on Saturday. It was nice that the girls got to hear from two YLs as well as the rest of us.

In the first of many activities, the scouts got to hold a meteorite from an asteroid and one from the moon, discuss earth to space communications, then watch a three-minute ARRL video about ham radio. 

Next, Barbara gave an inspiring talk about ways girls can get involved with ham radio and become one of the YLs. Joscelyn, a young student here at Sci-Tech, gave a thoughtful and encouraging talk about her journey to get her radio license with suggestions to the scouts for success. 

We watched a two-minute video about our StratoScience Workshop where ham radio is highlighted with high-altitude weather balloon launches, then we visited Max at his research workstation to learn about radio electronics and soldering APRS circuits to track the science projects carried by those balloons. A teen in high school with an Amateur Extra license, Max runs the New England Weather Balloon Society hosted here at New England Sci-Tech.

Then we went outside for a Fox Hunt with Seth who showed off the homemade Yagi antenna and helped the girls find the hidden transmitter. While outside, the scouts had a short exercise in contacting each other using four FRS HTs.

The final activity had the scouts in the radio room where they first listened to contacts made through the International Space Station (ISS). Thanks to Max for arranging that with NASA! (haha) and for running the rooftop satellite tracking system for this activity. Then the girls lined up at the HF station for a lesson with Zachary and Brad. There they all got to make a contact with a YL named Jessica in Oklahoma, KJ5NSH. Thank you Jess!

At the end of the event, the scouts each got an ARRL “First Contact” certificate, carefully filled out by Brad and individualized by the scout leader. They were also thrilled to receive an ARRL radio patch, and a Sci-Tech logo patch. Fun was had by all (and lots of learning, too)! 

— Bob, K5TEC, STARS Secretary

Granite State (NH) ARA 4H Event Amateur Radio Outreach, December 13, 2025

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Eric Pfeifer, N1JUR, writes:

 
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association conducted community outreach at the 4H Event held at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 8 AM-1 PM. We had over 100 children (ages 6-12) come to learn about ham radio, make contacts using All-Star and local repeaters, and participate in a special event station (N1QC) utilizing the museum’s HF station. [Details]
 
 

Connecticut ARES Assists in Bridgeport Hospital Drill

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Screenshot of EmComm Drill St. Vincent Med Ctr Publicity CT ARESMark O’Grady, KC1UHV, writes on the Greater Bridgeport ARC mailing list:
 
[Connecticut Amateur Radio Emergency Service was mentioned favorably in this television news story.] 
 
From NEWS12 Connecticut: “From Dozens of nurses and doctors at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport spent Tuesday morning engaged in a hands-on emergency preparedness drill. The drill, which began just after 9:30 a.m., involved several scenarios designed to strengthen coordination among staff members and departments.” [Full story]
 

WABI: “Waldo County (ME) EMA hosting Nat’l Ham Radio Field Day events”

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Waldo Co EMA FD WABI screenshotWABI News Desk:

SWANVILLE, Maine (WABI) – Saturday is National ‘Ham Radio Field Day.’ The Waldo County Emergency Management Agency is among the places in Maine hosting events. They will be demonstrating the importance of radio equipment during cases of emergencies.

At noon, they will be at 685 Swan Lake Ave, Swanville. However, the day’s events will begin with an open house and BBQ at 10 a.m.

[Full story]

Central Massachusetts ARA Field Day, June 28-29, 2025

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Central MA ARA Field Day photoCourtesy Worcester Patch:

Have you ever wanted to contact new people worldwide by radio? Now’s your chance! From 2 pm on Saturday. June 28th to 2 pm on Sunday, June 29th, members of the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) will be at the Trout Book Recreation Area at 320 Manning Street in Holden, MA. participating in a national amateur radio emergency communications exercise known as Field Day.

[Full story]

W1YK: “Participatory Archiving Reveals Radio Club Treasures”

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photo of W1YK archive articleFrom The WPI Journal:

“Archival work often involves unearthing buried information, but, as with the content it seeks to reveal, the process itself can be shrouded in mystery. The labor that goes into processing special collections is multifaceted. A particularly overlooked aspect of this endeavor is the partnership that exists between archivists and researchers. Whereas archivists are challenged to prioritize access over perfection, researchers are afforded the opportunity to examine materials with greater depth.

“One such ongoing collaboration is between the WPI Archives and Special Collections and the WPI Wireless Association…”

[Full story]