Public Relations

Media Hits From ARISS Contact at Challenger Learning Center of Maine

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International Space StationRosalie White, K1STO, writes:

All, here are two nice media hits on the ARISS radio contact for Challenger Learning Centers–with these stories being specific to the Challenger Learning Center of Maine:

Kids in Bangor reach for the stars by speaking to astronaut – News Center Maine
Bob Hines called in using amateur radio, giving kids at Challenger Centers across the country the opportunity to ask questions.
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/kids-in-bangor-making-a-connection-to-space-maine/97-422d53cf-3d8c-449d-b4b9-6f2d5121df59

Challenger Maine campers speak with NASA Astronaut aboard ISS – WABI
The Challenger Center and the Amateur Radio on the ISS hosted the live conversation.
https://www.wabi.tv/2022/07/28/challenger-maine-campers-speak-with-nasa-astronaut-aboard-iss/

Amateur Radio Field Day Talk on WCAP 980 (Lowell, MA), June 24, 2022

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From ema.arrl.org:

Station WCAP 980 kHz will host a talk segment featuring two Eastern MA amateur radio club presidents today (June 24) at 4:10 PM. 

Gary Frascarelli, W1GFF, President of the Billerica Amateur Radio Society and Bruce Blain, K1BG, President of the Nashoba Valley Amateur Radio Club, will discuss ARRL Field Day on the program. 

The Class B station features a talk/oldies radio format. It covers the Merrimack Valley with 5,000 watts of power. 

Listeners outside of the area can tune in to the program on the web at <http://webcastsusa.com/wcap/player.html>.

This link seems to work:  <https://streampros.net/980wcap>

An audio recording of the program is also available

Northern Berkshire ARC 2022 Field Day Publicity: “Windsor: Ham radio club slates field day”

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Berkshire Eagle Field Day storyFrom The Berkshire Eagle, June 21, 2022:

“Ham radio operators from the Northern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club in Berkshire County will participate in a national Field Day exercise from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, until 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at 440 Peru Road [Windsor, MA]. The public is invited.

“Field Day has been organized since 1933 by the American Radio Relay League, the National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. The event highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network.” [Full story]

Governor Baker Proclaims June 25 “Amateur Radio Day” in Massachusetts

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copy of MA Amateur Radio Day Proclamation in MAMassachusetts radio amateurs are being recognized for their service to the public in times of hurricanes, tornados, flood and other emergencies with a special proclamation by Governor Charles D. Baker declaring June 25, 2022 as “Amateur Radio Day” in the Commonwealth. The day coincides with the 2022 ARRL Field Day event.

The proclamation was obtained by Massachusetts State Government Liaison Hank McCarl, W4RIG, of Gloucester. McCarl contacted Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr’s (N1UIU) office to arrange for the issuance of the proclamation.

Copies of the proclamation will be distributed to both Eastern and Western Massachusetts Section Managers so that they may display the documents as they tour field day sites in their respective sections.

Project Big E to Highlight Modern Amateur Radio

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Ray Lajoie, AA1SE, writes on the Western MA ARRL Members list:

Project Big E is a 17-day amateur radio exhibit to be held at the 2022 Big E from September 16-October 3, 2022 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Western Massachusetts ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator and Hampden County Radio Association president Larry Krainson, W1AST, is the Project Big E General Chairman.

The Big E, formerly known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair.” It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the sixth-largest fair in the nation.  In 2021, the Big E had 1.5 million visitors, and over 1.6 million visitors in 2019. [Wikipedia.org]

Planning for Project Big E is underway. An impressive ham radio booth will showcase the many aspects of modern ham radio, and provide an avenue for people to sign up for information and courses in their local area.

Features proposed for Project Big E will include:

·         an EmComm display

·         DMR and/or other digital mobile mode demo

·         Digital HF modes on a big screen

·         A special event station (N1E) with unique QSL cards

·         SSB, CW and digital modes

·         Demonstrations of portable stations for field operation (i.e., Parks On The Air, Summits On The Air)

·         A live ARISS contact

Project Big E can succeed only if there is a sufficient number of volunteers and radio clubs who agree to participate in the event.  A web page has been created at https://nediv.arrl.org/ProjectBigE.

Also, a special Groups.io mailing list group has been established. To join, send an email to ProjectBigE+subscribe@groups.io.

To volunteer for specific days/hours, go to the special Google form signup sheet and register.

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ARRL Western Massachusetts Section

Section Manager: Raymond P Lajoie, AA1SE

aa1se@arrl.org

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Project Big E Weekly Planning Meetings Begin June 7, 2022

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Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes:

I’m starting a weekly Zoom meeting every Tuesday night at 7:00 pm EDT to discuss all things for the Big E Booth. 

We will start with organization and planning the booth layout as well as the continuation of getting the word out to clubs and volunteers and more. 

Please urge your club presidents to join us too and everyone is invited. I hope to see you on. 

[For Zoom conference information, contact Larry at w1ast@arrl.net or join the groups.io list at groups.io/g/projectbige]

NH Gov. Sununu Proclaims June “Amateur Radio Month”

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NH Amateur Radio Proclamation of Amateur Radio MonthARRL New Hampshire Section Manager Pete Stohrer, W1FEA, announced today that Governor Christopher T. Sununu has proclaimed June as “Amateur Radio Month” in the State of New Hampshire.

The proclamation describes Amateur Radio as “an organized, volunteer communications service asset.” It also mentions the Memorandum of Understanding between the New Hampshire ARRL Section and New Hampshire’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management, “to provide backup communications capabilities in times of disaster.”

ARRL Field Day, held on the weekend of June 25-26, 2022, is highlighted. “New Hampshire Amateur Radio operators will join thousands of other amateurs throughout the United States and the world in sharpening their operating skills under emergency conditions.”

Congratulations to all of the New Hampshire ARRL field organization leaders for making this proclamation possible!

Project Big E Progress Continues

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Big E Recruitment FlyerProject Big E General Chairman Larry Krainson, W1AST, writes on the ProjectBigE mailing list:

As everyone knows, we have been accepted to host a ARISS contact. That’s exciting news and a small team is in place working out the details.

Also, I managed to find a local company that does creative work and will do the live streaming, video editing, projection enhancement and recording of the ARISS contact.  The company is Black Helicopter Creative and they are donating their time and effort to make this contact and the live stream a professional view for all. They have done work for the RedSox, Fenway Park, ESPN and others. You can learn more at:  https://www.blackhelicoptercreative.com/.

Also, I spent an hour on the phone with ICOM the other night and they are very enthusiastic about the booth. They offered to lend us a few HF and VHF/UHF/D-Star radios for the booth. Once the upper management approves, we’ll be locked in for ICOM on our operating table. The goal is to have a hotspot operating too with D-Star, DMR and possibly Fusion able to use it to demonstrate some digital modes.

There is more being planned.

Right now, we are looking for those that have done demonstrations and may have booth displays. The Nashua Club has offered to lend us a few items and we are looking for more from other clubs as well. If you have something, can you either post it here in a picture or email me direct with a description and photo’s please. W1AST@arrl.net.

We have a questionnaire out on the New England Division website: https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e  read down to “How Can I Help” and fill in the Google Form Signup Sheet link.

For those of you traveling from more than 2-3 hours away, I am looking for more HOST families in my area that could accommodate  a few people that want to stay and volunteer. I’m hoping my home club, the HCRA, steps up in a big way for this. My wife and I can accommodate 3 to maybe 4 people. Maybe 2 more if you have a sleeping bag and air mattress or a cot. But, we’re working on that.

Lastly, we are looking for some display cabinets. Does anyone or club have something? Please contact me.

We’re 4 months from the Big E right now. We need you to get the word out to local hams through your clubs. There is a flyer (bright green sheet at Near-Fest) that you can download on the NEDIV site too. We handed out around 250 the Friday of Near-Fest. More went out on Saturday. Get them out to your members please.

We have 17 days we need to man the booth for 12 hours per day per Big E rules. This booth we have is a $4000 booth that is being given to us. We have to make it look good and be there all the time. We set up the day into 2 6 hour shifts. Or anyone is welcome to do a 12 hour shift. It will be a long day, but very worth while. IF you’re wondering about meals, there will be 120 different food vendors there plus what may be available in the State buildings. You won’t go hungry!

So, once again, go here and volunteer:  https://nediv.arrl.org/project-big-e

Best 73 for an enjoyable weekend for all.