W8ZY Steps Down as Connecticut SEC, “Steps Up” at ARRL Headquarters

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CT ARES logoConnecticut Section Emergency Coordinator Mike Waters, W8ZY, writes on the CT-ARES list:

Well, if you have been keeping up with the announcements coming from ARRL you might have seen my name in one of them. As of June 7, [2021]  I have joined the HQ staff and am now the Field Services Manager. Unfortunately there is room in my life for only one position like this so I have submitted my resignation as SEC to our section manager. I will still be around and am assisting in the selection of my replacement. I will still be a CT ARES member and will participate where I can in drills and deployments.

This has been a very enjoyable and often very fulfilling position for me and I want to thank all of the ARES volunteers who give their time and resources for the job. Without all of you there would be no ARES.

Thank you for your support and dedication.

Thanks

Mike, W8ZY

[See also: “Revitalization of Field Services with New Organization“]

Revitalization of Field Services with New Organization

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ARRL logoFrom 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.

Meriden ARC Fox Hunters Get It Done

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Meriden ARC fox huntersDave Tipping, NZ1J, writes on the Meriden ARC Facebook page:

Bart, N1BRL, and Joe, K1JCF, were the Foxes this week. They both did a very good job of staying out of sight while keeping an eye on the transmitters.

Gunner, KC1OSR, got four apprentice Fox Hunters to join him today. It’s great to see so many new faces on a hunt.

As is often the case, more than half the hunters were somewhere else when we posed for the photo. -NZ1J

Ham Callsign Plates Problematic For NH EZPass

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MA ham operator plate sampleGeorge Harlem, VA2EBI/ W1EBI writes on the YCCC list:

This is new.  I have had my callsign license plate for several years.  It seems always to be recorded at gas stations as “W1/EBI”, but that lightning bolt after the W1 is giving EZDriveMA trouble.  I got an invoice from NH EZPass for a trip through the Hampton tolls last month, based on their plate camera, but MA EZPass says there is nothing wrong with my transponder. 

The customer service rep told me my plate should not have been listed with a slash since that character can’t be processed by their computer!  We usually take my wife’s Jeep to Maine, but I know I have driven my Chrysler sedan to Maine numerous times and have never received an invoice from NH.  The rep at MA EZPass told me not to pay the NH invoice, she is going to have supervisor look into this.

So does anyone else in Massachusetts with their call sign license plate have a similar story?

George W1/EBI on the car, VA2EBI on the air

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Field Day Promoted on WOON Radio in Woonsocket, RI

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Blackstone Valley ARCBob Jones, WB1P, writes on the Blackstone Valley ARC (RI) list:

For those who did not catch it,  Ron Blais, KB1RYT, made a fantastic presentation earlier today [June 11, 2021] promoting Field Day on Woonsocket’s WOON radio.  He covered all the aspects of the event and stressed the Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club‘s involvement in the activity including its purpose and  schedule.

Thank you Ron!!

Volunteer Wanted to Represent VTNH Occasionally to 1RN

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Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, writes on the ARRL Members Only List:
 
Dear New Hampshire and Vermont Members:
 
I’ve just read the First Region Net (1RN) Traffic Report for May 2021. Interestingly, out of the 62 sessions in May (one early, one late), “VTNH” (the two are counted together) was represented only in only 44 of the 62 sessions (combining the early and late sessions, a rate of 71%). The comparable number for Maine was 98%. As W1RVY, the manager of the net, says: “It is a great way to develop and hone CW skills. We are willing to train, too!” Furthermore, it is not too much of a time-sink, as the average minutes per session are 9.5 (early) and 7.9 (late). Under 10 minutes!
 
If this interests you, please contact Eric Wilhelm, ecwilcom@msn.com,
 
W1RVY.
 
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ARRL New England Division
Director: Fred Hopengarten, K1VR
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First Region Net “Going Strong”

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NTS logoEric Wilhelm, W1RVY, writes: 

“I have been First Region Net (1RN) Manager for a couple years now. I’d like more hams to realize that NTS is active above the local level.  I’m proud to say that 1RN has been going continuously (as far as I know!), twice daily, since 1949.  Checking in and handling traffic is a great way to develop and hone CW skills.  We are willing to train, too!“

[June 2021 1RN Net Report]

 

For more information, contact Eric at ecwilcom@msn.com.

 

New England Parks On The Air Activations, June 5, 2021

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Parks On The Air logoSeveral Parks On The Air (POTA) stations are currently on the air in New England, according to the POTA.app website. 

K-1674). Jeff was spotted on 7248 kHz.

In New Hampshire, Harry, W1HMM, is QRV from Urban Forestry Center State Forest (K-4973) on 14.303 kHz. 

KC1NDQ, Fran, and Mike, KC1LFF, are operating from Colt State Park K-2872 in Bristol, Rhode Island on 7246 kHz. According to their Facebook post, it’s Mike’s first HF contact! [See also: BCRA POTA Operation at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI, June 5, 2021]

Contest and DX Activities Changing Venues at Dayton Hamvention in 2022

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Tim Duffy, K3LR, writes on the Contest Reflector:

Attention Contesters and DXers! Contest-related activities that have previously taken place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel during the Dayton Hamvention® are moving to the Hope Hotel beginning in 2022.

In May 2022, official Contesting activities will be at the Hope Hotel, including four nights of the Contest Super Suite, Contest University, The Top Band Dinner, The Contest Dinner and the KC DX Club CW copying competition. There may be additional related events as well.

The Hope Hotel is an excellent facility, well suited for Contesters and DXers. There is plenty of parking and it is located closer to the Hamvention than the downtown Dayton hotels. The Hope Hotel is adjacent to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Guests do not go through the security gate.

We have spent almost two years working on this project and we believe you will enjoy the change of venue.

Room reservations will be taken by the Hope Hotel starting on Tuesday June 8, 2021 at 9 AM EDT. Do not call them before that time. You can get room reservations by phone only. If you try to book on line you will see that there are no rooms for those dates. Every room in the Hope Hotel has been blocked for Contesters and DXers for Hamvention week.  Starting Tuesday June 8, 2021 at 9 AM EDT, you can call 937-879-2696 and ask for a reservation in the Contest University 2022 room block. There is no minimum night commitment. The room rate is $143 per night plus tax and that includes a hot buffet breakfast each day of your stay. The room rate is the same for a single queen, two queens or a single king with a pull out.

If you have 2022 reservations at the Crowne Plaza (now the Radisson Hotel Dayton) you can contact the Radisson  at (937) 224-0800 to cancel and obtain any refunds. The Radisson is aware of the venue change for our activities.

Please spread the word to all Contest Club reflectors, etc.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night, May 18, 2022, for the first night of the 2022 Contest Super Suite at the Hope Hotel.

https://www.hopehotel.com/ 

73,

Tim K3LR

For the Contest Hotel Committee