Ken Dion, KD1KU, writes on the HCRA mailing list:
The Hampden County Radio Association hosts a New Ham Net every Thursday evening at 7 pm on the W1BR repeater in Holyoke, MA, 146.715 (negative offset) with a PL tone of 100.0.
This Net is geared towards helping new hams get over mic shyness, proper operating procedure or with any questions they may have regarding any aspect of the hobby in a relaxed and friendly environment.
The new ham net is only open to NEW hams who have received their licenses within the last 5 years, hams that have returned to the hobby recently and all HCRA members. Net control is Gary, KC1JZR who is a newer ham himself.
As HCRA members please support this net by stopping by to say hello! Netlogger is used during this net and can be downloaded free at https://www.netlogger.org (not required),
If you are a new ham or know someone licensed during the last 5 years and can access the 146.715 repeater please join us on Thursdays at 7 pm!
73, Ken – KD1KU
“Talking to Astronauts: An Elementary School’s Exciting ARISS Contact”
RATPAC’s scheduled Wednesday’s February 24 Zoom presentation will be at: 
The February, 2021 Rhode Island Section Manager Report is now available at <
Randy Dore, AI1G, writes:
At its Annual Meeting in January, the ARRL Board of Directors considered a motion to offer a new plan that would pay the new but not-yet-implemented $35 FCC application fee for a limited number of new radio amateurs younger than age 18 who, at the time of testing, belonged to an ARRL Affiliated 501(c)(3) charitable organization and passed their tests through an ARRL VEC-sponsored exam session. The proposal called for reducing the VEC fee for these candidates to $5. The initial proposal came from ARRL Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB. Other Board members offered subsidiary motions. Supporters said the purpose behind the motion was to ameliorate the potential financial hardship the pending FCC application fee posed on certain minors applying for their first license, and to encourage new youth membership. [
Please plan to attend Wednesday’s February 17 Zoom presentation. 
Affiliated Club Coordinators, Section Managers, and other section staff from New England met on Sunday, February 14, 2021 to discuss the status of ARRL affiliated radio clubs and to share ideas on improving them. Dubbed “New England ACC” or NEACC, the group plans to hold quarterly meetings. They’ve established a groups.io listserv for discussion in between meetings.