Section News From K1EIC - Printable Version +- W1NRG Forum (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum) +-- Forum: General Discussions (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=10) +--- Forum: Ham Related Discussions (https://www.w1nrg.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Thread: Section News From K1EIC (/showthread.php?tid=424) |
Section News From K1EIC - N1API - 01-30-2015 de N1API Of particular interest: The resignation of NC1L, Bill Moore from the ARRL as Awards Manager The use of DMR radios in the recent snow emergency by section leaders The decision by the Boxboro Convention Committee to make the affair a yearly event. BREAK ----------------------------------------------------------------- Section Leadership: Section Manager (SM) Betsey, K1EIC Assistants (ASMs): Emeritus Al, W1FXQ; Jim, KD1YV; Larry, K1HEJ Official Observer Coordinator (OOC) Chuck, K1DFS Public Information Coordinator (PIC) Dana, KA1WPM Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) Wayne, N1CLV Assistants (ASECs): Rod, N1FNE; Brian, K1BRF; Art, AF1HS; Ron, K1VSC; Bill, W1GTT State Government Liaison (SGL) Jon, WF1H Section Traffic Manager (STM) Anne, K1STM Technical Coordinator (TC) Steve W1SMS Here’s a note from Bill Moore NC1L that he wants to share. “After much consultation with my family and as a result of the life changing accident I suffered in July, 2014, I have decided to relinquish my position as Awards Manager at ARRL Hq and focus my full effort on physical therapy. I have enjoyed my years at ARRL and the countless friends I have made within the ham radio community. I hope to maintain contact as best I can vie email and hope someday I will be able to get back on the bands. Email can be sent to me at BillMooreNC1L@Gmail.com and while I plan to read each and every one, I cannot promise to reply in a timely manner. With much gratitude and sincere thanks, Wilfred (Bill) Moore, NC1L” We’re all praying for you Bill. During this week’s blizzard, many ops were busy helping out on Sky Warn nets, deploying to Red Cross shelters, communicating as part of CERT communications teams, monitoring activity in case needed and I’m sure other activities not mentioned here. Hartford and Tolland County Sky Warn coordinated by Roger K1PAI ran nets throughout the early morning hours when most were asleep. I had planned to make the 2:00 a.m. net but never made it. For the first time, our SEC Wayne N1CLV and his leadership team used DMR (digital mobile radio) to conduct scheduled meetings and monitor the situation throughout the Section. Over 50 ARES members checked into the DMR net Sunday night to be updated about changes in the network and information about the storm. About the same number participated in the regular 2 meter ARES net to prepare for the storm. Here’s a comment from EC Greg KB1YHW which I think expresses our sentiments about the new CT ARES DMR network and its use during storm Oliver. I am quoting it here with permission: Thank you Wayne for your leadership of the CT ARES response team and the impressive utilization of the CT-ARES DMR network. The 99.9 - 100% statewide ARES participation in the communication Nets, including the CT State EOC, demonstrated CT-ARES network capability and CT ARES leadership vision during the storm Oliver activation. Thank you CSPARC (CT State Police ARC) for CT-ARES DMR network design, logistical support, and guiding light.”—Greg KB1YHW Well stated Greg. Wayne received a thank you for excellent service from Sue Rochester-Bolen, Senior Director Emergency Services, American Red Cross CT-RI Region. She commended the “absolutely great team” of ARES ops who manned her shelters. Two shelters were open, one in East Lyme and another in Norwich. Thank you for your service on whatever band and mode you used. Everyone was attentive and thoroughly engaged. DECs, all assistants, ECs, good work! I attended Director Frenaye’s Division cabinet meeting along with several club presidents from the Section. Those attending were Don K1CMM immediate past president Middlesex ARS, Stan W2VID president Southern Berkshire ARS, Chip N1MIE president RASON, Liz N1MLG from RASON, and Peter KB1KZC president ICRC along with Chris KB1YNE vice president. We learned that the committee that organizes the New England Division Convention in Boxboro, MA is considering having the hamfest yearly. It will be held this year during the last weekend of August. The program committee is looking for your ideas on forums; contact Vice Director Mike K1TWF k1twf@arrl.org. Tom gave us some figures showing the number of new hams in the Division over the last 6 months and the number of upgrades. Looking at the numbers, CT is second in New England in both categories with Eastern MA number one. EMA had 168 new hams and CT 110. There were 68 upgrades in EMA with CT not far behind at 51. Not bad but I bet with all the training going on here, we’ll do even better next year! The New Year brings some changes. Bob KB1RGQ has stepped down as net manager of the Nutmeg VHF Traffic Net so he can focus on recovering from upcoming orthopedic surgeries. Bob very much enjoyed managing the net for over 3 years and did a very fine job. We all express our thanks to him for serving as net manager. It was a pleasure working with you Bob. Another Bob has stepped up to lead this net. STM Anne K1STM recruited a fine traffic handler. KB1ZBH has assumed the duties of NM of this net. He is an active traffic handler on The Western CT Traffic Net and the Nutmeg VHF Traffic net so we’re real pleased to have him come aboard and join the NTS leadership team. Thanks Bob—congratulations. BTW, this net was the first VHF traffic NTS net started by Bill Baldyga, K1YGS and others. And WESCONN was started by then STM Joe W1AIU (first STM) during the blizzard of ’78. Congratulations to ASM Emeritus Al Cohen W1FXQ. He was featured in the QCWA Journal for 80 years as an Amateur radio operator! Wow! Congratulations to Bill KW1B now located in NC on his upcoming marriage in late April. Bill checks into our nets when he can. DMR ops, listen for him on the North America talk group. Just before this year’s storm hit, The Greater Bridgeport and Greater Norwalk clubs each coordinated a winter field day. Greater Bridgeport ops went to the Recreations Center in Shelton and Greater Norwalk used their new communications center. Clubs worked between 100 and 130 stations, had several participants including new hams and enjoyed the camaraderie together at a time when it’s more difficult to be together. I had hoped to visit each group but the ice and my difficult driveway kept me at home. Joel Hallas W1ZR will speak at the next meeting of The Greater Fairfield Amateur Radio Association to be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:30 at the Fairfield Police Station. The topic is of interest to all of us: Antenna Gain: What does it Mean? “We all have an idea of what gain means – but what does antenna gain really mean and how do we measure it? How can we compare different manufacturers' antenna specifications and how can we make sense of all of their claims?” The Bloomfield Amateur Radio Club had a demonstration of the CS-700 radio and general discussion about DMR at their January meeting. Tim Walker W1GIG was given honorary membership in the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club and was given a plaque for his many years of service to GNARC. Congratulations Tim! Tom K1TA announces that there are 25 members in the “Fairfield County Ham Trader” on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/FCHamTrader/. For further information contact tom@k1ta.com. I’m pleased to see many training opportunities this winter. There’s more in-person activity during the cold months than ever before. Earlier this month, over 40 ops participated in a workshop on the topic of programming DMR radios. The workshop was coordinated by the CT State Police ARC. Workshop leaders were Paul N1RHN our host, Pat N1OTW, Ed K1ZE, Scott N1KSX and SEC Wayne N1CLV. Participants very much appreciated this hands-on opportunity to learn more about this new digital mode in Amateur radio. It was well organized and lots of fun! In the last 4 months, 22 repeaters (with 2 more to come on board soon) have been added to the network. Pat N1OTW does the heavy networking tasks. Others in the club who were not at the workshop are Bob KC1BNS and Matt KA9CRG. They are all often heard on the air working hard to make CT’s ARES DMR network the best it can be. Many thanks to the clubs and individuals who have stepped up to the plate and sponsored repeaters. This continues to be a cooperative and collaborative effort. Make this your year to upgrade. A General license prep class is forming now. Paul Gibson, N1TUP will conduct it on 5 Fridays beginning 1/30/2015 at 7 PM in the Manchester EOC, 2nd floor, 321 Olcott Street, Manchester, CT 06040. Classes and study materials are free courtesy of The BEARS amateur radio club. The FCC exam fee is $15. Please contact Paul Gibson, paul.gibson@snet.net, to sign up. The Charter Oak Amateur Radio Club is in its third week of a course for the Amateur Extra Class license. Here’s a report from OOC Chuck K1DFS, one of the instructors. “There are seventeen students from throughout Connecticut, including a husband-wife team from next to the New York line in lower Fairfield County. It's a full class!! We are teaching from the ARRL Extra Class Manual, 10th Edition, using a number of proven aids such as PowerPoint slides from successful courses offered by others, as well as our own, a full set of quizzes given and graded weekly, demonstration materials, and in-depth discussions of critical materials. The Team consists of three principal instructors: Chuck-K1DFS, George-N1RMF, Mike-N1QLN, with assistant instructors Walt-K1WMS and Jack-K1NKS. This course is the third in a course cycle of Technician to General to Extra Class. These courses are all ten weeks in length, with a pass rate, so far, in excess of ninety percent of those who complete the course. This gives validity to the decision by the Team to commit to teach a full schedule of ten week courses and the commitment of the students to put in the time and effort to be successful. Success requires time and effort, on everyone's part!” For more information, write k1dfs@arrl.net. DEC George AB1GL is conducting a technician class sponsored by The Newington Amateur Radio League. The course just started so if you know of someone interested, contact George ab1gl@arrl.net to see if there is still room. On the ARES front, you can take the ICS courses in person. Here’s the scoop. Schedule of upcoming courses Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington St, Wallingford; time 8:30 a.m. February 21 IS-700 - The National Incident Management System (NIMS) March 21 IS-200 - Resources and Initial Action Incidents April 18 IS-800 - The National Response Framework And there’s more. Region 2 ARES is offering RMS Express 101 Getting Started with RMS Express on Saturday, February 7 in Wallingford (see paragraph above) at 8:30 a.m. Data Communications is one of the primary communications tools we have available to support our "Served Agencies", and CT ARES - Region 2 is offering a Saturday morning workshop to get you started on your path to using RMS Express, and that will be followed in March with "RMS Express 201 - Practical Applications". Contact DEC Douglas WA1SFH wa1sfh@arrl.net for further information. The Algonquin Amateur Radio Club of Marlborough MA is holding its annual Ham Radio flea market on Saturday, February 14, 2015. We invite all hams as buyers, vendors or ragchewers. VEC licensing exams will also be available, starting at 9:00 AM. The market will be held at the 1LT Charles W. Whitcomb Middle School (25 Union St, Marlborough MA), located within about two miles of the intersection of I-290 and I-495. Doors open at 6:30 AM for vendor setup and 9:00 AM for buyers. We have alternate/overflow parking at the nearby Marlborough High School with a bus running between parking lots and the flea entrance. General admission is $5. Vendor tables may be purchased in advance for $15 (before Feb 6 or $20 at the door) and include admission for one. Details and a flyer with a vendor reservation form are available through our web page: www.n1em.org (aka. www.qsl.net/n1em/) Further queries can be sent to: fleamarket@n1em.org. I have unfortunately two very sad items to report. I have just learned that EC KB1TOR Paul Gibb’s younger brother Kenny was killed in an automobile accident this past Thursday in Barkhamsted. He was only 46 years old. This is really devastating news. You can send notes and cards of sympathy to Paul at 339 Norfolk Road, Litchfield, CT 06759; email kb1tor@arrl.net. Some of you will remember Rob NA1O, former EC of Brookfield. Well, I just learned that in August, he lost his 27-year-old daughter Jessica and in November his wife Linne, KA1OLP passed away. I hope many of you will email Rob na1o@arrl.net, give him your support and encourage him to become active when he can. Paul and Rob, we’re all here for you. We’re keeping your families in your prayers. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Connecticut Section Section Manager: Betsey M Doane, K1EIC k1eic@arrl.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from messages, go to: http://p1k.arrl.org/oo/de61fae8ff45ec3d7a90faa0b7efc745 |