MARA W1/GaZette
June 2003 MONTACHUSETT AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION Vol 45 No. 10
In This Issue...
Next Meeting 1
Watt's Happening 2
May Meeting Report3
Old Timer's Lunch 6
LEMA Notes 6
ECARS Annual Meeting 7
SKYWARN Training 9
Contributors To This Issue:
K1JHC, AA2T, KB1EBZ
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Next Meeting
Wednesday, June 11 7:30PM Fitchburg Central Fire Station Annual Meeting & Elections
The order of business for the MARA Annual Meeting, on the regular 2nd Wednesday meeting night, includes election of officers.
This is an important choice we make each year; while all members share responsibility for setting the tone and direction of your Club, the officers guide the discussion, speak on your behalf with publicofficials, and manage the affairs of the Club. We all owe a debt of gratitude to those who volunteer to accept these added roles. It is easy to comment about meeting programs but it takes extra dedication to the Club and its members to actually do something about it.
Nominations for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are accepted from the floor during the meeting.
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New Members: KB1JCE, K1NX
Welcome to new MARA members George Oliver KB1JCE and Mark Darrigo K1NX of Leominster. Mark is Deputy Director, Communications Unit, in Leominster Emergency Management.
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W1MBL SK
MARA mourns the passing of long-time member Bill Forman W1MBL. Bill had a degree in Agricultural Engineering from University of Maine and was the President of Fitchburg Engineering Corporation, a machine tools business started by his father.
Bill was a member of the WPA - Park Department Radio Club in Fitchburg, a predecessor of MARA. That club was formed in 1936 when Bill was 19 and Bill was an enthusiastic participant from those early days. W1MBL was an active ham, primarily on CW despite his noisy downtown Fitchburg location; next door to him was a doctor's office with an X-Ray machine. Bill was proud to have made WAS from this
location with a simple antenna.
Bill served as an electronics technician's mate in the Navy and was also a train buff.
Bill and his wife Laura, enjoyed retirement, traveling around the world. On one tour to New Zealand their tour group just happened to meet another. The Formans were surprised to see the Ryders, W1OOY and his wife from Westminster.
Shortly before Laura's death in 2000, Bill was injured in an automobile accident and had been in poor health for several years.
Thanks to Norm W1LXE for most of the details reported here.
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Watt's Happening
Sundays, 0830 local 3937
Western Mass Emergency Net. Alternate frequency is 3942 in case of QRN, QRM, or frequency in-use. Also a good idea to scan up and down 10kHz if you cannot find the net.
Sundays, 0900 local 145.45- Montachusett Emergency Net
Tuesdays, 2030 local 145.37- Templeton Emergency Net
Wednesdays, 2100 local 28.341 Harvard Repeater Club 10 meter sideband net "Activity Night"
Nightly, 2100 local 146.97- Central Mass Traffic Net
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1800 local 3942 MHz Western Mass Traffic Net (phone)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 1900 local 3562 MHz Western Mass Traffic Net (cw, slow)
First Monday, 1900 local 3943, 7245 RACES Net
First Wednesday, 2000 local 3915 K1ARC Red Cross Net http://www.qsl.net/k1arc/
Sunday, June 15, Cambridge MA Flea at MIT; third Sunday April to October
Sunday, July 20, Cambridge MA Flea at MIT; third Sunday April to October
Saturday, September 27, Orange MA Mohawk ARA flea, Elk's Lodge, 8am
see the W1GSL NE Fleas list for additional details and events:
http://web.mit.edu/w1gsl/Public/ne-fleas
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May Meeting
The May MARA meeting was called to order at 1935 by President Gary K1YTS. Members present were Gordon N1MGO, Gary K1YTS, Jerry AA2T, Norm W1BYH, Tom K1JHC, Norm W1LXE, Phil N1QAM, Ralph KD1SM, Charlie
KT1I, Pauline KB1JXJ, and Barry N1XYH. Mark Darrigo K1NX was a guest.
The report of the April meeting was accepted as printed in the May W1/GaZette.
Committee Reports:
Gordon also reported receiving a letter from Ware & Ware, Attorneys,on behalf of Bill Forman W1MBL, informing us that Bill had moved to Fairlawn Nursing Home. Bill's membership had lapsed. Norm W1BYH
moved to continue to send the newsletter to Bill at Fairlawn. Motion carried.
Old Business:
Lion's Club Canoe Race (Gary K1YTS): several hams from Pepperell helped at this event. The Communications Command Post was setup at the railroad trestle where trees had collected against the pilings. The water rose overnight, allowing several canoes to pass straight through though most portaged around the trestle.
Gary noted that there was no direct communications with the Townsend Police Department so he was initially unaware of the agencies that were searching for the two "missing" boys. Gary felt that some time could have been saved had we had direct communications.
Boy Scout Camporee (Paul KD1YH): The Amateur Radio activity had to remain in the upper part of the field due to mud, which was separated from other camporee activities down in the woods. Gary K1YTS reported that the Scouts made contact with other Camporee groups in Rhode Island and Virginia.
Matt Ciampaglia presented a certificate of appreciation to MARA thanking the group for its participation. Matt said this was the first time Amateur Radio had been involved and the Scouts were talking about it afterward. 180 Scouts participated, plus 50 leaders.
Field Day:
Gary K1YTS reported no status update on approval for use of Mt. Wachusett. Gary did speak with the new Ranger at the State Park who indicated that he did not foresee any problems with MARA being on the Mountain the same weekend as the Longsjo race.
Jerry AA2T is organizing the Class F Field Day at LEMA; he will begin these arrangements in earnest after his upcoming ECARS meeting. Mark K1NX said that all ARES and RACES folk were welcome to participate at the LEMA EOC for Field Day.
Norm W1BYH moved that we "seriously consider" operating Field Day only from the LEMA HQ. Gordon N1MGO expressed concern about limited space for antennas at that location, and noted that some members wanted to operate Class A. Gordon further reminded those present that both the Harvard Repeater Association and the Mohawk Amateur Radio Club are expecting to join us on Mt. Wachusett. No action was taken on Norm's motion.
New Business:
Gary K1YTS reminds the meeting that elections are in June and nomination are needed. Gordon N1MGO said he was willing to continue as Treasurer.
MARA does not meet during July or August; the next regular meeting will be in September.
Ralph KD1SM reported that he had received an inquiry from an Amateur Radio-related business regarding paid advertising in the W1/GaZette.
He forwarded this to the Board of Directors who, after some discussion, approved accepting this ad.
Norm W1BYH expressed surprise that he had not heard any discussion of this at a meeting and asked if other businesses would be permitted to advertise. Gary said that advertising had been discussed over the past 8 months and that the Officers would welcome advertising from any other Amateur Radio-related business.
The meeting adjourned at 2035.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
See you at Field Day, then at the September MARA meeting.
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May Old Timer's Lunch;
de Tom K1JHC
The Old Timers had their monthly luncheon on Wednesday May 7, 2003 at Bickford's Restaurant. Members present were Gerry K1BBV, Norm W1LXE, Roy W1OOY, and Tom K1JHC. Food and different Restaurants were the topic of the day. The use of wound baluns and coax baluns came up as matching devices for loop antennas. Well Wishes go out to Ollie Parker, and Waldo Nason.
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June Old Timer's Lunch
de Tom K1JHC
The Old Timers had their monthly luncheon on Wednesday June 4th, 2003 at Bickford's Restaurant. Members present were Norm W1BYH, Norm W1LXE, Roy W1OOY, Howard W1TQB, and Tom K1JHC. We all got a chukle out of a Walgreens advertisement for a New/Old radio with glowing tubes. Plans to hold a Class F Field Day operation at the Leominster OEM were the current topic, along with the continuing discussion of various types of wire antennas and suggestions to try DX with a 40 driving tests we all had to take with stick shifts and 3 point turns on the steepest hill in town using the clutch, food brake, and gas pedal all at the same time to keep the car from slipping backwards.
Our long time member Bill Forman, W1MBL passed away on May22nd. sorely missed by all. By the time you read this we will have had our June meeting. Please join us in September after our summer break.
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LEMA Notes;
de Jerry AA2T
Leominster OEM Communication Unit meeting notes:
May 20,2003
We will start assigning dispatching duties for neighborhood watch. Right now there has not been enough volunteers.
We will meet June 21 to put up ham windom antenna and move small tower to roof for 6/2/440 use. Will be used for field day as well.
We need to take the DTN weather system down also, the feed horn assy. is no longer being used.
We now have 47 HT's from the police department and they have all been reprogrammed. Gang chargers are now also installed to support them.
HVAC system is still out to bid. We cannot go any further due to installing ducting needs to be done. After that is done, electrical work can be finished and dropped ceiling can be installed.
We need a planning committee to setup a communications drill using ICS. Looking to possibly line it up with the Oct 17-18 SET. Mark to get committee together.
Field Day plans: Will run 3 stations from EOC at 100W level:
Digital station w/ 20 meter dipole -- Will use my Alinco, Rigblaster and notebook. Will use for SSTV bonus, and demo PSK, RTTY to public.
706MKIIG and tuner -- Bill W1UD and 40m inv V off the tower. Will set up in back dock area. Use hf/vhf antennas off 100' tower.
OEM's 706MKIIG -- MFJ tuner and 80M Carolina windom off tower to telephone pole on other end of the property
Will use call KB1DGA, will use 2 notebooks from Jerry using CT log. Bill will provide his own.
Bonus points planned:
W1AW Bulletin -- Jerry
Site Visit -- Served agency and city official -- Mark; Mark will chase after we release press release.
SSTV- digital station
Alt Power; Battery -- Bill
Publicity -- Mark -- press release with Charlie Coggins and the city for approval. Will send to city councilors after approval and arrange visit.
Set up visitor log in table.
Tom is ordering FD package from ARRL.
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ECARS Annual Meeting Notes
de Jerry AA2T
May 17, 2003
Executive Committee: Tom KB1EFA., John W2LKS, Charlie N2CJ, Art K2TRK, Jerry AA2T, and net manager Russ K1LRB
Charlie N2CJ gave treasurer's report. We have 752 paid members at this point.
New Business:
Looking at a new location for next years meeting. Atlantic City is being discussed.
Al - KA3UMB to lead the committee with Jay -- K3SEA to look into it.
Tom KB1EFA asked for volunteers to set up a budget committee. Marty K1PIG will chair the committee and AL KA3UMB, Jeff W4BIX will help out.
Art K2TRK made a motion to change the by-laws by the by-law/constitution committee such that the membership is a yearly cycle from the date that the initial membership is received. Seconded
by Russ K1LRB. Motion passed unanimously.
We had a situation where there was a tie for the director's slot. The executive forwarded a suggestion that the nominating committee will become the election committee. The election committee will then use possibly scenario of going by seniority and if that doesn't work, use a coin toss by the president. There was some discussion aroundthis. Joe WY3T made a motion to put request the by-law committee look at using the net manager be the tie-breaking vote on the executive committee when here is an election tie. Motion seconded by K3PIG Jay. Motion passed unanimously. There is no real need for a motion here. There was comment from Jerry N3XWT as to also ask the committee to formalize a coin toss only so to keep the decision non-political.
Marty - K1PIG made a motion to allow the executive committee to spend up to $75 for flowers for any silent key from the ranks of our executive committee, NCS, and net coordinators. This was not
seconded. There is also a requirement that ECARS send a card. Ray K4GYN suggested that the cards be made unique to ECARS and he will work on the graphics design. There were several comments to keep the
ECARS activities to sending cards and that announcements over the air would be made (and on web page). This way multiple members would be aware of the situation and if they wanted to, that membership group can get together and purchase flowers.
Charles N2CJ needs a laptop for ECARS usage only and would be passed to the next Secretary/Treasurer. Joe WY3T made a motion to spend up to $1500 for a laptop. Seconded by Mark K3MP. Motion passed
unanimously.
Tom KB1EFA opened the floor to discussions on possible group activities. There was some discussion for a ECARs QSO party. Joe WY3T will chair a committee to look into an ECARS QSO party and come up
with a proposed set of rules. Art K2TRK and Joe KB3HOT will assist and report back in a year. There was a question as to the level of interest in a ECARS field day even. Most of the comments had concerns that field day is a local event and ECARS is a diverse group.
There was also a suggestion to have a special events station. Jerry AA2T will look into it and find out if there is some way we can run this. Will check if there is an anniversary date and if multiple NCSs can use the special call sign on a weekend. Russ will assist.
Art K2TRK made the suggestion that the net manager become part of the executive committee. This will require another appointee in order to keep the count an odd number. Tom KB1EFA recommended this be forwarded to the by-laws/constitution committee. Any change has to be in the August edition of the monitor in order to meet the lead times for voting per the constitution.
John W2LKS recommended that there be a door prize at next years annual meeting something like a 2M rig (approximately $200).
Marty K1PIG brought up that the by-laws has a comment in section 1 that excludes Canadian citizens. This was an oversight and needs to be changed by the by-laws committee as soon as possible. Jay K3SEA also said that the wording around the reciprocal licensing that could be changed to include all licensed hams. Jay said he would work on possible wording for the by-law/constitution committee and join the committee.
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Hints & Kinks
When working a Public Service event in inclement weather, protecting your radio from the elements is an important task.
Think of a long, narrow plastic bag that will fit down over your HT and its antenna. Where do you find these? They come for free, with your newspaper wrapped inside.
Save those bags!
[photo]
Left: Certificate presented to MARA by Matt Ciampaglia, Camporee Chair.
[photo]
Right: Matt Ciampaglia presents Certificate of Appreciate to MARA.
Paul KD1YH assisted with the Camporee activites and organized the Ham component.
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Remembering The Worcester County Tornado, June 9, 1953
Thursday, June 5, 2003 84 Minutes (Exhibition Opening)Worcester Historical Museum 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 7, 2003 Tornado! 84 Minutes 93 Lives Tatnuck Book Seller Book Signing with John O'Toole 10:00 a.m.
Saturday, June 7, 2003 "The Torando of 1953: A Historical Assumption College Perspective" La Maison Auditorium 2:00 p.m.
A Day of Remembrance Monday, June 9, 2003
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open Reflections, Exhibitions, Tours Quinsigamond Community College WORCESTERTALKS- Oral History Hebert Auditorium Lobby Recordings
4:30 p.m. Laying of Memorial Wreath The Tornado Memorial
5:00 p.m. Ecumenical Memorial Service Quinsigamond Community College Presented by: Assumption College Hebert Auditorium
5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Tornado Panel Discussion Quinsigamond Community College Hosted by Dr. William Minsinger Hebert Auditorium Blue Hill Weather Observatory
6:25 p.m WBZ 4 Weather Documentary WBZ 4 Weather Documentary Quinsigamond Community College Hosted by Meteorologist Mish Michaels Hebert Auditorium
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. SKYWARN Weather Observers Seminar Worcester Emergency Management Office Presented by: National Weather Service 50 Skyline Drive Hosted by: Worcester Emergency Mgmt./
Worcester Emergency Communications Team
Seating and Parking are limited. Please visit