Fwd: Eastern MA Section Newsletter, March 2024

[Charles Bresnahan]

Charlie/K1CB, Secretary, Falmouth Amateur Radio Association

Subject: Eastern MA Section Newsletter, March 2024

It’s mid-March and after some wacky late-winter weather, it feels like
spring is in the air!  I hope you all have not been affected by the
heavy rain and sometimes floods. On the other hand, I hear from my NH
and VT contacts that they’re well into “mud season,” and it’s
shaping up to be an epic one. We could have it much worse!  


* Beware the Ides of March!

Good advice for Caesar (even if maybe he didn’t heed it).  For the
rest of us: I’m just hoping for no rain, thunderstorms, high winds, or
God forbid, snow!


* Help Do Some Research During the Upcoming Eclipse

The Case Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU, the club station at Case Western
Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, is asking for amateur radio
operators to help with a research project centered around the April 8,
2024, solar eclipse. Help some college-age hams do some cool research!


Full details at
https://nediv.arrl.org/2024/02/25/amateur-radio-operators-needed-for-help-with-solar-eclipse-project/



* Eversource to the Rescue

The [Barnstable ARC] W1MA wide-area repeater [Dennis, Cape Cod, MA] lost
commercial power during the February Nor’easter when a 4000 V feeder
circuit failed. After several days of backing up the W1MA BARC
repeater’s batteries with a generator, Eversource repaired - at its
own expense – the feeder circuit.  

A big shout-out goes to long-time BARC member and past President Steve
Boyson, N1VLG. Steve used his contacts with Eversource to arrange for
the repair at no cost to the ham community (saving thousands of
dollars). And a big shout-out to Eversource for their work and
recognition of the value of Amateur Radio to the community.  

Full stories at
https://ema.arrl.org/2024/02/23/eversource-to-the-rescue-w1ma-r-has-power-again/
and
https://ema.arrl.org/2024/03/09/barnstable-arc-hosts-eversource-honorees/



* NEAR-Fest Dates Changed for Spring 2024 Only  

Final reminder: dates for the ever-popular NEAR-Fest are changed for
Spring, 2024 ONLY, to April 25-26. Details at
https://ema.arrl.org/2024/01/27/near-fest-xxxv-changes-and-news-updated-january-27-2024/
or at https://near-fest.com/  


* Updated ARRL Library Book Program  

Would you or your club like to donate Amateur Radio books to a local
library, school, college, student radio club, etc.? ARRL has updated its
Library Book Program. The set includes the most popular ARRL
publications. Details at https://www.arrl.org/library-book-set  


* Cape Ann ARA to Conduct Tech-in-a-Day Class

The Cape Ann ARA [Gloucester, MA] will conduct a Tech-in-a-Day on April
20, 2024.  This is an excellent opportunity to mint more hams on the
North Shore. Thanks to the Cape Ann ARA for doing this!  

Full story at
https://ema.arrl.org/2024/02/22/cape-ann-ara-tech-in-a-day-study-course-april-20-2024/



* Titanic Event and POTA Activation April 12-14

This is an annual event to commemorate the April 15, 1912, sinking of
the Titanic. The event is run by the Titanic Marconi Memorial Radio
Association of Cape Cod (a.k.a. Barry KB1TLR and friends).  This year
the group will also be activating the Cape Cod National Seashore for
Parks on the Air (POTA). The special event will be spotted on the DX
spotting networks as W1MGY. Give them a call!

Full details at
https://ema.arrl.org/2024/02/21/titanic-event-and-pota-activation-april-12-14/



* New England Affiliated Club Coordinators (ACCs) Get Sync’ed Up

Thanks to Eastern MA ACC Bruce, K1BG, for pulling together a meeting of
all New England ACCs and SMs. The group brainstormed ideas for getting
clubs active and reinvigorating clubs. One idea was a section-wide award
for best club newsletter. Stay tuned to this column for more details as
they develop.


* N1ILZ for a Final  

We’re almost at the Ides of March, and I’m seeing signs of Spring:
greens poking out of the ground, the snow is (mostly) melted, and
temperatures are (mostly) moderating. Yay! Antenna Season must be just
around the corner!

But spring is coming, sooner than we might expect, and it will be time
for planting gardens, antenna raising, tower climbing, and generally
getting ready for summer fun.  What’s on your to-do list? Got any
interesting plans? Is your club doing something especially interesting,
like a POTA activation or license classes or ... Can you write a
paragraph or two about what you’re up to, so I can publish it in the
Section Update? Let me know via email at n1...@arrl.org!  


* For always up-to-date news, please visit the EMA Section website at
http://ema.arrl.org  

This Section News Update is brought to you by Division Vice Director
Phil K9HI and Section Manager Jon N1ILZ.

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ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section
Section Manager: Jon W McCombie, N1ILZ
n1...@arrl.org
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