Visit us on the Internet! WPA Website and
Find us on Facebook! WPA Facebook Group 

Western Pennsylvania Section News

28 December 2019

Thank you all for a wonderful 2019. It's one for the record books, as this has been a very active year for all of us in our Western Pennsylvania Section. It has been both fun and rewarding fo me to visit with so many of you at every hamfest and other ham activity.

Here's wishing you and yours all the best for the New Year. Please have a safe and sane New Year's Eve, and if you must drive, please keep an eye out for the other guy. And deer.  

Digital Voice Communications

Our WPA Digital Voice net is held every Wednesday at 7:30 pm on 31422 WPA TG.

We encourage you to link to and use the 31422 talkgroup throughout the week to stay in touch with all the hams residing in the hills and dales in every corner of western PA!

"ARRL NIght" for your meeting program

If you would like to have an ARRL night at one of your club meetings, please let me know, and we'll do our best to have several staff members show up. Our WPA Section Staff is second to none, and we can be very proud of them and all their hard work ou your behalf.

Upcoming Hamfests and District Meetings

Attention Hamfest Committes: Now is the time to register your Hamfest with the ARRL. ARRL-sanctioned Hamfests will receive valuable prize coupons to be awarded to hamfest attendeed, and will have an ARRL presence and show of support! We can also provide forums or presentations to help fill out your schedule.

We are also looking for venues for our four District Meetings, which consist of several forums and presentations on ARRL topice, Club Leadership workshops and ARES coordination. This year we hope to expand them with Technical presentations, as well as opportunities to expand operator skills.

We have been having these meetings in conjunction with hamfests to minimize the travel time for all involved, and are exttremely grateful for the support of the various hamfests who open their doors to us to host these events.

This year's ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention will be at the Breezeshooters Hamfest on June 6-7 at the Big Butler Fairgrounds on US 422, near Lake Arthur State Park (NOT at the old Farm Show with the landing strip!

WPA Nets

Our WPA Digital Voice net is held every Wednesday at 7:30 pm on 31422 WPA TG.

We encourage you to link to and use the 31422 talkgroup throughout the week to stay in touch with all the hams residing in the hills and dales in every corner of western PA!

WPA DMR

Our WPA Digital Voice Net meets Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm on talk group 31422. What better way for us in “Friendly Western PA” to enjoy our friendships while sharpening our technical skills! See you there!

Final Thoughts & Parting Shots

• Have a look at a list of your local hams, and consider reaching out and welcoming the new licensees. Let them know that you and your club will be happy to answer their questions, and will be happy to help them get on the air!
• CW operators, I'll be looking for you on the low end of 80 meters during Straight Key Night. You don't have to get on the air at high speed -- you just have to get on the air, period! It's a fun way to kick out the old year, and kick off the new one by using the original digital mode... with your own digits on your own hand!
• Stay warm and stay well!

73 and Press ON!

Joe Shupienis W3BC
Western Pennsylvania Section Manager