News last updated: Wed, June 18, 2008 at 1:57 PM ET
Greetings fellow Rhode Islanders:
The ARRL announced all of its 2008 Foundation Scholarship Program winners and I was very pleased to find two new Amateurs here in RI. The New England Federation of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Heather Jamieson, KB1IPO of Tiverton and to Andrew Milner, KB1KPF of Cranston. Hearty Congratulations to each of you!
As I'm writing this month's report, I'm looking forward to a very busy couple of weeks. On Saturday, the 21st, K5RJI, KF1O, AC0CQ and I will be attending our Director's all day Cabinet meeting in Leominster. Section Managers, club presidents and other leaders from all over New England will be traveling to meet and discuss issues that are important in their sections and getting a sense from Director Frenaye of what will be taken up at the next ARRL Board meeting on July 18-19.
Then of course, Field Day is the following weekend, June 28 and 29th. My new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Baxter and I will be visiting seven Field Day sites in RI and hope to meet many of you. I hope you are taking part in Field Day which is probably the most popular on air activity of the year. If you don't have a club picked out to visit, you may find one by going to http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php and either enter your address or search by state. Above all, please go, take part and have fun! I know I will.
The annual Gaspee Days Parade was held on June 14th and ordinarily, the SATERN team provides communications for the event. No one reported this to me this year and I was criticized in the past for not mentioning the help ham radio provides to Gaspee Days. So, thanks to all Amateurs who helped this year. As I've said many times, if you don't report your activity, you cannot expect me to include it in my monthly summary. SMs must be skilled to hold our posts but we don't have ESP.
Jamie KA1JF, Ralph KB1IQZ and Duffy KB1EJB participated in the RIEMA Hurricane Conference. About 100 local, state and federal officials attended. SEC K3OQH presented the Shelter Com plan; Duffy explained Emergency Alert System and the other two; KA1JF and KB1IQZ manned the demonstration table. It was a huge success and ham radio was well represented. It created a lot of interest by local officials in ham radio.
SEC Rick, K3OQH is still looking for people's general schedules to plan the classroom Shelter Com trainings. As you heard on the net tonight, these trainings will be announced soon. (You have seen the precursor to this). Training will be critically important for ARES members.
Basically, the Shelter Com program has generated a lot of buzz. There are several new towns coming on since the last monthly report, and other towns are growing fast. We have Woonsocket, Cumberland, Burrillville, and Coventry who have recently begun the process. Cranston has also shown interest. We have well over half the state enrolled with more coming on board.
Mark W1EOF is leading the team building the go-kits that will be purchased by RIEMA. David N1QL and Rick K3OQH are on that team along with AC0CQ and KA1RCI but these folks haven't been able to participate due to their work schedules. Mark is still looking for help on this group.
The big thing is ARES members need to start being engaged with their towns. We need our members to be active with their ECs and our SEC, K3OQH. If anyone has any questions, you know where to send them, K3OQH@arrl.net .
First full day of summer is the 21st. Happy summer to all and please take this time to help me try to recruit some fellow hams into ARRL. You know how much I dislike calling anyone a freeloader but that's what some of our ham brethren are if they don't pay their share. They're happy to accept the benefits that ARRL fights for all Amateurs to enjoy. It's not fair for these freeloaders to expect us to support their share of the cost all the time. Nothing is free. You might want to remind Field Day participants that Field Day is an exercise that was created by ARRL for clubs, groups and individuals to test their ability to quickly respond in time of an emergency to set up antennas, power, operating positions and logistic support to provide communications under the most extreme conditions. It's technically considered a contest and participants keep score and compete. But the essence of Field Day is for ordinary hams like us to get out in the field and do our thing when all else has failed.
I'll be participating in a New England teleconference of Section Managers and other leaders on Tuesday, June 24th. Improvements in the membership recruitment and retention program will be on our agenda. We absolutely must do a better job of recruiting new hams and retaining existing League members past their first year. This is the best $39 any ham will spend each year and many don't even realize it. We need everyone to help in our fight to keep our bands and privileges.
That's about all this month. Thanks and please tell me about your club and group's activities so that I can mention it here in this monthly activity report.
Thanks once again and 73,
Bob Beaudet W1YRC
Ted Perry, W1WFZ, couldn't be distracted at Field Day by the camera guy's shout, "Hey Ted, steaks are ready."
ARRL Section Manager, Bob W1YRC is shown presenting a specially designed trophy to our CERT Chief Instructor, Dr. Bill Ewan W1VH, on behalf of many grateful CERT and ARRL members in RI.
It was a complete surprise to Bill and was presented at the conclusion of a routine planning meeting held in W1YRC's home on May 24th. The picture was taken in the shack, adjacent to the family room meeting place. Picture taken by Bob Jones, WB1P.
Has this ever happened to you? You're brand new on the job, trying not to make any mistakes or forget names of co-workers and suddenly, your BIG boss stops by to see how you're doing. It seems he approved. Here's Joanne Ramsey, KB1KWJ taking a moment out while serving as a CERT volunteer in Florida. Congratulations, Joanne
Members of The Southern RI DX and Propagation Society (Field Day 1964) left to right: Howard Allen W1BFB,
Walter Tefft W1WAN, Roy Fuller W1CJH, Raymond Hurlbut W1LWA, Robert Merriam W1NTE and a Leroi 10kw gas generator.
It probably took all of them to carry the generator.
The young man on the right, W1NTE is now (42 years later) the curator of our amazing New England Wireless and Steam Museum on Frenchtown Road in East Greenwich.
Bob "Whitey" Doherty, K1VV and Don Tanguay, N1DT from Massachusetts have spent several Saturdays in RI activating our numerous lighthouses. This looks like a great way to spend a nice Saturday morning in March, huh?
The Providence Radio Association (PRA) braved truly horrible weather conditions in Field Day 2006 to participate from their Beavertail location. Left to right: John Good W1GS, Nick DePetrillo N1CKD, Nick's Dad Paul W1PRA, Kathi Bacon (no call) watching Dave Tessitore K1DT operate W1OP.
Bob Jones, WB1P and Norm, W1AUT (l-r) as shown in Valley Breeze, January 4th. BVARC recently joined the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society and launched its program by activating the Point Judith Lighthouse back in November. Nice PR story for the public to see that Amateurs really enjoy their hobby.
Governor Carcieri addresses the gathering at the Hurricane Awareness Tour and attracts brass.
Field Day site of the Narragansett Bay ARC, the s/v Bellerophon, owned by club member Brad Shipp, KA1SVW.
Note the ARRL flag flying proudly.
Hurricane Awareness Tour antenna masts. Ham antennas are smaller ones to the right. Good view of the Lockheed Orion P3 Hunter aircraft, TV10 and TV6 trucks.
W1AQ's 80th Anniversary cook-out and celebration on June 3rd, 2007. Standing in front of ARASNE club headquarters are from left to right; Current SM Bob W1YRC, very long time club member Gil W1WAC, former SM from 91-99 Rick K1KYI, another long time member Charlie K1PEL, current ARASNE President Doug N2RDF.
BVARC Lighthouse activation of Beavertail light on Jamestown, June 3, 2007. Club member Bernie KD5QHV took a turn operating the rig and worked fellow BVARC and El Paso club member Clay K5TRW. Clay was in El Paso. Bernie is also President of the El Paso ARC. Bernie flew up to RI to take part in the club lighthouse event. Now, that's what I call really supporting your club!
A picture is worth a thousand words!
Herb, KA1ABE is surely a happy ham once again. Ron, W1TEM and Dan, KA1BNO had given him a VHF radio, power supply, antenna and some QSTs, CDs and more. Alone in an assisted living home in Warwick, his license needed to be tended to and he had a lonely life. Jerry K6JRY sounded the alarm for help and now, it looks as though RI hams have changed all that.
Bob Merriam, W1NTE, Curator of the Wireless and Steam Museum sharing a memory of his long time friend, W1MB.
Attendees of the W1MB Memorial ceremony held August 11, 2007 at the NE Wireless and Steam Museum.
One of hundreds of visitors, on left, listening to the answer to his question. The August 18-19 International Lighthouse weekend activation of the Beavertail Lighthouse, ARLHS #048 on Jamestown Island was a great success. The weather was perfect and Allen, W1PX, dressed as an 1896 Lighthouse 2nd assistant Lighthouse Keeper. See the 2 on Allen's uniform?
BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE "RADIO GEEKS"
Back Row L-R: Dan Colwell, Warwick Police Communications Tech, Rick Andreano K3OQH, RI EOC, Lt. Paul Berry KB1OCU, Cumberland Fire Department, Denis Couture KD1HA, Cumberland Police Department, Officer Robert Chille KB1AAW, Warwick Police Department. Front Row L-R: Steve Hodell KA1RCI, Asst Section Mgr, Sgt. Dave DeAngelis, Warwick Police Department.
Section Manager W1YRC on the right, presenting a certificate from ARRL to commemorate 75 years of League affiliation to The Amateur Radio Association of Southern New England. The W1AQ President, Doug Troughton N2RDF is happy in accepting the certificate at their well attended September 21 meeting. Looking through the shack window to see what was going on is club member Lee, N3LEE busy installing a wireless router on a club computer.
Blackstone Valley ARC President, Norm Thibault W1AUT on left receives an ARRL certificate for BVARC's 50 years of ARRL affiliation.
RI Scouting Camporee October 19-21, 2007. Bill Ewan, W1VH is demonstrating to interested Scouts how a VHF radio works.
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