The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Salisbury Labs, Room 402, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 6:30 PM.

If you have never registered with the FCC's ULS system and received a FRN number, please read the notice in the Read More link below.

We will try to provide a talk-in on the 145.310 / 449.025 W1WPI repeater. It is recommended that if you are not familiar with the WPI campus that you print out and bring with you the campus map.

Please bring:

• AN ORIGINAL AND A PHOTOCOPY of your current license and any CSCEs or other paperwork you are submitting
  
• A basic calculator
  
• Two forms of state acceptable ID (one must be a picture ID)
  
• $15 exam fee (if check, payable to "ARRL VEC")
  
• Pen or pencil

The photocopies of your paperwork are very important as we must submit a copy of your records to the ARRL VEC if you are successful.

Any questions regarding this session can be directed to Gil Hayes WK1H or John Ruggiero N2YHK.

NOTICE ABOUT PRIVACY CONCERNS - FCC REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

Some amateurs have been concerned over the FCC's requirement for your Social Security Number (SSN). The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134, requires all federal agencies to collect Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) from all persons doing business with the agency. This includes all applicants and holders of FCC licenses. For an individual, your TIN is your SSN.

It is suggested that all applicants register in the FCC's Universal Licensing System to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) prior to attending a VE session. When you register for an FRN, your SSN will not be disclosed to the public and it must be given only once. You may then use your FRN in place of your SSN on all future applications, including the Form 605 you will complete at the VE session. The Commission has taken several steps to ensure the privacy of your SSN. Electronic registration on the Internet is accomplished using the FCC's secure Web server.

To register for an FRN, go to http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls and click on REGISTER. Once you obtain your FRN, write it down and bring it with you to the VE session. Be sure to keep a record of your FRN and password for future use. If you do not register before the VE session, you will be required to provide your SSN on Form 605 at the VE session in order for your application to be processed.

Update: Due to space limitations and the large amount of people that have elected to come to this meeting, the location has been changed. Instead of the State EOC, the meeting will be at Atlas Box and Crating Company, Inc., 223 Worcester Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590. This is still a private, secure facility, so Mike asks that all those that wish to come please email him to register.

Hello all stations:

I last spoke to all of you concerning the status of the RACES program just before Christmas. In this message, I would like to update you on the progress made and to announce the 2/25/12 meeting where the new program will be formally unveiled.

About two weeks ago, the senior leadership of RACES. ARES, and SKYWARN met with MEMA to set the new direction for Amateur Radio (AR) Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) activities. It was our charter to change what services are really needed by our clientele during response and recovery phases of an emergency, and how this will be implemented. I assure you that problems facing state and local RACES programs were explored, while assessing what is best for our AR volunteers.

We will all have new EMCOMM job responsibilities to meet a primary response mission of disaster reporting, while maintaining our usual support of recovery operations with non-governmental organizations. There are many details (and your questions) that are best held for the meeting.

Please accept my invitation to attend a detailed briefing and Q and A session at the MEMA Headquarters Building (SEOC), 400 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA, at 1000 on Saturday February 25th, 2012. MEMA staff and leadership will also be in attendance. I will try to get you out by 1200.

I sincerely hope you will join us, but due to the secure status of the building you must pre-register by simply sending me an RSVP to this message when you can commit to attending. To reduce Yahoo! Mail load to our members, please use this address to respond to me directly.

I desire the widest possible dissemination of this message on announce and club lists, since not all interested parties subscribe to the Yahoo! Groups.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you there!
NEW: Follow me on Twitter @WC1MA, and Facebook handle WC1MA

Regards and 73,
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
State RACES Officer (Acting);
Member of the MEMT;
Member of the MA State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and Policies and Programs subcommittee;
Chairperson, Amateur Radio Working Group
New Office Answering Service: 978.293.7858

The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Salisbury Labs, Room 402, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6:30 PM.

If you have never registered with the FCC's ULS system and received a FRN number, please read the notice in the Read More link below.

We will try to provide a talk-in on the 145.310 / 449.025 W1WPI repeater. It is recommended that if you are not familiar with the WPI campus that you print out and bring with you the campus map.

Please bring:

• AN ORIGINAL AND A PHOTOCOPY of your current license and any CSCEs or other paperwork you are submitting
  
• A basic calculator
  
• Two forms of state acceptable ID (one must be a picture ID)
  
• $15 exam fee (if check, payable to "ARRL VEC")
  
• Pen or pencil

The photocopies of your paperwork are very important as we must submit a copy of your records to the ARRL VEC if you are successful.

Any questions regarding this session can be directed to Gil Hayes WK1H or John Ruggiero N2YHK.

NOTICE ABOUT PRIVACY CONCERNS - FCC REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

Some amateurs have been concerned over the FCC's requirement for your Social Security Number (SSN). The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Public Law 104-134, requires all federal agencies to collect Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) from all persons doing business with the agency. This includes all applicants and holders of FCC licenses. For an individual, your TIN is your SSN.

It is suggested that all applicants register in the FCC's Universal Licensing System to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) prior to attending a VE session. When you register for an FRN, your SSN will not be disclosed to the public and it must be given only once. You may then use your FRN in place of your SSN on all future applications, including the Form 605 you will complete at the VE session. The Commission has taken several steps to ensure the privacy of your SSN. Electronic registration on the Internet is accomplished using the FCC's secure Web server.

To register for an FRN, go to http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls and click on REGISTER. Once you obtain your FRN, write it down and bring it with you to the VE session. Be sure to keep a record of your FRN and password for future use. If you do not register before the VE session, you will be required to provide your SSN on Form 605 at the VE session in order for your application to be processed.

Our Team Holiday Party will be at O'Connor's Restaurant at 1160 West Boylston Street in Worcester on Monday, January 16 at 7:30 PM. All WECT members and their families are welcome to come and join us for a night of comraderie!

Please sign up for it using the website form.

See you there!

Volunteer registration for the 2012 Boston Marathon is now open! The Marathon will be held on Monday April 16th.

Radio operators are needed to provide safety communications and to assist the Red Cross. Assignments are available in Hopkinton, along the route, and in downtown Boston.

Each year several members of both Worcester Emergency Communications Team and the WPI Wireless Association get together to carpool from the WPI campus in Worcester to the finish line area at Copley Plaza in Boston to work with the finish line crew. If you are interested in joining in on this carpool, contact John N2YHK.

To volunteer, go to the Marathon Amateur Radio Communications website and follow the instructions to register for the radio team. Please do not sign up directly on the BAA's volunteer website, your information will be sent to the BAA from the Marathon Amateur Radio Communications website when you register there.

SKYWARN Recognition Day is on Saturday December 3. Across the country, SKYWARN stations serving the regional National Weather Service offices will be active on the air making contacts with SKYWARN Weather Spotters everywhere to show their appreciation of everyone's efforts in severe weather reporting.

WX1BOX will be active on the various regional EmComm repeaters in the area. In Central Massachusetts, they will be on the Paxton W1BIM machine on Friday December 2 from 7:00 - 7:30 PM and on Saturday December 3 from 3:00 - 3:30 PM. Feel free to jump on and make a QSO with them!

More details on the WX1BOX NWS Taunton SKYWARN website.

Western MA Section Emergency Coordinator / Worcester EmComm Team Secretary John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking for about 12 amateur radio operators to assist with the Sutton Chain of Lights on Saturday December 3 from 9 AM to 5 PM. This is a town holiday festival that involves several local businesses and community activities. Amateur radio support is once again being called on to provide logistics and tracking for the trolley buses that transport patrons to and from several of the activity locations within the town. More information on the event can be viewed on the town's website.

Amateur radio volunteers will need an 440 MHz HT or mobile rig that has DCS/DPL capabilities and enough battery power to last the entire event. An antenna that is external to the trolley is highly recommended, but please note that the trolleys are made primarily of fiberglass, so magnet mount antennas will not work as designed. Duct tape or clamps are usually used to complete the setup. Also, it is suggested to dress in layers as they may be placed in a variety of temperatures throughout the day. Usually a bag lunch and drink is provided, or operators may find something to purchase to eat or drink at a stop, as well as potentially some holiday shopping.

This is one of the more fun, low key public service events in the Central MA region. It is highly recommended for any amateur radio operator but especially those with no prior public service experience.

Please contact John N2YHK for more information or to sign up.

Both WMA ARES and EMA ARES are on stand-by alert for the incoming winter storm. All RACES and ARES volunteers should charge up their batteries, check their go-kits, and be ready to start off the winter season!

Read more on the Western Massachusetts ARRL website.