Hello all Stations:

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, wireline video providers, satellite digital audio radio service providers and direct broadcast satellite service providers to make their communications facilities available to the President during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER (child abduction) alerts and severe weather warnings targeted to specific geographical regions or areas. The following transmitted message may be used:

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"This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System. This test will last for approximately three minutes.

During this test, most television and radio providers will remain on the air to participate in the test.

This is (station name). We will be discontinuing programming for the duration of the test.

Our programming will resume at the end of the test, in approximately three minutes."

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I am requesting the widest possible dissemination on all Yahoo Groups lists, the SKYWARN List, and the EMA and WMA websites.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards and 73,
Michael P. Neilsen, W1MPN
State RACES Officer (Acting)
Chairperson, Amateur Radio Working Group
Member of the MA State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), and Policies and Programs subcommittee
Office Answering Service/FAX 978.389.0558

Our next quarterly meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 7 from 7 - 9 PM in Meeting Room B at 50 Skyline Drive in Worcester.

We are going to spend the first 20 - 30 minutes discussing some general news and business, and then move into the main activity. WECT Director Dirk Hart KB1HKN will be leading up a "Build Your Own Roll-up J-Pole Workshop". We will purchase the materials ahead of time for everyone, it will cost $15 per J-pole. Dirk will then lead up the activity and take us step by step through the construction, with everyone following along and building their own J-pole as we go.

A roll-up J-pole antenna is an excellant EmComm go-kit antenna. Since this J-pole is constructed primarily of 300 Ohm twinlead, it's very lightweight, easy to store and carry, easy to deploy, and gives significantly more gain than your standard HT antenna.

We need a count on the number of J-poles that we will be building. If you would like to build a J-pole in this workshop, please sign up for it using this form.

Please let us know by completing the website form no later than November 2 if you would like to build a J-pole during this meeting so that we can make sure we have enough materials for everyone. We will try to have some extra on hand but we can't guarantee to have the materials for you unless you sign up by then.

Be aware that we will be providing an SMA antenna connector. If you require a different type, please bring your own adapters or a solder-on style connector that will mate with RG-58 coax.

The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Kaven Hall, Room 116, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, October 27, 2011 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 will be selling more of our excess equipment at this fall's NEAR-Fest at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in Deerfield, New Hampshire on Friday October 14 and Saturday October 15.

Director Ben Holmes NB1H will be leading up the sales force consisting of KC2EMA, KI6RKZ and KB1VCO. Any questions about the effort can be directed to Ben NB1H.

If you are going to this season's NEAR-Fest, keep an eye out for our table and team!

A late request has come in to WPI Wireless Association to help support the WPI Chapter of Colleges Against Cancer's Triathlon on the WPI campus this Sunday September 18 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Colleges Against Cancer is a program of the American Cancer Society.

WPIWA has always supported WECT's operations, including referring new members to us and by giving us expressed permission to use their W1YK Worcester Airport repeater for our nets. We are glad to assist them in this event with some operators for this triathlon!

To sign up or for more details, contact WPIWA President Matt Dodd KC2UBJ.

The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Kaven Hall, Room 116, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, September 15, 2011 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.

We need to schedule a fall work party at 50 Skyline Drive. We will need about 5 - 6 WECT volunteers on Saturday September 17 starting at 10:00 AM.

Some of the activities will involve our HF dipole and inventory / cleaning up the garage loft storage area out back.

Please let Gil Hayes WK1H and Mike Fagan KI6RKZ know if you are interested in helping out with this effort.

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for some hams to assist with the Title 9 Women's Only Sprint Triathlon in Hopkinton on September 11 from about 7:00 AM to Noon (some assignments should secure as early as 9:30am, and most by 11am). It will be held in Hopkinton State Park and includes a swim, bike and run that travels through Hopkinton, Southboro and Ashland. More info online on the event's website.

I will forward maps and details about the event to those signed up. If you are interested, please send me an E-Mail and let me know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL. Thanks!

73,
John, N2YHK