The WECT executive board will be meeting today at 7PM. The meeting will be held at WPI in the Campus Center Chairman's Room. Parking should be available along Salisbury St. The executive board is always looking for help from the membership planning public service events and team meetings. The Exec Board meetings are open to the entire WECT membership, so any team member interested in becoming more involved with the team is encouraged to attend.

The WECT General meeting will be held this Wednesday 7/30 at WPI in Kaven Hall Room 204. This building is adjacent to the large parking lot on Boynton St. During this meeting we will hold elections, so it is important that all team members make an effort to attend. There will be a separate email with information on elections.

Following elections, we will have some test equipment available for anyone wishing to "tune up" a radio or antenna. We will have two service monitors and an antenna analyzer available. Any other team member who has any test equipment available is welcome to bring it. The membership meeting is open to the general public although only WECT members can vote in the election cycle.

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 review the campus map.

Thanks,
Ben NB1H
WECT President

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, July 17, 2014 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 Matt Brennan NM1B 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.

WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking assistance with this season's Massachusetts State Triathlon in Winchendon at the Lake Dennison Recreation Area on Sunday, July 13 from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Assignments will vary but will generally include various checkpoints along the route, start and finish line, and shadowing the triathlon coordinators. Times involved with each of the assignments will vary as well. More details on the triathlons are available on the Max Performance website.

The event is back to one day this year, which will be busy with 600 registered. The expanded course will continue, down into the center of Gardner. This means our communications plan will involve using a variety of systems on both 2m and 70cm, including deploying portable repeater systems.

For more details on the amateur radio assignments or to sign up contact John N2YHK.

WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and WECT Member John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Triathlon at the Hopkinton State Park on Sunday, May 11 from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Assignments will vary but will generally include various checkpoints along the route, start and finish line, and shadowing the triathlon coordinators. Times involved with each of the assignments will vary as well. More details on the triathlons are available on the Max Performance website.

For more details on the amateur radio assignments or to sign up contact John N2YHK, and let John know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL when you sign up.

WECT Member Andy Garabedian KB1JRX is looking for about 6 - 8 amateur radio ops to assist with the Grafton Gazebo 5 Mile Road Race on Saturday, May 3 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Ops will need to have a dual band HT with enough battery power to last the event. Assignments will include checkpoints and water stops along the route, ambulance, and shadowing officials. This is a rain or shine event, so all volunteers must dress appropriately for the weather the day of the event.

For more information or to sign up, contact Andy KB1JRX, and let him know if you have radios capable of DCS / DPL on 440 MHz.

Team Member Ralph Swick KD1SM is looking for 30 to 40 amateur radio operators for the Groton Road Race on Sunday April 27 from 9:15 AM to 3:00 PM (although times vary greatly by assignment).

Volunteers will need a 2M HT and battery power to last through the event. Lunches and drinks should be provided to volunteers, but it may be wise to bring these just in case. Some assignments may allow for volunteers to be near their vehicles, but not inside them. All volunteers should also be dressed appropriately for the weather that day.

Ralph's description of the event:

"The 2014 Groton Road Race will be held on Sunday, April 27. Again this year I am not anticipating significant changes from the past several years. If you want reminders of how the event ran in previous years, please see the NVARC Public Service Events page.

We have quite a few new Hams in the past 11 months. Congratulations to all of you. As you know from your exam study materials, contributing to the public good is one of the reasons Amateur Radio exists. Our public service events are a key opportunity for us to show our colors, volunteer our skills and equipment, and demonstrate why it is in the public's interest to continue to allocate precious RF spectrum to our the Amateur Radio Service.

If you are interested in helping at these events but unsure of what is expected of you or what equipment you may need, please ask me. If I make you nervous, you can also talk with Stan KD1LE or John KK1X.

The Squannacook River Runners and the Groton Police Department repeatedly praise and express their appreciation for your assistance in providing communications for this event. I do hope you will be able to join us this year; please let me know."

If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Ralph KD1SM.

Treasurer Matt Brennan NM1B is looking for about 7 - 11 amateur radio operator volunteers to assist with communications for this year's March for Babies in Worcester. The event is on Sunday, April 27 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM in downtown Worcester.

Typical assignments include NCS, Victory Vans, Shadows, Checkpoints and Observation Points. Radio operators will need an HT with batteries to last a few hours. Speaker-Mics and/or headset/headphones are suggested. A small mobile antenna is a good idea if you are put in a vehicle.

For details or to sign up, email Matt NM1B.

The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Higgins Labs, Room 202, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, April 17, 2014 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 Matt Brennan NM1B 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.