Hello to all...

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for May is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for May is Monday May 7th, 2012, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site detailing the repeaters that will be linked in through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_index_by_linkstate.html

In addition, if the Echo-IRLP node on the MMRA hub is available, we will likely link that to the New England Reflector system on IRLP 9123/Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123.

Make this first Monday of the month, "Emergency Communications Night" and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone's participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello all stations

I hope you all had a good Easter Holiday.  I have an important update on the ACS transition project, and some other announcements.

The management at MEMA has informed us that they are still developing their ACS Program guidelines, and they are desirous of postponing any further transition activities.  This means we will continue with the present RACES program until further notice.  I will also remain in the State RACES role (albeit temporary) until we begin the transition process again.

MEMA has been hard at work at this process, but it had to attend to several important projects first in order to make this change a reality.  One of the most important was finalizing the State Interoperable Operations Guide, and defining how new communication positions will support the state Communication Leader (COML) program.  For example, the Radio Operator (RADO) position will be important to us.

We are now anticipating receiving MEMA’s draft plan for our comment sometime early next month.  After our review, we will enter into discussions to finalize the plan.  Assuming we do not suffer any major disasters this Spring, we *may* be able to begin the transition process again in July.  So please go about your normal RACES routine until you hear from me again with the approved plan.

I can tell you that rumors have hurt us in the past few months.  I have always been honest with you.  If you have questions, please ask one of us on the transition team.  You are encouraged to contact any of the following team members:

Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, SRO

Terry Stader, KA8SCP, RR1

Mike Leger, N1YLQ, RR2

Gil Hayes, WK1H, WECT

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, EMA SEC

John Ruggiero, N2YHK, WMA SEC

Carl Aveni, N1FY, EMA ASEC

Frank O’Laughlin, WQ1O, Cape Cod and Islands DEC

I guarantee we will have the best information!

News:

RACES and ARES will activate in stand-by mode from 0730 to 1800 on Monday to support any issues occurring outside of the Boston Marathon Race Zone.  This is for those of you who are not already committed to supporting the Marathon.  A unified command center (RACES/ARES) will be stood up in the SEOC and the EMA ARES ICP in the town of Bridgewater.  We are also hoping that WECT can be available.  These facilities are expected to begin to function within 15 minutes.  We would like other RACES stations to be able to mobilize within 30 minutes.  Please see the RACES OPLAN to be passed under separate cover.

2. The Hurricane training conference will be held on May 9th in the former Ft. Devens complex.

3. Please plan on a normal “emergency communications” night on Monday May 7th.  As before, we will conduct system checks only on tactical frequencies.  We will be looking to you to set up relays for simplex comms.  Please try to use battery power.  Pass administrative and club traffic on resource nets, digitally if possible.  Finally don’t miss the opportunity (and fun) of checking in with the HF gang.  NVIS anyone?

4. The FCC has invited comments on the use of AR in emergency communications.  I will be submitting comments on behalf of the AR community in MA.  If you want us to consider any issue in our submission, please forward them to my email at w1mpn@arrl.net.

5. Finally, don’t miss the opportunity to avail yourself to SKYWARN training classes to be held in various venues around the state.  See the schedule at wx1box.org.  Remember too, you can always practice your skills at a public service event.

Thank you again for your help and participation.  I will be talking to you again soon.

de W1MPN

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
Office Answering Service: 978.293.7858
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Hello to all..

The following is from acting state RACES Radio Officer, Mike Neilsen-W1MPN. See below:

Please download attachment for use tomorrow Monday April 16th, 2012:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/RACES_OPLAN_4-16-12-2.pdf

Hello to all..

..Eastern Massachusetts ARES to be placed on stand-by effective from 7 AM-7 PM Monday April 16th, 2012 to support any significant issues that may occur outside of the Boston Marathon event. Amateur Radio Operators that are involved in ARES that are supporting the Boston Marathon are expected to continue to support that event as their number one priority. The standby is for Eastern Massachusetts ARES members who are unable to support the Boston Marathon for this year but may be available for other duties in the event a significant issue occurs outside of the Boston Marathon event and route..

..Record breaking heat is expected for the 2012 Boston Marathon with temperatures in the 80’s to possibly even the lower 90s. This will potentially cause stress on the runners, volunteers and infrastructure resources more so than in the past 8 or 9 Boston Marathon events covered in recent history. In addition, with the very dry conditions since the beginning of 2012, hot tempeatures and gusty west winds, there will be an increased fire weather risk across the area. This message will discuss weather safety for Monday April 16th for those deploying and involved in the Boston Marathon and potential risks for any significant issues outside of the Boston Marathon route that may require ARES assistance with those ARES members that are unable to support the Boston Marathon event but may be able to support an issue outside of the Boston Marathon event. We stress again for those ARES members who have commited to the Boston Marathon event, you are to support that commitment as your top priority as your assistance at the marathon will be very important this year given the weather conditions..

While this may be a bit off topic for some SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and Red Cross volunteers, many of which are SKYWARN Spotters, will be involved in the Boston Marathon on Monday April 16th. To reach out to the highest level of Amateur Radio Operators involved in the event, this coordination message is being sent out to the SKYWARN email list and posted to the various Amateur Radio lists. We appreciate everyone's patience with this message. This is likely to be the only coordination message on the Marathon unless a significant change in the weather forecast occurs. See information below:

Eastern Massachusetts ARES members not participating in the Boston Marathon should be in a stand-by mode for the Boston Marathon event on Monday April 16th from 7 AM-7 PM for any significant issues outside of the Boston Marathon that may require Amateur Radio Emergency Communications support. With over 300 Amateur Radio Operators staffing the Boston Marathon route, the start line and the finish line, if an issue arises needing Amateur Radio support outside of the Marathon route, it is important that any ARES members not involved in the marathon can help with any response that is required. There will be two backup operation centers including the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Net Control Center at the town of Bridgewater EOC monitoring the Boston Marathon event and events outside of the Marathon. The biggest issues that could occur outside of the Marathon route is as follows.

1.)    A large brush fire due to the extreme dry conditions since the start of 2012 causing a mobilization of resources outside of the marathon event.
2.)    Another unexpected issue that requires a major response of resources.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) at the SEOC (State Emergency Operations Center) will be active for the Boston Marathon with the MACC (Mutual Aid Coordination Center) stood up at the SEOC. Amateur Radio Operators will be at the SEOC to support backup operations and to provide situational awareness to MEMA and agencies that are supporting the Boston Marathon event. See media advisory below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/Boston_Marathon_Media_Advisory_MACC_Activ...

The weather outlook for the Boston Marathon is one that is extremely unfavorable for volunteers and runners. The Weather Forecast across the Boston Marathon route is for record breaking heat to occur. Conditions are expected to be sunny throughout the day. There will be a ‘hot’ land breeze blowing along the marathon route with winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts of 25 MPH. Temperatures along the marathon route will range in the Upper 50s to lower 60s early in the morning warming to 75 to 85 degrees by mid to late morning to the 85 to 90 degree range by afternoon with lower 90 readings not out of the question. This means that conditions for the runners and even volunteers will be extreme for being outside and in the sun’s exposure for the entire event. The amount of ambulance requests along the route could rival or eclipse records set in the 2004 Boston Marathon. The BAA has sent a notice that inexperienced runners and runners with medical conditions consider not participating in the 2012 Boston Marathon and even for conditioned runners to take it slow as it will not be a day for breaking marathon records. This has been seen at various Boston Media outlets and an article on the notice sent out is listed below from WCVB-TV Channel 5:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/30894553/detail.html

For Amateur Radio, Red Cross and all other volunteers along the route, it is recommended that you do the following:

1.)    Dress for the hot weather. Wear loose fitting and ligher color clothing to try and keep your body cool as best as possible.

2.)    Sun screen will be a must given the intense heat and bright sunshine. Make sure to cover exposed skin particularly those folks that could get sun burn easily during sunny and hot conditions. This can cause significant health issues if not taken care of properly. A hat for your head can also protect your head from sun burn.

3.)    Be sure to drink liquids and eat properly during the event and that you are self-sufficient so that you can be of full help to the function and not distract everyone from the main purpose of supporting the runners by having a health issue on your end that can be avoided. No rain is expected at this time so there should be no need for rain gear.

4.)    Be highly vigilant to any runners that may be in distress along the route. With the intense heat, there is likely to be a high number of runners affected in some way by the weather conditions.

5.)    Also, be highly vigilant of cigarette butts or other flammables that could be tossed out in grassy areas. With the very dry ground coupled with hot and dry conditions, it will not take much for a brush fire to occur as elevated fire weather conditions exist and may prompt the issuance of fire weather watches/red flag warnings for Monday but at a minimum, elevated fire weather conditions will exist. Take care of any of these disposals and assure they will not cause a fire issue that can be avoided.

Barring a significant change in the weather forecast, this will be the only coordination message on the Boston Marathon. We appreciate everyone's support in this event and hope those that volunteer enjoy themselves and feel the self-satisifcation of supporting this historic event and those that are monitoring the Marathon or events outside of the Marathon realize that the monitoring is an important function as well and is a testament to being able to scale other incidents beyond the marathon if required. Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

Please see the following notice in regards to Amateur Radio and Emergency Communications and a study that is being executed. Time is short with a 45-day comment period as proposed by the FCC and the ARRL is looking for comments over the next 3 weeks to collate a common report. Please don't delay and provide comments. Thanks to all for their support. The text of the memo from ARRL HQ is listed below:

We need your assistance!

The FCC has released a Public Notice soliciting input for the Congressional directed study of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications and Impediments to the amateur's ability to provide those communications.  This is the ARRL-proposed study which we have been seeking for the last 3 years.

To assist the ARRL in gathering pertinent information for their comments - and to spread the word to the Amateur community as quickly as possible, I am asking that your please send the following to the various email lists/distribution mechanisms in your sections.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!   The FCC is only allowing 45 days for comments and will be closed on May 17, 2012.  In order to allow the ARRL to review the comments from the members and include them in our comments, we have set up the mechanism described below to allow quick input from members.  To allow us the time to compile this information we are asking the information be provided to us by WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2012.

Thanks for your assistance in this project.  We are in a position to try and obtain some relief for those who live in deed-restricted / CC&R limited communities. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

Thanks and 73!

Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio
860-594-0236
dhenderson@arrl.org

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you live in a CC&R- restricted community or participate in EmCom activities?  Have deed restrictions / HOA covenants prevented you from erecting amateur radio antennas? Have these restrictions prevented you from full participation in emergency communications activities during disasters?

If your answer is "Yes", ARRL needs to hear about your experience.

As you are probably aware, Congress has directed the FCC to conduct a study of the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio Service communications in emergencies and disaster relief.  The FCC was directed to identify " impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio Service communications, such as the effects of unreasonable or unnecessary private land use restrictions on residential antenna installations". Finally, the study is to make "recommendations regarding the removal of such impediments."

The FCC has issued a Public Notice - DA 12-523- soliciting input from the public as part of their study.  The ARRL is gathering comments from the Amateur Radio community to present as part of its comments on the public notice.

The ARRL is looking specifically for input in two specific areas:
*        Recent Amateur Radio involvement in actual emergency communications and disaster relief;
*        Specific details about how CC&Rs and other private land use restrictions have impaired licensed Amateurs to participate fully in these disaster relief communications.

If your ability to participate in ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, CERT, or other emergency and disaster relief communications has been limited because the inability to have adequate antennas due to CC&Rs, you are asked to provide that information to the ARRL.

First, we recommend that you prepare a narrative of your exact situation, in as much detail as practical. Some areas for you to consider in writing your story might be:
*        Were there alternative properties without CC&Rs in the area you wished to reside?
*        What exactly does your CC&R allow / prohibit (please include a copy of the specific wording)
*        Have you applied for a waiver of the CC&R with the Home Owner's Association / Architectural Review Committee but were denied?  If so, what was the reason?

To assist you in sharing your information with the ARRL, please visit the special ARRL website built to allow you to readily provide the pertinent information at www.arrl.org/ccr-study-information

This page will present you with an overview of what we are asking and have links to the two forms for you to complete.  Please be as factual as you can with the information you provide and please provide only information about events and activities in which you were directly involved.

If you wish to write out the details of your situation in advance, please do so.  The, they can be either uploaded from the website or they can be sent as an email attachment to an email sent to CCRinfo@arrl.org

Keep in mind that the FCC study does not apply to ordinances and zoning laws implemented by the government - such as towns, cities or counties.  PRB-1 covers those situations.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!  Congress directed that the FCC provide the report back within 180-days and that clock is already counting.  The FCC is only accepting comments for a 45-day period, which will end May 17,2012.  In order for the ARRL to collate your information in a common report, we ask that you send in your information no later than WEDNESDAY APRIL 25.  If you need more information, please contact reginfo@arrl.org   The time to act is NOW!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all...

A reminder that the monthly ARES Net for April is rapidly approaching. The monthly ARES Net for April is Monday April 2nd, 2012, at 8:30 PM on the MMRA Repeater system. This is after the MEMA Nets earlier in the evening. For frequencies that will be linked into the ARES Net on the MMRA Network, please see the following link from the MMRA web site and the repeaters that will be linked in will be through Hub 1:

http://www.mmra.org/repeaters/map.html

In addition, if the Echo-IRLP node on the MMRA hub is available, we will likely link that to the New England Reflector system on IRLP 9123/Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG* Node: 9123.

Make this first Monday of the month, "Emergency Communications Night" and check into your local RACES Net and then check into the ARES Net on the MMRA Repeater System. We look forward to your participation and remember, we are always looking for Net Controls to run the ARES Net.

We will have several interesting announcements for the net that evening and we look forward to everyone's participation. Updates will be posted via email and on the Eastern Massachusetts ARES Web Site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org

Thanks for your continued support of ARES!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

The National Hurricane Conference is coming up next week from Monday March 26th through Thursday March 29th. Amateur Radio will be represented at two sessions during the conference as well as at a function at the Orange County Florida Emergency Operatons Center Monday Evening March 26th where Dr. Richard Knabb of The Weather Channel will be present.

All workshops will be livestreamed. The livestream links that are available are as follows:

http://www.nsradio.org/stream.htm
http://www.voipwx.net/files/stream.htm

Information on the presenters including presenters from the NWS Taunton Amateur Radio Program are listed via the link below:

http://www.arrl.org/news/2012-national-hurricane-conference-to-feature-amateur-radio-activities

This information is also posted in the ARES E-Letter via the following link:

http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2012-03-21

We encourage folks to watch the livestream as presenters go through the role of the Amatuer Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, the WX4NHC group's role in the Haiti mission, an in-depth review of Amateur Radio's role in the response to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and other topics as listed. We will be looking into archiving the information via video on the web for those that cannot watch the livestream as it happens. Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

New Hampshire (NH) ARES ASEC for Operations and Training, Dave Colter-WA1ZCN, and the NH ARRL/ARES Section are hosting the NH-ARES Academy. The NH-ARES Academy is similar to the EMCOMM Workshops offered in the Eastern and Western Massachusetts sections but does a concurrent session strategy of topics over portions of the training. Dave has contacted me stating that they have opened the academy to Hams outside of the New Hampshire section. Sign-up information and classes being offered as part of the academy can be seen via the following link which is a 2-page PDF document:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/local/NH_ARES_Academy_PR_Notice.pdf

The Basic Info on the date/time and location are listed below:

When: Saturday March 17th, 8:30am - 4:00pm
Where: NH Fire Academy, Concord, NH
Coffee and donuts in the morning, soda and coffee provided for lunch
BYO bag lunch, or dash out to a nearby restaurant

I will be attending the ARES Academy and will be there for some or all of the classes. I will also be teaching a class on SITREPs as requested by Dave-WA1ZCN. It should be worthwhile to see how the New Hampshire section does their training and we will try to incorporate some of their training and best practicies in the EMCOMM workshops we offer in our state. We hope some of you may take part in the NH-ARES Academy as space allows. Thanks!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hi, all,

I will be organizing a special event station using my call sign -- NE1R -- at the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts (Worcester) Saturday, March 10 starting at 8 AM ET. The station was setup Friday March 9th and we QRT'ed at 6 PM ET. Good work given propagation: 93 QSOs (contacts), 27 states, and 6 countrys. We will be operating at least one HF station trying to make as many contacts as possible to promote awareness that March is American Red Cross Month. This is a local aspect of an effort being carried on in several chapter across the country.

If you are so inclined, I ask you to (1) follow me on Twitter -- @NE1R -- for near real-time up-dates on where we are operating, (2) contact me about volunteering to operate/log/tweet etc. at the event, (3) contact us on the air and give us a contact, (4) help spread the word about the event through your social medial, e-mail lists and reflectors, and on-air contacts. This isn't really a "contest." But, a bit of effort has been put into promoting this event and bragging rights would be a nice result. Also, it could be a long day if we don't get a lot of activity.

If you can't follow me on Twitter, look for us around 14.327 and 21.327 Mhz.

Thanks,
73,
Tom Carrigan
NE1R

The following information was provided to MEMA by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

Location: Global

•The largest solar flare in five years is racing toward Earth, threatening to unleash a torrent of charged particles that could disrupt power grids, global positioning systems (GPS) and airplane flights
•The sun erupted Tuesday evening, and the effects should start hitting Earth around 7 a.m. EST Thursday, according to forecasters at the Space Weather Prediction Center
◦The solar storm is likely to last t! hrough Friday morning, but the region of the sun that erupted can still send more blasts, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said
•Solar storms can disrupt technology on Earth through magnetic, radio and radiation emissions
◦All three types of disruptions are likely to be strong with the current storm, the scientist reported
•The magnetic part of the storm has the potential to trip electrical power grids, and power companies have been alerted to possible outages
•The storms can also make GPS less accurate, can cause communication problems and add radiation around the north and south poles, which will likely force airlines to reroute flights
•Satellites could also be affected

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
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