https://www.wect.org/Worcester Emergency Communications Team : news2024-03-28T17:05:41-04:00e107http://e107.org/e107e107https://wect.org//e107_media/5a3cfa4055/images/2016-02/WECT_250x250.jpgadmin - webmaster@nospam.com501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit volunteer team that provides amateur radio emergency communications services within Worcester County and Central Massachusetts. WECT manages the Worcester RACES Radio Station and the MEMA Region 4 Radio Station (both operating under amateur radio call sign WE1CT), and serves Worcester Emergency Management, Massachusetts Emergency Management and other agencies.https://wect.org/news/view/171/wect-meeting-january-2024-nn1c-on-antennasWECT Meeting January 2024: NN1C on Antennas2024-01-23T21:37:09-05:00kc1coqkc1coq@nospam.comThe WECT Q1 Meeting will take place on January 31st, 2024 at 7:00 PM at 50 Officer Manny Famillia Way (Skyline Drive) in Worcester, MA. We will be meeting in Meeting Room B. We will be talking about antennas! How they work, a bit on simulation, and some useful antennas for you. We'll talk about simple general antenna types at HF, and then how those basic elements get applied to arrays with more gain a VHF+UHF.If you plan on attending, please fill out this form so we have an expected headcount.https://forms.gle/RX2JapDfgUMrvdGW82024-01-23T21:37:09-05:00https://wect.org/news/view/170/quarterly-meeting-q4-2023Quarterly Meeting - Q4 20232023-11-15T20:55:44-05:00kc1coqkc1coq@nospam.comThe WECT Q4 Meeting will take place on December 27th, 2023 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. This remote meeting will go over the things WECT did this year, and conclude with a discussion about membership interests, ideas, and plans for next year. Please fill out this form so we have an expected headcount. The Google Meet information is below.WECT Q4 MeetingWednesday, December 27 · 7:00 – 8:00pmThe meeting originally posted here for December 6th has been rescheduled for January 31st 2024.2023-11-15T20:55:44-05:00https://wect.org/news/view/169/sutton-chain-of-lights-december-2nd-2023Sutton Chain of Lights - December 2nd 20232023-11-05T16:24:25-05:00kc1coqkc1coq@nospam.comCraig Shea from the Sutton Chain of Lights is again requesting assistance with communications to coordinate the trolleys for their annual event. We're looking for about 10 amateur radio operators to ride the trolleys and help keep them on schedule moving people around between stops. For more information on the event and the trolley Stops this year click here.We will meet at 08:30am on Sat 12/2/2023 in Sutton (location TBD - likely the Sutton High School). The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm, although the final trolley drop off may be as late as 5:00pm. If you are only available for part of the day, we can cycle you in and out as necessary. If you are available to help out, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/iP4ZZ8igaJ2SUKNx82023-11-05T16:24:25-05:00https://wect.org/news/view/168/new-england-season-opener-du-triathlon2023New England Season Opener Du/Triathlon 20232023-05-10T18:59:36-04:00wk1hwk1h@nospam.comWe're looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Du/Triathlon on Saturday, May 21 from 8:00 AM to around 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. The event will be held at the Hopkinton State Park and includes a swim, bike and run that travels through Hopkinton, Southboro and Ashland.More details on the triathlons are available on the Max Performance website.For more details on the amateur radio assignments, contact WECT Events. To sign up to be an amateur radio volunteer, complete the online form.2023-05-10T18:59:36-04:00https://wect.org/news/view/167/sutton-chain-of-lights-dec-3-2022Sutton Chain of Lights Dec 3 20222022-11-23T22:50:58-05:00kc1coqkc1coq@nospam.comCraig Shea from the Sutton Chain of Lights is again requesting assistance with communications to coordinate the trolleys for their annual event. We're looking for about 10 ham radio operators to ride the trolleys and help keep them on schedule moving people around between stops. There will be 7 trolleys (and 1-3 buses to boost capacity) running on two different routes. For more information on the event and the trolley Stops this year click here.We will meet at 08:30am on Sat 12/3/2021 in Sutton (location TBD - likely the Sutton High School). The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm, although the final trolley drop off may be as late as 5:00pm. If you are only available for part of the day, we can cycle you in and out as necessary.A lunch will be provided to all event volunteers**To optimize coverage, a temporary repeater will be set up for the event. A portable radio with a good antenna is sufficient for this event. Radios and accessories can be provided, if necessary.If you are available to help out, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/bXEeEERFTrQZGZc19** The event needs a head count of our volunteers for food ordering purposes by Friday 11/25, so we can only guarantee lunch to those who sign up by then. However, it is likely that additional lunches will be available day of.2022-11-23T22:50:58-05:00https://wect.org/news/view/166/two-volunteer-events-on-sunday-sep-18th-2022-looking-for-volunteersTwo Volunteer Events on Sunday Sep. 18th 2022 Looking for Volunteers2022-09-11T19:35:48-04:00kc1coqkc1coq@nospam.comWECT is looking for volunteers to provide amateur radio communications for two events that are happening at the SAME time on Sunday September 18th 2022. If you have any questions please email @.Buzzards Bay TriathlonThis is a "sprint" duathlon/triathlon. The swim, bike, and run segments go through the scenic Horseneck Beach State Park and the Town of Westport. More event info at: https://maxperformanceonline.com/buzzardsbayrace/Hams will have a morning meeting at 8amDepending on assignment, stations are expected to secure between 12:00 and 1:30pmAmateur Radio Operators will be assigned locations along the bike & run courses and with key race organizersThose who use the link below to sign up should expect an email with assignments and event details on Friday. Update 9/16/2022: We are short 7 volunteers for this event. We would be happy to accept new Amateur Radio Operators up until 8am the morning of the event when the volunteer meeting starts. Please fill out the form below. Thanks to everyone who has signed up for both events so far! Buzzards Bay DU/TRI Amateur Radio Volunteer Sign Up: https://forms.gle/HvaHZe14ARWWSGTM8Ride to Defeat ALSThis is a low key event with the primary focus being on charity rather than racing. There are multiple bicycle courses (the longest of which is 70 miles) beginning at the Longfellow Club in Wayland. They continue through several towns with rest stops in Hudson, Bolton, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury. While the event runs from 6AM to 2PM, some stations open as late as 9AM and some close as early as 11AMOperators working at a course station can report directly to their stationWe will attempt to locate you at a station closer to your home if possibleThere will be two roving race vehicles that will require a mobile radioWe will have both 2m and 70cm repeaters linked for this eventRide To Defeat ALS Amateur Radio Volunteer Sign up: https://forms.gle/LyE5SVaMuG6nq8ur82022-09-11T19:35:48-04:00https://wect.org/news/view/165/quarterly-meetingQuarterly Meeting2020-02-06T20:59:47-05:00wk1hwk1h@nospam.comWe will be holding our next Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday February 19 at 7:00 PM in the Worcester Emergency Management center at 2 Coppage Drive in Worcester. The meeting is for all team members and anyone interested in our team.Our guest speaker will be Jeremy Breef-Pilz KB1REQ. Jeremy is quite knowledgeable in the different types of RF connectors that hams may encounter and recently gave a similar presentation at Boxboro.Elections are also around the corner. This year, four positions are up for re-election: president, 2 director’s seats, and treasurer. Nominations will be accepted at the Q1 meeting, and the actual election will take place during field day (more info to come). A list of current executive board members and their term dates are available on the Executive Board page.Hope to see you all there.2020-02-06T20:59:47-05:00https://wect.org/news/view/164/sutton-chain-of-lightsSutton Chain of Lights2019-10-01T20:24:50-04:00wk1hwk1h@nospam.comWECT President Brian Loverro K1BML is looking for amateur radio operators for the Sutton Chain of Lights Saturday December 7, 2019 from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.The event is a town-wide holiday celebration featuring open houses and activities at a large variety of locations throughout the town. For more on the event, visit the Sutton Chain of Lights Facebook page.The role of amateur radio is to coordinate the trolley buses that shuttle people to and from various locations throughout the town. You will need an external antenna. The trolleys' roofs are made of fiberglass, so you'll need another means of attaching the antenna to the trolley other than mag mount. Duct tape has often been used in the past. HT's should be OK but portable mobiles are preferred. No DC power is available from the trolley so everything will need to be run by battery.This is a very fun, festive and low-key event, perfect for those wanting to get into public service for the first time. Operators will also likely have opportunities to get out at some of the stops to shop and the like.To sign up or for more information email @ and confirm that you have the equipment listed above. Thank you for your help and support.2019-10-01T20:24:50-04:00https://wect.org/news/view/163/quarterly-meetingQuarterly Meeting2019-09-22T09:44:10-04:00wk1hwk1h@nospam.comWe will be holding our next Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday September 25 at 7:00 PM in the Worcester Emergency Management center at 2 Coppage Drive in Worcester. The meeting is for all team members and anyone interested in our team.Our guest speaker will be Rich Fiske, Director of 911 PSAP Operations for the Mass State Police. He will be talking about their deployment of Next Generation 911, how calls now are handled with the new system, text to 911 and so forth.Hope to see you all there.2019-09-22T09:44:10-04:00