WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and WECT Secretary John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Triathlon at the Hopkinton State Park on Sunday, May 12 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. Amateur radio volunteers will receive tickets for a professionally catered BBQ lunch, as well as a technical fabric t-shirts, instead of cotton. 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 7 - 10 amateur radio ops to assist with the Grafton Gazebo 5 Mile Road Race on Saturday, May 4 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.

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 28 from 9:00 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 a special amateur radio exam session in Gardner to follow up for a Technician licensing course taught there. The session will also be open to the public and for all license classes. Additionally, their regularly scheduled exam session is also soon at WPI.

Gardner Session:
Where: South Gardner Fire Station #1 / EOC, 2nd floor, 61 East Broadway, Gardner, MA (at the intersection with Prospect Street)
When: Saturday April 13 at 9:00 AM

Regular Session at WPI:
Where: Salisbury Labs, Room 402, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
When: Thursday April 18 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.

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.

Volunteer registration for the 2013 Boston Marathon is now open! The Marathon will be held on Monday April 15th.

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.

WECT is now recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This grants us tax exempt status under both Federal and State law. In addition to that, we can give tax deductions to people who donate things. This means that when members, companies, or even the general public make a donation of equipment, money, or professional services, we can provide them with a tax deduction for the value.

If you have anything you think you might be willing to donate, let us know please. Thanks, everyone, for your support & participation.

Team Secretary and ARRL Western MA Section Emergency Coordinator John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking for about 12 amateur radio operators to assist with the Sutton Chain of Lights on Saturday December 1 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 do 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, even those with no prior public service or emergency communications experience.

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

WECT Secretary and Western Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator John Ruggiero N2YHK has placed the section's ARES members on stand-by. As a result, all WECT should prepare by ensuring all personal equipment is ready, all equipment and deployment checklists are ready, and that contingency plans in case of a potential loss of power and utilities are made to ensure that personal and family safety is ensured.

Additionally, MEMA Region 1 RACES Staff will be working at the State EOC in Framingham for the event. WECT may also be deployed to the Worcester Radio Room to help support either local or state-wide efforts.

In either case, all WECT members should be ready to assist by sending SKYWARN weather reports to WX1BOX through our sponsored nets, as well as infrastructure and damage reports of emergency management interest to WC1MA.

More details can be seen at these links:
Message from MEMA Region 1 Coordinator KA8SCP about staffing at State EOC
Message from SEC N2YHK regarding WMA ARES Stand-by
WX1BOX message on 10/28 at 10 AM regarding the storm

Please keep personal and family safety in mind first and foremost during this and every storm.