The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes: at Higgins Labs, Room 116, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, April 21, 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 will be holding our newly developed Team EmComm Workshop on Saturday April 9 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Meeting Room B at 50 Skyline Drive in Worcester.

Any licensed radio amateur can participate in this workshop, and it is especially recommended for our team members. This workshop is designed to be a good introductory course for the newer folks and/or a refresher for the more experienced members. More information on the workshop can be reviewed here.

Sign up for the workshop by using this online form.

Any questions regarding the workshop can be directed to Secretary John Ruggerio N2YHK.

WECT Member Ralph Swick KD1SM is looking for about 40 amateur radio operators for the Groton Road Race on Sunday April 10 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.

This is a summary Ralph recently wrote in the Nashoba Valley ARC's newsletter:

If you're tired of this winter and looking forward to spring activities, allow me to turn your thoughts to the Groton Road Race. This race is one of the high-visibility events for Amateur Radio support. We typically field a crew of 35 to 40 radio operators to support this event.

This year the race is being held two weeks earlier than previous years -- the event organizers must be optimistic about a change of weather. I sure hope they've called this one correctly! Spring will be here by Sunday April 10 (think positively, think positively, think ...).

As you know from previous years our radio communications is held by the Groton Police Department to be a vital component of this event. Amateur Radio support of the Groton Road Race is one of the best public relations activities we can do for Amateur Radio locally.

I am again looking for 40 volunteers. Please let me know if you're available this year to help on April 10. If you have a preference for assignment, please let me know that as well.

The greatest number of operators are needed on station at 12:30 for the 10k race. If you are available to be on station at 11:30 for the 5k or 9:15 for race official shadows, parking, and other logistics, please let me know that too.

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

Volunteer registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon is now open! The Marathon will be held on Monday April 18th.

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. The marathon coordinators have told us there will be another couple of First Aid stations on the course this year, and another full medical station as well. This means they really need as many operators as possible this year.

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.

The Worcester Area VE Team will be holding an amateur radio test session for all license classes at Higgins Labs, Room 116, Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Thursday, January 20, 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.
*** 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.

South Worcester County District Emergency Coordinator Bob Beausoleil KA1OTQ is looking for 10+ amateur radio operators to assist with the Sutton Chain of Lights on Saturday December 4 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.

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 that volunteers 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 some holiday shopping.

This one of the more fun, low key public service events in the Central MA region. It is highly recommended for any amateur radio operator but especially those with no prior public service experience.

Please contact Bob KA1OTQ for more information or to sign up.

The Southern New England Weather Conference will be taking place on Saturday, December 4, 2010, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Holy Cross College in the Hogan Center in Worcester, MA. This conference is a gathering of weather professionals, advanced amateurs, and weather enthusiasts from around New England, including meteorologists from many of the regional radio and TV stations and the NWS office in Taunton, MA.

In coordination with the NWS office in Taunton, and with the assistance of Rob Macedo, KD1CY, WECT has secured a table for providing information on Skywarn and Amateur Radio. We are working on the final details for a demonstration setup as well, and hope to have these plans worked out later this week.

At this time, I'm looking for 2 volunteers for the morning shift (8am to noon) and 2 volunteers for the afternoon shift (noon to 5pm). No special skills or Skywarn training are required, I'm just looking for a few individuals that can professionally represent WECT and Amateur Radio.

If you are interested, please let me know.

Thanks!
Brian - N1FIY
WECT Board of Director

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, November 18, 2010 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.