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 20, 2017 at 6:30 PM. The session is open to the general public.

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.

If you have never registered with the FCC's ULS system and received a FRN number, please read the privacy concerns notice 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.

Any questions regarding this session can be directed to @.

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 are supporting the Ride to Defeat ALS on Sunday September 24 from 6 AM to around 3 PM (depending on assignment). This is a low key event with the primary focus being on charity rather than racing. The 70 mile bicycle course begins at the Longfellow club in Wayland and continues through several towns with rest stops in Hudson, Bolton, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury. Operators working at a course station can report directly to their station. Lunch is provided for operators in Wayland. Due to the large area covered, some stations will require a mobile radio.

If you would like to volunteer, please respond to @ and indicate if you have a station preference and if you have a mobile radio with 2M or 440 capability.

WMA ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and WECT member John Ruggiero N2YHK is looking assistance with this season's Massachusetts State Triathlon in Winchendon at the Lake Dennison Recreation Area on Sunday, July 9 from 7:00 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.

This is an Olympic Distance Triathlon, with a 0.9 mi swim, 22 mi bike and 6.2 mi run. Registration often fills up. The expanded course will continue, down into the centers of Gardner and Baldwinville. This means our communications plan will involve using a variety of systems on both 2m and 70cm, including deploying portable repeater systems. Maps, frequency plans and details about the event will be provided to those signed up.

For more details on the amateur radio assignments or to sign up please send email to @ and let us know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL capabilities.

There's still time to sign up for Field Day!

As per normal, our Field Day will be at 50 Skyline Drive next weekend (June 24 and 25).

City of Worcester Emergency Management Director Rich Fiske will again lend us the tower trailer like he did in 2015, giving us the ability to hang antennae high and easily.  This, of course, is contingent on the trailer being being available and not getting deployed to actually support some emergency function elsewhere.

We will be will have VEs on hand ready to give exams at virtually any time throughout the weekend.  Just ask for an exam and you shall receive!

We will be eating out this FD.  Drinks will be available but please consider putting some money in the donation can to compensate for that.

Our Field Day info page is here and our signup form is here, please check them out.  You don't need to be a WECT member to join up our Field Day effort so please forward out and invite anyone you think would like to come.

See you there!

We're looking for amateur radio assistance with the New England Season Opener Triathlon at the Hopkinton State Park on Sunday, May 14 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 WECT Events, and let us know if you have UHF equipment with DCS / DPL when you sign up.

We're looking for about 6 - 8 amateur radio ops to assist with the Grafton Gazebo Road Race on Saturday, May 6 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Ops will need to have a dual band HT capable of DCS / DPL 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 @, and let us know if you have a UHF handheld radio capable of DCS / DPL.

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, May 4, 2017 at 6:30 PM. The session is open to the general public.

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.

If you have never registered with the FCC's ULS system and received a FRN number, please read the privacy concerns notice 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.

Any questions regarding this session can be directed to @.

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 2017 Boston Marathon is open! Registration opened today and will close in early February.

Returning volunteers should have received an email with information about how to register. New volunteers can go to the Boston Marathon Volunteer Program website to sign up.

Whether you're new or returning,  need your help, so please sign up today. When registering, it's very helpful to fill in the comments field so the race committee has an idea what assignment you'd like to do this year.

If you have any questions, please email @.