Congrats to the sixteen RI Section Clubs, EOCs, and Individuals who participated in the ARRL Field Day last June 21-23 2024. ARRL has now posted the scores, but we all know Field Day is about showcasing amateur radio to the world.
Wonderful to see Rhode Island’s historic clubs all alive and well. Welcoming the public while still scoring nationally in the top 20 in their class. Way to go!
1Alpha
#13: Assoc. Radio Amateurs of So. New England W1AQ 1,211 2 15 3,506 RI
More than two decades after the deadly West Warwick The Station Nightclub fire, Tom Senarchia KA1VAY (above left) remains mission-driven to promote public health & safety awareness with inclusive whole community outreach.
Tom KA1VAY is the Founding President of RI AEM (the state-wide Association of Emergency Managers). Building on his career as a West Warwick Emergency Management professional, he is now also a Pastor. This September, he opened the doors of the Cornerstone of Faith UMC in Coventry for a long-planned Health & Safety Fair that welcomed the community. It was a blue sky New England late summer day, and people from across RI steadily dropped by to chat with representatives from the United Way’s 211 program and the RI Dept of Health’s Special Needs Emergency Registry, and more. There was food and fun and a chance to discover just how many older women at this event had fond memories of their now-Silent Key dad’s active on Amateur Radio.
Outside, Jeremy Taylor K1JST – our tireless young professional RI Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) – set up the RI ARES table and greeted everyone, listening patiently to understand how best to be helpful. For some, Jeremy K1JST suggested ways to get started. To others, ways to get more involved (or involved again) in ARES.
K1OS Ocean State Amateur Radio Club was represented by club president, Michael Melancon N1VSU. Ocean State Amateur Radio Club (K1OS) participates every June in ARRL Field Day from the Providence EMA with operators Joe Del Giudice, K1CR and Matt Hackman, KB1FUP. They are co-located on ARRL Field Day in Providence with the PEMA RACES team led by Barry Noel, W1BSN – operating with the Amateur Radio call sign KK1PMA.
New possibilities unfolded for how a local faith center or Scout or Senior group could get members licensed and bring Plan-B resilient communication skills to their community.
In-person community outreach and collaboration like this Health & Safety Fair are more meaningful than ever in 2024.
More remarkable RI leaders: New England Division Marine Corp Chaplain Jane Deptula (standing front) who organizes an annual interfaith servant leadership Four Chaplains Memorial Service on the first Sunday in February at the Cornerstone of Faith UMC in Coventry, Rhode Island.
The Service of the Four Chaplains is held in recognition of the Dorchester Chaplains “who died rescuing civilian and military personnel as the American troop ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943, in what has been referred to as the second-worst sea disaster of World War II.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Chaplains
Many thanks to Tom Senarchia KA1VAY for organizing this successful outreach on a Blue Sky day.
This weekend, the Newport County Radio Club (NCRC) gathered at Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island to celebrate the club’s milestone 75th anniversary as an ARRL-affiliated amateur radio club. The ARRL New England Division Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC presented a commemorative plaque to Ed Gosling, W1NQH, who has been a member of the club for over thirty years. Bob Beatty, WB4SON gave a keynote address on the history of the club, with an emphasis on its role promoting education, licensing, and getting on the air through outdoor club programs – including Islands on the Air and Parks on the Air.
Looking forward, the club wants to again acknowledge its 2023 major ARRL Club grant for a Vector Network Analyzer to support UHF and microwave learning by members of all license classes and skill-levels. Club member Greg Bonaguide, WA1VUG of Rohde & Schwarz again shared his timely insights. Meanwhile, Carl Dumas, KC1NAM brought his home-brew satellite van and offered demos while making a successful confirmed QSO via satellite RS-44. At the other end of the spectrum, Naldy Medina, KP4AMC talked low-frequency and was good-natured when people recognized him from the cover of the July 2024 QST.
Carl Dumas, KC1NAM (rear) making satellite QSOs. Greg Bonaguide, WA1VUG; Christy Bonaguide KF4UXP; Phil Temples, K9HI; Anita Kemmerer, AB1QB; Fred Kemmerer AB1OC
This was also the club’s third annual Outdoor Adventure, with a 2024 tribute to Silent Key Dave Cain, W1DEC. Aquidneck Island native Kevin Beale, K8EAL, from ARRL HQ presented the Cain family with a replica of the ARRL commemorative brick the NCRC had placed in Newington, CT at ARRL HQ in honor of W1DEC.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Beale, ARRL
Willy Maclean, W1LY and Jim Sendrak, KC1LYG had secured a wealth of door prizes from DXE and others. ARRL books on Propagation, Licensing, Antennas and numerous DXE gift certificates were welcomed by the many winners present, including DaveDan Neal, W2DAN, the RI Section Technical Coordinator.
The new RI Youth Coordinator, Rowan Eggert, WO1P won a copy of the latest science fiction novel by Phil Temples, K9HI, the Vice Director – showing the generalist range of interests that animates so many radio amateur gatherings. Inside the picnic pavilion was good cheer. Outdoors on this beautiful September day, club members drifted back and forth to check out Carl’s satellite set-up. And also the sidecar driven to the picnic by auto mechanic wizard Jeremy Dennis, N1JAD. Huge shout-out for “Most Resilient” to Jeremy N1JAD. Throughout 2023 Jeremy took care of his aging and ailing dad, Arthur Dennis, W1ACD and helped his dad get back active on the air with renewed joyful mental health connection via the W1SYE 2m nightly net community. Art sadly passed away last December 2023, and then Jeremy was faced with clearing out the house to sell. These are only a few of the reasons why it was inspirational to see Jeremy’s spirit of resilience as he moves forward with a new job, living in a new town, and setting up a new QTH and hands-on workshops. Newport County Radio Club is an amazing ham community with a proud past and abundant opportunities for each of us to share and inspire in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
Calling all radio amateurs ready to imagine the NCRC’s 100th anniversary in 2049.
How about let’s start with the NCRC October 14, 2024 monthly meeting?!
Providence Radio Association club president Dave Tessitore, K1DT shared this news before their weekly social meeting tonight at the PRA clubhouse:
A record 27 PRA members were in attendance for theNortheast HamXposition two weeks ago in Marlborough, MA. https://hamxposition.org/
Members and family in attendance included AC1GE, AJ1S, K1COI, K1DT, K1LFS, KB1EFR, KB1KVD, KB1RCD, KC1NAB, KC1NTI, KZ1K, N1DM, N1RHH, N1SXB, N1WVQ, NE1U, W1BSN, W1ER, W1ESQ, W1EYH, W1GS, W1PRA, WA1WEE, WQ1Q, K3DRE, W3DRE, and Sarah Good. Friends and associates were too many to list!
The PRA set-up and hosted the Official HamXpo Get-On-The-Air station, W1XPO.
Tremendous young Amateur participation at the HamXposition W1XPO GOTA station!
Thanks to all the PRA members, it was an Overwhelming Success!
Many of us filled the PRA Table(s) at both the Friday DX Dinner and Saturday Grand Banquet.
The Fri and Sat PRA Happy Hours were well attended by members, friends, and guests.
PRA HamXpo Speakers
Our President, K1DT spoke on Marketing your Club, while Dom, N1DM spoke on DMR technology, and Doug, K3DRE, gave an interesting presentation on Being a Ham in the Broadcast Industry. Many of us attended the RI Section Forum hosted by our ARRL Section Manager, Nancy, KC1NEK.
New post from Rowan WO1P – RI Section Youth Coordinator (RI-SYC)
Calling all Rhode Island youth!
Are you interested in STEM, want to learn more about leadership opportunities in your community, and grow your communication skills? Then you have found the right place. My name is Rowan, WO1P, and I am the new Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) for the Rhode Island ARRL section. For the last two years, I have worked with my local community and university to encourage youth engagement in amateur radio. Since moving to Rhode Island earlier this year, I have been determined to continue my efforts in our beautiful ocean state that I now call home.
Goals of my appointment:
I have four primary goals for my appointment as SYC.
Learn more about amateur radio, network with hams around the New England Division, and encourage outreach for youth throughout Rhode Island.
Communicate the needs of Rhode Island youth and their mentors to the section and larger ARRL organization.
How to get involved:
Being an active participant in the community has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a ham. I encourage everyone to attend club meetings and events, ham fests, and demonstrations seen throughout the state.
ARRL Northeast Division HamXposition:
Attending this year’s HamXposition? Come meet the Rhode Island section organization! We have a meet and greet from 4-5pm on August 24th. Hope to see you there,
Contact me:
As SYC, one of the most important aspects of my role is effectively communicating the needs and concerns of the Rhode Island amateur radio community to the right individuals. Whether you are a college student trying to start an amateur radio club on campus, Scout leadership looking to expand opportunities for your troop, or an interested member of our community, I want to be available to help in the best way I can. A great way to reach me directly is through my email, [email protected] This is my amateur radio dedicated email that I check frequently to best serve the Rhode Island section. Please feel free to reach out, I would be happy to help.
Interest form:
Want to bring amateur radio to youth in your local community? Need help from the SYC?
Fill out my interest form and I will work with you to help bring amateur radio opportunities to your part of the state.
73, Rowan WO1P – RI Section Youth Coordinator (RI-SYC)
Building Bridges Workforce Summit at CCRI – Newport July 17, 2024
Building Bridges Workforce Summit at CCRI – Newport
Kudos to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) for hosting the Building Bridges Workforce Summit in Newport last week on July 17, 2024. It was an inspiring snapshot of the collaborations already taking place to transform learning pathways and connect Rhode Islanders with in-demand skills and sustainable careers across the key sectors of Labor, Defense, Finance, Healthcare, Hospitality, and the Integrated Maritime Blue Economy.
All presenters encouraged us to think more broadly about career entry points and the transferable skills gained. For example, hiring needs in a hospital are not unlike the scope of skills required to run a small city: from food services to niche-needs (like who will sterilize the surgical tools and how to find and train these workers as older one’s age out), to administrative and tech support. Joe Caparco, the LiUNA New England Region Apprenticeship Director, gave a compelling pitch for why we need to think more broadly about what it means to be skilled “Labor” and the breadth of opportunities.
But! “We need to have a trainable person in the seat”. Someone who has learned what it means to be dependable. Heather Singleton helped the audience reflect that many got their first jobs in Hospitality. (Nationwide, 8 in 10 Americans.) These early work experiences can deliver lifelong learning dividends about fundamentals like showing up, greeting your customer and hearing their needs. Demonstrating personal persistence through speed bumps as you navigate finding your allies to mentor you and support growing on the right team in the right role. She shared research from Jason Dorsey that younger generations now are not getting that first job experience until they are in their 20s, with then a decade until in a job and able to pay for their own basic needs. One action item brought up over and over was the request to focus on the soft “communication” workforce-readiness skills that are actually hard – and in demand.
The ham radio community is fortunate to have this opportunity unfolding as we raise awareness to new stakeholders of our enduring commitment to free cross-generational civic mentoring in a hands-on learning community that is all about communication. (“Ham Radio – the original Social Media”!) We offer a unique place where a growth mindset attitude matters more than degrees, and everyone is open to learn from and mentor anyone interested. This experimental tech innovator educational mission was a founding part of the FCC-mandate granting electromagnetic spectrum worth billions to licensed hams. https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/amateur-radio-service
Radio amateurs offer practical learning about electronics, wireless communication, spectrum propagation, structured communication, and the hard “soft skills” that all industry representatives mentioned as far more important than this or that technical skill. Are you curious and willing to learn? Also dependable? Accountable contributing on a team? Able to navigate feedback and keep working toward a shared goal? Communicate what matters most about the situation at hand? Problem-solve next steps?
Join us as we bring the benefits of being able to communicate without internet access or commercial power to new generations and more Rhode Islander stakeholders. Find out more about getting licensed here: https://hamstudy.org/
If you love to nerd out on tech problem-solving and/or Rhode Island’s world-class history of industrial innovation, then the New England Wireless & Steam Museum (NEWSM.org) community gatherings are for you. Last weekend’s Radio Tune-Up was no exception. Great to see the NEWSM.org volunteer President Randy Snow, along with many volunteer Board members, including entrepreneurial tech start-up engineering innovator Terry Jones of Kuva Systems (Cambridge,MA), and Newport’s Don DeLuca, an accomplished industrial designer and entrepreneurial consultant on product invention and market IP for consumer and marine products.
This weekend’s New England Wireless & Steam Museum Radio Tune-Up brought vendors from across New England, and even northern Rhode Island. Great to catch up with RI ARES Emergency Coordinator SKYWARN net control, Wayne Burkett, KA1VRF.
I was amazed to learn his mother, June Burkett, W1VXC (1929-1982) was the ARRL RI Section Communications Manager in the 1950s, and “worked Civil Defence for hurricanes and was a Morse Code speed award winner.” She was the President of the Rhode Island Young Ladies Radio Club, organized in 1955. (QST-1956-11: 63) and ran their CW net.
Among other things, the Radio Tune-up gathering was my chance as the new ARRL RI Section Manager to meet many hams I might not otherwise get to meet or hear from. Some longtime hams shared their unhappiness about the recent ARRL dues increase – and where was ham radio’s relevance for today? But this only reinforces in my mind the need to help older radio amateurs communicate their stories to new generations about how our mentoring community directly offered career entry paths in the past – and is more relevant than ever today. We have a shared goal to keep our ham band privileges available. Amateur radio has so much to contribute right now.
Want to learn about satellite operation? Space weather? Make Earth-Moon-Earth contacts? Find someone who knows how to solder? Build and legally fly their own drones? Nerd out on SDR? Welcome to today’s Amateur Radio!
For example, Tom Lapointe, WA1LBK (above left) from Fall River, MA was filled with stories about his wonderful life-changing introduction to RF technologies he credits to his High School’s hands-on electronics and radio club at the (now-closed) Bishop Connolly. He got his first FCC-Technician class license at 16 before he knew how to drive! After high school, Tom WA1LBK went on a familiar southern New England worker skills-pathway of on-the-job vocational training. The Math required by a college engineering degree was not for him, and so Tom followed ever-changing job opportunities in electronics repairs, analog and digital circuitry, field radios, and everything he saw coming as new tech from his never-ending involvement as a licensed ham exploring UHF, VHF, and satellite contesting capabilities – informed also by his model aircraft and railroad hobbies. Tom was eager to show us the tiny circuitry of his latest (cheap and dependable) model aircraft. He remarked on the future of electronics as the cost of entry makes experimentation open to everyone. Decades later, his enthusiasm and willingness to invent new solutions and share them is as strong as ever.
Tom, WA1LBK and Jeremy, K1JST, the RI Section Emergency Coordinator, talked at length about the value of understanding how RF analog waveforms work. Digital natives are comfortable with 0s and 1s. Something is on or off. But how does that help software engineers, for example, quickly understand an RF fiber optic interface board? Software engineers are welcome to join in and discover for themselves why ham radio is the “greatest hobby of a lifetime.” A career springboard. And so much more.
Hope to see you at the New England Division HamXposition annual convention next month in nearby Marlboro, MA. NOTE: conference hotel discounts end July 23, 2024.
Not to miss: Space weather rock star Dr. Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, will be the invited guest speaker for the HamXposition Saturday evening Grand Banquet . Known as the “Space Weather Woman” on network TV and in social media, she forecasts and analyzes space weather processes in the heliosphere and exosphere.
Many thanks to the New England Wireless & Steam Museum for their ongoing collaboration with the Fidelity Amateur Radio Club. Scenes here from the club’s June Summer Field Day and January Winter Field Days held on the NEWSM.org campus in East Greenwich, RI.
I am thrilled to accept the position of Section Youth Coordinator (SYC) for the Rhode Island ARRL section. I am proud to be the youngest SYC in the New England Division at 21 years old. With a passion for amateur radio and a commitment to youth engagement, I look forward to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community of young radio enthusiasts as well as supporting our dedicated team of volunteers, including Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, RI Section Manager.
Something to know about me is that I am very new to Rhode Island. I grew up in rural Illinois with a passion for STEM and attended the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA). After graduating from IMSA, I first attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for aerospace engineering on a full scholarship with the Army. However, after scholarship funding fell through, I transferred to Indiana State University to study Intelligence Analysis. During my time at ISU, I found myself involved in amateur radio and it reignited my love for technical challenges as well as a leadership opportunity in my community. After a few years at ISU, I decided to finish my degree online and move to Rhode Island in April 2024 to be with my better half and pursue a career in banking. I hope to move into fraud investigations after I graduate from Indiana State in May 2025.
My journey in amateur radio is still young, much like me. I punched my ticket in April 2022, upgraded to general the following July, and earned my extra class license in April 2023. This hobby has combined my passions for public service, youth engagement, and STEM education. During my time at Indiana State University, I helped re-establish the Amateur Radio Club at ISU after years of inactivity. We grew quickly with the support of the university and the local amateur radio community.
While club president of ARC@ISU, I enjoyed our Parks on the Air (POTA) events at Turkey Run State Park, seeing Scouts make their first contacts, encouraging individual operator growth through hands-on activities, free license testing, and so much more.
We gained popularity in October 2023 after competing in the ARRL Collegiate QSO Party and placing fourth in our first ever competitive event as a club.
In this year’s 2024 spring semester, we were involved in data collection for Case Western Reserve’s W8EDU and HamSci solar eclipse research project being one of the only universities in the path of totality. This work was presented at the 2024 ARRL National Convention at Dayton Hamvention.
ARC@ISU received the “Best Emerging Student Organization” award from the university for our efforts in revitalizing the club on campus and received almost $10,000 in grants and donations. It was a very valuable and rewarding experience as a student leader and I hope to use the knowledge gained to help Rhode Island youth amateur radio clubs succeed.
As Section Youth Coordinator, my primary goal is to engage, educate, and empower the next generation of amateur radio operators in Rhode Island. During my appointment, I hope to focus on four key aspects: ARRL School Club Round-up (SCR), Scouting Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), outreach, and communication. I plan to collaborate with schools, youth organizations, and local clubs in a whole-community approach to increase youth participation in the ARRL, coordinated resilience, and the importance of STEM education in amateur radio. By promoting hands-on and inclusive learning experiences, we can cultivate technical skills, foster curiosity, and build lasting connections for Rhode Island youth.
I am dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where all young enthusiasts feel safe, valued, and supported. Together, we will explore innovative ways to utilize amateur radio for educational and community-building purposes, ensuring that the spirit of amateur radio thrives for years to come.
Thank you for this opportunity to serve and contribute to the growth of our amateur radio community. I am excited to embark on this journey and work alongside all of you to inspire and nurture the future of amateur radio in Rhode Island.
If you are excited to see more youth engagement, come talk to me! I’ll be at the New England Division annual HamXposition (August 22-25) in nearby Marlboro, MA. The Rhode Island Section Meet and Greet is scheduled for Saturday August 24th from 4pm-5pm. Hope to see you there. Meanwhile…
“The United States is the world’s largest economy and third most populous country. It is also one of the world’s more resilient countries, scoring a total of 63/100 on the Resilience Index. This places the U.S. 27th out of 141 countries measured by the World Risk Poll – comfortably above the global average score of 57, but some way below the top scoring countries.
The Resilience Index is an average score of four smaller sub-indexes: individual, household, community, and societal resilience. The vast majority of countries – 111 of them – have significantly higher scores for societal resilience than individual resilience. In other words, societies generally score higher for resilience than individuals within them.
Very few countries – just nine – show the opposite effect, where individual resilience is significantly higher than societal resilience. The US is among these nine countries and ranks as by far the most unevenly resilient among them.
No other country in the world has such resilient individuals living in such a fragile society.”
Please join the Rhode Island Amateur Radio Community this Field Day weekend as we showcase all we are doing to support resilience on every level
Newport County Radio Club (W1SYE) – Glen Park, Gilbert Barker Rd off Glen Rd, Portsmouth, RI [with Portsmouth RI K1PMA EmComm vehicle demo]
Fidelity Amateur Radio Club (W1MB) – New England Wireless and Steam Museum, East Greenwich, RI
Providence Radio Association (W1OP) – Masonic Youth Center, 116 Long St, Warwick, RI
Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (W1DDD) – 1315 Chopmist Hill Rd, N. Smithfield, RI
Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England (W1AQ) – Slater Memorial Park, Pawtucket, RI
Participating Emergency Management / Operation Radio Clubs
(Call to confirm they will be open to the public and operating at the time you plan to visit. Contact information on site map call-sign pop-up here: https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator)
RICOMU/RIEMA (WA1USA) – 279 Danielson Pike, N. Scituate, RI
Providence EMA RACES (KK1PMA) – 591 Charles St.Providence, RI
Coventry RI EMA (KC1CUE) – 1675 Flat River Rd, Coventry, RI
Charlestown EOC Ham Radio Club (W1CRI) – Ninigret Park, Charlestown, RI
Libby, visiting from Portland OR, was surprised and delighted chatting over the airwaves with local Newport County Radio club members during last weekend’s Jane’s Walk Newport RI. Shown here being mentored by Paul Fredette, K1YBE, NCRC-VP.
Every day across Newport County, amateur radio operators get on the air to talk with one another without needing to rely on the internet or commercial power. This diverse community of FCC-licensed “hams” take advantage of the radio spectrum frequencies allocated to licensed amateurs as part of this critical but invisible infrastructure that is the radio spectrum.
Last weekend’s Jane’s Walk was about sharing the experience of a resilient community forged by a diverse group of local hams licensed since the pandemic, welcomed by a community of old-timers and “Elmer” mentors. We still check in daily on scheduled “nets” to say hello, offer updates about what’s happening in our part of the island, compare notes, and generally learn something new. Any licensed amateur can join in.
It’s also about public service to our community. During bad weather, we have practiced and are prepared to set up Skywarn nets and report relevant information up to the National Weather Service at W1BOX in nearby Norton/Boston. Some of us dig deeper and practice how to send National Traffic System Health & Welfare Radiograms out of the region, should that ever be necessary. Anyone can join this amateur radio community after studying and passing a license exam that does not require knowing Morse Code.
Didn’t make it to last weekend’s Jane’s Walk? The annual ARRL Field Day national amateur radio demo weekend is June 22-23, 2024.
The Newport County Radio Club (W1SYE) will be offering a “Get On the Air” station at Glen Park in Portsmouth, RI. All are welcome to stop by and learn more. Ham radio – the original social media. People talking to people, even if the internet is down. Amateur Radio – Communication when all else fails.
Many thanks to Rebecca Noon and Jed Brainerd from Center Aquidneck for convening Jane’s Walk 2024.
The Airwaves Jane’s Walk was fun and memorable thanks to all the local hams who got on the local repeater to chat with our visitors. Thank you!
Newport native & “Not Yet A Ham” Jed Brainerd from Center Aquidneck, getting on the air!
This week’s ARRL New England Division meeting featured a panel presentation by active New England club leaders from CT, NH and MA who shared their thoughts on how to mentor and grow their respective clubs. This 30 minute segment was recorded and is now available to watch on the ARRL New England Division website, linked here:
