Hello Everyone, I have finally been able to go through and make some corrections to the ENY.ARRL web pages. Over the past year there have been several issues with the hosting service, main frame server, and hackers. I was also locked out by “Fencing” for a period of time. BUT, it all seems to be good now, so hopefully I can keep the site more up to date going forward.
Vry 73 de
K2QY
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Congrats to the Warren County club for their “Drive Thru” ham license exam!
This past Sunday the Warren County Radio Club held what they called a “Drive Thru” amateur radio exam session. I visited for a short while to see what how they managed this. I was very impressed with the professionalism and the degree into which C-19 safety was observed. Everyone in direct contact with either the examinees or the test materials wore face masks and gloves (which were switched out so there was no cross contamination). All examinees were warned to use a bathroom before coming to the test location. All examinees were confined to their vehicles which were checked for any papers or electronics which could be used to cheat. VEs stood in front of and between two cars so each car could be observed by VEs from two angles. All instructions were given using a portable FM transmitter using low power in the commercial VHF range and received on the individual car radios. The VE team spaced themselves more than six feet apart at a long table in front of the examinee’s vehicles.
Here is a link to a short video Mickey Corentto N2MC put together: https://youtu.be/kcT0P3LhPU8
I know that several clubs in the ENY Section are teaching ham classes via on-line methods using services such as ZOOM. But the problem is how do we test folks after they have taken the time to study and learn materials that may not be familiar to most folks. It would be a shame to lose these people who wish to become licensed because we can not give an exam. Kudos to the Warren County Club for working out a really viable solution during this time of uncertainty.
73 de,
John K2QY
I must admit that I have been a bit behind in updating and adding news here to the website. I have been a bit under the weather and am FINALLY back to my old self……..so watch out! I may visit your club soon!
I was thrilled to award Bill Leue K2WML an Advanced Communicator Certificate for completing the ENY training manual.
I has been my pleasure to hand out a couple more awards recently. These are Amateurs who have completed one or more of the ENY ARES Taskbooks. Once you have completed a Taskbook, let your EC, DEC, the SEC or SM know and one of us will sign off on your achievement.
Gerald W. Murray WA2IWW completed Level 1 Communicator (RADO)
Randall C. Stein KL7TJZ completed Level II Communicator
Marc Gorsage WA2FON Level I Communicator (RADO)
Congrats to all! Are you next?
I am thrilled to announce that last Saturday at the ENY Section Hudson Division meeting with Mike Lisenco N2YBB, I officially welcomed James Mac Murray N2UZQ as an ASM for the Northern District. I now have an ASM for each District to help with ARRL activities in the section. Thanks to my entire staff for the work you guys are doing. We are making this section one of the most active in the entire country! Please see the CONTACTS page for the complete list. 73 de
John K2QY
One thing I have noticed as I have attended the various hamfests this spring and summer is the warm welcome I have received and the people who have showed up to help with the ARRL booth. This picture is from the July 1st Hamfest in White Plains, NY. It was held by the Metro 70cm Network. Special thanks to Carl Everts N2VQP to making my job easier! Our Division Director Mike N2YBB and Linda K2QYL both helped with my booth. The Southern ASM Tom Raffaelli WB2NHC also spent a few hours helping. Photos from other Hamfests are available on the NEWS page.
If your club is having a Hamfest, let me know and I will make it a point to be there!
73 de
John K2QY
With the winter weather I have been kind of staying close to home these past few weeks. I did visit SMARA Schenectady Museum ARA) on January 18th and EGARA (East Greenbush ARA) on February 14th. Both clubs asked me to speak on projected changes in the ENY Section, ARRL issues, and recent ARES changes. Now that winter is loosening its grip, I hope to venture a little further afield.
I will be speaking at Warren Co. RACES on February 26th, and on March 22nd I have been asked to address the Watervliet Library on an introduction to Amateur Radio. The start time is about 6:30PM for that. This talk is open to the public, so encourage your non-ham friends to attend.
Lastly, on March 3rd and 4th I will be assisting the “Hams That Care” technician class. I will be teaching electronic theory and also serving as a VE on Sunday.
Upcoming important events:
February 24th — Northern District ARES meeting at the Clifton Park Public Library
April 29th — Orange County HamFest
Best 73 de
K2QY