We are pleased to announce the 2017 WPA Yearbook is finally here! You can scroll to the bottom of the WPA Section Page at arrl.org to download it, or download it right here: 2017 Yearbook
Our 2017 WPA Yearbook is 64 full-color pages that chronicle our Section’s Amateur Radio activities over the past 12 months in stunning photos, articles, charts and tables and directories of all Section staff members and appointees.
This is all contained in a 6.7 Megabyte PDF file, which may take a while to download if you use dial-up access, but it’s really worth the download! We also have a 240 MB “High Definition” version with much more detail in the photos. We will make this HD version available soon.
We are also looking into printers who can provide a deluxe printed edition perfect for gift giving, or to display to the public during amateur radio events. It looks like the going price at online printers is $19.00 + shipping from a number of sources. We are still looking for a better deal, and are open to suggestions (No, it’s not right to have somebody’s employer unknowingly foot the bill for a bunch of “free” color copies!!! Don’t even think about it. Remember our principle of “Integrity”!!!)
Newsletter editors: If you ask nicely (or even not so nicely!) we will be happy to provide you with individual articles (or the whole thing) as PDF or DOC/DOCX/ODT files. Just ask!
WPA ARES Teams With Red Cross of Western Pennsylvania
WPA ARES leaders met with Western PA Red Cross officials in their Liberty Avenue offices recently. Items discussed included signing of the ARRL Memorandum of Understanding Part C, a discussion of amateur radio messaging capabilities, standardization of procedures and alignment with the principles of the National Incident Management System, background checks and clearances, and initial planning of a small-scale simulated disaster for early this spring.
Talks continue, and both agencies are formulating plans to support each other’s operations and to share mutual training opportunities. Red Cross has offered to accept EMA identification as sufficient to become a shelter volunteer with no further background checking or cost.
Molly Pistner N3IPS of Bradford, McKean County, Silent Key
It is with great sadness we note the passing of Molly S. Pistner, 40, of Bradford, PA. She was licensed as N3IPS. Please send condolences to Don and Sandee Pistner, N3ELI and N3HPL, and keep her family in your thoughts.
Digital Voice Radio Seminar – March 3, Indiana Quality Inn
Last year, we held a WPA section-wide DV Radio Seminar – at the Uniontown ARC – in the South 1 district. The response was fantastic. In fact, we had more hams wanting to sign up than we could accommodate. Now, we’re holding one again in Indiana, PA! The seminar date is Saturday, March 3rd.
You’ll learn about the different DV methodologies available to hams and experience samples of DV audio – compared against analog FM. You’ll see the advantages of DV radios and repeaters, plus-up-to-the-minute technologies and also see “what’s hot and what’s not”. While the subject matter can be rather technical, it will be presented in a fashion that is informative and easy to understand.
Our venue is the Quality Inn & Suites at 1545 Wayne Avenue, in Indiana, PA. We’ll start the day with coffee at 9:00, then business starting up at 10:00. We’ll take a break for lunch and then regroup. As we have the meeting room well into the afternoon, there will be plenty of time for Q&A, plus some demonstrations.
The seminar is made possible by our ARRL leadership – including WPA Section Manager, Joe Shupienis W3BC, and will be conducted by our section Public Information Coordinator, Cory Sickles, WA3UVV. Cory writes the monthly column “Digitally Speaking”, for “The Spectrum Monitor” magazine and is a former columnist for various CQ Magazine publications.
The 2018 WPA DV Radio Seminar is free to attend, but we do need to have you sign up. Please send an email to wa3uvv@gmail.com – including your name, callsign, and telephone number. You will be contacted to confirm your reservation and again to remind you of the date. If our response is anything like last year, it is strongly suggested you sign up ASAP.
If this event is well-attended, it will indicate there is a high level of interest in holding events such as this throughout the Section. Again, that’s Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 9:00AM to 3:00 PM.
We hope to see you there!
Help Wanted
Providing excellent service to a section as big as WPA simply cannot be done by a handful of people. Our WPA friends deserve the best we can give them, and to do that, we need your help! If you have been thinking about volunteering to help, have a look at the list of Station Level Appointments by visiting the ARRL Website at http://www.arrl.org/field-organization and scrolling down the page to “Station Level Appointments”.
If you’re having trouble choosing, take a good look at Technical Specialist. I’ve often said that everybody is an expert at something, and this appointment gives you the opportunity to share your special knowledge with others. As we all know, a good Elmer can make all the difference to a new ham’s enjoyment of amateur radio. The Elmer works with the newcomers to help them get started in the greatest hobby on Earth, which can lead to their lifelong involvement. The Technical Specialist is sort of like an “Official Elmer” and is the go-to person in your club, town or county for all your questions about antennas, radios, grounding, digital modes, and many more topics. If you are that person, why not make it official? Contact me for more information!
Upcoming Events
Our WPA Section always has something going on, and we’re already off to a running start!
| Date | Location | Event |
| Feb 25 | South Park | WASHfest 2018 |
| Mar 3 | Indiana, PA | Digital Voice Radio Seminar |
| Mar 11 | Youngsville | Warren Co Hamfest |
| Apr 8 | Boston, PA | Two Rivers ARC 47th Hamfest |
In Conclusion
If you’re looking for a program for your club meetings, why not put together some activities for new hams and those who are interested in Amateur Radio? Demo the latest entry level radios like the Icom 7300 and the Yaesu 991A (for example), have some Elmers available to answer questions, have a show and tell about DXing, digital modes, SDR, signal location… the list is endless.
Advertise it as much as you can, especially in schools, colleges, on bulletin boards at work, on your nets, and in person to the hams in your communities who recently got licensed. It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be done. Who knows, you might make the difference needed to gain some active new members!
Above all else, go out of your way to make new hams feel welcome and respected! We want to make good amateur radio friendships in the best 100+ year tradition of Amateur Radio!
Still looking for more ideas for meeting programs? Drop me an invite or a request for a visit by any of our section staff. We are available to travel to your group, and can discuss a variety of very interesting Amateur Radio topics.
73 and Press On!
Joe Shupienis W3BC
