I want to congratulate Harry Bloomberg ,W3YJ and Dave Kleber, KB3FXI for an outstanding article on a Digital Simulated Emergency Test article published in the June QST. The article is printed on pages 76-77. These two individuals have worked diligently to promote and develop uses for NBEMS in our section. If you do not know about this digital mode contact Harry or Dave. My personal thanks to both of these guys for all the help they have provided me through their efforts. Thanks Guys!!

Good weather is finally with us and hamfests will be a common event for the next few months. The largest hamfest for the W.Pa. Section will take place on June 6 in Butler. This year the Breezeshooters will host their 56th hamfest . I will be at the hamfest at the ARRL table and invite you to stop and say hello. Larry Keller AB3ER has arranged to have a forum regarding ARES at the hamfest so check the schedule in the main building. Additional information is available at http://www.breezeshooters.net. Hope to see everyone there for this great event.

In just a few short weeks Field Day 2010 will be in operation June 26-27. This event is the most enjoyable thing for me with the exception of the PA QSO Party. I am able to travel around the section and visit with area clubs at their field day sites. It is amazing to see the ingenuity of the hams as they set up their station and engineer antennas for the weekend event. This event is designed to demonstrate emergency preparedness and show people in our community how we can provide a service in times of need. While it is not a contest many strive to score higher than neighboring clubs and we all check the results as soon as they are posted to see where our favorite club placed. Another wonderful aspect of field day weekend is the social aspects. The wonderful food and the camaraderie that is paramount at every location. If you would like me to stop by for a visit send me an email at n3mse@arrl.org providing the request and a location.

Several months ago I posted information regarding a bill that was introduced into the House of Representatives here in Pennsylvania. The bill was designated HB-2070. This bill was designed to prohibit hand held cell phones from being used while a vehicle was in motion. Unfortunately the wording of the bill is such that amateur radio devices particularly handhelds could also be prohibited with the passage of this bill. While we have worked for the past several months to get this bill amended it has not been done at this time. I strongly urge every amateur and their relatives and friends to write, email or call their state senators and oppose the passage of this bill unless specific language is added to exempt amateur radio devices from the bill. Some legislative people feel that all our radios are permanently installed in vehicle as part of the bill exempts devices that are physically or electrically integral to the vehicle. This needs all of our immediate attention to contact our local reps and oppose passage. If you need help determining your state officials check the following web site http://www.legis.state.pa.us/ in the upper right corner you can enter your zip code to get the officials for your district.

Again I am asking for someone to step up and volunteer to handle the duties of the Section Traffic Manager. This position has been vacant since late last summer and I have been handling those duties. Often this is difficult for me to nightly make the net to collect the data. I am asking for your help in this function. Duties include participating in the nightly section net on 3983hz and collecting the net reports each month then compiling the data to forward to myself and to HQ. Additionally you would work with the Section Emergency Coordinator in planning the Simulated Emergency Test. If you are willing to help in this area, please contact me directly for any additional information.

As always I encourage you to join one of the various traffic nets and help deliver messages to individuals in your community and throughout the country as operators struggle to keep the keep this activity running strong. The section net is on 3983 every evening at approximately 6:00 PM local time. Join the nets and lets all get Radio Active.

73
John V. Rodgers, N3MSE
W. Pa. Section Manager

What is amateur radio? How can you get on the air? Watch the video above for a look at our exciting hobby.