WNY Section News – Updated 15 December 2025

Happy Holidays!

I would like to wish all of our fellow amateurs in WNY a Merry Christmas and happy New Year! I hope you get nice electronic goodies this year!

Did You Know?

The oldest ARRL affiliated club in WNY is the Radio Association of Western NY (RAWNY) first affiliated in 1920. The club formed in 1917 and has club callsign W2PE. RAWNY still meets at the Church of the Nativity in Tonawanda NY. I still remember Tom Burns K2BEG who passed in 1985. Miss ya buddy!

Back when I was a novice RAWNY was the first radio club that I joined. Since I was too young to drive I bummed a ride to the meetings from a few local hams. Do you remember the KN and WN call signs? They were issued to new licensees. The novice class license was the first in the string of licenses available at the time.

Hamfests and Events in WNY

Marathon Hamfest 10 January 2026, sponsored by the Skyline ARC at the Marathon Civic Center in Marathon NY.

Groundhog Hamfest 7 February 2026 sponsored by the Keuka Lake ARA at the Almond Community Building in Almond NY

Bullthistle Hamfest 11 April 2026 sponosred by the Chenango Valley ARA at St Bartholomew's Parosh Center in Norwich NY.

Sponsoring a hamfest this year? Go to the link and apply to be an ARRL sanctioned event.  https://www.arrl.org/arrl-sanctioned-events

2026 is the ARRL Year of the Club for more information go to this link.  http://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club

Year of the Club Newsletter Contest - https://www.arrl.org/club-newsletter-contest     Year of the Club Website Contest - https://www.arrl.org/club-website-contest     Club Photo Submission - https://www.arrl.org/club-photos     MARCONI Program - The Project is designed to assist clubs to become more active and engaged with their members and their local community. https://www.arrl.org/marconi-program

Amateur Radio Activity Report – submit your latest activity and tell HQ about what is going on! https://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-activity-report

America250 WAS Challenge

Award for working all states in 2026. Endorsements for working W1AW portable in all states, triple play endorsement for WAS on all 3 modes CW, SSB, digital, endorsement for contacting ARRL affiliated clubs in all 50 states. All contacts to be confirmed using logbook of the world LoTW.

Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES

Go to this link for ARES information and resources, https://www.arrl.org/ares

ARES Fact Sheet, ARES Plan, ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book (Fillable PDF), ARES Standardized Training Plan Task Book

Please register your ARES group at this link  https://www.arrl.org/register-an-ares-group

Affiliated Clubs

Please update your club affiliation information at   https://www.arrl.org/club-update

Current officers or listed contacts can update club affiliation information.  You must be logged in to use the editing system for clubs.  

This file has instructions on how to proceed. https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Clubs/Club20Online_20150806.pdf

For information or to address problems - email  CLUBS@ARRL.org. 

Ev Tupis W2EV is the new Western New York WNY Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC). Congratulations and thank you to Ev W2EV for taking this important position in the WNY field organization!  ,

You may email me at W2LC@arrl.org or W2LC@arrl.net.

73 Scott W2LC ARRL WNY Section Manager