Radio Association of Western New York

09/14/2026

Thinking about joining RAWNY, or learning more about amateur radio? Now’s a great time!

Our membership year begins in September, with annual dues of just $20 for individuals, $25 for families, and $10 for full-time students, plus a one-time $5 new-member fee.

There are plenty of ways to get involved! RAWNY has maintained our W2PE club station aboard USS Little Rock since 1981, giving members a pretty unique place to get on the air, and share with the public. Throughout the year we participate in portable activity together including ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day, Museum Ships Weekend, POTA outings, special events, and the Buffalo Naval Park’s Youth Encampments. Our RAWNY Technical Institute offers licensing and upgrade classes, with entry-level Technician classes running right now!

We meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM at the Church of the Nativity in Tonawanda (doors open and Elmer’s Corner at 7 PM), and our casual RAWNY Breakfast Break is at 9 AM on the third Saturday of every month at Family Tree Restaurant on Bailey Ave. in Amherst.

Whether you’ve been a ham for decades, just got your license, or are simply curious about amateur radio, come out and see what RAWNY is all about!

09/14/2026

Members: Are you on the RAWNY Groups.io yet?

If not, you may be missing club announcements, upcoming activities, and discussions with other RAWNY members.

It’s one of the ways we keep everyone connected outside of meetings, so we encourage all members to sign up and join the conversation:

https://rawny.groups.io

09/13/2026

Yesterday was the first of the fall Youth Encampments aboard USS Little Rock at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park!

The campers had a great time with Morse code and making Morse code name bracelets. The highlight for several campers was getting behind the mic and actually making contacts of their own!

One of those contacts took them all the way from the ship in Buffalo to two operators in Angeles National Forest in California—a pretty great way to show just how far amateur radio can take you.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it a fun evening. We’ll be back aboard next Saturday for another encampment!

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

Add this one to your calendar! Puptoberfest at the Bark Park is Saturday, October 3!

RAWNY will be back on Ellicott Island for this year’s event, operating W2PE and activating both POTA US-6532 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and U.S. Islands NY035R.

Puptoberfest runs from noon–4 PM, but we’ll be setting up around 9 AM and operating throughout the day. We’ll also be helping with the event passport books and sharing amateur radio with visitors who stop by.

Members are encouraged to come operate, help talk with visitors, or bring your own station.

Just a reminder.....
Bring the whole pack and enjoy fall with us!!!

09/09/2026

Members: Youth Encampments at the Buffalo Naval Park start back up this weekend! We’ll be joining the campers Saturday, September 12 and again September 19 before taking a break until November.

We’ll have our usual radio and communication activities, including Morse code, the phonetic alphabet, Battleship, Anchor Man, the radio brick challenge, signal flags, and our new Pringles-can Enigma machines. We’d also like to keep both HF stations busy so campers can hear real contacts—and maybe even get on the air themselves!

We’ll have the radio room open all day for those that want to operate earlier on Saturday and help us greet ship visitors to the atomic strike room when they arrive on the flag bridge.

Campers arrive around 4 PM, dinner is around 6:30, and we usually finish by 10–10:30 PM. Join us whenever you can—any help is appreciated!

09/08/2026

Please note that the start date for the upcoming Tech Class is now September 21st