WNY Section News – Update 26 September 2026

The 2026 Elmira Hamfest was a good one! A nice sized flea market with lots of nice equipment available. Lots of door prizes too!

The Amateur Radio Association of the Southern Tier ARAST had their excellent ARES/RACES demonstration. Attendees were able to learn more about emergency communications and traffic handling via the national traffic system NTS. Many of the Chemung County officials were there and were very impressed with the ARAST group! Congratulations!

The WNY ARRL booth (the National Association for Amateur Radio) was also busy. A good number of hams, prospective hams and new hams stopped by to ask questions. A surprising number of non-hams were there to learn more about amateur radio and emergency communications in particular! That’s a good sign! On hand were Laura N2LJM a WNY assistant section manager and the previous WNY section manager, Ev W2EV another ASM and the WNY affiliated club coordinator along with myself.

It’s always nice to see everyone and to chat for a while.

Amateur Radio Operator Volunteer Needed !

The Keuka Lake ARA is looking for volunteers for the Wineglass Marathon running from Bath NY to Corning NY. The event is Sunday October4th. Stations are setup at specific locations along the route to provide safety/emergency communications for the runners. Contact KC2VAW@fiskefamily.net for further  details.

https://www.wineglassmarathon.com/get-involved/volunteer/guidelines/

Hamfests and Events in WNY

Does your club sponsor a hamfest? Start planning for next year! Then send in an application for an ARRL sanctioned hamfest! Then get the date out so we know when your hamfest is being held.

AWA Conference. September 29 to October 3, 2026. At the RIT Inn and Conference Center..

New York QSO Party 

The New York QSO Party is coming up October 17, 2026. The QSO party starts at 1400Z (10AM local time) to 0200Z (10PM local time). NY stations work everyone, and out-of-stations work the various NY counties. See https://nyqp.org/wordpress/ for more information. This is fun activity for all!

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

Attention All Nets!

Attention to all net managers.  Please update your net information for the ARRL Net Directory at this link.  Much of the information in the net directory is old, so please update your net information. 

https://www.arrl.org/arrl-net-directory-search

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

Something great going on? Please report your club or group activities to ARRL HQ. We want to hear about what's going on!

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

Club Photo Submission - https://www.arrl.org/club-photos    

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

Brand new ARRL web site for ARRL affiliated clubs.  Check it out! 

https://affiliatedclubs.arrl.org/  

This link has information on many club benefits offered to ARRL affiliated clubs.  Not yet affiliated?  Click on the "Clubs" link in the top left then scroll down a bit for the information on becoming an ARRL affiliated club

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. 

Club Affiliation Updates are Required!

Please remember that ARRL affiliated clubs need to update their information once a year. Any club with out of date information will be placed on an inactive list until the info is updated. 

Silent Key Reports to ARRL HQ

Silent Key reports must be confirmed by ONE of the following forms of documention:  a copy of an obituary notice that includes the date of death, a copy of the death certificate, a letter from the family attorney or the estate executor.

On-Line SK Reporting - Fillable pdf form located at:  

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Silent Key Administrator. Email: sk@arrl.org

Fillable pdf submission form is here

https://www.arrl.org/files/file/VEs/SK_Report a Silent Key_Printable 2026.pdf

Any WNY News to Report?

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

73 Scott W2LC ARRL WNY Section Manager