Radio Association of Western New York

05/27/2026

RAWNY Members—This year's Museum Ships Weekend is coming up fast! We’ll be operating both Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. While this is a 48 hour event, we’ll be operating from 10 AM Saturday (setup at 9:30 AM) to 4 PM on Sunday (out by 4:30 PM).

We will be operating our two stations from USS Little Rock (W2PE) and a station aboard USS The Sullivans (W2S) and USS Croaker (W2C). We will also have a portable station out at the USS Boston (W2B) sail/memorial, at the main park entrance! That’s 5 stations—so we’ll work out an operating plan as we get closer to help avoid interference while trying to give each station an opportunity on multiple bands.

We’re looking for a couple volunteers to manage the activity on Sully and the Croaker. Ideally someone with a complete portable station, which you would setup and help manage over the weekend, while also making it available for other club members and guests to operate from both days. This is a great opportunity as these other ships aren’t regularly on the air.

It’s a youth encampment weekend, but we’ll pause our Morse code bracelets for one week, so we can concentrate demonstrating radio to the campers including getting them on the air with us!

At sunset, we’ll suspend our activity on the other ships, but we can continue to have members aboard Little Rock to operate overnight. Let me know in advance if you’re interested in this opportunity. Berthing is not guaranteed as the sea cadets are also staying overnight. We’ll resume operating from the other ships at daybreak when they’re reopened.

Hope you’re also getting excited! Let Matt K2EAG know your availability and interest, so we can make sure everything gets covered.

05/26/2026

Did you know? During the late 1960s and the 1970s, RAWNY was fortunate to have a club station – using the call W2PE – at the Salvation Army location on Main Street in downtown Buffalo. But an amazing turn of events occurred in 1976 when the City of Buffalo created a new Naval and Serviceman’s Park/Museum right on the Buffalo waterfront where the Niagara River and Lake Erie meet.

(Continued in the description under each of the pictures…)

05/25/2026

A couple of our RAWNY operators spent Memorial Day on the air from USS Little Rock, making contacts, and welcoming visitors to the radio room.

As we worked stations near and far, we also took time to remember the true purpose of Memorial Day and honor those who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by or connected with us over the airwaves.

05/25/2026

Always good to have federal recognition for our work, always keep learning to better ourselves!

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

Visit the Buffalo Naval Park this Memorial Day weekend to remember and honor those who fought for our freedom and made the ultimate sacrifice.

For the seventh year in a row, 7,300 flags will blanket the grounds of the Naval Park to represent the average number of United States Veterans who have lost their battle with PTSD per year, an average of 22 people per day. From May 23-25, walk or drive by the Naval Park to see the installation, made possible by The Battle Within Foundation.

We will be hosting programs and ceremonies all weekend that are free and open to the public, including a special screening of The Fighting Sullivans on Sunday, May 24.

View the full schedule online at https://buffalonavalpark.org/memorial-day-weekend-at-the-buffalo-naval-park/

05/21/2026

All, please be aware there is no youth encampment this weekend. The Buffalo Naval Park will still be open, and they’re hosting various Memorial Day ceremonies on Saturday and Monday. If you’d like to operate anytime this weekend, please let Matt K2EAG know so we can be sure to have the room open for you.

05/17/2026

Thanks to Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry for hosting and the invite from Buffalo Astronomical Association (BAA), RAWNY members had a very successful display at Saturday's "Stars Over Chestnut Ridge" event. Thanks to Mike KA2GVY, Joe KD2TFB and Jim KA2IWK for their help manning the table.

Lots of amateur radio interest from the public and of course, as always, the Morse Code was a big hit with the kids!

We even had a local ham (WB2HFU) stop by and say hi in morse code!