Niagara Frontier Chapter #65, QCWA
Quarter Century Wireless Association
Covering Western New York State

Welcome To Our Home Page!

On November 13, 1973, some of the pioneers of Amateur Radio in Western New York, met in a community room of the old Buffalo Savings Bank to form the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). The charter for Chapter #65 was granted a short time later to 36 charter members headed by our founding president, Raymond Griswold, W2SD.
Today Chapter #65 continues active with a full menu of on-air meetings, monthly luncheons, picnics,a local newsletter, seasonal dinner meetings, programs, and participation in the national and international activities of QCWA. A membership drive is now in progress and we have a packet of material to send anyone interested in QCWA or our chapter.

To Join Or Find Out More About QCWA

You don't have to be a resident of the Western New York area to join QCWA, right now, at this web site. The only requirement is that you held an Amateur Radio license at some time at least 25 years or more ago. Continuous licensing is not a requirement. For information on how to join, go to our special page with an invitation from our Chapter President to join this international organization of old time radio operatiors. Please accept our invitation to join today. Do you have any question? Send them to us by e-mail and let us give you a prompt reply. E-Mail to: QCWA@Lockport-NY.com

Membership and Contact Information

Chapter #65 is running a membership. In order to join our chapter, you need only be a national QCWA member. Any member of our chapter would be delighted to sponsor a Radio Amateur who was licensed at some time at least 25 years ago---and we'll provide you with full details of national QCWA membership and benefits. A great way to find out more about QCWA is just accept this invitation to join us at one of our monthly luncheons. No reservations needed. Or, you may contact any of the club officers:

President & Treasurer: Tom Whalen, W2QI
19 Vernon Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225 Telephone (716) 833-7166
e-mail: TW2QI@yahoo.com

Vice-President: Larry Rybacki, WA2ARA
1345 Westwood Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120-2318 Telephone: 716-694-0695
e-mail: WA2ARA@arrl.net

Secretary: Bob Rooney, W2AET
251 Price Street, Lockport, NY 14094
E-Mail: W2AET@Lockport-NY.com

Yearly membership in Chapter #65 is only $3 to cover the cost of the mailing of several newsletters each year.

On-The-Air Meetings

The Niagara Frontier Chapter conducts weekly on-air meetings each Sunday at 1:30 P.M. local time on 3.900 MHz SSB. Net control is Tom, W2QI, usually operating our club station, W2SD. At other times, a popular informal gathering point for local members is the two meter FM simplex frequency of 147.430 MHz.

Monthly "Pow Wow" Luncheons

The second Saturday of every month, Chapter #65 gathers for a Noon Luncheon at Brennan's Bowery Bar in the Clarence Mall, NYS Route 78 (Just North of Depew Thruway Exit) 4401 Transit Road, Corner of Transit and Main Streets. Non-members and guests are always welcome. For those visiting ahead, if you wish, tell us your travel plans and we'll send you our tourist tips for the Niagara Frontier along with more details on how to fit in lunch with QCWA when visiting the the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area. Brennan's was established in 1888 in New York City (on the border of what became known as Radio Row) and relocated to the Buffalo area. It addition to having the flavor of an old Irish drinking outpost, it serves excellent food with many Irish specialties. There is plenty of free parking and everything is fully handicapped accessible.

Luncheon includes a choice of one of several entrees, soup, and coffee. A special QCWA discounted price of $8.50 covers everything including tax and tip! There is no business at these luncheons although there may be a short program, a "show-and-tell," or radio-related demonstration. The main feature is talk around the table of the golden days of radio! We are especially happy when visiting QCWA members come from out of town and always welcome guest non-members!