West Allis Radio Amateur Club

Our Story

MEETINGS
Regular meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the New Berlin Community Center, 14750 W Cleveland Ave, New Berlin, WI 53151. Regular meetings consist of a program on a topic of interest and a short business meeting. This is followed by refreshments and comaraderie to round out the evening. Meeting announcements and club news are published monthly in HAMTRIX, the WARAC newsletter.

MIDWINTER SWAPFEST
The primary fund raising activity of the club is our Annual Midwinter Swapfest held each January since 1973. New for 2021, the event has moved to Racine at the EAA Hangar and Museum, this radio and electronics swapfest provides a place for hams, electronics and computer hobbyists from the area to sell and swap their excess gear and acquire new pieces of equipment.
The Midwinter Swapfest is known in Wisconsin and surrounding states as a well attended event. Profits from this event help support club activities including the WARAC Scholarship Fund and gifts to various Amateur Radio related causes. In addition to the Midwinter Swapfest, WARAC sponsored ARRL Central Division Conventions in 1976 and 1979.

WISCONSIN QSO PARTY
The annual Wisconsin QSO Party has been sponsored by WARAC since 1979. WIQP is an on-the-air operating competition that focuses on Wisconsin and is popular not only in Wisconsin, but across the country and the world with over 300 logs submitted each year.
The objective for Wisconsin hams is to make contact with hams in as many Wisconsin counties and other states as possible. Amateurs in other states try to contact as many Wisconsin stations in as many counties as they can. Awards are given to high scoring entrants in several categories.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership in WARAC is open to "all persons of good character with a genuine interest in Amateur Radio." Full membership is available to licensed Amateur Radio operators, with Associate membership available to non-licensed individuals. A filled-out WARAC application form may be presented at any meeting.
Dues for membership are $15.00 for Full members and $10.00 for Associate. In addition, there are special rates of $18.00 for families with two or more licensed hams in the household, and $10.00 for full time students and individuals who are retired or are living on a fixed income.