About WVARA
The West Valley Amateur Radio Association (WVARA) is a nonprofit amateur radio club serving radio operators, students, experimenters, emergency communications volunteers, and anyone interested in learning more about the amateur radio hobby. Through education, technical projects, public service, repeater operation, community outreach, and on-air activity, WVARA helps people discover the many ways amateur radio continues to connect communities and inspire innovation.
Our members represent a wide range of experience levels. Some are newly licensed operators making their first contacts, while others have decades of experience building antennas, maintaining radio systems, mentoring new hams, supporting public service events, and exploring emerging communications technologies. Whether your interests include repeaters, digital communications, emergency preparedness, portable operating, contesting, or simply meeting others who share an interest in radio, WVARA provides a welcoming place to learn, participate, and grow.
The association traces its roots to the early 1950s, when club meetings were held in members' homes, including the living room of early club president Dick Drew, W6BYG. As membership grew, meetings moved to local gathering places in Campbell before eventually relocating to larger facilities.
During those formative years, the organization was known as the West Valley Amateur Radio Club (WVARC). When the club later incorporated as a nonprofit organization, a name conflict with another group required a change, resulting in the West Valley Amateur Radio Association name that remains today.
One of the most enduring parts of the club's history is the W6PIY call sign. The call sign originally belonged to Ray Dibb, W6PIY, a longtime club member and retired Coast Guard lighthouse keeper. Following Ray's passing in the late 1950s, the call sign was assigned to the club as a memorial in recognition of his contributions and service.
Today, W6PIY remains the club's primary call sign and serves as a living connection to WVARA's history and traditions. Generations of members have used the call sign during Field Day operations, club activities, public service events, and special occasions, helping preserve a legacy that stretches back more than seventy years.
Today, WVARA continues that tradition by promoting amateur radio education, maintaining communications infrastructure, supporting community service, and encouraging experimentation and lifelong learning. From helping newcomers earn their first license to providing experienced operators with opportunities to explore new technologies, WVARA remains committed to advancing the art, science, and public service of amateur radio throughout the West Valley and surrounding communities.
West Valley Contact Information
WVARA welcomes questions from licensed amateur radio operators, prospective hams, community organizations, educators, public service partners, and anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio.
General Information: info@wvara.org
Membership Questions: membership@wvara.org
Equipment Donations: donations@wvara.org
Website: webmaster@wvara.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6544, San Jose, CA 95150-6544
For the fastest response, please include your name, call sign if you have one, your contact information, and a brief description of your question or request.
WVARA is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
The West Valley Amateur Radio Association is a nonprofit, all-volunteer amateur radio club recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. WVARA’s charitable and educational activities support amateur radio education, technical training, emergency communications capability, repeater systems, and community outreach.
Donations to WVARA may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors should consult their own tax adviser regarding the deductibility of any contribution. WVARA can provide appropriate acknowledgment for qualifying donations of cash or equipment.
As a volunteer organization, WVARA depends on membership support, donations, and community involvement to maintain and improve its programs, technical infrastructure, and public service capabilities.
Donating Equipment to West Valley
WVARA welcomes donations of amateur radio equipment, communications gear, tools, test equipment, antennas, feed line, power supplies, and related items that can support the club’s educational programs, repeater systems, emergency communications capabilities, and member training activities.
Donated radio equipment helps WVARA introduce new operators to the hobby, support technical demonstrations, maintain club infrastructure, assist with public service communications, and preserve useful amateur radio gear for continued service. Equipment donations may also help provide entry-level resources for new hams, students, and community members who are just getting started.
Examples of useful donations may include VHF and UHF radios, HF transceivers, mobile radios, handheld radios, antennas, coaxial cable, antenna analyzers, meters, power supplies, batteries, tuners, microphones, speakers, computer equipment used for radio applications, and other amateur radio accessories.
Before donating equipment, please contact WVARA so we can determine whether the item is suitable for club use, training, resale, repair, or responsible recycling. Please include a description of the equipment, its condition, included accessories, and any known issues.
WVARA appreciates the generosity of donors who help keep amateur radio active, accessible, and useful in our community.
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 29, 2026
The West Valley Amateur Radio Association respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we may collect, how we use it, and how we protect it when you visit our website, contact the club, become a member, make a donation, register for an event, or otherwise communicate with us.
Information We Collect
WVARA may collect information that you voluntarily provide, such as your name, amateur radio call sign, email address, phone number, mailing address, membership information, donation information, event registration details, and messages sent to the club.
Our website may also collect basic technical information, such as browser type, device type, pages visited, referring website, approximate location based on internet address, and similar information used for website security, diagnostics, and general traffic analysis.
How We Use Information
WVARA may use collected information to respond to inquiries, manage memberships, process donations, communicate with members, organize events, support club operations, maintain website security, improve our website, and carry out the club’s nonprofit and educational purposes.
Information Sharing
WVARA does not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We do not share personal information with outside parties for their marketing purposes.
We may share limited information when necessary to operate the club, process payments, maintain membership records, comply with legal obligations, protect the security of our systems, or carry out a request you have made. For example, payment processors, website hosting providers, email services, or other service providers may process information on our behalf.
Member and Call Sign Information
Amateur radio call signs are public information under Federal Communications Commission licensing records. WVARA may use call signs in ordinary club communications, net records, event materials, meeting notes, or recognition of member activities. We will make reasonable efforts to avoid publishing private contact information without permission.
Donor Information
WVARA may collect donor information to acknowledge donations, maintain financial records, and comply with nonprofit reporting and recordkeeping requirements. We do not sell or share donor information for outside marketing purposes.
Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies, server logs, or analytics tools to understand website traffic, improve performance, and help protect against abuse. You may adjust your browser settings to limit or block cookies, although some website features may not work as intended.
Email Communications
If you provide your email address, WVARA may use it to respond to your message, send club-related information, provide membership updates, share event notices, or communicate about donations or volunteer activities. You may ask us to stop sending nonessential communications at any time.
Data Security
WVARA uses reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect personal information. However, no website, email system, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Data Retention
WVARA keeps information for as long as reasonably necessary to support club operations, maintain records, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and preserve historical or organizational records.
Children’s Privacy
WVARA encourages youth education in amateur radio, but our website is not intended to collect personal information from children without appropriate permission from a parent, guardian, teacher, or responsible adult.
Your Choices
You may contact WVARA to request access to your personal information, ask for corrections, request removal from nonessential communications, or ask questions about how your information is used.
Changes to This Policy
WVARA may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Us
Questions about this Privacy Policy may be sent to: secretary@wvara.org
Terms of Use
Effective Date: May 29, 2026
These Terms of Use govern your use of the West Valley Amateur Radio Association website. By using this website, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.
Website Purpose
This website is provided to share information about WVARA, amateur radio, club activities, repeater systems, events, educational resources, donations, membership, and related topics. The information is provided for general educational and informational purposes.
No Guarantee of Accuracy
WVARA makes reasonable efforts to keep website information accurate and current, but we do not guarantee that all information is complete, accurate, or up to date. Repeater details, event schedules, contact information, technical information, and links may change without notice.
Amateur Radio Operations
Users are responsible for complying with all applicable Federal Communications Commission rules, amateur radio regulations, license privileges, band plans, and good operating practices. Information on this website does not replace official FCC rules or other applicable laws and regulations.
Acceptable Use
You agree not to use this website in a way that interferes with its operation, attempts unauthorized access, distributes malicious software, abuses contact forms, misrepresents your identity, or violates applicable law.
External Links
This website may include links to third-party websites, services, vendors, clubs, organizations, or informational resources. WVARA is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, availability, or accuracy of external websites.
Donations and Payments
Donation and payment information may be processed through third-party services. WVARA is not responsible for the independent privacy or security practices of those services. Donations are subject to WVARA’s acceptance and applicable nonprofit recordkeeping requirements.
Equipment Donations
WVARA may accept or decline equipment donations at its discretion. Acceptance of donated equipment may depend on condition, usefulness, safety, storage limitations, repair needs, resale value, recycling options, and club needs. Donors should contact WVARA before delivering equipment.
Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, website text, graphics, logos, photographs, layouts, and other content are owned by WVARA or used with permission. You may share links to WVARA pages and may quote limited excerpts with attribution. Other use may require permission.
User-Submitted Content
If you submit information, text, photos, event details, announcements, or other content to WVARA, you represent that you have the right to share it. You grant WVARA permission to use submitted content for club-related purposes, including website updates, newsletters, meeting materials, event promotion, and historical records, unless you specifically request otherwise.
No Professional Advice
Information on this website may include technical, safety, communications, nonprofit, tax, or legal topics. It is provided for general information only and should not be treated as professional advice. Users should consult qualified professionals or official sources when appropriate.
Limitation of Liability
WVARA, its officers, directors, volunteers, and contributors are not liable for damages arising from use of this website, reliance on website information, external links, technical errors, service interruptions, or participation in activities described on the website.
Changes to These Terms
WVARA may update these Terms of Use from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact Us
Questions about these Terms of Use may be sent to: secretary@wvara.org