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.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of the West Valley Amateur Radio Association is to promote amateur radio, support responsible and effective radio communication, and serve the public through education, technical skill-building, and community engagement.
WVARA’s purpose includes maintaining and improving amateur radio resources for the benefit of its members and the broader community. This includes supporting repeater systems, encouraging proper operating practices, helping new operators gain confidence, and creating opportunities for members to learn, experiment, and serve.
WVARA is committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all people interested in amateur radio. The club encourages curiosity, mentorship, technical growth, public service, and respectful communication on and off the air.
Through meetings, nets, repeater systems, educational programs, demonstrations, mentoring, and community outreach, WVARA works to strengthen amateur radio as a lifelong hobby and as a valuable communications resource.
Meet the Board
WVARA is led by volunteers who contribute their time, experience, and energy to support the club’s mission. Board members help guide club operations, maintain continuity, support members, and plan activities that serve both the amateur radio community and the public.
Scott Nacey, KK6IK, President
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Jim Peterson, K6EI, Vice President
Jim Peterson, K6EI, serves as Vice President on the WVARA Board of Directors. He has been licensed for 54 years, first becoming interested in amateur radio through a friend while he was in junior high. That early introduction led to a long involvement in the hobby and a continuing interest in the technical and operating sides of amateur radio.
Jim became involved with WVARA in 2001 because the club had the most active Field Day group in the Bay Area. Field Day remains one of his major areas of involvement, and he currently serves as WVARA’s Field Day Coordinator.
Within amateur radio, Jim especially enjoys HF, antenna design and construction, contesting, and Field Day. As Vice President, his current focus is lining up interesting speakers for WVARA meetings across a wide variety of topics, helping keep the club’s programs active, educational, and engaging for members.
Outside of amateur radio, Jim is retired from a career as an electrical engineer at ESL, TRW, and Northrop Grumman. For those who are new to amateur radio or considering joining WVARA, Jim describes the club as a place for people who want to do “lots of cool fun stuff.”
Clay Couger, N5YJZ, Secretary
Clay Couger serves as Club Secretary on the WVARA Board of Directors. He was licensed in 1992, after being drawn into amateur radio through 6-meter E-skip, kit building, and simple single-band transmitter projects. That early mix of operating and hands-on technical work helped shape his long-running interest in the hobby.
Clay became involved with WVARA through Field Day and other club events, and later joined the Board of Directors to help fill a need within the club. By taking on the Secretary role, he has helped support the club’s operations while contributing to the behind-the-scenes work that keeps WVARA active and organized.
Within amateur radio, Clay enjoys digital modes, HF DX, Parks on the Air, building antennas, and helping others set up digital stations and AllStar nodes. He is especially involved in WVARA’s Field Day activities as Digital Captain and also helps support club POTA events. His goal is to help keep the club active, engaged in radio activities, and focused on teaching and supporting other hams.
Outside of amateur radio, Clay volunteers with the American Red Cross, Los Gatos CERT, and Los Gatos ARES. He grew up as a farm kid in southwest Oklahoma, put himself through college while working as an IT professional, and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. After moving to the Bay Area, he built a career as a Program Manager managing network software and hardware projects. Clay describes WVARA as a friendly club that offers many learning opportunities, technical talks, and hands-on events for both new and experienced operators.
Max Lanfranconi, W6BG, Treasurer
Max Lanfranconi, W6BG, serves as Treasurer on the WVARA Board of Directors. He was first licensed in Italy in the 1980s as IK2HKV and was immediately intrigued by the ability to reach distant countries by radio. His early interest in amateur radio was encouraged by an Elmer, I2DDR, whom Max was able to meet again years later during one of his trips back to Italy.
Max became involved with WVARA in the summer of 2016 when Jack Brindle, W6FB, invited him to participate in Field Day as a graveyard shift SSB operator. He was instantly hooked. Max later became club Treasurer after the previous Treasurer moved away, bringing with him experience from serving as a volunteer treasurer for several other nonprofit organizations.
Within amateur radio, Max enjoys a wide range of activities, including HF, repeaters, emergency communications, digital modes, contesting, satellites, building equipment, and mentoring. He has been especially involved with WVARA Field Day activities, serving as the club’s SSB captain. One of his favorite radio traditions is making an SSB contact with the same Malawi operator during major contests, an unexpected but familiar “unscheduled appointment” on the air.
Outside of amateur radio, Max works as a sound engineer and stage manager at the Stanford University Department of Music. He also has a musical background, having sung a cappella in both a quartet and a barbershop choir. Max describes WVARA as a friendly and welcoming club that provides learning opportunities for everyone, and he sees the club as a group of good friends eager to share amateur radio and related activities throughout the Bay Area. Given his callsign, W6BG, Max has also been known as “the Big Guy” or “the BBQ Guy.”
Chuck Kamas, AD6CL, Director
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Vince Bafetti, KE6T, Director
Vince Bafetti, KE6T, serves as a Director on the WVARA Board of Directors. He was first licensed in 1986 as KB6NTW after growing up around amateur radio and antennas through his father, who was also a ham. Vince’s first interest was electronics, and after building enough Radio Shack circuit projects, he caught the radio bug. He earned his Novice license at age 13 and his Extra by age 16, captivated by the magic of electromagnetic waves and modulation.
Vince returned to amateur radio in 2021 after about 30 years away from the hobby. When Field Day came around, he toured several local sites and found WVARA’s setup to be by far the most impressive. He joined WVARA in 2023 and now serves on the board with an interest in making the club more fun, active, and engaging for its members.
Within amateur radio, Vince is especially interested in HF, building antennas, Parks on the Air, and casual contesting. He also enjoys using digital modes to study propagation in real time and appreciates CW operating because of its fundamental connection to radio. He is especially interested in WVARA operating activities such as POTA, California QSO Party, and Field Day, and hopes to encourage a club culture built around operating, building, and experimenting.
Outside of amateur radio, Vince is an electrical engineer with more than 30 years of experience in consumer electronics, including system integration work for iPhone at Apple since 2015. He is passionate about helping grow the next generation of engineers through mentoring college interns, electronics demos, and STEM nights. Vince is also a gardener, a member of the California Native Plant Society, and practices native plant gardening to create and restore urban wildlife habitat.
One favorite early radio memory was building a bicycle-powered generator for his HT at age 14 to earn Field Day natural power bonus points, which led to local TV coverage and a photo in QST Magazine. More recently, he visited the Maritime Radio Historical Society KPH transmitter site in Bolinas and operated K6KPH in Point Reyes. To new hams, Vince offers simple advice: We are all here to learn, so ask lots of questions.
Dave Schultheis, WB6KHP, Director
David W. “Dave” Schultheis, WB6KHP, serves as a Director on the WVARA Board of Directors. His interest in radio began in the 1950s with his father’s gray metal Hallicrafters receiver and continued into the 1960s as he listened to San Jose Police communications on a tunable Radio Shack VHF receiver. He later became involved with Citizens Band radio and R.E.A.C.T. before earning his Technician Class amateur radio license in 1975 and upgrading to General Class in 1980.
Dave joined WVARA in 1981, when the club met at the Monte Sereno Red Cross building on Saratoga-Los Gatos Road. Over the years, he has served the club in many ways, including two terms as President in the 1980s and 1990s. He also helped write the club’s Net Control Script and has assisted with repeater maintenance, both on site and remotely.
Within amateur radio, Dave especially enjoys repeaters, simplex communication, and mentoring new hams. He has also helped operators understand how to communicate effectively during emergencies, including giving talks on the best ways to report emergency situations to public safety professionals through auto-patch calls.
Outside of amateur radio, Dave worked for nearly 30 years as a public safety communications dispatcher and also served for two and a half years as a Reserve Police Officer. He brings that practical public safety experience to WVARA and encourages new members to take advantage of the club’s wide range of knowledge, interests, and experience.
Kevin Smith, KK6VF, Director
Kevin, KK6VF, serves as a member of the WVARA Board of Directors, with a particular interest in repeater maintenance. His first Novice license was around 1968 or 1969, after starting out with a three-channel, all-tube CB radio and deciding he wanted to do more. Over the years, amateur radio has remained a recurring part of his life, even as other pursuits occasionally took priority.
Kevin became involved with WVARA through his first license and later joined the Board of Directors after gaining enough experience and knowledge to contribute more directly to the club. He describes his role as helping where he can, often in the background, and he has been involved with repeater maintenance, occasional net control duties, and Field Day.
Within amateur radio, Kevin especially enjoys tinkering with hardware. One of his favorite WVARA memories comes from an early Field Day on the back side of Mt. Hamilton, where the club put up a four-element 40-meter wire beam. The event became especially memorable when raccoons repeatedly interfered with the open-frame generator, apparently attracted by the sparkle of the commutator.
Outside of amateur radio, Kevin occasionally dabbles in astronomy, especially when there is something interesting to observe, such as a passing comet or a planet crossing the face of the sun. His advice to new hams or those thinking about joining WVARA is simple: get involved. Amateur radio is one of the original forms of social media, and it is much more enjoyable when shared with others.
Bert Henderson, W6MSD, Director
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Eric Hendrickson, W6HS, Director
Eric Hendrickson, W6HS, serves as a Director on the WVARA Board of Directors. He has been interested in amateur radio since the 1980s and earned his Amateur Extra license in 2023. His path into the hobby was inspired largely by a desire to maintain communications during emergencies and times of crisis.
Eric became involved with WVARA at the beginning of 2026 after being approached by the board president about serving on the board. With a constant interest in creating, building, and improving things, he saw board service as a good opportunity to contribute his skills to the amateur radio community.
Within amateur radio, Eric especially enjoys promoting the hobby to prospective operators and encouraging others to get licensed. He also enjoys helping fellow hams with AllStar, digital modes, and related technology. As a member of the board, he is focused on redesigning the club website to better promote WVARA, attract new members, and make club information easy to find. He is also working with a board committee to upgrade, enhance, and modernize the club’s IT infrastructure.
Outside of amateur radio, Eric enjoys gardening, cooking indoors and outdoors, fishing, and long road trips. One of his favorite radio memories was making contact through the cross-band repeater aboard the International Space Station while driving on Interstate 80 in northern Nevada. To new hams, he describes amateur radio as a hobby broad and deep enough to remain engaging for a lifetime, and one that rewards integrity, stewardship, gracious operating, and helping others whenever possible.
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