We’re excited to announce that RARA has a brand-new website at rockfordara.org. This isn’t just a facelift — it’s a complete rebuild designed to be the central hub for everything RARA.
The old w9axd.org address will automatically redirect here, so you’ll get there either way. But go ahead and update your bookmarks!
Here’s a quick tour of what you’ll find and, more importantly, why you’ll want to come back regularly.
Two Reasons to Bookmark This Site Right Now
1. The Club Calendar
We now have a live Google Calendar on the site that’s kept up to date with every RARA meeting, net, event, activity, and local ham and GMRS breakfasts. No more wondering “when is the next meeting?” or “what’s happening this month?” — just check the calendar. You’ll find it under Calendars & Events in the menu.
Additionally you will find two great resource calendars you can link to. First “Amateur Radio Events” will keep you current on on what’s happening in the Northern Illinois Area – hamfests, special events, portable events, etc., and the “WA7BNM Contest Calendar” will keep you contesters up to date!
2. The News Feed
The home page features a news feed with the latest club updates — event announcements, member achievements, project reports, meeting recaps, and more. Think of it as your RARA bulletin board that’s always current. If you visit the site once a week, you’ll never miss what’s going on.
Between the calendar and the news feed, the website is now the one place you can go to stay current on everything RARA. We’ll still share highlights on Facebook, in the HamRag, and in email — but the website is where the full story lives.
What Else You’ll Find
The site has been built out with pages covering everything a member or a curious newcomer might need. Here’s a quick overview of what’s available:
About RARA — Our story since 1955, the leadership team, how to join, and the RARA store. Share the “Who We Are” page with anyone who asks what our club is about.
On The Air — Repeater information, local net schedules, Winnebago County Skywarn, Rock River Valley GMRS, and Stateline Amateur Radio Services. All in one place.
Explore Ham Radio — This section is brand new and built especially for newcomers. It walks someone from “What is ham radio?” all the way through getting licensed and choosing operating modes. If you know someone curious about the hobby, this is the link to share.
Resources — Band plans, propagation and space weather tools, software and logging recommendations, technical learning materials, and useful utilities. Consider this your ham radio reference shelf — the tools and references our members actually use and recommend.
Archives — Every available issue of the HamRag going back to 1969. That’s over 50 years of club history, technical articles, and member stories — all organized by year and available to browse anytime.
Contact Us — How to reach us with questions or to learn more about RARA.
Three Things You Can Do Right Now
- Bookmark rockfordara.org in your browser or add it to your phone’s home screen.
- Check the calendar to see what’s coming up this month — including our June 12 meeting (it’s all about Field Day!) and Field Day itself at Camp Winnebago June 27–28.
- Share the site with anyone you know who might be interested in amateur radio. The Explore Ham Radio section was built just for them.
A lot of thought and work has gone into making this a site that’s worth visiting regularly — not just once. We hope you will find it useful. If you have feedback, suggestions, or notice anything that needs fixing, let us know through the Contact Us page or at the next meeting. This is your website — help us make it great.