Quarter Century Wireless Association
Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox organization The Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc. (QCWA) is an international nonprofit organization for licensed amateur radio operators who were first licensed at least 25 years earlier and who currently hold an amateur radio license. Continuous licensing during the intervening 25 years is not required. QCWA was founded in 1947 and promotes friendship and cooperation among experienced amateur radio operators as well as charitable, educational, and scientific activities related to amateur radio.
History
QCWA was founded in 1947 for amateur radio operators who had been licensed for at least 25 years. Local chapters began to be established in 1951, with the Cleveland, Ohio, chapter becoming the first chartered chapter. At the time of QCWA’s 75th anniversary in 2022, the American Radio Relay League reported that QCWA had 230 chapters in the United States and had enrolled nearly 40,000 members during its history.[1]
Membership and activities
Membership is available to amateur radio operators who were first licensed at least 25 years earlier and who currently hold a valid amateur radio license. Continuous licensing throughout that period is not required. QCWA reports that 39,580 membership numbers have been assigned since 1947 and that its current active membership is approximately 3,281. Although most members are located in the United States, membership extends worldwide.[2]
QCWA activities include local chapter participation, conventions, and amateur radio operating events such as QSO parties and special-event stations.[3]
Scholarship program
QCWA established its scholarship program in 1977, and its first scholarship, valued at $500, was awarded in 1978. The program is administered in partnership with the ARRL Foundation and provides scholarships to licensed amateur radio operators attending accredited colleges or universities.[4]
QCWA reported that through 2024, more than 624 students had received scholarships totaling more than $930,350. Fifteen scholarships totaling $57,000 were awarded in 2024.[4]
Relationships with other organizations
QCWA has maintained cooperative relationships with other amateur radio and wireless organizations. The American Radio Relay League and QCWA first entered into a cooperative agreement in 1984, and the agreement was updated and reaffirmed in May 2009.[5]
The Radio Club of America identifies QCWA as one of its partner organizations and describes it as a worldwide association of radio amateurs formed in 1947.
References
- ↑ "Quarter Century Wireless Association to Celebrate 75 Years" (in en). https://www.arrl.org/news/quarter-century-wireless-association-to-celebrate-75-years?.
- ↑ "Who is QCWA". https://www.qcwa.org/who.php?.
- ↑ "ARRL Letter Issue". https://www.arrl.org/arrlletterissue?issue=2023-11-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "QCWA - Scholarship Program". https://www.qcwa.org/scholarship-program.htm?.
- ↑ "Served Agencies and Partners" (in en). https://www.arrl.org/served-agencies-and-partners?.