Episode 27: Year of the Club Series: Long Island CW Club (LICW)

Join host Ron (W2ELS) for a deep dive into the Long Island CW Club (LICW). In this episode, Ron sits down with club founders and key members Howard (WB2UZE) and Mike (N1CC) to explore how the club grew from a small local initiative to a global community with over 8,000 members across 72 countries.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Origins: How a shortage of CW operators at a Field Day inspired the creation of the club, and how it successfully transitioned to a virtual, inclusive community.

• The "Secret Sauce": Insights into the club's flexible, science-based approach to teaching Morse code, designed to accommodate all learning styles.

• More Than Just Code: A look at the 182+ forums and classes held weekly, covering everything from antique "boat anchor" gear and antenna building to satellite communications.

• Commitment to Inclusion: How LICW supports youth, women (YLs), and individuals with disabilities, including the development of a patented haptic device to help the deaf and hearing-impaired learn CW.

• Field Day & The Future: Details on the club's public-facing, free Field Day training program and the exciting technology roadmap ahead, including a new student portal and member-connecting tools.

Whether you are a newcomer looking to learn CW, an experienced operator wanting to get involved, or simply interested in how to build a thriving, member-driven amateur radio community, this episode offers valuable lessons on leadership, education, and the power of connection.

Find out more about LICW here:

https://longislandcwclub.org/