The Purpose of Radio Association of Erie Public Service is to provide opportunities for Amateur Radio Operators to contribute their skills and equipment in support of community service organizations across the Erie area. We do this as our way of saying "Thanks!" for use of the Amateur Radio spectrum provided to us by the Federal Government.

Hams also provide more routine, but still important, communications to many worthwhile nonprofit and charitable organizations, typically when they hold fundraising events. Some of those events include: March of Dimes Walk America, Edinboro Triathlon, MS Walk, MS Bike Race, and the Caring Place Triathlon.

Emergency Communications
There are Amateur Radio Organizations such as ARES and Skywarn which provide Emergency Communications Services to Public Safety officials and Government Agencies.

Emergency communications comes under the banner of ARES, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. Here we provide backup communications to the Erie County and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs) in Erie and surrounding communities.. Hams operate from the EOCs, staging areas, shelters, hospitals... anywhere communications are needed when normal phone or radio channels may fail. To be ready, we participate in regular training, nets and drills that let us practice the skills we'll need in actual emergency situations.

ARES is organized by County, and by ARRL Section (Western Pennsylvania is one Section). Each county has an EC (Emergency Coordinator) responsible for recruiting, training and supervising hams for emergency communications.

SKYWARN is also under the ARES banner. Hams trained in storm spotting report severe weather sightings to the National Weather Service via SKYWARN nets. SKYWARN covers a broad area, with several operations in Pennsylvania. All Skywarn information for Erie County is relayed back to National Weather Service office in Cleveland, Ohio.