Welcome to the Roseland Amateur Radio Club
Amateur radio offers a remarkable mix of adventure, discovery, and human connection. You might reach someone halfway around the world, experiment with antennas and digital modes, or take your equipment outdoors for a portable operation. The possibilities are endless, and sharing those experiences with friends makes them even more rewarding.
At the Roseland Amateur Radio Club, we bring people together to exchange ideas, develop skills, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes this hobby special. Our members represent every license class, from recently licensed operators to those with decades of experience. Whatever your background, you’ll find a friendly, welcoming community.
As an ARRL-affiliated club, we help aspiring operators prepare for their license exams and encourage everyone to explore their interests and get involved. Come visit us at an upcoming meeting and meet the people behind the call signs.
Our History
Our club was founded in Irvington, New Jersey, in 1946. Over time, we used the Irvington-Roseland Amateur Radio Club name before adopting our present name. Irvington had a radio community decades before IRAC began, and the earlier records below tell that separate local story.
History by Decade
Select a decade to explore original records. The shaded entries before 1940 describe Irvington’s earlier radio community, not established chapters of IRAC. No direct organizational connection between that early Radio Club of Irvington and our club has been documented.
Before IRAC: Irvington's early radio community
1910s — Early Radio Clubs in Irvington
Radio enthusiasts were organizing in Irvington decades before IRAC began. In August 1916, The Wireless Age referred to an existing Radio Club of Irvington, correcting an earlier report to clarify that the organization was in New Jersey, not New York.
This establishes an early local radio community but does not establish a connection with our club, founded in 1946.
- The Wireless Age, August 1916 — identifies the Radio Club of Irvington as a New Jersey organization.
1920s — A Clubhouse, Demonstrations, and Community
By 1921, the Radio Club of Irvington met on Thursday evenings at its clubhouse at 55 Linden Avenue. Members held lectures, discussed technology, and demonstrated radio to the public. A contemporary report describes their coverage of the 1920 presidential election returns and the 1921 Dempsey–Carpentier boxing match, using loudspeakers in Newark and Irvington.
In 1922, QST reported on Edward W. Heim's talk about audio amplification and the club's willingness to answer newcomers' questions. In February 1926, approximately 80 members attended a reunion at the Irvington Elks Club. The published report described it as one of the country's oldest radio organizations.
- Radio News, September 1921, p. 215 — clubhouse, meetings, and public radio demonstrations.
- QST, September 1922 — Edward W. Heim's presentation and help for new operators.
- QST, April 1926 — the February 1926 club reunion.
1930s — Between the Early Clubs and IRAC
Amateur radio continued developing nationally during the 1930s, with ARRL Sweepstakes and Field Day becoming established traditions. However, we have not located reliable records showing whether the earlier Radio Club of Irvington remained active during this decade. Its relationship, if any, to the postwar IRAC remains unknown.
- ARRL, Amateur Radio: 100 Years of Discovery — national amateur radio history during the 1930s and 1940s.
World War II interrupted amateur radio. In December 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the FCC suspended ordinary amateur transmitting throughout the United States. Authorized wartime communications services continued, and amateur privileges began returning in stages in 1945. As radio activity revived after the war, a new chapter in Irvington began with IRAC's founding in 1946.
NTIA: the 1941 amateur radio shutdown · ARRL: World War II and postwar reopening
1940s — IRAC Beginnings in Irvington
In 1946, Dr. Milton I. “Doc” Schwalbe founded our club in Irvington as the Irvington Radio Amateur Club (IRAC).
Doc previously held K2GQ, the call sign we use today. The April 1961 issue of QST identifies him as Dr. Milton I. Schwalbe, W4VP, formerly K2GQ.
- QST, April 1961, p. 69 — Schwalbe's Silent Key listing.
1950s — Classes, Radio Nets, and Field Day
By January 1955, we were meeting on the first and third Mondays and offering weekly Morse code and radio theory classes. We used automatic tape machines for code practice and operated a Saturday net on 28.7 MHz.
We also took part in ARRL Field Day. A photograph in the December 1958 issue of QST shows our members examining a failed generator during that year's event. The caption identifies W2WDZ and our chief operator, W2ZMH. We became an ARRL-affiliated club in 1958.
- QST, January 1955, p. 86 — meetings, classes, and net.
- QST, December 1958, p. 47 — Field Day photograph.
1960s — Auctions, Field Day, and Annual Dinners
In 1962, we announced plans for an auction to benefit the ARRL's headquarters building fund, with our member K2RXH named as auctioneer in QST.
We continued holding annual dinners in Irvington, with notices appearing in 1964 and 1968. David Rettig, K2VOB, was a contact for these events.
We also took part in Field Day. The September 1967 issue of QST lists K2GQ among Northern New Jersey stations that sent Field Day messages to the Section Manager.
- QST, July 1962, p. 70 — club auction announcement.
- QST, October 1964, p. 15 — annual dinner notice.
- QST, September 1967, p. 100 — Northern New Jersey Field Day messages.
- QST, October 1968 (annual dinner notice) — later annual dinner announcement.
1970s — Mentoring, Field Day, and Hamfests
Our first hamfest dates to 1973, when we operated as the Irvington Radio Amateur Club (IRAC). This was the first of many club hamfests hosted at the Irvington Police Athletic League building, 285 Union Avenue, Irvington, NJ. That building is currently named the Chris Gatling Recreation Center. A later hamfest notice from the 1970s listed equipment sales tables, refreshments, and door prizes.
We continued helping newcomers obtain their licenses. In a later firsthand account, Mark Wiatroski, W2MSW, recalled learning Morse code with our members and taking his Novice examination with Ed Surmaitis, WA2MYZ. Mark received his first call sign, WN2DUX, in early 1976.
Field Day remained part of our activities. The September 1977 issue of QST reported receiving Field Day messages from IRAC.
- 73 Magazine, April 1974, p. 14 — Irvington hamfest announcement.
- Worldradio, March 1983, p. 48 — describes IRAC's 1983 event as its 11th annual hamfest, supporting a 1973 starting year.
- Township of Irvington, Recreation Department — Chris Gatling Recreation Center at 285 Union Avenue.
- QST, September 1977 (Northern New Jersey section report) — Field Day messages from IRAC.
- Solid Copy, February 2021, p. 46 — Wiatroski's recollection of 1976.
1980s — Radio Contesting and Hamfests
Our annual hamfests continued during the 1980s. In March 1983, we hosted our 11th annual hamfest at the Irvington Police Athletic League building, 285 Union Avenue. Ed Surmaitis, WA2MYZ, and Joe Barnes, WB2SRY, were the event contacts.
Our K2GQ operators also entered the ARRL November Sweepstakes, including multioperator CW and phone contests. In 1985, we logged 161 contacts on CW and 414 on phone; the published operator lists included Walt Heineman, W2QR, and Ed Surmaitis, WA2MYZ. In the 1988 Phone Sweepstakes, our team completed 803 contacts across 75 ARRL sections, scoring 120,450 points.
In March 1988, we hosted a hamfest at American Legion Post 201, 305 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, New Jersey.
- Worldradio, March 1983, p. 48 — 11th annual Irvington hamfest.
- QST, May 1986, pp. 82 and 84 — 1985 CW and phone Sweepstakes results and operator listings.
- QST, March 1988 (hamfest calendar) — Livingston hamfest announcement.
- QST, May 1989, p. 99 — 1988 Phone Sweepstakes score and operators.
1990s — Club Events and WEARC's Founding
On March 23, 1991, we hosted a hamfest at West Orange High School, 600 Pleasant Valley Way. A February newsletter named Walt Heineman as our contact and gave a mailing address in Essex Fells.
Our club appeared in the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition results for the 1992 November Sweepstakes.
In 1994, several of our members helped establish a separate organization, the West Essex Amateur Radio Club (WEARC). WEARC founding member Mike Hartmann, NI2S, later described its formation in a remembrance of John Weinfeldt, N2NO. Weinfeldt had participated in IRAC before joining WEARC, where he later served as president.
We continued hosting hamfests at West Orange High School. A March 1997 notice listed Jim Howe, N2TDI, and Liz Howe, N2WGH, as contacts.
- Mountain Spark Gaps, February 1991, p. 3 — West Orange hamfest announcement.
- QST, May 1993, p. 112 — 1992 Sweepstakes club competition.
- 73 Magazine, March 1997 (special events listing) — West Orange hamfest notice.
- WEARC — About Us — dates the club's founding to 1994.
- WEARC — Remembering John Weinfeldt, N2NO — Mike Hartmann's firsthand account of WEARC's formation.
2000s — Special Events and Historic Sites
During the 2000s, we participated in special events and radio demonstrations at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. For Fort Hancock Days in October 2008, the National Park Service announced plans for our members to demonstrate shortwave communications on the grounds of Sandy Hook Lighthouse.
We also advertised our K2A special-event station for Fort Hancock Establishment Day on October 26, 2008, with plans to operate on the 20- and 40-meter bands.
- National Park Service, October 2008 — Fort Hancock Days amateur radio demonstration.
- ARRL, October 26, 2008 — K2A special-event listing.
2010s — Special Events and the 70th Anniversary
In September 2014, we advertised a K2R special-event operation at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.
In 2015, we renewed our focus on emergency communications and service to our community, as highlighted in a 2016 local news feature. For our 70th anniversary in May 2016, we also planned a QSO party using K2GQ, with activity advertised on the 20- and 40-meter bands.
- ARRL, September 2014 — K2R special-event listing.
- ARRL, May 2016 — 70th-anniversary announcement.
- Essex News Daily, May 2016 — club activities and anniversary reporting.
2020s — Public Service and Portable Operating
In 2023, we established our Community Amateur Radio Social Net, bringing local and regional operators together for a friendly weekly conversation.
In October 2024, our members operated portable from South Mountain Reservation with a 10-meter transceiver, using SSB and FT8.
In May 2025, we provided communications support for the Caldwell Classic 5K. In June 2026, our members joined an Essex County ARES rapid-deployment exercise at Eagle Rock Reservation, using portable stations, repeater and simplex contacts, and message handling.
- November 2023 Community Net report — early check-ins on our weekly social net.
- October 2024 portable operation — club report and photographs.
- May 2025 Caldwell Classic 5K — public service report.
- June 2026 ARES exercise — field exercise report.
The Club Today
For us, amateur radio is about people as much as technology. We get on the air, share what we learn, and put our skills to work for neighbors throughout Essex County. There is always something to discover—and plenty of room for new faces.
Join the conversation every Tuesday
Since 2023, our Community Amateur Radio Social Net has connected local and regional operators for friendly conversation. Join us Tuesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern on KC2TXA/R (146.595 MHz) or through EchoLink KC2TXA-R. All licensed operators are welcome.
Learn and experiment
Our members share experience through station projects, practical demonstrations, and talks on everything from propagation and Morse code to digital operating.
Propagation · CW · FT8 · Station upgrade
Get outdoors and on the air
Portable operations bring our members together to test antennas, batteries, and HF equipment—often alongside friends from WEARC, NPARC, and neighboring clubs.
Serve our neighbors
We support local races with reliable communications and build readiness through practical emergency communications exercises.
The best part of our club is the people. Whether you're newly licensed, returning to radio, or have years of experience, we'd enjoy meeting you. Visit us at an upcoming meeting.
Club Officers
| Position | Name | Call Sign |
|---|---|---|
| President | Bob Calandra | K2AUF |
| Vice President | Ronald Reinhardt | WV2RJR |
| Secretary | Maurice Naraine | KB2SUL |
| Treasurer | Jesse Bertier | N1UGK |
| License Custodian | Peter Summers | N2XTT |
Email: roselandarc@gmail.com
Meetings and Membership
In-person meetings:
Roseland Office of Emergency Management
300 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068-1719
Join us online: Zoom meeting link
Guests and new members are always welcome. Please check the club calendar to confirm the next meeting date.
Join our Google Group to participate in the club’s email discussion list.
Weekly Community Net
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern Time — open to all.
Livingston: 146.595 MHz (+1.0 MHz), 100.0 Hz
Newark: 147.225 MHz (+0.6 MHz), 141.3 Hz
EchoLink: KC2TXA-R
We thank and honor Dr. Alvin Friedland, NE2S; George Murillo Jr., W2PQC; the St. Barnabas Amateur Radio Club; and the St. Barnabas control operators for their contributions to amateur radio and the use of their repeater for the weekly community net.
We also thank NJIT’s Amateur Radio Club, K2MFF, for the use of its repeater for the weekly community net. Based at NJIT in Newark, the club operates a VHF repeater (147.225 MHz, +0.600 MHz offset, 141.3 Hz tone; EchoLink K2MFF-R), maintains an amateur radio station, supports licensing and public-service activities, and participates in HamSCI radio-science projects.
Roseland Legacy Event Photos
Select a photograph to view the full-size image.
