SAVE THE DATE:

RCA’s 2018 Technical Symposium and Awards Banquet

New York City, Saturday November 17th (note day change!)

Start planning now to attend our 2018 Technical Symposium and Annual Awards Banquet in New York City!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Awards Banquet’s Keynote Speaker is Dr. Ted Rappaport.  Dr. Rappaport has over 100 U.S. or international patents issued or pending and has authored, co-authored, and co-edited over 200 papers and 20 books in the wireless field, including the classic Wireless Communications: Principles & Practice (translated into seven languages), Principles of Communication Systems Simulation with Wireless Applications, and Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications: IS-95 and Third Generation CDMA Applications.  Dr. Rappaport is the David Lee/Ernst Weber Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and is a professor of computer science at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.  He is a pioneer in RF propagation, wireless systems simulation, and 5G networks. His research has influenced international standards bodies for three decades.

VENUE

We are excited to announce that the 2018 RCA Technology Symposium and Awards Banquet will be at the Westin New York Times Square.  This beautiful, 4 star property right in the heart of Times Square, is offering RCA a fantastic room rate and beautiful facilities for the Technical Symposium as well as the Banquet.

Room Registration for 2018 Awards Banquet

Westin NY Times Square

2017 TECHNICAL SYMPOSIUM AND KDKA TOUR A GREAT SUCCESS!

Those that attended the events in Pittsburgh were treated to a really great Technical Symposium, followed by the Annual Awards Banquet.

The next day (Saturday), those that wanted then took a bus tour of the KDKA radio studios and transmitter building.

Some of the photos from the KDKA tour are seen below.

RCA will return to Pittsburgh in 2020 to help celebrate KDKA’s 100th anniversary

KDKA will be celebrating their being the first commercial broadcast station in the U.S.  They broadcast the presidential election results of the Harding-Cox election on Nov. 2, 1920,

Another tour of the KDKA facilities, which was so successful in 2017, is being planned, as well as several other historic activities.   Don’t miss this event!

In the meantime, you may be interested in several historical links about KDKA:

3 minute YouTube clip on KDKA history

Detailed excerpt from a broadcasting book, plus bios on key KDKA persons

Audio clip on the Harding-Cox broadcast on Nov. 2, 1920

A short early history of wireless including KDKA

 Introducing the Radio Club of America

Founded in 1909, the Radio Club of America is the oldest, most prestigious group of wireless communications professionals in the world, with members across the globe. Its members are dedicated to the wireless art and science for the betterment of society. The Radio Club of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all contributions made to RCA are tax exempt.

Creating the Future

The future of wireless belongs to our youth, many of whom are unaware of the importance of the wireless industry, or of the wonderful career opportunities it presents. We have two major programs:

• Youth Activities, focused on middle and high school students
  • Annually, one or two of the best of our youth present at our Annual Technical Symposium. We have had presentations from our youth on fractal antennas, pole climbing robots, high altitude ballooning, and other innovations
• Scholarship program, focused on college/university students. We support approximately a dozen universities whose students are studying engineering, broadcast, communications, and similar majors

We believe that our focus on youth ensures the future of the wireless industry, and sets the Radio Club of America apart from most of the other professional wireless organizations. Join with us in creating the future!

Ensuring the Present

The Radio Club of America is also focused on helping wireless professionals of all ages to advance their careers. We accomplish this in several ways:

• Our Annual Technical Symposium features some of the best minds in wireless, presenting innovative and unique solutions in wireless. Where else will you find the likes of Professor Frank Drake of SETI fame, or such “Wireless Wow” presentations on ‘Invisibility Cloaks,’ spectrum arbitrage, virtual sensors, using RF to disable IEDs, or 3D printed antennas?
• At our Annual Meeting you will get a chance to meet keynote speakers like Bob Heil (chief engineer for Heil Sound and in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Walter Cronkite (anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years), Marty Cooper (inventor of the handheld cell phone), Dr. Ted Rappaport (NYU university Professor and wireless professional who has published many textbooks on wireless), David Sumner (past CEO of the American Radio Relay League), and network with industry pioneers like Andy Seybold (well known and published wireless pundit), and Ray Trott P.E. (founder of Trott Communications Group and member of the Wireless Hall of Fame)
• At our breakfasts at industry trade shows, and other events, you will get a chance to hear from industry notables such as Dave Weisz (Motorola) and Brian Fontes (CEO of National Emergency Number Assoc.)
• We are planning a new series of RCA educational programs that will provide opportunities for wireless training.  STAY TUNED! 
• Our partner organization the ETA has numerous additional opportunities for wireless training

Included among our many members are those working in the various segments of the wireless industry, including: Antennas, Broadband, Broadcast, Cellular, Ham Radio, Infrastructure, Manufacturers, Military Communications, Parts Vendors, Public Safety / Land Mobile Radio, and Satellite.  RCA members have been in the forefront of the wireless industry, and you can learn more about some of RCA’s Wireless Pioneers here.

Honoring the Past

The over 100-year history of the Radio Club is the history of wireless communication. The Club keeps alive the memory and lessons of past inventors and innovators, honoring those that contributed so much to the advancement of the wireless art. Included among our previous members were such notables as Major Howard Armstrong (inventor of FM and the superhetrodyne receiver), Dr. Harold Beverage (IRE Medal of Honor Winner, co-inventor of the wave [Beverage] antenna, and VP of Research at RCA), Fred Link (land mobile radio pioneer, founder of Link Radio Corporation, member Wireless Hall of Fame), Jack Poppele (founder of Television Broadcasters Assoc., started the WOR NY radio station, director for Voice of America), and dozens of others. Share the legacy that they left us, and help create new legacies for the future!

IWCE 2018 Breakfast A Success!

RCA welcomed 116 people to our IWCE Breakfast this year!   Many of the 15 IWCE Outstanding Young Wireless Professionals also attended, and RCA Executive VP Carroll Hollingsworth presented them with their RCA member pin and certificate for one year, thanks to IWCE.  There was an additional 45 minutes after the breakfast for extra networking, and it was great to see so many members taking advantage of that extra networking time!

Thank you to our IWCE 2018 Breakfast Sponsors:

NEW!!  MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

We are adding a new feature to the RCA Website:  a short feature on a current member, what they are doing, and what their wireless interests are.  The member that is featured will be changed regularly.  

If you are interested in being spotlighted, please send a brief summary of your wireless interests, a brief bio, your contact information, and a picture to info@radioclubofamerica.org.  We cannot guarantee that every member will be spotlighted, but we will attempt to spotlight as many as we can.

Marilyn Ward is the Executive Director of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).

Ms. Ward has 45 years of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as an administrator in public safety telecommunications, from her position as Manager of Communications at the City of Orlando Florida Police Department (27 years, retired 1999) to her appointment as Orange County Public Safety Communications Manager, to her current position as the Executive Director of NPSTC.

Throughout her career, Ms. Ward has managed 9-1-1 infrastructure and call centers, Radio Systems and services, and non-emergency Government Information services. She was the project manager for the 3-1-1 non-emergency project and was the Chair of the Governor’s Statewide Regional Domestic Security Task Force Interoperability Committee. As Communications Manager, Ms. Ward was able to stay involved with communications issues on every level — local, State and Federal. Ms. Ward served as the Orange County Communications Manager until March 2005. Currently, Ms. Ward is the Executive Director of NPSTC which is a federation of public safety associations, including the International Associations of Police Chiefs and Fire Chiefs. Ms. Ward serves on the DHS SAFECOM Executive Committee, and as founding Chair of NPSTC, has maintained a national role in public safety communications for over twenty-five years.

Ms. Ward served as board member and former president of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO) from 1992-1997, and was the NPSTC Founding Chair from 1997-2005, when she became Executive Director. She is a member, former Director, and fellow of the Radio Club of America.

Ms. Ward holds a degree in Business and Management and has received many public safety-related awards and certificates in her career. Ms. Ward received APCO’s highest honor, the J. Rhett McMillian award, and NPSTC’s highest honor, the Richard DeMello award.

Email:  mward@npstc.org

1.  How long have you been in the wireless industry?  45 Years.  I began as a dispatcher in the Florida Highway Patrol when I was 21 years old.
2. What are your specific interests or wireless areas of expertise?  I have been in public safety communications my entire career and have grown with the industry.
3. When and why did you join RCA?  Since 1992 when I became an APCO Board Member.  I was involved in state and local activities until I was elected to the International Board of APCO and met RCA members.
4. What caused you to join RCA?  APCO obtained memberships for all of its officers.  I was always grateful for that membership into this prestigious organization.
5. Where do you live and work?  I live in Lexington SC and work from home.  I am fortunate to be able to conduct meetings via teleconference and fly to the occasional face to face event.
6. Is there a specific benefit you hope to attain with RCA membership?  An RCA Board member suggested I submit my name.  I was honored to be asked.

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