Radio would dramatically prove its importance on the world stage only a few weeks later when, on January 23, the first radio rescue at sea took place. The White Line’s Republic and the Lloyd Italiano liner collided in dense fog off the coast near Nantucket. The U.S. Revenue Cutter Gresham picked up a radio message from a nearby station and steamed to the collision site in time to rescue all but two passengers.
By 1911, the organization was renamed the Radio Club of America for “The promotion of cooperation among those interested in scientific investigation in the art of Radio Communication.”
In the years to come, except for suspensions during wartime, Radio Club meetings became a gathering place for passionate and brilliant inventors like Major E.H. Armstrong and Guglielmo Marconi, noted technical minds and engineers including Bob Marriott and pioneering entrepreneurs such as Lee de Forest and later, Fred Link and Edgar F. Johnson.
In its earliest days, RCA was an advocacy organization, sending delegations to the White House and Congressional hearings to address specific issues including radio interference and even influencing the formation of the Federal Communications Commission, which replaced the Federal Radio Commission.
An awards banquet has been a key event for the Radio Club since its inception as a way of honor and recognize the achievements of members and non-members in different wireless disciplines.
For 30 years, RCA has sponsored the Youth Activities program, bringing amateur radio in to middle and high school students as a way of sparking interest in STEM. RCA’s active college scholarship program encourages those studying engineering and wireless related disciplines. In cooperation with IWCE, RCA co-sponsors the Young Professionals program, recognizing and supporting high performance in people under 30. RCA participates in multiple industry trade events and holds both in-person and virtual events to encourage networking and the exchange of ideas among members and those interested in membership.
The annual Technical Symposium is a unique day-long event that showcases innovative presentations in every segment of wireless, from satellite communications to public safety.
While firmly rooted in an illustrious wireless history, RCA is grounded in the present with programs that inspire social and professional connections and encourage continuing education for people at every age. At the same time, RCA monitors the technology innovations and market forces that will guide us all into the future.