PROCLAMATION

The Limerick Radio Club of Ireland and the South Jersey Radio Association of the USA agree to become associated as Twin Clubs.  It is firmly believed that this arrangement will promote friendship between two amateur radio clubs with a common interest and provide for the exchange of valuable information regarding the amateur radio service.  This arrangement will also encourage the sharing of radio operating experiences from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  It is further believed that this Twinning Proclamation will encourage other radio clubs to follow the path chartered by these two radio clubs and increase international amateur radio friendship.

Our own Joe Duffin – W2ORA from Moorestown can take a bow for being instrumental in this twinning.  Joe is a member of both Limerick Radio Club and SJRA, as it his counterpart Alan – EI8EM in Ireland.  I wanted to get additional information about this Twinning with that special personal touch so I went to the right source – W2ORA. Joe said that the idea of Twinning is a friendship bond.  It is to recognise and respect each other and international amateur radio.

W2ORA – Joe and Alan – EI8EM had become good friends via their amateur radio QSOs.  Alan came to the United States and paid a visit to Joe’s Home QTH, which at the time was Haddonfield.  Joe and his XYL visited Alan and his XYL in Ireland many times and vice versa.  On one of his many visits to Ireland, W2ORA became a member of Limerick Radio Club and was issued the call EI8GT (Great Tongue).  EI8EM became a member of SJRA and when visiting the United States has the call EI8EM/W2.  The Twinning Proclamation was hand carried to Ireland by our Original Joe and signed at Moylish Park, Limerick City Ireland after being signed by SJRA.

Now a little inside information on W2ORA, his father was born in Ireland in 1862 and was the oldest of nine children.  He came to Philadelphia in 1886 and got married to a lady from Ireland.  That marriage produced eight children.  After his first wife passed away, Joe’s dad married again.  Our Joe became the first and only Child from that union.  W2ORA was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Margate, a few blocks from Lucy the Elephant (no call).  He delivered papers and listened to Short Wave.  Later Joe got a job in a Store called M & H that had a radio department.

Get this folks – W2ORA worked at a radio station in Atlantic City – WFPG, an AM Station.  He was the guy who played the records.  On July 7, 1941 Joe took amateur radio exam and passed it along with the 13 WPM code and came out with a Class B license.  His first call was WSJSF (Jersey’s Sandiest Flea).  He also obtained a commercial license. Around 1946 or so he was assigned the call of W2ORA (Old Radio Amateur).  "Ambassador of the Air" is the title that the Professor – KV2R has so appropriately bestowed on W2ORA.

Limerick Radio Club – EI4LRC and South Jersey Radio Association – K2AA are both superb amateur radio clubs.  With W2ORA in both of them, how can they be anything else?

South Jersey Radio Club Historian,
Mary KV2M.