History of PAARC

The Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club traces it roots back to the Peoria Amateur Radio Club, which was first established in 1919. The Peoria Amateur Radio Club, one of our predecessors, was one of the first organized amateur radio clubs in the United States. The present club, the Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club, has evolved from the joining of two clubs in the early 1980's. At that time, the 85 repeater club merged with the Peoria Amateur Radio Club. Both clubs benefited from the merger. The 85 repeater users, gained a larger membership base and financial support for the repeater, while the members of the Peoria Amateur Repeater Club gained a repeater.

PAARC was chartered under the merger agreement as a voluntary, non-commercial communication service for the public that would be especially useful during emergencies. In addition, the club would be involved in advancing the state of the radio art and create a pool of trained radio operators and electronic experts.

Today PAARC is affiliated with the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the City of Peoria Emergency Services and Disaster Agency. Special thanks to both of these organizations for assisting our club. The American Red Cross provides us with meeting space as well as a location for a club station. The City of Peoria ESDA has provided us with tower space for the 146.25/85 repeater, additional storage space, as well as a second club station operation point.

Club history has been adapted from the information page about the Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club contained on the Heartland Regional Network in Peoria, Illinois. The original document was written by Bob McGarrah, KB9CPH, with input on club history from Larry Pearsall, W9FDY (SK).

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