Members of the Kenvil- based West Morris Amateur Radio Club will work around the clock on June 25 2:00PM to June 26 2:00PM

Members of the Kenvil- based West Morris Amateur Radio Club will work around the clock on June 25 and June 26 in setting up field radio communication stations, getting on the air and contacting thousands of other operators in the United States and Canada.

The effort will be part of the group's participation in the American Radio Relay League’s Field Day.

According to Edward Donnelly, field day coordinator of the West Morris Amateur Radio Club (WMARC), Field Day is an annual “shakedown run” for the radio lovers.

  “Field Day is a way for hams to get outdoors and have fun under some difficult conditions,” said Donnelly. “But it’s also a chance to fine-tune emergency communication skills. We use generators and battery power, and we set up antennas in the field. The idea is to put together self-sufficient, working stations quickly and begin making contacts.”

Trained amateur radio operators have been effective in establishing emergency communications nets during floods, fires, earthquakes and other major disasters, including the events of September 11 and Super Storm Sandy, said Donnelly.

These amateur radio operators are members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES). In this capacity, they have voluntarily worked for a variety of public organizations providing disaster services, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, State and Local Emergency Management Agencies, and the National Weather Service Skywarn Program.

Local amateur radio operators will contact thousands of other hams throughout North America during the field day, the nation’s largest ham radio on-air event. The objective is to see who can make the highest number of contacts during the contest period. Special awards are given for “alternative” power sources such as solar, wind and methane

The field day will take place at Lakeland Little League, 20 Sparta Road, Stanhope.