To keep the Foundation for International Radio Service (FAIRS) moving in the desired direction the directors set goals for the organization each year. The overall goal of 2009-2010 was to continue facilitating self-reliance for individuals and groups in our community and abroad, provide financial support toward disaster preparedness and community service projects. Many projects have been completed through the years by hands or monetary support from the foundation. This document presents the highlights of the FAIRS’ work from the 2009-2010 year.

Many efforts from previous years focused abroad beginning this year FAIRS moved their focus into their home community. The creation of the Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS) increased cooperative communications in various groups of leadership throughout the community. By the end of 2009 FARS brought ham operators from all areas of Floyd County together into one group with 23 members. The increase in cooperation of volunteers in the area led to an increase in attendance of educational outings. These educational outings work alongside Ford Wirt, the Emergency Manager of Floyd County, to operate during emergencies according to a Memorandum of Agreement. The advancement of technology have allowed for two jump kits to be located in downtown Floyd. Also in preparation for an emergency FAIRS cooperates with the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association (DERA). During all phases of an emergency DERA allows for professionals, volunteers, and organizations to be linked. Another means of emergency preparedness is Winklink 2000 (140.070 MHz) a paperless messaging system, which is fully functional and implemented in Floyd County. Tom King W4VZH values volunteerism and goodwill highly abroad and in the Floyd Community. He attends hamventions and travels abroad to gain a wider perspective of emergency preparedness and volunteerism. He currently serves as the FARS emergency coordinator and works cooperatively with FAIRS to insure everyone is prepared in the event of an emergency. FAIRS works to promote amateur radio at local functions including the Floyd Town Jubilee, Community Market Pavilion, SustainFloyd, 2009 SplitRail Eco-Fair, and Dickens of a Station. At each local event FAIRS encouraged the use of amateur radio in an emergency and as a hobby. Additional visibility for the goodwill efforts of HAM radio operators in Floyd is provided by a section of highway along route 8 maintained through the Adopt-a-Highway program. Monthly meetings are hosted providing classroom and field instruction regarding becoming a ham operator or taking part in Floyd County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). FAIRS directors and local amateur radio operators also host various foreign and domestic visitors to gain a greater cultural understanding for visitors and hosts.

FAIRS works with local groups and area schools to provide experiential learning for students in the areas of communications, business and agriculture. Training times and educational outings were offered throughout 2009 and 2010 and members of FAIRS & FARS invited students to join. FAIRS created the program “I CAN! … MY DIRECTED THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE” in which take home materials for encouragement, the provocation of thought and financial assistance was provided. The program also provided two paid summer internships for local students Autumn Townley and Amber Ingram. During their internships one of their many jobs was to attend the August 17, 2009 Floyd County High School (FCHS) Orientation and pass out copies of SUCCESS for Teens^TM. SUCCESS for Teens^TM’s intended to address skills such as time management, goal setting, and finding a sense of purpose. Additional books were donated to the Exceptional Eagle Award Program at Franklin County High School. As FAIRS works to prepare themselves for an emergency value is also placed on community members. For this reason GPS units and family radios are available to use for only a security payment. Also books on disaster preparedness, prevention, and first aid are also available at the Village Green in Suites 8 & 9. Floyd Elementary School was engaged in a fundraiser to build a picnic shelter. FAIRS assisted in their gift basket program by providing fillers. The idea arose in Floyd for a community garden and FAIRS jumped on board as a supporter to provide experiential learning for agriculture. Marie Stout of Heavenly Mountain Acupuncture began the initiative for the garden to begin. After FAIRS donated a section of land citizens of Floyd jumped in to take part. Many of the healthy crops grown in the garden are donated to Floyd’s Plenty! Program. Plenty! An agriculture based group co-lead by Karen Day and McCabe Collidge work together to oversee the community garden project. More information regarding the organization can be found at http://www.plentylocal.org/ . Finally, education and motivational materials have been secured for distribution through area schools and community programs.

To further involve the Floyd community in amateur radio, FAIRS and members of the community erected a radio tower on The Station in downtown Floyd last year. This tower connected amateur radio communications the eastern half of Virginia. The tower promotes emergency communications, education, outreach to our community, and those who visit our locality. Please drop in the Floyd Professional Center Suites 8 and use our station as a licensed ham operator, or alongside a ham operator using the call sign n4usa.

The Floyd Professional Center (FPC) located in the Village Green in downtown Floyd serves as a stepping stone for small businesses in our area. FPC is working to insure a prosperous and technology based future for Floyd County and our small businesses. FAIRS hosts the webpage www.floydcountyvirginia.org to promote businesses of any kind or size in Floyd County and Surrounding areas. Businesses or idividuals advertise for free by becoming a user on the site and classifying their businesses. The FLOYD VIRGINIA, magazine highlights typical local ideas by telling unique stories about our small town businesses and people. In two years more than 100,000 copies of the magazine were distributed throughout Floyd for free. As social media is becoming more relevant to the general public owner David Larsen and LCF group assistant Cheryl Thompson worked to update FAIRS sites, The outlets used to inform our members and friends are twitter, www.lcfvideo.com, www.n4usatv.com, printed and electronic newsletters. Online Newsletters sent to subscribers build global friendships and raise awareness for FAIRS. If you are interested in reviving a online newsletter please e-mail us at faris@getresponse.com

FAIRS also values their international relationships, especially those built in the Caribbean Country of Dominica. Construction is complete on Dominica Amateur Radio Club International (DARCI) headquarters. The headquarters is equipped with a classroom, restroom facilities, additional communications capabilities, and serves as the center of relief activities. FAIRS held a large hand in supporting the construction of the building in previous years. Four ham operators who were trained by FAIRS, and DARCI presidents Clement Pierre-Louis J73CPL and Clem James J73CI are liaisons between the club and their government in Dominica. Volunteers David and Gaynell Larsen, Tom King W4VZH, Seth Sjoestrom J79/SMOXBI, Tore Sandstrom, and George Morris J79KUB worked countless hours to update systems, repair equipment, complete installations, training, motivational and monetary support. While in Dominica ham operators from across the country and those listed above have banned together to provide communication equipment, supplies and medicine to many in Dominica. Clem James J73CI received repeater cards used to maintain amateur radio systems across the nation from FAIRS representatives. Members of FAIRS work to insure that they are in contact with those they support in Dominica at least on a weekly basis.

Support to the Dominican Village of Castle Bruce is provided in many forms by FAIRS. Volunteers during their trip to the area reinforced or replaced existing equipment, provided additional power, and donated funds for maintenance services. The use of radios donated in the 2008-2009 year was monitored by volunteers as well. The Hf station donated last year is benefitting the community and licensed ham operators by increasing their communication capabilities. The Disaster Management Committee in Dominica now functional mainly on its own, Chairperson Hyacinth Thomas provides regular reports of emergency planning for the area and rarely asked for equipment or training. New meeting facilities are ready for use now that the facilities have been augmented for the Disaster Management Committee. FAIRS continues supporting Kids for Christ (KFC) feeding program for school aged children. Since no public program for meals for the needy is avaliable, KFC is a vital program in Castle Bruce. Lunches are prepared at an increased three times per week to approximately 50 students per meal. The center also offers after school help in which art supplies, a computer and printer are available as resources for many students do not have them at home. Josanna Lockhart, a student from Castle Bruce Dominica, is attending Caribbean Wesleyan in Jamaica. Lockhart is also the head of Dominicans against Drugs (DAD) and subsidiary children’s programs. Lastly she is the overseer of ministries within the village of Castle Bruce and to the Caribbean Territory of Kainago. Previously FAIRS supported the Kainago territory through collections of house hold goods in trash bags of food a few times a year. FAIRS is now looking for better and more efficient ways to serve the territory. The Rotary Club of Floyd, Rotary Club International and FAIRS are partnering to assist Kalinago in their goals of self-reliance. Pilgrim Community Preschool is located in the renovated basement of a church in Castle Bruce. In addition to the learning provided by the school a playground is being constructed for the students’ enjoyment. Hyacinth Thomas provides a region clinic for the needy families in the area. FAIRS additionally supports a portable pay as you are able clinic. This program is provided by mission workers in the area. A Medical supplies and the funding to support these free health checks and treatment are provided by FAIRS. Nurse Germain is one set of hands that works to complete these health checks in the pay as you are able clinic.

Dominicans wish to have job specific training, to meet their wish the agricultural Training Project in Castle Bruce continues to make progress in training individuals. After FAIRS donated funds for a community center construction project completed and dedicated on October 9, 2014. With Government assistance the community center in Wotten Waven is complete. The center now comes complete with a reception/conference area, restroom facilities, and a public-use internet café. Computers for community sharing and use also opened in the Wotton Waven village. Children and adults alike can enjoy the benefits of working and learning with the technology of the six monitored computers. FAIRS is working to tourists a proposed Sulphur River Tour for citizens and supports to enjoy. This idea part of a flagship trail project on Dominica to benefit the village of Wotten Waven. In an effort to further encourage a better education FAIRS and volunteers have worked to implement helps which offer school supplies, teaching materials, books, and more to school-aged children. As FAIRS continues to encourage educated students to stay in their community they are actively supporting startup businesses and entrepreneurialism based on interest and demand. These start-up businesses will hopefully encourage educated locals to seek to stay on the island instead of moving to other countries or islands. FAIRS also continues to sponsor Hon Rayburn Blackmoore and his goodwill activities for less fortunate communities on the Island of Dominica.

FAIRS also works to increase means of communications and economic development in the following countries; Grenada, St. Lucia, Guyana, Canada, Bangladesh, and Ukraine. These countries were shipped handy talkies, two-way radios, antennas, connectors, coaz antenna feed line, and additional training materials. Bangladesh’s government is still causing hold ups on installations of their repeaters. Once thse hindrances are cleared FAIRSs will be ready to help with the installation process. The Islanders of Grenada, now have a recognized radio club, ready to conduct exams for amateur radio licenses. The club also completed their own disaster preparedness plan and have volunteers ready when the need arises. FAIRS worked to donate radio equipment, literature, funds, Hi-gain antenna, and peripheral equipment for the Grenada Amateur Radio Club to further their knowledge and communication abilities. If you are interested in learning more about the club please visit www.garc.gd/ .

FAIRS not only focuses on amateur radio, but also on sharing Christianity across Dominica. The non-profit, Love One, Teach One (LOTO) founded by Gloria Walsh works to feed and tutor children of impoverish families. FAIRS provides monetary support and assistance with requested items such as furniture and appliances for the program. One of the many programs under LOTO is sponsoring a child, where individuals are encouraged to support one child to make an impact in their life. Gloria Walsh is working diligently and making great strides towards completing goals in here organization. In April of 2010 Gloria received news that she will also receive grant funding for her LOTO program from local businesses. Fort Young Hotel will prepare lunch meals for Gloria to pick up and Kubuli Beverage Co. of Dominica will donate two cases of beverage each week. Operation Youth Quake a shelter for youth who are neglected and abused is run by executive director Lennox Abraham. This program provides positive environments for youth in less than ideal life situations. Abraham trains individuals who wish to volunteer at the shelter on how to be an effective leader to the youth. During the past year FAIRS donated items such as school supplies, clothes, shoes, sporting equipment, and hygiene items. In addition ti the causes above FAIRS supports worthy individuals and projects related to ham radio and charitable outreach including:

-Tina Alexander – Lifeline Ministries and other various programs in Dominica especially serving families who have children infected with AIDS.

-Josanna Lockhart – Dominican Against Drugs (DAD) working to continue her education at Caribbean Wesleyan, and support other subsidiary children’s programs, FAIRS supports all of her programs.

-Joan L. and Other Missionaries – Operation Mobilization where mission teams are serving individuals and transforming communities.

Ghana, West Africa and Mongolia are in need of fresh water and means of communication. FAIRS worked diligently to provide underwriting and funds for the programs they needed. After funds and items were donated, missionaries were able to share items, fresh water, and the gospel in the communities. In order to ship the freshwater from one place to another a truck was gifted to the community last year. Since missionaries in these areas serve multiple communities, bicycles were provided as form of practical transportation.

FAIRS was able to achieve their goal of moving their focus to include their local community while still maintaining support and relationships abroad