In Our Local Area:
FAIRS has worked to further ham radio and promote cooperative communications amongst various groups in leadership and in the community. There are a number of new licensees and members.
Our communications systems are now largely “portable”, which is often necessary for use in emergency.
The local volunteers have cooperated effectively with groups and service organizations from surrounding counties/regions. Training times and educational outings have been regularly attended.
Winlink 2000, a “paperless” system of message handling for radio & emergency commun-ications groups, has been largely implemented and tested within the County in ’07-’08 (W4VZH-10 145.070 mhz).
FAIRS continues to operate according to a memorandum of understanding with DERA: The Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association (a nationally recognized organization which links professionals, volunteers and organizations during all phases of disaster preparedness and emergency management). This understanding is for the purpose of cooperation in an emergency, and to provide increased assistance.
FAIRS works cooperatively with Floyd County Emergency Coordinator Tom King W4VZH. He work a team effort with FAIRS, and expanded his own horizons by volunteering abroad and attending 2008 Dayton Hamvention, which produced several opportunities for expanded volunteerism and goodwill.
FAIRS has been present at many local functions with event stations, booths, and press articles to make folks aware of our ability to provide emergency help and training.
“Adopt-A-Highway”, initiated in 2006, has been maintained by volunteers. We clean up a section of highway within the County for some additional “visibility” for ham radio and its goodwill efforts.
FAIRS is hosting monthly meetings for Floyd County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) group at FAIRS E.C.C. Classroom instruction and field training is given to help citizens become licensed hams, or for upgrade of their current license.
FAIRS has been working with various local groups & area schools to provide experiential learning opportunities for students in areas of communications, business and agriculture. Students have been invited by our members to take advantage of training times and educational outings, which have been offered in ’07-’08.
FAIRS fully organized and implemented a student program entitled “I CAN! … MY DIRECTED THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE” which resulted in “take home” materials for encouragement and provocation of thought. FAIRS offered economic and other assistance to these students, for the purpose of community development and greater goodwill.
FAIRS has provided educational and financial opportunities for a student intern for the upcoming year.
FAIRS participates in activities of the “Floyd Professional Center” in the Village Green (201 East Main Street, Suite 8). The FPC functions as an incubator for small businesses, and it is hoped that the Center will be a positive “next step” toward a prosperous and technology-based future in our area.
An additional outreach is our newly redesigned website, www.floydcountyvirginia.org which should spur locals on to increased visibility and revenues for their particular trade or craft, and a greater sense of community amongst individuals and businesses.
FAIRS will take advantage of some PR/goodwill opportunities as part of the newly released full-color magazine, FLOYD VIRGINIA, which hit the newsstands end of April 2008. 10,000 copies are being distributed locally and regionally, in order to highlight the “every man” in Floyd County and tell unique stories about our small town businesses and people.
Click here for more pictures
In Dominica:
DARCI headquarters has erected security fence, completed much additional construction, including a classroom for communications training, restroom facilities, additional communications capabilities, etc. This site continues as center of relief activities during disaster.
DARCI club members have been instrumental in providing volunteers and training individuals all over the island in communications, emergency assistance, and community service. The number of licensed volunteers has increased exponentially.
DARCI president Clem James J73CI continues to be a liaison for working communications in government.
FAIRS directors David and Gaynell Larsen, and members Tom King W4VZH, Seth Sjoestrom J79/SM0XBI, and George Morriss J79KUB have worked countless hours as volunteers to update systems, repair equipment, do installations and training, and provide motivational and other support.
Communications equipment, supplies and medicines were transported and distributed to many in Dominica. Amateur radio operators/Volunteers from all over the nation have stepped up to help with this.
FAIRS gives motivational support to club members multiple times each week.
Castle Bruce: Supplied radios to new amateur radio enthusiasts and emergency personnel, plus a central Hf station to benefit the community.
Disaster Management Committee functions largely on its own, with request to FAIRS for equipment and communications training from time to time. They are implementing an “emergency plan”, and have established 10 “safe homes”, or shelters in this hurricane-prone village on the Atlantic. We receive report from Chairperson Hyacinth Thomas regularly. Approximately 20 newly trained operators in the village in 2007, ready to serve the community.
Funds continue to go out in order to sustain the wonderfully valuable KFC (Kids for Christ) feeding program for the school children. There is no public program for meals, many live in outlying areas, and hot meals are not common. Lunches are prepared and served at an increased 3x per week, around 50 children per feeding!! Also provided in the center is “after school help”: computer/printer limited to use for homework, and writing & art supplies, which most do not have at home.
Hyacinth Thomas is involved with the set-up of an additional clinic for the region which will be opening soon to service the many needy families in the area, medically.
Learning has commenced in a new pre-school program (in a renovated facility in the basement of a church in Castle Bruce).
FAIRS and volunteers have implemented “helps” which offer school supplies, teaching materials, books and more to school-aged children, who can benefit by better education.
FAIRS is actively supporting “start up” business and entrepreneurialism based on interest and demand, whereby educated locals may seek to “stay” on the island rather than move to other countries/islands with their skills and resources.
FAIRS helped to sponsor goodwill activities for communities in Dominica.
In Grenada, St. Lucia and Guyana, The Eastern Caribbean, Canada, Bangladesh, Sweden and Ukraine:
Shipped radio equipment including a supply of handy talkies, two-way radios, antennas, connectors, coax antenna feed line, plus training materials, etc. FAIRS members in these countries are consistently active.
Grenada Amateur Radio Club is now recognized as the body to conduct exams for amateur radio licenses. These islanders have exercised their own disaster preparedness plan, and equipped their volunteers for the job. FAIRS has given radio equipment, literature and funds for outreach.
FAIRS gives motivational support to club members on a nearly weekly basis. In Support of Good Works and Communities:
The non-profit “Love One, Teach One Foundation” has begun programs which help to feed and tutor many children of impoverished families. FAIRS has given much monetary support, and help with needed items, including furniture and appliances. Gloria Walsh, founder, has set up a program which allows individuals to “sponsor a child”.
FAIRS has continued support of several worthy projects & individual achievements related to ham radio and charitable outreach:
-Tina Alexander of Lifeline Ministries, who helps with various projects in Dominica and serves families with children who have illnesses
-Josanna Lockhart of Castle Bruce, DA, now on Logos 2 – “Reaching the Unreached”
-Joanna Lockhart of Castle Bruce, DA, now over DAD (Dominicans Against Drugs) and subsidiary children’s programs- support for all programs
-Ronnie Wilson and church members from Rocky Mount, VA, on mission to Ecuador
-Operation Mobilization: mission teams serving individuals and transforming communities.