F.A.I.R.S. guiding philosophy over the past year:

  To ENGAGE COMMUNITIES as PART OF THE GOODWILL!

To follow are notes regarding the progress made by FAIRS related to goodwill works via amateur radio during the past year:

Latest Local News:

• FAIRS is a sponsor of NOT-FOR-PROFIT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES at CHANTILLY FARM. While Chantilly Farm is a largely for-profit events venue in Floyd County, Virginia, FAIRS often partners to provide a charitable aspect to certain events and/or to provide communications coverage.
• As of March 2012, Floyd County High School is home to an official Red Cross designated shelter. It is located in the old gym and the radio station will be located in the coach’s office.  The roof is accessible by a ten foot ladder which is stationary in the boiler room to set up antenna. A classroom will be set aside a classroom for crisis counseling.  Our local Red Cross leader is William (Casey) Medlock (Emergency Services Associate).
• As of May 30, 2012, W4FCV has a 2-meter pair coordinated through SERA on 147.210 with a tone of 114.8. The repeater is located on Harris Hart Road at the school board’s tower in Floyd.  Russ Abbey has done the leg work related to this, with the help of local hams. In June 2012 we were presented with possession and care of a 10’ x 12’ equipment building, a 20 KW backup generator, and a huge tower with 4 antennas which were previously abandoned off of Harris Hart Road.  Citizens gave a 7-foot rack cabinet and local hams worked on the 2-meter and 440 machines.  As of 2013, we have a network of repeaters in use.
• Since beginning of school year 2012: We hold amateur radio club at Floyd County High School with call sign N4FCH!  Annemarie Radke is sponsor.  Weekly and in-school club meetings are held and activities, photos are posted to Facebook for students/members to check for updates and share the page with friends/family.  Special speakers, demonstrations, and projects have kept our students coming back and the club is growing!  N4FCH participates in School Club Roundup with lots of interest from the kids; they are half way to the ARRL’s worked all States (WAS), and they made several overseas contacts. We have been working with tracking satellites for sat-com as well as working with digital modes.  As of May 6, 2013, Floyd County High School Amateur Radio Club N4FCH is an approved affiliate of American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio.
• In Floyd, at the County Administration Building, we’ve set up an Emergency Operations Center/Station: The equipment has been ordered to get everything set up and running, and the project is progressing.  Related to both the tower near the School Board Office and the EOC station, a Memorandum of Understanding with the County has been established and is now finalized.  In October 2014, the EOC will function as a critical station in backing up first responders.
• 2013 – present: Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS) offers a number of functioning laptop computers by program entitled “LAPTOPS ON LOAN”.  These are loaned for use by high school students of Floyd County who show interest and need by the process of application.  This program was initialized by FARS president Tom King W4VZH, who was aware of a need by area students to have laptop computers to assist in studies and to fulfill school and college pursuit obligations.  Selected recipients of these computers will have use of them as long as they are active students in high school in Floyd County, with parent permission and a promise to return the computer and not sell it.  It is anticipated that this program will level the playing field for students who don’t currently have use of a (laptop) computer outside of the school setting.  The project is ongoing and supported by directors of FAIRS.
• August, 2014: With leadership by local ham Glen Sage, W4GHS, there is communication between Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and local EmComm groups to form RED teams which would help with communications during the upcoming winter months in emergencies.  FAIRS stands ready to support Rapid Emergency Response Teams in our area.

Other Progress locally in ’13-’14:

• FAIRS has worked to further ham radio and promote cooperative communications amongst various groups in leadership and in the community (Floyd County). New licensees and members meet once a month on second Saturdays as Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS). Members of the society are dues paying and committed to service.
• Our communications systems are “portable”, which is often necessary for use in emergency. We call these portable systems (along with packaged supplies and food items) “jump kits” –  There are a sufficient number of these stored at FAIRS headquarters ECC in downtown Floyd, Virginia.
• Local volunteers have cooperated much more effectively with groups and service organizations from surrounding counties/regions than in previous years. FAIRS continues to operate according to a Memorandum of Agreement with Tom King W4VZH, Floyd County RACES Emergency Radio Officer. Training times and educational outings have been regularly attended.
• Kevin W. Sowers is the new Emergency Management Coordinator, and is responsible for organizing emergency services activities within Floyd County. He cooperates with volunteer fire and rescue organizations, and others, and maintains a County Emergency Operations Plan and a Hazardous Materials Response Plan.  Kevin is the main contact in county government for FAIRS/FARS and he helps us to effectively serve in our County.
• Winlink 2000, a “paperless” system of message handling for radio & emergency communications groups, is entirely implemented and functional, serving Floyd County (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 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. Highlight events of ’13-’14:  FAIRS/FARS On-Air Drills & Celebrations; hosting touring visitors & groups at Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station; Amateur Radio Kids Days & Field Days 2014; as supporter of local music at Oak Grove Pavilion; as supporter and public relations help for Floyd Amateur Radio Society; Simulated Emergency Tests, Election Day Service, Skywarn and Intro to Ham Radio, etc.— we partner with Chantilly Farm to promote goodwill and charity, and to provide communications services.
• “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 and local amateur radio operators have been host to various foreign and domestic visitors, for the purpose of education and cooperation related to organized goodwill efforts. In June 2014, FAIRS hosted Ghislaine Toussaint-Green, an International Psychology PhD student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington DC.  She is evaluating international projects which involve Dominica, where she is originally from.
• For the last 8 years, FAIRS and its supporters have sponsored a summer intern program from initiative entitled “I CAN! … MY DIRECTED THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE”. Local students Autumn Townley, Amber Ingram, Rina van Blerk, Nate Cleveland, Cord Johnson, Alice Cox and Emily Wilson were paid interns as a result.  Nate, Cord, Alice and Emily participated in the program summer 2014.
• FAIRS offers books which are disaster preparedness, prevention and basic first aid manuals-An invaluable resource for any home or family! They are being used for public education, as well as educational and promotional materials relating to ham radio and licensing.  Also, we provide GPS units and family service radios for use in a variety of applications, with a deposit for security.
• Plenty! Portable Produce, a not-for-profit group which produces healthy food items to share in Floyd County, has moved location to 192 Elephant Curve Road. FAIRS continues to support Plenty!, it’s intern(s), volunteers and coordinators to help toward their mission:  to nourish community and feed hungry neighbors by growing and sharing food in Floyd County, to value freshness, to be generous and welcoming, and to preserve Floyd County’s land and culture. Plenty! provides access to fresh healthy food and teaches growing and cooking skills in the PlentyFresh! Food Bank, Farm and Gardens, Schools and Gatherings (Karen Day and McCabe Coolidge are co-founders – more information at plentylocal.org).  The community garden space at 177 Webbs Mill Road, Rt. 8 at Northside Plaza will be utilized in a different way.
• FAIRS and certain members of the community erected a radio tower atop the newly renovated Village Square in the Town of Floyd (now known as The Station on South Locust Street). This tower “connects the dots”, making amateur radio communications continuous over the eastern half of the state.  It is to be a public use and attraction, as a service to our citizens and visitors. Emergency communications, a promotion of Town and County, education and outreach are focuses of this effort.
• NOW, each week, visitors come to see & inquire about the Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station, using call sign N4USA at the Village Green (in NEW LOCATION, Suites 3 & 4). We are becoming more and more a “spot on the map” and are growing a reputation for community goodwill. You are welcome to stop by when you can.  View/operate the station as (or with) a licensed operator, using call sign N4USA.  A digital logging program has been initialized to keep track of contacts, and goodwill is growing from our little town over the air waves!
• FAIRS participates in activities which educate and financially help startup small businesses, and it is hoped that we can take a positive “next step” toward a prosperous and technology-based future in Floyd floydcountyvirginia.org .
• FAIRS was promoted through full-color magazine, FLOYD VIRGINIA during its first 5 years in print. We were instrumental in bringing the publication to Floyd, intended to highlight the “every man” in Floyd County and tell unique stories about our small town businesses and people.  FAIRS continues to be promoted through the magazine.
• By many methods, such as Facebook, Twitter, web logs (David Larsen and promoter Jason Gallimore are diligent in updating these), videos at lcfvideo.com, live streaming video at www.n4usatv.com, and by both online and “old school” printed newsletters, we try unique ways to stay in touch with FAIRS members and friends.
• As of October, 2011, Floyd Amateur Radio Society (FARS) is approved to use as a testing site Floyd Rescue Squad, Station One, 452 Floyd Hwy N, Floyd VA 24091 and is now conducting training and holding special sessions throughout the year such as: Simulated Emergency Testing (SET), Election Day communications services at polling places, and more!

Progress abroad in ’13-’14:

• Encouraged community function of existing DARCI headquarters, where construction has been completed. There is a classroom for communications training, restroom facilities, additional communications capabilities, etc.  This site continues as center of relief activities during disaster, a place for communications training, and a venue for meeting and public service.
• 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.   Trained amateur radio operators deploy to neighboring countries in response to the need/disaster.  FAIRS is pleased to be a part of the training these folks have received.
• Current and former DARCI presidents Clement Pierre-Louis J73CPL and Clem James J73CI continue to be liaisons for working communications in government.
• FAIRS directors David and Gaynell Larsen, and members Tom King W4VZH, Seth Sjoestrom J79/SM0XBI and friend Tore Sandstrom J79/SM7CBS, George Morriss J79KUB and other members have worked countless hours as volunteers over the last several years to update systems, repair equipment, do installations and training, and provide motivational and monetary 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 presented repeater cards and battery banks needed to maintain the amateur radio communications system island-wide. Clem James J73CI received them on behalf of the club.
• FAIRS gives motivational support to club members multiple times each week.
• Reinforced or replaced existing equipment, provided additional power, plus funds for maintenance, services.
• Monitored the use of supplied radios for new amateur radio enthusiasts and emergency personnel, plus a central Hf station has been put into service 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.
• A meeting place has been set up for club use by the Castle Bruce Amateur Radio Club. Facilities have been augmented.
• Funds continue to go out in order to sustain programs which benefit the fishing village of Castle Bruce, DA and residents of the Kalinago Territory. Gloria Walsh of “Love One, Teach One Foundation” now has focus in the Kalinago Territory as well as in capital city Roseau.
• FAIRS continues to support Josanna Lockhart Brown of DA (we have a longstanding relationship and have supported cooperative programs for children and elderly (Dominica, Jamaica, and recently Antigua); Joanna Lockhart Alexander of Castle Bruce, DA, now over DAD (Dominicans Against Drugs) and subsidiary children’s programs; Joan Lockhart, overseer of ministries within the village of Castle Bruce & to the Carib Territory (Kalinago).
• Hyacinth Thomas is a principal related to an additional clinic for the region which services the many needy families in the area, medically.
• Learning is provided through a new pre-school program (in a renovated facility in the basement of a church in Castle Bruce). Pilgrim Community Preschool received donated playground equipment/swingset, which has been set in place.
• Portable “free clinic” services (or on “pay what you are able” basis) have been implemented by missions workers – FAIRS obtains medical supplies and funding to support free health checks and treatment. Nurse Germain is an example – she may be found outside of Whitchurch Grocery every day except Tuesday.
• FAIRS, “Love One, Teach One” and Rotary Club of Floyd are cooperating with the Dominican Rotary toward self-reliance goals of the Kalinago (the preferred name of the indigenous people) Territory. Ways have been identified that we can help the people.  It is FAIRS’ plan to cooperate with key members; we hope that they will monitor certain mutual projects once implemented.  In 2013, FAIRS delegation made a visit, along with Gloria (LOTO) and Hubert Thomas of the Council office of the Kalinago (the name of the indigenous people of Dominica), to select of their villages on the Atlantic side of the island.  They delivered over 120 pairs of shoes for the children, 150 toothbrushes, along with medical supplies and food and clothing items.  They worked with the children there, made visits to families and snapped pictures, which they love to receive of themselves.  On a separate occasion, Joseph Guiste J73JT of nearby Castle Bruce demonstrated ham radio operations for the people of the Kalinago Territory.  The Guiste family is a great help to the Kalinago and to their neighbors at home – FAIRS contributors gifted a sewing machine to Maria Guiste and daughter Goldie as a benefit for them, knowing that the ladies will do some mending for the villagers.
• FAIRS gives motivational support to community volunteers multiple times each week.
• Progress in the Agricultural Training Project in Castle Bruce.
• Regarding the activities of the village of Wotten Waven and the current status of their community building: a new location was provided by the government (we interacted with officials to help toward this result), funds for construction were provided, and a beautiful center with reception/conference area, bathrooms and public-use internet café was dedicated October 9^th, 2009.
• A center for learning and computers for shared use has been opened in the village of Wotten Waven. Children, and even adults, can benefit by use of shared computers for work and learning.  6 computers have been set up for monitored shared use.
• FAIRS is in continued support of the Wotten Waven Village Improvement Committee, now registered as “Wotten Waven Development Committee (WWDC)”. We are helping toward a proposed “Sulphur River Tour” to citizens and supporters. It is expected to be a unique attraction, perhaps part of a flagship trail project on Dominica, which stands to benefit all of the villagers of Wotten Waven.
• 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 poorer communities as implemented by Hon. Rayburn Blackmoore in 2006. In 2014, a government housing construction project is underway which benefits the people of the Silver Lake community, an area of focus for FAIRS-supported programs.  An iPad was given to the people of the small Dominican village of Bioche as a way to generate funds by a raffle.
• FAIRS shipped additional radio equipment including a supply of handy talkies, two-way radios, antennas, connectors, coax antenna feed line. Shipped additional training materials and other items.
• Bangladesh is still looking toward repeater installation; on hold due to political hindrances. FAIRS stands ready to help when permitted.
• Grenada Amateur Radio Club is now recognized as the body to conduct exams for amateur radio licenses. They have a new website GARC.GD/  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. Hi-gain antenna and peripheral equipment have been shipped to Grenada.
• FAIRS gives motivational support to club members on a nearly weekly basis.
• “Love One, Teach One Foundation” maintains 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, computers, appliances and school supplies.   Gloria Walsh, founder, has set up a program which allows individuals to “sponsor a child”.  LOTO now has a website, and is progressing toward many of their goals.  See photos of program activities at https://www.facebook.com/pages/LOVE-ONE-TEACH-ON-FOUNDATION-INC/118591084826493?sk=photos_stream&tab=photos_albums
• “Operation Youth Quake” is a shelter/home for abused and neglected youth.  They do a great job there, providing a positive environment and outlook for some in “less than ideal” life situations.  School supplies, clothes and shoes, sporting equipment and hygiene items were donated during the course of the past year.
• 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 on the island, and serves families with children who have AIDS

-Josanna Lockhart of Castle Bruce, DA, who has finished her education at Caribbean Wesleyan, is married to Orlando Brown and has an infant son named Hesed.  They are fulfilling ministry positions in Antigua.

-Joanna Lockhart of Castle Bruce, DA, now over DAD (Dominicans Against Drugs) and subsidiary children’s programs- support for all programs

-Joan L. and other missionaries and churches with outreach to the same, and other, people groups/communities.  A focus has been toward the Kalinago people in Carib Territory

-Operation Mobilization: mission teams serving individuals and transforming communities.

• January, 2011-present: FAIRS is assisting the small school in Wotten Waven (small village of about 260 persons where FAIRS stays with Clement J73CPL and Hetty J73HPL Pierre-Louis).  FAIRS purchased supplies – primer, paint, brushes and rollers – to paint the school and give it a new “updated” look. All of the power washing and cleaning was done by FAIRS and friends.  Painting has been completed – beautiful murals on building walls.
• There is an ongoing effort by the people of Dominica to be producers of organic products/exports. A meeting was organized with the organic farmers on the island and the FAIRS delegation visited their farms – they hope to help with their goals for self-reliance/increased export in some way.
• August, 2011-present: During a visit to Portsmouth, the second largest town in Dominica on the northwest coast, FAIRS directors met with members of Portsmouth Community Watch Foundation, Inc. This group has been established for the purpose of promoting quality of life in their community.  Part of that effort includes utilizing amateur radio operators for communication and for security.  It is hoped that community citizens will work together to be responsible for things, and not to depend so much on government.
• Related to Ghana, monies were raised and items donated, including for fresh water available at a nominal price from government. Communities were served in an outstanding fashion, and the message of the Gospel was shared.  Bicycles were provided as a practical form of transport between communities for local missionaries, and a truck for water supply transport was gifted.  Other needed items were furnished for the volunteers in service to these communities.  New cottage industries have been developed to assist working women and families.
• In Haiti, friends of FAIRS and local church members sponsor children in need of the Haitian villages and have given thousands of dollars of support for the building of churches and schools whereby students are taught and then trained to teach others.