FAIRS is host to Helen Goncharsky of FAIRS Ukraine. It has been over 22 years since directors David and Gaynell Larsen traveled to Ukraine and began this friendship – Helen was one of the charter members of FAIRS. Helen engaged in an array of activities and participated at a number of local and regional events during the course of her stay in Floyd, VA.
FAIRS participates in “Kids Day”, an on-air event to encourage young people (licensed or not) to have fun with Amateur Radio. It is designed to give on-the-air experience to youngsters and hopefully foster interest in getting a license of their own. It is also intended to give older hams a chance to share their station and love for Amateur Radio with the children. This was held at Chantilly Farm with members of the school club in attendance.
For the last six 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, and Nate Cleveland were paid interns as a result. Interns learn a variety of skills, built upon their interests, to help them achieve their goals in the years to come. Amber, Rina, and Nate (the newest intern: 2012) participated in the program during summer 2013.
Chantilly Farm is officially open for amateur radio operators and visitors. Many special event stations are planned to operate from the venue. FARS members and guest hams provided on-site communication for special event being held: 3rd Annual Bluegrass & BBQ Festival.
A highlight of FAIRS’ visit with Helen Goncharsky was a trip to Dayton, OH for this year’s Hamvention, a large convention of ham radio operators and exhibitors. FAIRS has operated a booth there since 1993 (currently #412). They were very fortunate this year to sell nearly all of the items which Helen brought from Ukraine: hand-painted wares and Matryoshka nesting dolls. Besides fundraising, they had fun meeting-and-greeting, which is always a large part of the festivities. Members of Dayton Amateur Radio Association were happy to converse with Helen, and they awarded FAIRS a donation by the club. It is an honor for FAIRS to be recognized in this way, for several years now.
Floyd County High School Amateur Radio Club N4FCH is an approved affiliate of American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio!
Ukrainian license for FAIRS club station in Lviv was issued for delivery to Victor Goncharsky (US5WE). The station was assigned call sign UR4WXW.
Held second VE testing session at the high school and Joshua Ray of FCHS ARC is now licensed, with call sign KK4QWC! Thanks to Wally Denison (WD1U) for heading things up.
FAIRS has cooperated with the Floyd Amateur Radio Society in joint training sessions, drills and events. Monetary support has been given recently.
The final in-school club day for the school year was held today for N4FCH where a special presentation was made. The attendance of students were greater today in comparison to those who can regularly meet after school. View the video of the event here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIErVMFbsaM