A highlight was a trip to Dayton, OH for this year’s Hamvention, a large convention of ham radio which the Larsens attend each year.  FAIRS has operated a booth there since 1993.  They were very fortunate this year to sell nearly all of the items which Helen had 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...

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.  She was able to do some sight-seeing, make visits to local groups, and she shopped at several Floyd locales for items to take back home.  Helen took some great photos: at springtime’s Floyd Auto Fair at Chantilly Farm, of friends and the countryside.  Some great memories were made; the girls even had a “cabin on the river” getaway!

During their stay, FAIRS assisted members of the Dominica Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (DARCI) with equipment repairs and checks of emergency radio communications systems.  DARCI Emergency Communications Center is now rentable to touring hams as a source of revenue for the Club.  Stephen Bloom KL7SB from Anchorage, Alaska was a guest, so FAIRS was able to meet with him and his wife and take a break from operating for awhile.  Licensed operators like Stephen can visit Dominica & use the Club stat...

Grenada Amateur Radio Club is now recognized as the body to conduct exams for amateur radio licenses. They have a new website www.garc.gd/ These islanders have exceriseized their own disaster preparedness plan, and equipped their volunteers for the job. FAIRS has given radio equipment, literature, and funds for outreach. Along with that, a hi-gain antenna and peripheral equipment have been shipped to Grenada.

FAIRS was host to Joyce LaRonde from Dominica, who is visiting to the States related to elder care, which she provides.  Joyce attended several community functions and gatherings the first part of March, and spoke to groups (including youth – student age) about their impact and potential for goodwill outreach.