Foundation Amateur International Radio Service FAIRS N4USA

FOUNDATION for AMATEUR INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERVICE, LTD FAIRS 540-745-2322 http://www.fairs.org

"Building Global Friendships" between peoples and nations is the purpose of FAIRS. This goodwill is created by providing training, equipment, volunteers, and other forms of assistance such as disaster relief. FAIRS is a 501(c)3 foundation. News from Fairs Headquarters, club call N4USA: The office is located at 108-B South Locust Street, Floyd Virginia 24091, in the historic Shortt building in the town of Floyd, Virginia.

The Emergency Communications Center (ECC), open since August of 2003, is maintained by FAIRS as a support for Floyd County first responders in the event of an emergency...FAIRS Helps: Floyd Community Amateur Radio Station

Goodwill through Amateur Radio is the mission of FAIRS (Foundation for Amateur Int'l. Radio Service, Ltd. www.fairs.org). The directors and members help to sponsor events and special projects within the community, and they perform services which are a benefit to our citizens and visitors. These are generally related to emergency communications, the promotion of Town and County, and for education and outreach.

The community amateur radio station at Floyd Village Green (at Floyd Professional Center, Suites 8 & 9) is up and operational! You are welcome to stop by and view/operate the station as (or with) a licensed operator, using call sign N4USA. You may be surprised at the friends you make using this "tried and true" technology.

The local hams of Floyd Amateur Radio Society meet together at the station and have made great strides in the past year. A constitution and by-laws have been drawn up for this civic group, and they are celebrating their recent approved affiliation with ARRL (American Radio Relay League), the national organization of Amateur Radio operators. Monthly meetings and special event stations have been held on a regular basis---new attendees from the Floyd area have caused the group to grow! Reception has been warm to the group and its public service. You may join in on the fun - second Saturdays of each month, beginning at the Blue Ridge Restaurant at 8 a.m. Call 808-2880 for more information.

Recently, the community station has gone "live" with streaming video of activities at www.n4usatv.com! Visit the site to see current activities, and sign up as a fan to be alerted when live broadcasting is taking place. You might see the "crew" at important events or during training and DXing (communicating over distance via ham radio) in and around Floyd. A community garden has been established for use by individuals and organizations as a wholesome activity, and/or to produce healthy food items to share. The mission of the coordinators is to improve health and reduce hunger in Floyd County by increasing access to local, "good for you" foods, and to build community links. Special support is offered for first-time gardeners, and those with physical, mental or financial challenges.

On land which has been offered for $1/year lease by FAIRS, esteemed citizens are working toward 30 plots which are 10' x 10' each, available to participants by approved application and agreement. The Plenty! Group is overseeing the project (Karen Day and McCabe Coolidge are co-founders -- more information at www.plentylocal.org). The community garden effort was initiated by Marcie Stout of Heavenly Mountain Acupuncture at Northside Plaza (½ mile north of stoplight in Floyd on Rt.8). HMA is located next to the garden. http://www.bugbookseries.com http://www.bugbookcomputermuseum.com http://www.bugbook-computer-museum.com http://www.bugbook.org http://www.bugbook.us http://www.bugbook.net http://www.bugbooks.info http://www.bugbooks.us http://nationalmusic.us