Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd.

Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd. (FAIRS) Supports Dominica Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (DARCI) and helps with programs/projects on the island

Over the years, and even today, FAIRS is helping people and communities to be prepared in the event of an emergency.  Since 1991, FAIRS has provided equipment, funds and training to be utilized in an emergency, as well as relief aid and other services. 

In the eastern Caribbean, a little island called Dominica is prone to hurricanes, mudslides and other disaster.  Relief, and help for future occurrences, is always needed.  Dominica is the most mountainous island in the Caribbean – it is 29 miles long and 16 miles wide, located between Martinique and Guadalupe in the Lesser Antilles.  The population is approx. 70,000.  The splendor of nature, its rainforests and rushing streams allow for the nickname “Nature Isle of the Caribbean”.

Cooperation between Dominica Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (DARCI) and FAIRS began when directors David KK4WW/J79WW and Gaynell KK4WWW/J79WWW Larsen made a visit in January 1997, which was arranged by Joseph Guiste J73JT of Castle Bruce.  FAIRS members have traveled to Dominica and operated from there every year since 1997.  Since that first trip, we’ve made thousands of contacts every year.

DARCI has many active and enthusiastic members providing emergency communications and civic help.  Most communications are via 2 meters using repeaters.  A repeater network has been developed and upgraded to provide good coverage over the island.  FAIRS and its members have provided solar panels at the repeater sites, handhelds, radios, antennas, etc.  DARCI headquarters is located in the Canefield area of Dominica.  A hurricane-hardened facility with site security, newly- constructed restrooms, and diesel generator for emergency power make up the emergency communications center there.   Volunteers are trained at this facility, and licensed operators gather for club meetings and to plan their service and fundraising projects.  FAIRS wishes to thank the club members for their friendship and for sharing their beautiful island with us.

FAIRS helps to sponsor a variety of programs on the island, such as feeding and after-school programs, help to the people of Kalinago Territory, and to the elderly.  As a 501(c)3 foundation, you may make a tax-deductible contribution and be a part of the goodwill.  Sign up for online newsletter and updates at www.fairs.org or call 540-745-2322.

A very special thanks to Clement J73CPL and Hetty J73HPL Pierre-Louis of Wotten Waven, who have shared their home with us and provided us with the use of their wonderful hf amateur radio station where we can make contacts by radio to people all over the world. 

Much of the activity of FAIRS in Dominica is now documented on video!  You may view the footage by going to www.youtube.com and searching lcfgroup (that is the heading under which the video clips are indexed).