Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service, Ltd.

May 20-22 2011 Dayton Hamvention – Dayton, OH

Global Friendship

Dayton Hamvention is the world’s largest amateur radio gathering - not even the higher gas prices kept folks away!  Hamvention includes a huge flea market where ham operators can buy, sell and trade radio equipment. For some, it is the only place to find that elusive piece that cannot be found elsewhere.

 FAIRS has operated a booth at the market at Hamvention since 1993. Items are exhibited and sold to generate funds for the Foundation. Popular items include hand-painted Ukrainian eggs, Matryoshka nesting dolls, etc.  The booth is also a place for FAIRS members from around the world to meet and “catch up”. 

The organizers of Dayton Hamvention 2011 worked painstakingly to communicate how, with the upheavals in the world, that amateur radio has never been more relevant or needed than it is today.

This year’s theme was Global Friendship, which mirrors the regular motto of FAIRS (Foundation for Amateur Radio Intl. Radio Service, Ltd.):  Building Global Friendship through Amateur Radio.

FAIRS Directors David KK4WW and Gaynell KK4WWW Larsen, Floyd County RACES Emergency Radio Officer Tom King W4VZH and several members of Floyd Amateur Radio Society made the trip from Virginia to Ohio for the weekend event.   FAIRS was represented at indoor exhibit booth #412 where FAIRS members, both foreign and domestic, stopped by to say hello and to find out about current events in Floyd, Virginia…beautiful home to FAIRS headquarters.

Special guests of FAIRS included:  Alex Cosolapov (VE3VDX – from Barrie, Ontario in Canada), Esmond Jones (8R1AK – from Guyana), Seth Sjoestrom (SM0XBI – from Sweden), and others.  The group attended the DX dinner on Friday evening and Seth won the big prize, an Alpha 8410 linear amplifier!  Needless to say, he was excited about winning, and all of the group went home with special purchases from the show.

FAIRS was thankful to receive, once again, a donation by Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) along with their words of encouragement.  It continues to be a great boost for the foundation to receive this, since the hams of that organization are so active and do wonderful things which are a positive effect around the world.

After the convention, Seth SM0XBI returned to Floyd and FAIRS headquarters to spend several days before returning to Sweden.  It was great to have a bit of extra face time with our European friend.

            Please see our photos from Dayton Hamvention 2011...