The Foundation for Amateut International Radio Service was created as an idea during train trip from Moscow to the Western Ukraine. Their were five Americans visiting Ukrainian and Russian friends. The visit was set up to distribute donated equipment in Russia and Ukraine. It seemed that a formal group was needed to do this type of volunteer work in an organized way on a regular basis.
The Americans were David KK4WW and Gaynell KD4GMV Larsen, Bob W6YMR and Virginia KD6NBW Fribertshauser, and John Douglas N0ISL. Our host was Victor Goncharsky US5WE. All traveling on the train during these discussions. The date was May 9th 1991. This created the name 59 Group. when we arrived in Lvov, Ukraine more hams were brought into the discussions and the final group of 59 founding members of FAIRS are: David Larsen KK4WW, Gaynell Larsen KD4GMV, N0ISL John Douglas, W6YMR Bob Friebertshauser, Victor Goncharsky US5WE, Vlad Goncharsky U5WF, Helen Goncharsky UR5WA, Yuri Katyutin UA4LCQ, Valentin Kudryavtsev UA4LM, Victor Golutvin UT1WPR, Vladimir Klebanovsky US5WV, George Chlijanc UY5XE. David and Gaynell started forming the formal legal structure after returning to the states. The Foundation for Amateur International Radio Service is a nonprofit corporation registered in the state of Virginia. The full Public Foundation with Internal Revenue status 501-(c)-(3) and the right to accept tax deductible donations of money or equipment. FAIRS is a membership Foundation with a suggested membership fee of $10 per year however those wanting to join and don't the funds may join free of charge. Anyone interested in joining may do so, in fact many of our members are not amateur radio operators.
FAIRS has major projects in the following countries Russia, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Guyana . These countries now have active local FAIRS groups. FAIRS members have projects of helping hams in many additional countries. Some that come to mind are Haiti, Zambia, China , Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, and others.
The first major grant funds were received in April 1995 of $24,873 from the United States Agency for International Development through the Eurasia Foundation. The grant proposal " Ukrainian Digital Amateur Radio Network " was written by David Larsen KK4WW Executive Director FAIRS and Victor Goncharsky US5WE Director of European Operations.
FAIRS received the club license KE4YVW in April 1995. A more appropriate call will be requested using the vanity call sign system. Suggestions for the FAIRS club call are most welcome.
Nets - no official nets. FAIRS gatherings on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays with the Ukraine and Guyana group at 1200z on 14190Kz up or down as needed. A full time APLINK station KK4WW (KKWW) is in operation on 14,075Kz in Floyd, VA. The APLINK is in regular contact with the following APLINK stations U5WF Ukraine, UA4LCQ Russia, and S21AM Bangladesh. You may leave MSG on the KK4WW APLINK for these groups.