This year, along with the Citizen Corps, Fairfax ARES will once again be working with the County Office of Emergency Management, and as usual we are looking for your help. In return, we will give you something back for volunteering a four-hour block of your time during one of the shifts at our booth; free admission to the fair.

We will be dusting off the antenna mount suction cups display and set-up a working APRS demonstration similar to what we had in 2004. We will also be working with the American Red Cross at the fair to show how WINLINK can easily provide email service between them as a served agency and ARES which both directly support the County during an emergency. And for a few hours on Saturday, the Boy Scouts Venture Group of Alexandria will be showing how young HAM operators also contribute vital services to the County as they demonstrated so well during hurricane Isabel.

To help make our presentation successful, answer questions, and pass out ARRL and ARES promotional materials, we need to ask for some of your time. Staffing our portion of the booth will be with two people per shift; each shift lasting four hours.

Starting at 1600 on Friday June 10th; two amateurs are needed for four hours.

On Saturday, June 11th, and on Sunday June 12th we will be starting at 1000 with one four hour shift, two hours later at noon the second person arrives for four hours. The following shifts are open:

Friday: 1600-2000, two shifts.

One shift on both Saturday and Sunday: 1000-1400, 1200-1600, 1400-1800, 1600-2000 and, (Saturday only) 1800-2000.

Please let me know what shift you will be able to fill by return email at or by leaving a message at 703-631-1949. Having your selection to me by Saturday, May 21st allows us to plan better. Thanks!

Paul, KI4DTL

P.S. I've been told that the good shifts go fast, so please don't delay. Thanks again.