NEAR-Fest Mission Statement:

It has been suggested that I come up with a “Mission Statement” as to why NEAR-Fest exists. 

My first thoughts were that our “mission” is to buy, sell and swap as much “stuff” as we can, “cruise and peruse” the grounds until we can walk no more, drink a lot of Coca-Cola, eat more greasy fair food that we should, socialize/BS with buddies and generally just have a damned good time every 6 months with many of our friends, old and new.  This has always been my objective when attending hamfesters and flea markets so why should it change now?

However I also figured if we must have a “Mission Statement” in the first place then we should also have a mission, eh?  So, here it is:

We’ve all noticed that the average age of the amateur radio operator increases every year. There is also an attrition rate as many of our ranks become Silent Keys.  We rarely see any young people at our events because there are so many activities competing for their time.  Even grade-schoolers have their “schedules”.  They are truly busy people even at a young age.  It is also a hard fact of life that if we don’t attract “new blood” to our hobby it’s going to slowly wither and die of old age.  So if we want to try to do something about it we’d better do it soon – like right now!

Many seem to think that since the Morse Code is no longer a barrier people will flock to our exam sessions.  I don’t agree.  People today want instant gratification and studying for an exam doesn’t exactly fit that parameter.  Besides there are Internet applications that simulate the radio experience quite well, provided you don’t know what the real thing is like, of course.

One of the goals of NEAR-Fest will be to attract young people to our events by inviting them to attend free of charge as our guests so anyone under 18 doesn't need to buy a ticket.  We hope that many of the clubs in the area will prepare exhibits and conduct demonstrations of some of the different aspects of the hobby.  I fail to see how operating a satellite station or talking to an

Astronaut in the Space Shuttle can not grab someone’s interest.  These invited guests will be asked to register and their contact information will be distributed to the nearest club for follow up.  We should be able to track our results.

Inviting them as guests will not “cost” us anything as most of them would probably not come if they had to pay.  Also on Saturday after 9 the flea market quiets down and there’s a lull in the activity until the prize drawing.  We can well utilize this time for this activity and see what it produces. 

Once the ‘Fest has amassed sufficient financial assets to ensure we have the capital to finance future events we can look at setting up a Foundation to further our benevolent goals so we might return what we have been given to the radio community in several appropriate ways.  This could include offering to provide amateur radio stations to schools and science museums who would then work in conjunction with a local radio clubs who would undertake this effort as a club project.  They would work with the students & faculty to help set up the station and conduct licensing courses to get them licensed and on the air.  NEAR-Fest would cover the costs of the equipment.  We could also give consideration to funding a worthwhile club project or setting up an emergency preparedness station where none exists.

Our 2008 project in partnership with the Contoocook Valley Radio Club and in conjunction with the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord NH is an example of what we want to do. 

In short, we want to ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the same opportunity to enjoy the wonder and magic of radio as much as we do.  The Internet and telephones are not always guaranteed to be operational.   When your power goes out you can still communicate with the world using a generator and an HF radio.  You are not dependent on anyone and no one can stop you.  When all else fails, Amateur Radio prevails!

We must never allow this priceless resource to be lost.  This is our heritage and if we are going to preserve it we have to act now. 

So then, this is our mission statement. 

73,

Mister Mike, W1RC 

WEB: http://near-fest.com    E-Mail: W1RC@near-fest.com