I am the General Chairman (and Benevolent Dictator) of the NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR RADIO FESTIVAL (NEAR-Fest) which is the largest gathering of radio enthusiasts in the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada. Our tenth event was held in October 2011.

My co-conspirators in this endeavour are: da Timtron, WA1HLR; Mike, K1TWF; Ed, N1IWV; Clem, VE2BIA; Paul, W1PRA; Todd, KA1KAQ; John, K1JJS, John, K1WIZ, Larry N1PHV and Gregg W1USA When asked by videographer Burt, K1OIK, what he thought about the management of NEAR-Fest, Timtron, WA1HLR, replied: "The inmates are running the asylum now!"

NEAR-Fest is not a club but a very loosely organized group of friends who enjoy getting together every May and October to take over the beautiful Deerfield NH Fairgrounds where we host an "old-fashioned" New England regional hamfest. It has been best described as a "Benevolent Dictatorship". It is our goal to make NEAR-Fest as much like some of our old favorites 'festers of years past; Hosstraders, FAR-Fest (Gathersburg MD), RaRa (Rochester NY), etc, which are all but only wonderful memories today. In reality it is a big party for about 3000 of our closest friends. Bob Callahan, W1QWT once described NEAR-Fest as "The Woodstock of Amateur Radio". Get the picture?

Our motto: "Real Hams Need Hamfests!"

Profits from the 'fester are directed towards attracting newcomers to our Hobby with a special emphasis on young people. Towards this end, in conjunction with the Contoocook Valley Radio Club (CVRC) of Hopkinton NH we constructed a complete amateur station, KA1SKY, capable of HF, VHF, UHF and satellite communications.to the McAulffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord NH.

http://www.starhop.com/education-and-exploration/ka1sky.aspx

In addition we support the Simadi Shriners who help us with ticketing and gate management. Every penny donated goes to their hospitals in Springfield MA, Montreal Canada and the Burns Unit in Boston.

You are invited to the virtual NEAR-Fest. Watch the videos made by Burt K1OIK, of NEAR-Fests from IV - X inclusive:

NEAR-Fest IV, held October 10th and 11th 2008:

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVDqObiAJqk

PartII: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCpUfAwxRc8

NEAR-Fest V, convened May 1st and 2nd 2009:

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-UmCotMZfo

Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAD-cn0_P48

NEAR-Fest VI,held October 16th and 17th 2009:

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHH3JsoDcqk

Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeffLx7uRPM

Part III: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0XFptw59Y

NEAR-Fest VII, convened April 20th and May 1st 2010:

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWvT7TO60c8

Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqA9WDQ2xPU

NEAR-Fest VIII, convened October 15th and 16th 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8xRTpx-Y00

NEAR-Fest IX, convened April 29th and 30th 2011 (latest video)

http://youtube.com/user/burt2481#p/u/0/syVzkgOKcHk

and finally, NEAR-Fest X held October 14th and 15th 2011:

Despite the incredible amount of work that goes into producing this event, as you can see, we do manage to have a lot of fun!

NEAR-Fest XI is scheduled for May 4th and 5th 2012.  NEAR-Fest XII will be held October 12th and 1e3th 2012.  We welcome all radio enthusiasts, whether they be short-wave listeners, amateur radio operators, scanner buffs, vintage/antique radio collectors.The majority of our attendees come from the Northeastern US and Eastern Canada but some come from as far away as Europe, Flori-duh and even California.

Please visit our Web site for full details - http://www.near-fest.com.

73,

"Mister Mike" W1RC & Friends.