Topic: ATTENTION: IMPORTANT NEWS - PLEASE READ

[W1RC]

The New England Amateur Radio Festival, Inc.
            at the Deerfield NH Fairgrounds
                                     
                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
                                                     March 8th 2015.
 
Dear Friends of NEAR-Fest:
 
It is with great regret and sadness that I must inform the radio amateurs and electronic hobbyists of New England that the NEAR-Fest Board of Directors finds it necessary to POSTPONE the FreeFest aspect of NEAR-FEST XVII that was scheduled for May 2015.  It will be held at a later date.  However, first and foremost, I want to assure everyone that NEAR-Fest XVII WILL TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED on May 1st and 2nd, 2015, at the Deerfield NH Fairgrounds.  NEAR-Fest XVIII will also be held as scheduled on October 16th and 17th, 2015.

The Directors made the difficult decision to POSTPONE the FreeFest due to a legal issue that has arisen since the FreeFest was announced last October.  The matter is being addressed professionally; however the funds that would have financed the FreeFester may now be needed to resolve this issue at hand.  There was no other option open to us.  It is important for everyone to understand that there are no issues or problems with the Deerfield Fair Association; in fact our relationship with them is better than ever.
 
I want to personally assure you all that the FreeFest will be rescheduled as soon as possible once this issue has been resolved.  The entire NEAR-Fest management team is committed to, and is looking forward to, hosting the FreeFest, in it's original spirit, to thank all our loyal attendees and the amateur radio community for the support since 2007.  We appreciate your understanding and continued support. We hope to be able to post an update about FreeFest on our website before the end of the year.  Advance tickets and inside parking passes will be on sale in the usual places starting in April.  Check our Web site (www.near-fest.com) for more details.
 
To summarize:  NEAR-Fest XVII WILL TAKE PLACE on May 1st and 2nd, 2015, exactly as scheduled,  Admission will be the same as always, $10 per person and $10 for an inside parking pass.  NEAR-Fest XVIII will also take place as scheduled on October 16th and 17th, 2015.  The FreeFest that was planned to take place as a part of NEAR-Fest XVII is POSTPONED until a later date.
 
The NEAR-Fest staff and management as well as I thank you all for your total support and understanding.
 
73,
 
 
MisterMike, W1RC

[AB2IX]

This news should not diminish our enthusiasm for NEAR-fest XVII in any way, after all the FreeFester is a gift from the NEAR-fest mangement. When it comes we will all enjoy it and buy an extra $10 worth of treasure, or, donate the $10 to any one of the NEAR-fest's worthy causes or projects. AB2IX

[W1RC]

This news should not diminish our enthusiasm for NEAR-fest XVII in any way, after all the FreeFester is a gift from the NEAR-fest mangement. When it comes we will all enjoy it and buy an extra $10 worth of treasure, or, donate the $10 to any one of the NEAR-fest's worthy causes or projects. AB2IX

Thanks very much for your understanding of this unfortunate situation.  We look forward to the day when we can invite all our loyal friends to a FreeFester.

73,

MisterMike, W1RC