What will be the impact of moving out of the Hub?
Moving out of the Hub will be a challenging exercise, involving the relocation of racks of communications equipment, computer systems, spare gear for field maintenance, a tower and antennas. The URFMSI repeater system will remain intact and operational, but functions like the ability to link, reconfigure systems and autopatch will be temporarily unavailable statewide until the system is reassembled in its new location. The only repeaters that we expect to take off the air temporarily will be the 146.90, 146.86, 449.80 and 449.55 repeaters, all housed in the Hub in Albuquerque. Every other repeater across the state should remain on the air for your use.

What can I do to assist the URFMSI in this challenge?
There's plenty of ways for you to help from this point forward. First, let's discuss some things we DO NOT want you to do:

• Please do not contact officials at KAFB or Congressional delegates on our bahalf. The Board of Directors has been engaged in dialogue with them, and saturating them with phone calls and visits may actually hinder these delicate efforts.
• Please do not start or propagate rumors about this situation. The facts reside on this webpage -- if you hear anything else, it is most likely false. We welcome you to run anything you might hear by the Board for an accuracy check.

Here is what you CAN do to assist:

• While efforts to remain in the current Hub location continue, we are also focusing on locating a new potential Hub site as a "plan B" option. Do you, or someone you know, particularly a business owner, land owner, etc., know of a potential or existing site -- ideally in the Albuquerque area -- that can lend approximately 400-square feet of area with AC power and telephone service, and accomodate a tower? If so, please contact us with any details which you can provide.
• In the event that we are unable to remain in the present Hub location, relocating racks of electronics, computer systems, spare parts for field maintenance, a tower, antennas, and emergency power will be an arduous task. Would you be willing to assist the URFMSI is moving said equipment in that event? If so, please contact us and let us know what resources you can lend to this potential effort.
• In the event that we are unable to remain in the present Hub location, relocating to another site will likely involve significant expenses (moving expenses, cost for concrete to erect the tower at a new site, potential cost for a pre-fabbed building to house the system in if no existing facility is available, etc.). Would you be willing to pledge a donation to the URFMSI to offset expenses in the event that financial assistance becomes necessary? The URFMSI is a 501(c)(3) organization, making your generous donation tax-deductable. If so, please contact us and let us know how much you would consider pledging in the event moving expenses become a factor.

Why wasn't this mentioned to the membership before I received my April mailing?
This matter was kept confidential amongst the Directors which you elected to lead the URFMSI for a number of reasons. First, we needed to obtain all of the facts and details with complete accuracy before engaging in any sort of action. Second, since various KAFB officials (and later city, county and Congressional) needed to be consulted via meetings and other dialogue we sought to limit the audience so as to keep our efforts focused and manageable. Third, we sought to limit the potential for rumors which would have caused unecessary alarm and distract the board from focusing on the ongoing delicate efforts to save the present Hub location. Fourth, we wanted to brief as much of the membership as possible all at once -- i.e. at the April membership meeting -- so we could lay out all of the facts, explain our efforts to date, explain what the future might hold, and solicit ideas and feedback from the stakeholders of the URFMSI -- you.

This won't spell the end of the URFMSI, will it?
Absolutely not! Ham Radio prides itself in being versatile and adaptive during challenging times, a prime example being during or after disasters requiring communications in short order when all else fails. It's what ham radio operators do best, and this is simply one of those challenges. We will either remain at the present Hub or relocate the Hub and continue where we left off to provide you with exceptional repeater coverage and features. Your patience, continued support and ideas will make this challenge even easier to overcome!