WNCW & The State of State Funding

State funding is a curious thing. It is by nature both benevolent and deceiving.

Its benevolence is fairly obvious...in this case, the North Carolina General Assembly many years ago funded public radio at both State Universities and at a small handful of Community Colleges within the NC Community College System (including Isothermal Community College here in Spindale, which holds WNCW's FCC license). For quite a few years, we all enjoyed the benefits of State funding and the sense of security it provided to allow us to pursue our distinct paths toward fulfilling our missions and objectives.

What is deceiving about State funding is it is fickle.

A number of years ago, the NC General Assembly withdrew funding from public radio stations at State Universities (such as WUNC in Chapel Hill, WFAE in Charlotte). If you're at all familiar with public radio, you know that both stations survived and are considered flagships of the National Public Radio network (with WUNC remaining a university licensee and WFAE becoming a community licensee). Well, actually "survived" is an understatement. WUNC and WFAE are models of public radio stewardship and many public radio stations - including WNCW - can learn a great deal from both their success and ability to generate and maintain public support.

The "fickle finger of fate" has now pointed at the three remaining State-funded public radio stations at North Carolina's community colleges. WNCW at Isothermal, WSGE at Gaston College near Charlotte, and Public Radio East at Craven Community College in New Bern. As of this writing, the North Carolina Senate has voted to strip funding for all three stations from the State Appropriations Bill. The NC House appears to be leaning toward following the Senate's lead, particularly in light of recent news that State tax revenues were far below expectations (requiring the House to consider even deeper spending cuts).

Though I have been told by experienced Raleigh-watchers that much of the General Assembly's work takes place within the last 10 percent of its session and nothing is certain until the final gavel pounds and the ink of the Governor's signature is dry...well, I'm a former broadcast engineer and tend to think in terms of being prepared for worst-case scenarios. With each day that passes, and with each gloomy report of increasing budget deficit forecasts that come from of Raleigh, I'm leaning more and more toward the view that State funding for public radio at NC Community Colleges is looking as though its going to go the way of 8 track tapes, 45 RPMs and LPs.

I - and we - can wring our hands and gnash our teeth all we want. However, the bottom line is it's not going to get us anywhere. The State of North Carolina - like most states - is facing a budget crisis of historic proportions and hard choices have to be made. Elected State officials from Governor Beverly Perdue* and Lt. Governor Walter Dalton through members of the Senate and House of Representatives - including those with a deep, abiding respect and love for public radio - are faced with hard choices and are being forced to make some extraordinarily difficult decisions.

I do not envy them...nor would I want to be forced to make the judgement calls they're in the process of making right now.

Public radio is both a noble cause and a community service. I know a significant number of the decision-makers in Raleigh agree. In fact, Governor Perdue's budget proposal included full funding for NC's community college-based public radio stations (Thank you, Governor!). We know we are not without support in Raleigh. For that, we are quite grateful (though I'd like to see a lot more WNCW bumper stickers in the Capital City).

At the same time, thousands and thousands of public education and public safety positions, public welfare programs (for the truly needy among us) and critical state infrastructure funds are facing the budget-cutting ax. Public education...child welfare...public health programs...police, fire and other emergency services. The needs are overwhelming and the State of North Carolina's resources are suffering the same decreases we hear, see and read about each day on radio, TV and in our newspapers.

Yes, public radio is indeed a noble cause. We know that and - by your support of WNCW - you're agreeing with that premise. The folks in Raleigh know that, also. But, seriously...would you rather have the State of North Carolina provide teachers in our schools, doctors and nurses in our hospitals and clinics, adequate public safety officers in our communities...or public radio?

Yeah...that's right. A public radio General Manager just asked that loaded question. Hey, WNCW is not a "normal" public radio service and I'm not a "normal" public radio General Manager.

So...now what?

The funding challenge WNCW, its listeners, members and wide range of stakeholders face carries with it an opportunity - if not an outright, inescapable requirement - to pursue a new funding paradigm...one that accepts the reality of the State's fiscal situation and embraces a new way of looking at things and provides a new, long-term, stable funding mechanism .

Up to now, the State of North Carolina has been a direct partner in this amazing endeavor called WNCW. It will continue to be via the indirect, in-kind, administrative guidance and infrastructure support of our generous and greatly-appreciated license-holder, Isothermal Community College. WNCW's #1 supporter is Isothermal's President, Dr. Myra Johnson. I can say with great confidence (and appreciation) that WNCW is also blessed with the strong support of Isothermal's Board of Trustees.

Whatever our elected officials in Raleigh may decide in the coming weeks, the time has come for all of WNCW's stakeholders...staff, the College, listeners, members, potential members, communities, businesses, organizations, supporters at all levels...to take time to truly evaluate what WNCW means to us, what WNCW could mean to us, and make the commitment to reinvest in the radio station that stands apart from anything else on the regional airwaves...the station about which I hear again and again from listeners "I couldn't do without WNCW."

This is public radio. If we want WNCW to "live long and prosper," we must invest in it. We are - and always have been - the "public" in public radio. The State of North Carolina directly and generously supported WNCW for as long as it could . It should be applauded for doing so. It can no longer provide this support. There are greater needs.

Now, it is our turn - our responsibility - to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done.

WNCW needs your support, now more than ever. How can you support WNCW?

MEMBERSHIP - If you are a member and want to express your support with an additional gift, or if you want to become a NEW member of WNCW, please click HERE or call (800) 245-8870. It's estimated that only 1 in 10 listeners to public radio are members. If more listeners became supporting members of WNCW, that would put a HUGE dent in our attempts to replace state funding. Listener support will always be the lifeblood of WNCW.

BUSINESS SUPPORT - If you are a business owner and want to discover the benefits of supporting WNCW as a Business Underwriter, please contact Mike Hiers (WNCW Underwriting Account Manager) at mikehiers@wncw.org or at (828) 447-2307.

MAJOR & PLANNED GIVING - If you're interested in supporting WNCW in a more substantial manner - as a Major Donor or Legacy Supporter - please contact Kate Barkschat (WNCW Development Director) at kateb@wncw.org or at (828) 286-3636 Ext. 326.

Return Of The Night Of The Living Pledge Drive

About ten years ago, during my tenure as Manager of Technical Operations at KUT Radio in Austin, TX, I wrote an epic poem about a public radio pledge drive seemingly doomed to failure until being rescued by a small group of rogue broadcast engineers. I titled it Night Of The Living Pledge Drive and - after carefully crafting the text and spending hours recording it, adding sound effects and clandestinely asking other KUT staffers to contribute their voices as various characters - I confidently invited the Station Manager and Development Director to the production studio to premiere it to what I was convinced would be an appreciative audience who'd beg me to play it on the air during the upcoming pledge drive.

Instead, they recoiled in horror, yet somehow managed to politely say, "Uh, thanks, Dana...we'll get back to you if we decide to use it." Devastated, I swore Night Of The Living Pledge Drive (NOTLP) would never see the light of day again.

Well, Fate had other ideas for NOTLP.

A few months later, I happened to mention the poem and KUT's reaction to it to my long-time friend and NPR buddy, Rich Rarey. Rarey (whom I've known since working together during college at WOUB-AM-FM at Ohio University in Athens, OH) asked to read it and I reluctantly sent it to him.

The next thing I knew, a producer from NPR's Morning Edition called asking if I'd give them permission to run an edited verion of NOTLP on the upcoming national fundraising channel during Morning Edition. In a twist of fate I certainly never expected, National Public Radio ended up airing nationally the poem my own "home" station was too embarrassed to broadcast.

Since then, the poem has resided on an NPR technical website as a constant reminder to engineers throughout public broadcasting that without them, there would be no public radio or television.

With WNCW's 2009 Spring Pledge Drive quickly approaching (it kicks off with Saturday Night House Party at 7PM on March 28th and concludes with Goin' Across The Mountain the following Saturday), I thought, "What the heck? Why not pull out NOTLP one more time?"

OK, so I'm not Robert Frost or Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Chances are, I seriously doubt that you'll hear Garrison Keillor reading NOTLP on The Writer's Almanac., either. But, I hope you'll enjoy it and remember to pledge your support to WNCW...a public radio station like no other.

You can pledge your support to WNCW NOW by clicking HERE

Enjoy!
-------------

Night of the Living Pledge Drive

by Dana E. Whitehair

Come gather 'round your radio, listeners
and I'll tell you a tale that'll make your skin crawl
'bout a fund raiser seemingly doomed to failure
and what could happen if you don't make the call...

It was late night on that dreary eve
many years ago
In the midst of an annual pledge drive
for public radio.

The manager stood up and gazed
at his staff and volunteers
And read a list of facts and figures
which confirmed their greatest fears.

He said, "Folks, the last nine days have been
a long, hard, grueling task
And your efforts on the station's behalf
were more than I could ask."

"We gave our listeners the best we had
but the phones just did not ring
and tomorrow at noon, this fund raiser ends
and the fat lady's about to sing."

"We've come up short, it's fair to say
along about 50 grand
So I've come to you to seek ideas
on how we can make our final stand."

They looked at one another
and a great debate ensued
Three hours passed, and they said at last,
"The boss is right, we're screwed."

At that very instant
the floor began to shake
It started as a shimmy
then it grew into a quake.

The windows rattled, the lights grew dim
and they heard an evil roar
rise up from the building's deep, dark depths
and it shook each person to their core.

Then suddenly, the lights went out
and people shrieked and cried
A blast blew off the studio doors
and four men stepped inside.

A calming silence followed
as the dust and smoke did clear
and then they heard a husky voice,
"This situation calls for an engineer."

The four stood in the doorway
their coffee cups in hand
With cigarettes dangling from their mouths
despite the company ban.

Their blue work pants were stained with dirt
their shirts, or course, were plaid
They'd left their basement workshop
and, boy, did they look mad.

The senior tech surveyed the room
and snarled, "We're taking charge.
We need a new oscilloscope,
and this year's budget just ain't that large."

"So, stand back, folks, and man those phones,
cuz' soon they'll start to ring.
The fat lady hasn't sung just yet
and desperate men do desperate things."

He turned to his companions
and said, "This pledge drive's ours.
Gary, take the board! Paul, take the mic!
Dave, crank the transmitter power!"

At 1 AM, they hit the air
and the staff stood back in awe,
as the usual fare of overnight jazz
was pre-empted by discussions of Ohm's Law.

They followed with readings from technical manuals
explaining in graphic detail everything
that appeared on schematics and block diagrams
and lo and behold, the phones started to ring!

The callers were livid. "Have you lost your minds? "
The technical spectacle drove them insane
But to each irate caller that vented their spleen
The volunteers' answer turned the tide of game.

"We're sorry this show leaves you highly perturbed
but the Tech Staff is out of control.
They'll allow us back in to the studios, ma'am
Once we've reach our fund raising goal."

"That's an outrage! This is blackmail," the callers declared.
"This is driving us over the edge."
They could stand it no more, and cursing a storm
they tripled their annual pledge.

An hour on tape decks, their cleaning and care
Then balanced and unbalanced circuit design
With brain-numbing focus the engineers read
from technical updates that boggled the mind.

By five in the morning, the pledge room was jumping
the total was rising, phones rang off the hooks
The listeners were pleading for someone to stop them
but the engineers continued on reading their books.

With pauses for NPR news on the hour
and dozens of doughnuts and endless caffeine
They continued with theories on electrical power
and the totals kept rising at a rate quite obscene.

By eight, crowds had gathered with weapons and torches
and they threatened severe retribution.
But the volunteers countered that all it'd take
were significant cash contributions.

By ten in the morning, the rogue engineers
were explaining the color code found on resistors,
expounding on logarithmic scales and compressors
and the age old debate about tubes or transistors.

In the meantime the pledge room had plunged into chaos
with listeners shouting and pulling out hair,
Begging to give any sum that was asked for
to get the four technical dweebs off the air.

People with checkbooks cried out for mercy
pocketbooks loosened that were usually closed tight
The total climbed upwards, higher and higher
as the fund raiser's goal was now within sight.

Finally at noon, in the midst of a long-winded
discourse on solid-state power supplies
There arose from the pledge room a whoop and a holler
as the goal was surpassed amid laughter and cries.

The volunteers wept, the staff danced with glee
as the celebration went on non-stop.
But the engineers vanished with nary a trace
and retreated to their fortress-like, sub-basement shop.

And there, well-protected from human intrusion,
the technicians brewed some more coffee and smoked
And laughed at their exploits as they hijacked the station
and the outrage and money their actions provoked.

Then, surrounded by gizmos and gadgets aplenty,
test sets and tool kits and soldering guns
the lowly technicians returned to their benches
for a radio engineer's work's never done.

Far above them, the party continued for hours
as All Things Considered returned to the air
but as night fell the crowds slowly dwindled to nothing
as they drove home to listen to Car Talk and Fresh Air.

And never again did the pledge phones grow silent
and each pledge drive results in a new celebration
For the listeners remember that one night of terror
when the engineers programmed the radio station.

So, the next time you hear us ask for money
and you think you can't stand any more
Just remember, I'm the station's Technical Director
and my techs still have keys to the Air Control door.

------------------

Support WNCW. Click HERE or call us at (800) 245-8870.

Tune in. Turn on. But don't drop out.

DEW

Programming Changes Effective 8/4/2008

Below is a brief overview of the programming changes taking place August 4th, 2008:

ARC (Alternative Radio Coalition)
MTWF Midnight to 4am
SAT Midnight to 6am
SUN Midnight to 5am

World Café
M-F 6 to 8 pm
M-F 4 to 6 am (repeat)

Mountain Morning with Jerry McNeely
M–F 6 to 7 am

The Writer’s Almanac
M-F 7:54 am
Sat & Sun TBA

NPR’s Morning Edition
M-F 7 to 9 am

WNCW’s Music Mix with Martin Anderson
M-F 9 am to Noon

WNCW’s Music Mix with Joe Kendrick
M-TH Noon to 3 pm
(includes Monday Mojo from Noon to 1PM)

Frank On Friday
Remains at Noon each Friday

WNCW’s Music Mix with Roland Dierauf
M-F 3 to 6 pm

World Café
M-F 6 to 8 pm
Repeats M-F 4 to 6 am

Spindale Cycle
Monday 8 to 9 pm

Tower of Song
Tuesday 8 to 9 pm

Grateful Dead Hour
Wednesday 8 to 9 pm

Peak of the Week
Thursday starting at 8 pm

Local Color
Friday 8 to10 pm
Previous week’s program repeats Sunday 7 to 9 pm

WNCW Music Mix with Kit Strecker
Friday 10 to Midnight

Dead Air
Wednesday 9 pm to Midnight

Boot Shoppe
Thursday 1 to 3 am

Keller’s Cellar
Thursday 3 to 4 am

WNCW Music Mix with Sander Morrison
Thursday 9 pm to Midnight
Friday 10 pm to Midnight

Dubatomic Particles
Sunday 9 pm to Midnight


Programs no longer airing on WNCW:

The World
Afropop Worldwide
BBC News Headlines


For a complete program schedule, see:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wncw/guide.guidemain

Questions? Feel free to e-mail me at danaw@wncw.org


Tune In. Turn On. But don’t drop out!

DEW

The Return of NPR's Morning Edition to WNCW

No, you are not hallucinating. National Public Radio's Morning Edition is returning to WNCW.

On Monday, August 4th at 7a.m., the theme music familiar to many a dedicated fan of National Public Radio's long-running, award-winning morning news magazine and the voices of hosts Renee Montagne and Steve Inskeep - along with local host Kim Clark - will grace WNCW's airwaves.

WNCW is both pleased and proud to offer Morning Edition to our morning drive time listeners. We feel the first class news and information programming offered by NPR's flagship morning news magazine, combined with WNCW's regional headlines and unique, eclectic music and features are an unbeatable combination for our listeners and supporters in Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, Northeastern Georgia and beyond.

As a 30-year veteran of working within the public radio system, I can say without reservation that NPR is one of finest news organizations in the world. You've come to expect quality programming from WNCW. NPR's Morning Edition increases our ability to fulfill that expectation.

To those of you who may mourn the loss of WNCW's early, EARLY Morning Music Mix, I can truthfully say I empathize with you. Seriously! Despite being an NPR news junkie for nearly three decades, it was quite easy to transition to Joe Kendrick's entertaining, you-never-know-what's- coming-next, eclectic blend of classic WNCW music fare and whimsical, memory-jogging ventures into the music we, our parents, and even our grandparents listened to while growing up (and, on occasion, into the unknown). Joe knows I'm one of his biggest fans. As an early riser and "arriver" at work, being right around the corner from Joe as he works his early morning, on-air magic has become part of my week-daily routine.

But, fear not...Joe Kendrick is not going away. He's just being granted the luxury of sleeping later each morning. Martin Anderson will take the "early shift" and host WNCW's Morning Music Mix starting at 9 a.m., after we know what the heck is going on in the region, nation and the world. Joe will take to the airwaves from noon to 3 p.m. Roland Dierauf will then take the controls and pilot you to 6 p.m., when Steve Francis will be your head waiter serving up World Café.

So your "cup of Joe" will move from that first jolt in the morning to the mid-day pick-me-up so many of us need.

WNCW is mandated by the Federal Communications Commission to operate in the public interest. Additionally, we represent Isothermal Community College, whose mission statement is to "Improve Life Through Learning." We exist to serve, as well as to entertain. Our audience - and the fulfillment of these mandates - cannot live by music alone. We have an obligation to inform and enlighten.

WNCW believes returning a morning news magazine to its airwaves is the most effective way to fulfill both mission statements, as well as entertain (Morning Edition, for those of you who've never heard it, is far more than just "hard news"). More people listen to the radio on weekday mornings than at any other time of the day. We're attempting to serve that audience - and fulfill our mission(s) - to the best of our ability.

We're also attempting to return WNCW to its "roots." Morning Edition was a key component of WNCW's programming schedule from the station's inception in 1989 up until early 2003.

For more information on NPR's Morning Edition, please visit: http://www.npr.org

There are accompanying programming adjustments associated with the above changes.

WNCW bluegrass fans will be overjoyed to learn that we're kicking off our weekday mornings at 6 a.m. with Mountain Mornings, an hour of bluegrass music hosted by Jerry McNeely, a voice and presence well known to listeners of WNCW's weekly Saturday bluegrass juggernaut, Goin' Across The Mountain. Heck, if an hour of bluegrass music and Jerry's upbeat presence don't wake you up and prepare you for the morning news, you may also be immune to other stimulants such as coffee, tea or "energy drinks."

As we add NPR's Morning Edition, we bid farewell to Public Radio International/BBC's evening news magazine The World and the BBC News headlines that started off each hour of our Morning Music Mix.

World Cafe will move up to 6 p.m., our locally-produced weekday evening programming (Spindale Cycle, Tower of Song, Peak of the Week, and Local Color), our Evening Music Mix with Kit Strecker and Sander Morrison and Wednesday's Jar of Jam (The Grateful Dead Hour, Dead Air, Boot Shoppe, etc.) will all move up an hour.

One of the bottom lines for WNCW throughout our exploration of these changes was to not only maintain, but reinforce our reputation as this region's primary and most engaging source of eclectic, compelling, intelligent, and challenging music...whether produced locally or from outside our listening area(s). As evidenced by our recent special programming for the 4th of July (see previous blog entry), we enjoy bringing extraordinary music programming to our airwaves. We look forward to continuing - and expanding - those efforts. Stay tuned!

To those of you who assisted WNCW with the process of evaluating and making these decisions, we sincerely thank you. Your input - whether you were supported or opposed the proposed changes - was valued, considered and of great importance to our final decisions.

I hope you'll join WNCW in welcoming back Morning Edition. I can assure you that our friends at National Public Radio are excited to be back as well.

Again, our new programming starts Monday, August 4th at 6 a.m. with Mountain Morning, followed by NPR's Morning Edition from 7-9 a.m., and WNCW's Music Mix with Martin Anderson at 9 a.m. Joe Kendrick takes takes the controls at noon, with Roland Dierauf batting clean-up at 3 p.m. David Dye and Steve Francis host World Cafe at 6 p.m., The Grateful Dead Hour (Wednesdays) and our fine locally-produced specialty programming begin at 8 p.m., then WNCW's Music Mix returns with Kit Strecker and Sander Morrison.

Tune in. Turn on. But don't drop out.

Coming Up For Air - A Few Passing Thoughts

- This will be brief(er)...

- Still waters run deep, and there are a lot of very good things taking place beneath the surface at WNCW. Stay tuned. Keep your eyes and ears peeled.

- For those of you in Charlotte, the proposal for the return of our 100.3 FM translator occasionally passes through my office as it wings it's way from attorney to attorney, in search of just the right language that will prompt agreement, signatures and - after far, FAR too long - action. It makes a "whooshing" sound as it zips by.

I remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached. Why? Because I gave my word to you that we'd return to Charlotte's airwaves. And we will.

- One of the many increasingly important benefits to listening to WNCW is that it doesn't require you to fill up your gas tank. Granted, we come to you twice a year to ask that you help to fill the station's "fuel tank." But, when you consider the mileage you're getting for your investment in WNCW, I think you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. While actual mileage may vary, I think you'll find that WNCW can take you places where even 4-wheelers fear to tread. To paraphrase the late Freddie Mercury of Queen, "Get on your radios and ride!"

- Finally, the best ride around this Fourth of July is on WNCW. Between 8am and noon, our DJ's will spin music from artists throughout this great land...state by state, in alphabetical order. Then, starting at 2PM, WNCW will feature great American music and musicians recorded live in our own world-famous Studio B. Bluegrass from Danny Paisley & Southern Grass starts it off, followed by the traditional sounds of Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth. Then, bluegrass phenomenon The Infamous Stringdusters hit the airwaves to set off some of their own musical fireworks.

Our Independence Day afternoon celebration culminates with something near and dear to WNCW's heart...the long-awaited broadcast of John Cowan, Pat Flynn and Darrell Scott, recorded live in performance at The Foundation Performing Arts Center right here in Spindale, NC (Hub of the Known Universe) on the campus of Isothermal Community College. Minton Sparks opened the program. For those of us (and, maybe even you) who were present that February night, you know what kind of magic took place inside The Foundation. The captivating spoken word artistry of Minton Sparks took the audience on journey after vivid journey through Southern landscapes and lifescapes with just her voice, her imagination, her accompanist (John Jackson) and her purse. Then, Cowan, Scott & Flynn - all virtuosos in their own rights - performed separately and together long into the night prompting ovation after ovation from the Spindale audience.

WNCW's own Audio Engineer Extraordinaire Dennis Jones captured and mixed it all from his hideaway just backstage and Senior Producer Kim Clark had the highly-enviable task of picking the very best from an outstanding evening of performances. You'll hear the results starting at 4PM, Friday, July 4th on WNCW and WNCW.org. Indeed...what a night! And WNCW takes you there!

So, fire up the grill, turn up the radio and celebrate Independence Day with your friends at WNCW!

And as always, tune in, turn on, but - especially this coming Friday - DON'T DROP OUT!

DEW

"You Knew The Job Was Dangerous When You Took It, Fred"

That quote, from one of my favorite childhood Saturday morning cartoon heroes, Super Chicken, weaves its way throughout my days - and, all too often, my nights and weekends - as I continue to (at least) attempt to master the art of General Managership.

It may also help to explain why I've not posted since late February. To paraphrase Garrison Keillor, "It's not been a quiet week (or month and a half) in Spindale." There is much to report.

It's the weekend, though (this entry was started 4/19, before a very, busy week hit). The morning rain here in Rutherford County is starting to let up and that means there'll soon be work to do around the property. So, for the time being, I'll limit myself to one topic (with the assurance that they'll be more to come soon).

That one topic is...the 2008 Spring pledge drive.

I'll be the first to admit that I was among those who feared the nation's faltering economy, the mind-bending increase in the price of gasoline (and the effect it has on so many other facets of the cost of living) and - seriously, this has an effect on fund raisers - North Carolina's ongoing drought and associated beautiful spring weather would combine to hinder our efforts to meet our goal.

"Oh, me of little faith."

The phones rang. The online pledges came in. Volunteers, staff and food providers drove in from all over WNCW's coverage area (and in some case, from beyond). Even Mother Nature helped out by arranging for it to rain at key moments, providing us with a captive audience who - given the opportunity and responding to our invitations to become members - pledged its support.

WNCW's Spring pledge drive was a success. To those of you who called, mailed and/or pledged online via www.wncw.org, I offer - on behalf of WNCW's staff, our volunteers, your fellow members, and Isothermal Community College - my deepest appreciation. When our program hosts say "Without you, we are nothing," they really mean it. We are - and shall forever be - listener-powered public radio.

As I sat in Pledge Central during my occasional stints answering phones (or, I'm not proud to admit, snacking on the luscious array of food and gaining far too much weight), I couldn't help but recall the line from the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, It's A Wonderful Life, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings." Truly, every time a pledge room telephone rings (yes, we have the old style phones that actually ring) an angel - a WNCW supporter, in this case - give us wings. I'm certain that - somewhere - every online pledge and mailed in renewal rings a bell, also.

To all those who participated in our Spring pledge drive - listener/supporters, volunteers, restaurants, businesses who supplied tickets, books, CDs, members of WNCW's Community Advisory Board...the list could go on for pages...THANK YOU!!!!

And to WNCW's staff - who worked so hard planning and preparing for the pledge drive, put in long hours and tolerated discombobulated schedules to make it a success...I extend an equally sincere expression of appreciation. Unless you experience the monumental efforts that goes into WNCW pledge drives, or - at the very least - volunteer to answer phones and see what takes place "behind the scenes" during the drives - you simply don't know how hard WNCW's staff works to prove itself worthy of your support.

It's not enough to say that I'm blessed with an incredibly talented, dedicated and "willing-to-do-whatever-it-takes" staff. The fact is, WNCW's listener/members and other stakeholders are, too. Your support is an acknowledgment of their efforts, their talents and their dedication to bring you what we believe is some of the finest public radio programming in the nation.

The Spring 2008 pledge drive marks the "bell lap" for long-time pledge drive "trail bosses" Tom & Gail Watts who - along with their Scottish Terrier, Margaret (affectionately known as Maggie ) - take time from their full lives (chances are they're attending MerleFest in Wilkesboro this weekend) to oversee the operation of our twice-yearly fund drives. They have served WNCW - and you - with distinction, dedication, extraordinary patience, wisdom and an abiding love for the station. Through thick and thin, they have ensconced themselves in Studio B for long hours throughout each pledge drive (they're there every day, from before the time we open up the phones until long after we shut down and many of us head home), THEN they return afterward to assure that premiums are sent out and final details are attended to. Maggie keeps a close eye on things from her perch beside Gail and - when Nature calls - provides either Tom or Gail a moment or two to steal away outdoors, allow Maggie to attend to her business, and to confirm that - despite the nearly all-consuming activities inside Pledge Central - there is life outside the pledge drive.

Tom, Gail and Maggie must hear phones ringing in their sleep for months after each pledge drive.

It has been both a pleasure and an honor to not only work beside Tom and Gail (and Maggie), but to get to know them personally. They are two very special human beings (and one canine) who have led - and continue to lead - full, rich lives and deeply appreciate both the grandeur and subtleties of life. Sitting and chatting with either of them is an affirmation of lives fully lived and - undoubtedly - with quite a lot of living ahead. My respect for them is immense. My gratitude, even larger.

Just within my first year at WNCW, Tom, Gail and even Maggie have imparted to me enough wisdom, knowledge and sage advice to be included among my small, select group of mentors who hold court in my mind (home to the Great Hall of Mentors, which resembles the inside of the Supreme Court, actually) and to whom I go when seeking answers to the most difficult questions that pop up daily in the corner office.

What would Tom & Gail do (WWT&GD)? How would Maggie handle this (HWMHT)?

Maggie's answer is usually, "Take a nap." Oh, dear Maggie...if only I could.

This fall's pledge drive will be Tom, Gail and Maggie's last in their role as Head Honchos, though I suspect they'll lend a hand answering phones a time or two beyond their "retirement" date (at least, I hope so). So, if you want to experience a pledge drive, meet Tom & Gail & Maggie (believe me, you won't soon forget them) and help out the best radio station on Planet Earth (and beyond) - all in one fell swoop - join us in October. You, too, can earn your wings.

Thank you, Tom. Thank you, Gail. Thank you, Maggie. You embody the spirit of service to WNCW and its audience. We look forward to the fall and to your return. Enjoy MerleFest!

Last, but certainly not least, the Spring 2008 pledge drive actually was the "final go-round" for a member of WNCW's staff. Faith Davis, Coordinator of Audience Support and Member Services, departs these hallowed halls at the end of this month. Faith has provided assistance and support to WNCW members, planned and helped coordinate pledge drives and special events, assisted Dennis Jones with preparations for live performances in Studio B, served as WNCW's unofficial "artistic director" - creating artwork, photographs and graphic designs for everything from advertisements to WNCW t-shirts - and fulfilled quite a few other duties during her tenure. She has done so with dedication, enthusiasm and a spirit of creativity that has served WNCW, its members and Isothermal Community College quite well. She will be missed.

Life has presented Faith with a new calling - one for which I and her colleagues have great respect - and she has decided to answer and fully embrace it. We at WNCW express our deep appreciation and best wishes to Faith and her family. Fair sailing, Faith!

There's so much more to tell. I will try to catch up with all that's happening. My stepson is visiting from Austin (his first visit to NC), so today - at least - won't be the day I accomplish that feat.

Again, thank you all for your pledges of support to WNCW. I tend to get a bit emotional when I speak of how important this station is - not just to me, but to other people's lives and to the perpetuation of public radio in general. That's one reason I tend to shy away from being on the air. I choke up pretty easily. Public radio has been my life and WNCW embodies the spirit of it so truly...and yet, there's so much more to do! So - indeed - every time a pledge phone rings, I feel there really is an angel on the other end of the line.

And - along with WNCW's members and staff - Tom, Gail, Maggie and Faith have earned their wings as well.

Thank you all! WITHOUT YOU, WE ARE NOTHING!

And, yeah, Fred...we knew the job was dangerous when we took it. We also knew the job was one of the most rewarding in public radio. The 2008 Spring pledge drive is proof.

Tune in. Turn on. But don't drop out.

This is WNCW Spindale.

DEW

Living and Broadcasting In 3/4 Time

There was a time in my career with public radio when a staff could count on certain times of the year being “slower” than others. Summer, perhaps. Or just prior to – or even after – the winter holiday season.

Chances are, those days are long gone for most public radio stations. I can assure you there’s no such thing as a “slow” season at WNCW. If our work days were displayed as a musical score, most pages would be marked Allegro (fast & lively), Agitato (agitated) Appassionato (passionately), Frescamente (vigorously), and – occasionally – Furiouso (that one is pretty obvious).

As I look back on my first year as WNCW’s General Manager (March 1 will be my anniversary), I see no Largo (slow & stately), no Adagio (slow), or Calmato (tranquil).

What I’d give to see just an occasional Andante (walking pace) at the top of the page. Even a Moderato! But, as Dave Kester (WNCW’s Program/Operations Director) is fond of pointing out as I have these delusions of a slightly less-hectic pace, “That ain’t gonna happen.”

The reality is that the WNCW you hear on your radio or computer speakers is considerably larger than the size of our staff. What you hear is the result of long hours, passionate dedication, and a deep, abiding love not only for WNCW and its programming, but for the concept of WNCW. This emanates from the station’s listeners, members, volunteers, and – as I see every day – from WNCW’s staff.

One of my many mentors (David Penn) schooled me in a supervisory technique known as MBWA…Management By Walking Around. The gist of MBWA is that the most effective way for a manager to know what’s going on is by maintaining a presence in the hallways and offices.

So, let’s walk around (Andante, please) WNCW.

There’s Roger Crawford, WNCW’s Business Manager (often referred to as “Dana’s Brain”), on the phone massaging a purchase through the intricate and occasionally frustrating State of North Carolina purchasing procedures. Behind him sits Kit Strecker assisting with Membership and - no doubt – giving some thought to what music she’ll be programming that evening. Joe Kendrick has little time to recover from his early morning Music Mix shift as he combs through e-mail generated from the previous day’s What It Is feature while listening to the work of a recent ARC Overnite host. Martin Anderson is on the air producing another hand-crafted mid-day Music Mix from WNCW’s control room. Crystal Scruggs is on the phone working out details with one of the many music venues listed on WNCW daily music calendar. Producer Kim Clark, having already delivered regional news headlines to our morning drive time listeners, is in our smaller production room preparing this week’s Local Color. Roland Dierauf has just arrived and is pulling music from WNCW’s vast CD library for his upcoming afternoon Music Mix (and no doubt eyeing what new jazz has arrived for Saturday morning’s Jazz & Beyond). Diane Dezio is on the phone arranging to send out a WNCW duffle bag to a new member (Thank you!) and busily tapping away on her computer keyboard entering information into our database. Next door, Faith Davis is designing another classic WNCW t-shirt and meticulously planning our upcoming Spring pledge drive (March 30-April 5, in case you hadn’t heard). Down the hall, in WNCW’s world-renowned Studio B, Dennis Jones has just finished mixing another outstanding live music performance. Time for a rest? No…even as the musicians who were just on-the-air pull away from the parking lot, Dennis is already returning to mix another past performance for inclusion on WNCW’s annual Crowd Around The Mic CD (available exclusively to members of WNCW, mind you). Where Dennis finds the time and strength to also host Goin’ Across The Mountain and The Gospel Truth, no one knows. Dave Kester sits in another production studio recording voiceovers for this week’s Tower of Song, before previewing a new program from pianist & humorist the Reverend Billy C. Wurtz. Development Director Kate Barkschat sits in her office balancing the handset of her office phone between her shoulder and ear as her fingers dance (Vivace, quickly and lively) about her computer keyboard as she processes a contract for a new business underwriter (Thank you!).

Eventually, Steve Francis will appear to take the helm of The World and World Café and, later, Sander Morrison will take the baton from Steve and steer the bow of the S.S. WNCW into the sunset, toward ARC Overnite and onward to the horizon of another broadcast day.

These are the people who populate WNCW’s “hallowed” halls throughout the week. The part-time, fill-in, weekend and student program hosts, volunteers and Isothermal Community College support staff could – and most likely will – populate a future exploration from this keyboard. Like you, without them we’d be nothing.

WNCW is not unlike the ducks that glide seemingly effortlessly across the small, scenic lake that welcomes visitors to the campus of our home, Isothermal Community College here in Spindale. The programming you hear on our airwaves and via the Internet seems to pour smoothly and easily from our studios (Suave, gentle and smooth). It’s what you’ve come to expect from WNCW. It’s what we do…we’re professionals.

It’s not nearly as easy as it sounds, though. Beneath the surface (somewhere behind your radio or computer), WNCW’s dedicated staff paddles vigorously (Presto, very fast) to live up to not only the expectations of you… our valued listeners and members…but, also, to our own expectations and objectives. For you see, we love what we do. It’s hard work – brutally exhausting, at times – but this is not a “normal” radio station.

This is WNCW Spindale.

I’m hopeful you’ll take this into consideration the next time you tune in to WNCW, and especially during our upcoming Spring pledge drive. The people behind WNCW don’t just come to work, punch a time clock and plod through the day. We pour ourselves into our work. Like you, we believe in this station…not only in what WNCW is, but also in what it has the potential to become (Maestoso, majestic).

Tune in. Turn on. But, don't drop out.

Please give generously to WNCW at: http://secure.publicbroadcasting.net/wncw/pledge.pledgemain or during our upcoming on-air pledge drive (March 30-April 5).

This is WNCW Spindale.

DEW