Listening Post: Dig deeper
A couple of guys on a mission
If you have only recently been thawed from cryogenic sleep you may not be aware that our Fall Fundraiser begins on Monday. But this shouldn’t come as news to most of you. Leaves are all over the yard, there’s a nip in the air most mornings, geese are flying, pumpkins are out on porches, and North Country Public Radio is asking for gifts in support of its public broadcasting mission.
“Its public broadcasting–say what?” you might ask. Mission. NCPR doesn’t see itself as part of the broadcasting industry. Show business is not our business. Digging deeper is our business: into the vital news stories of the region, into local and global arts and culture, into our identity as North Country residents and citizens. We have a mission to be good company and to dig up engaging entertainment, and we have a mission to keep you informed, to provide the context for making important decisions in your life. We take it seriously, but not, we hope, too seriously.
In order to keep digging deeper, we need the help of thousands of individuals and families who dig deep each year to fund our efforts. If you are one of those who have already given through early renewal, thank you for being our partners in this effort. The rest of you have all of next week to join in the effort.
But don’t wait until the end. We have some pretty sweet prize drawings and thank-you gifts you won’t want to miss.
Tags: listeningpost
It may be the new reality, but I hate the permanent fundraising NCPR does now- Ienjoyed the fundraisers previously- but now that fundraising is a constant, I resent it. I can understand it seems imperative, but it’s become a commercial. Realize it is no longer “we depend on contributions of our listeners” every now and again- it’s the greek chorus in the background and on the screen.
It’s too bad the fund raising calendar cannot exist independently of real-world events. Because I think most Americans feel like they just went through a wringer.
Weeks of wondering if the country was really going right over a cliff. The decision to avoid chaos came very, very late. And there’s no real solution yet, either. Just a prelude to more destructive quarreling.
I suspect many on all sides feel abandoned, abused and downright cranky. It’ll probably take a while for frayed edges to heal.
The balm of kindness may be in short supply, but we could use some about now.
Good luck on next week’s necessary task, NCPR.
I enjoyed answering phones, which I’ve done for many years, and this is the first time I’ve not been called on to come to the station, work with old friends and new, and feel like part of a big family. Last year, I thought that we’d just continue with the computer. Feeling like part of NCPR made me love the station and the wonderful people who work there even more. This is not the same. Not at all. We’ll continue to contribute, but feel more like part of a faceless crowd. Saddens me.
I don’t mind paying- I have digital subscriptions to NYTimes, local papers, etc. I just don’t want to have to hear about funding every day. I love the station, and this is a minor pout I’m having.
Sorry if my comment seemed to be directed at you, Jill. It wasn’t!
I do think the nation has gone through a certain degree of trauma that may crop up in different ways. Which makes for a slightly awkward time to put on a happy face and ask for money.
Still, it could be worse. (Worse would be having to ask for money if the nation had defaulted!)
Hi Donna. Thanks so much for helping out during past fund drives by taking calls. As more and more of the pledge drive business has gone to online giving, we were having a hard time having stuff for volunteer call-takers to do. It was getting to the point were folks might sit for a whole shift and take only one call. Not a good use of volunteer time. So we switched to a call center, reluctantly, last spring. Instead we are looking for volunteer help to package and ship the hundreds of thank-you gifts out to contributing members after the drive. Folks who did this in the spring had a good time and felt busy and useful. If you would be willing to help, drop our membership director June an e-mail ([email protected]). Thanks again for all your support. Dale Hobson, NCPR