Update on the fight to return Jazz (& more) to WYSO
Update on the fight to return Jazz (& more) to WYSO
Hello!
Welcome to this week's update of the activities of KEEP WYSO LOCAL.
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ALTERNATIVE PLEDGE DRIVE - WOW!!! - AND IT CONTINUES!!
KEEP WYSO LOCAL alternative pledges continue to arrive, reinforcing the
strength of this effort. To date, over $31,000 in pledges have been
received from individuals and families from all over the Miami Valley and
at least three states (besides Ohio).
Did you know that it's not too late to make an alternative pledge? Visit
our web site (www.keepwysolocal.org) to fill out a pledge online or call
937-767-8240 and we'll get a form out to you. Even if you were one of
those who made an early pledge to WYSO before you realized the extent of
the program cancellations and format change, it may not be too late, if
you didn't use a credit card or haven't yet mailed a check to the
station. When the station sends its pledge notice to you, simply write
"Redirected to Alternative Pledge Drive" across it and return it to the
station. Please follow that up with a visit to our web site and fill out
an online form or contact us at the number above and we'll send a form to
you. Remember, don't send money - we are only collecting pledges.
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STATION SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE FALLS SHORT
Your voices are making a difference: WYSO's just-concluded fundraising
drive fell well short of its previously-announced goal of $150,000. It
appears that the drive was at least 27% ($40,000) short of that amount,
and may have been 40% ($60,000) or more shy, depending on the accounting
methods used. Current WYSO management has never practiced an open-books
policy at this publicly-funded station, so details are lacking.
Nonetheless, it is obvious that you, as both listeners and investors in
this station, have made a resounding statement about the highly-unpopular
changes at WYSO. Smart management will now have to figure what to do to
address this income shortfall at the station. Smarter management would
stop and ask what caused the pledge drive to fall so far short. Even
smarter management would take the needed steps to keep it from happening
again. We're waiting, and we know that you are, too.
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KEEP WYSO LOCAL IS ALIVE AND WELL!!
Not only is the KEEP WYSO LOCAL alternative pledge drive continuing, so
are other activities. Plans are in progress for a variety of community
events. First up: A hearty "thank-you" bash for the volunteer on-air
hosts and behind-the-scenes staff who have helped make the station what
it * was *. Plan to come, break some bread, and talk & reminisce with
these volunteers of the past, including many from the group just
dismissed by WYSO management. Meet the faces behind the voices! Stay
tuned for dates and details!!
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LAST TUESDAY'S PROTEST - ANOTHER GROUP ADDS ITS VOICE TO CALLS FOR
CHANGE
The protest held outside WYSO on Tuesday, April 23, took an unexpected
and dramatic turn as Antioch College students joined KEEP WYSO LOCAL
supporters. After a rousing demonstration, some of the students briefly
occupied the station in a peaceful protest, chanting "You can't ignore us
forever." Police were called by station management and the students were
asked to leave the station.
(Some background: While Antioch students have also been outraged by the
recent program cancellations and the move to a talk-oriented format,
there are other important considerations for them. Antioch students are,
and have been, systematically and totally excluded from the station by
their own university, despite the fact that WYSO operates under an
educational license. A surprising number of Antioch alumni with past
WYSO student experience have gone on to significant corporate careers in
broadcasting, other media, and public policy. Despite this, the
once-strong ties to the College have been withered, the final cuts made a
couple of years ago by current station management. There are no co-op
positions, no student-hosted shows, no student-oriented shows, or even
student input to the station's Resource Board. KEEP WYSO LOCAL
recognized this early in its formation and adopted some key points
directly related to reversing this situation.)
Returning to the protest of April 23, the noisy crowd finally drew the
attention of Mr Glenn Watts, chief financial officer of Antioch
University, direct supervisor of WYSO's general manager, overseer of the
WYSO Resource Board, and one of the few known supporters of the changes
at the station. Mr Watts came outside and met with the students, who
elicited a promise from him that a meeting promptly be held on the issues
(the students should be commended for their success, as KEEP WYSO LOCAL
has repeatedly and unsuccessfully requested such a meeting).
Unfortunately, the logistics of the meeting apparently overcame the time
available to set it up, as the College's Spring Term ended this past
Friday, marking the departure of many students. Student leaders
indicated that they will again press for a meeting after their return for
Summer Term at the end of this month. We will let you know what the
students arrange.
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Ken Katowik