Central Vermont Community Radio 4/9/22 Central Vermont Community Radio 4/9/22

CVCR's Statement on the ongoing war in Ukraine

“We are dedicated to airing news and public affairs programs that go the extra mile to bring you stories about what is happening now in Ukraine and Russia, and to provide invaluable background. Democracy Now! is broadcast live at 8 am and rebroadcast at 6 pm on weekdays. Background Briefing (weekdays at 6 am), and Letters and Politics (Mondays - Thursdays at 5 pm) all feature guests who have deep insights into Eastern Europe and the roots of this conflict.
Many other locally produced and national shows throughout the CVCR broadcast week also have turned their attention to Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
We encourage you to continue to tune in for the latest. As a media outlet, dedicated to the protection of free speech, a free press, and the free exchange of ideas, we stand in solidarity with the courageous journalists inside and outside the war zone who are risking their freedom and even their lives in reporting from the front lines.”

— CVCR Board

Central Vermont Community Radio 4/3/22 Central Vermont Community Radio 4/3/22

Station Update: The Drive Is On

Station Update: We're launching the Spring On Air Drive today and check out our new spring schedule.

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

Kicking us off this morning on the "Curse of the Golden Turnip," programmer Alan LePage launched our Spring On Air Drive. Long-time listeners know Alan is a drive legend for the station, often having the phones ring off the hook.

Live programmers still welcome your calls to connect about the station, but due to covid restrictions we are not taking donations over the phone. Instead, please give directly online or by check to "CVCR" mailed to WGDR/WGDH at 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667.

We are very excited about this Drive! With listener support, we will go after our $8,000 goal in these next two weeks, April 3-16. We also have a goal to bring on 25 new-to-WGDR/WGDH donors and 5 new sustaining donors. Our CVCR board has set the extra challenge that if we attract those 5 new sustainers, they will donate an additional $500 to the Drive.

As you know, we tune Vermonters into the power of community-made radio. You’ll hear local programming that provides different perspectives and free-form music shows to entertain. National programming deepens the dialogue, alongside award winning news programs like “Democracy Now.”

Having support from individuals like you, allows us the freedom to curate the programming you have come to love and expect from WGDR/WGDH.

To encourage you to give during these next two weeks, eight local businesses and non-profits have offered goods, services, and experiences as prizes. If you give today, your name will be entered to win one of the following:

o A pair of tickets to Waking Windows festival in Winooski, May 13-14. More info on the festival at WakingWindows.com

o 2 tickets to see Anais Mitchell at Higher Ground on May 27. More info on the show at HigherGroundMusic.com

o A 3-month membership to Dave's Community Fitness in Waterbury, a $99 value.

o 2 tickets to see We Banjo 3 at the Barre Opera House on May 7. More info on the show at BarreOperaHouse.org.

o 4 tickets, a family pack, to see No Strings Marionettes at the Barre Opera House. More info on the show at BarreOperaHouse.org.

o A banner or poster from the Bread & Puppet print shop.

o A veggie gift certificate from Good Heart Farm in Worcester.

o A piece of blown glass by Burlington artist Julian Soberano

o A 5 class dance card and $60 gift certificate to the Nataraja Dance Studios in Burlington. Offering a variety of dance classes and healing services.

Thank you for your support!

Spring Schedule Changes

As you tune in this spring, you will hear some changes to our schedule. More local shows will be rebroadcast during our most listened to times of the day and some national shows will be shifted around to new spots.

You'll also hear refreshed "WGDR Music" content that helps to fill our airwaves in between show transitions and early morning spots. Our Music Department is curating new music from the last 12 months to air during these times and we hope you enjoy the new sounds.

We also updated our online schedule and archives with links to programmer websites and playlists, easier to read color themes, and more.

Later this year, as we bring on new and returning programmers, we will once again update the schedule, featuring new shows and new times. More on that in the coming weeks! Stay tuned.

We are always open to programming feedback, especially as we continue to work on the schedule. Email Station Manager, Llu Mulvaney-Stanak with your thoughts: Llu@WGDR.org.

CVCR's Statement on the ongoing War in Ukraine

"We are dedicated to airing news and public affairs programs that go the extra mile to bring you stories about what is happening now in Ukraine and Russia, and to provide invaluable background.

Democracy Now! is broadcast live at 8 am and rebroadcast at 6 pm on weekdays. Background Briefing (weekdays at 6 am), and Letters and Politics (Mondays - Thursdays at 5 pm) all feature guests who have deep insights into Eastern Europe and the roots of this conflict.

Many other locally produced and national shows throughout the CVCR broadcast week also have turned their attention to Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
We encourage you to continue to tune in for the latest.

As a media outlet, dedicated to the protection of free speech, a free press, and the free exchange of ideas, we stand in solidarity with the courageous journalists inside and outside the war zone who are risking their freedom and even their lives in reporting from the front lines."

WGDR & WGDH Renewed by the FCC

Over the last few years, every single radio station in the United States had to file for a renewal of their license with the FCC. It is a process to ensure stations are fulfilling their requirements both technically and to the communities where they broadcast. Even though we just completed the station transfer in 2021, WGDR and WGDH were both up for renewal.

Well, we just passed with flying colors, as did many other of Vermont's community stations! Congrats to all.

As always, thanks for listening!

In great gratitude,

The staff, programmers, and board of Central Vermont Community Radio

WGDR/WGDH broadcasts at 91.1 FM in the greater Plainfield area, 91.7 FM in the hollows and hills of Hardwick and beyond, and at WGDR.org to the whole world. Our studio is located at the Eliot Pratt Center on Goddard College campus at 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667.

Follow us on social media at on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at @WGDRWGDHVT

Central Vermont Community Radio 3/2/22 Central Vermont Community Radio 3/2/22

Station Update: Our transmitter is funded and a celebration of Ken Feld on 3/15.

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

We'll start this station update email with a deep and heartfelt, THANK YOU. Nearly 80 donors stepped up to help us fund our new transmitter for WGDR. This outpouring of support, in our time of need, has humbled us and once again show that the true power of community radio, are you, the community. A special thanks to the Vermont Community Foundation for their $2,500 emergency grant that put us over the top and is helping us pay the engineering bills to get us all squared away with the new gear.

Community Radio Celebration of Programmer Ken Feld

About a month ago, long time programmer Ken Feld has passed away. His long running music show, “The Lost Highway” aired Tuesdays, 2-4pm. In the weeks since we have aired special programming in Ken’s honor. On March 8, Bill Hahn will do a special “Lost Highway” tribute show and on March 15 John Foster and Dave Tucker will host a live celebration show from 2-4pm, with music and will take your calls in the studio. We especially want to thank Ken's family for directing donations in Ken's honor toward our transmitter fund.

A memorial for Ken will be held in August, learn more about his life in his Times Argus obituary.

We also saved Ken's last live show for "anytime" listening on our special programming archive.

Spring On Air Drive

Toward the end of March, our programmers will take to the air to launch our Spring On Air Drive. Programmers have new and fun things to engage listeners in this important annual FUNdraiser. We've launched a new On Air Drive website which will be updated in real time with our progress, with donor names, and words of support for the station. We're bringing back incentives to thank you for giving, including drawings for tickets to see Anais Mitchell at Higher Ground in May and more.

In great gratitude,

The staff, programmers, and board of Central Vermont Community Radio

Follow us on social media at on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at @WGDRWGDHVT

Central Vermont Community Radio 1/26/22 Central Vermont Community Radio 1/26/22

Station Update: We need a new transmitter for WGDR.

Station Update: The WGDR transmitter died and we have 10 days to get back on the air with a new one. We can do this with your help!

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

Warm greetings from very cold central and northern Vermont. The temperature today is a balmy 11 degrees outside the studio, but sunny!

Late last week, our transmitter at WGDR in Plainfield broke. It was over 15 years old! This took our 91.1 FM signal from 960 watts down to just 30 watts for listeners in this area.

The good news is that we will be back up to full power shortly with a new transmitter. This new gear will also save us money in the long run, by replacing other very old broadcast gear at WGDR.

The last few days are a great example of fantastic teamwork at the station. Thanks to our new engineer, our volunteer tech team at the station, and our board and staff, we went from a broken transmitter on Friday to a brand new one ready to go within a week!

In short, we were ready for this emergency because of the months of planning so many have put into making this station successful. This is a proud moment for the station. I doubt many stations could do what our 8-month old community organization did--we weathered this smoothly and without having to go off the air.

That said, a new transmitter will cost us about $7,500.

This is a large expense we were not expecting for 2022, especially this early in the year. It represents 10% of our total operating budget for the year.

If you are able, we are welcoming donations to help us fund the new transmitter at WGDR.org/donate or by check, made out to "CVCR" and mailed to the station at WGDR, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plainfield, VT, 05667. We are also seeking emergency grant support and other leads for funding, but nothing is a guarantee yet.

As always, we so appreciate all our listeners and supporters, locally and from afar. You are a critical part of our success, every single day. Thank you!

If you have questions or ideas for other resources that can help us with this extra large expense, please reach out to me.

In great gratitude,

Llu Mulvaney-Stanak

Station Manager, WGDR/WGDH

Llu@WGDR.org

802-276-0365

Follow us on social media at on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at @WGDRWGDHVT

Central Vermont Community Radio 12/31/21 Central Vermont Community Radio 12/31/21

Station Update: Thanks

Station Update: Thanks for helping us thrive in our first 6 months of community ownership!

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

2021 was our biggest year as a station since, well 1973, when we flipped on the on air light for the very first time. Achieving independence from Goddard College made us the largest community radio station in Vermont. We are now one of the few former college stations in the country that succeeded in shifting to community ownership.

Through the hard work and dedication of our founding board and many volunteers we:

Seamlessly remained on the air during this transition.
Achieved 501c3 nonprofit status with the IRS.
Raised $47,000 from hundreds of donors since the summer transition.
Retained our 30 locally made programs, including 17 that broadcast live weekly safely from the studio and 5 that air on the Pacifica Network, bringing the sound of Vermont to the nation.
Attracted 22 businesses and nonprofits as underwriters--many are new to the station.
Hired our first station position, a part-time Station Manager.

This all was possible because of donors and supporters like you.

As we prepare to turn the page to a new year, we wanted to simply say, thank you.

In great gratitude,

The staff, programmers, and board of Central Vermont Community Radio

Follow us on social media at on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at @WGDRWGDHVT

Central Vermont Community Radio 11/20/21 Central Vermont Community Radio 11/20/21

Station Update: Larry Gordon Tribute, our new station manager, and more.

Station update: A tribute to Larry Gordon, a new station manager and non-profit status.

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

It's been a few months since our last update and we have so much to update you on from the station, so let's get to it.

Community Radio Celebration of Larry Gordon

Earlier this month, beloved musician and Vermont community activist Larry Gordon passed away after a bike accident. As tributes by friends, family, colleagues, and fellow musicians amplified, WGDR/WGDH provided a platform for them to sing out across Vermont, live on the air. Hosted by Joseph Gainza, with board operation by Carl Etnier, the show featured friends of Larry’s telling stories and the music of Village Harmony. You can listen to this show anytime on our new special programming archive here. This show was a beautiful example of the power of community radio, thank you to the hundreds and hundreds of you who tuned in.

Meet Our New Station Manager

Six months into its independence as a community-owned radio station, WGDR/WGDH has hired a new Station Manager, Llu Mulvaney-Stanak. This role will oversee all aspects of the station, as well as provide key leadership for CVCR as a nonprofit. "The Board of Central Vermont Community Radio is thrilled to start working with Llu in their newly added capacity as station manager at WGDR,” said Mark Michaelis, Chair of the CVCR Board. “Llu's extensive experience in both the nonprofit and radio world is a unique combination that's rare to find, and one that will serve our listeners well as we start another new chapter in WGDR's long history. We couldn't be more excited about WGDR's future with Llu at the helm!”

Remember WGDR/WGDH in your end of year giving.

As the year comes to a close, we are filled with even more WGDR-atitude as we thank the hundreds of donors, especially our many sustaining supporters, who have helped us meet every fundraising goal so far this year. You kept us on the air this spring, you ensured a smooth ownership transition this summer, and you continue to keep us going every month, thank you!

We also have big news, we achieved our IRS 501(c)3 non-profit status this fall--in record time!

Please remember us in your end of the year giving online now or by check, made out to "CVCR" and mail it to WGDR, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667. Consider making your gift recurring monthly and keep your impact happening all year long!

Donate to WGDR/WGDH Today!

WGDR/WGDH's Underwriting Support Grows

22 area businesses and organizations now support the station through air mentions. Learn how you can underwrite the station today and please support those who support WGDR/WGDH!

8 Generations, Plainfield Co-op, First Step Print Shop, Noyle Johnson Group, Onion River Animal Hospital, Guitar Sam, DDY Design, Sarah Brunkhorst (designer), Onion River Outdoors, Hardwick Community TV, East Hill Tree Farm, West Barnet Woodworks, Bear Pond Books, Lost Nation Brewing, Washington Electric Co-op, Rabble Rouser, Green Mountain Crossfit, VSECU, Woodbury Mountain Toys, Buch Spieler Records.

In great gratitude,

The staff, programmers, and board of Central Vermont Community Radio

Follow us on social media at @WGDRWGDHVT.

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