Getting WGDH Back On the Air

July 25, 2024 -

The CVCR Board has authorized the immediate purchase of a new audio processor to get WGDH, Hardwick back on the air. It is the fastest solution to get back on and, for $3,500, what we can afford to fundraise for on top of our existing fundraising commitments for the FY24 budget. 

We anticipate the gear to arrive in Vermont in a week and to be back on the air shortly afterward. Further upgrades to WGDH will be considered by the board at a later date.

The broadcast shed in Wolcott is enduring much hotter and for much longer heat during both the summers and shoulder seasons than was expected when it was built in 2010. The infrastructure Goddard created was only concerned with the winter and keeping the shed warm, not cooled in the summer. In order to last its full expected lifespan of 20 or more years, broadcast gear like audio processors and transmitters must be kept at 75 degrees or cooler at all times. Since taking on ownership of WGDH, we’ve monitored frequent long spans of 90 degrees or hotter in the shed, at times for weeks. This has put a constant stress on the gear up there and the result is literal burn out of the gear. This is what happened to the audio processor, that was only 14 years old. Addressing this kind of impact from the climate crisis and how to be more resilient for it is part of what the CVCR board is considering as next steps for WGDH’s future.

For now, we are fundraising toward the cost of that processor ($3,500), as well as any increased and unplanned FY24 operating costs for WGDR due to the sale of campus via the CVCR Future Fund. One-time gifts can be made here: https://givebutter.com/CVCRFutureFund 

We are very aware of the impact of flooding in our listening area this month and also larger donor fatigue from our long-time donors, as we have yet another fundraising request coming from the station. This is why we are specifically seeking only one-time gifts from those who have the means or who will be new donors to the station. We are working on finding other, emergency funding for this unexpected cost, from other sources as well. We always appreciate any support folks can give, especially for this unplanned urgent need.

Flood Updates & Help

This post will be updated frequently. Last update, Wednesday, July 24. We are slowing our updates, as communities have started to get a handle on volunteer needs. The most important thing is documenting your damage and reporting it to the state, so FEMA disaster can be declared, opening those funds (as limited and frustrating as they can be).

State Flood Recovery Centers

The state is opening four flood recovery centers this week in Barre, Hinesburg, Lydonville, and Plainfield. Centers will be open 9:30am to 6pm during the following days:

• Barre: Mondays and Fridays - Barre Municipal Auditorium, 16 Auditorium Hill, Barre, VT

• Plainfield: Wednesdays and Sundays - Plainfield Health Center, 157 Towne Ave, Plainfield, VT

• Lyndonville: Tuesdays and Saturdays - Vermont State University, Grey House, 180 Vail Drive, Lyndonville, VT

• Hinesburg: Thursdays - Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg, VT

The centers will offer snacks and water from the Red Cross, cleaning kits, assistance finding recovery resources, mental health services, and basic medical services.

Free Flood Recovery Workshops for Businesses and Organizations

Next week, CVEDC launches a six part flood recovery workshop series for business owners and service providers. These free workshops are open to all but registration is required.

We’ve collected together topics that you’ve asked about most and gone to the experts who helped us best at CVEDC. These are complex topics and we appreciate the guidance of professionals and the conversation of the community in flood recovery. Register now at centralvermont.org/flood to meet with Josh Schwartz next Monday July 29 and Brian Lewis next Tuesday July 30.

More workshops from Efficiency Vermont and experts in data collection, mutual aid, social media during disaster response will be announced next week as dates are finalized.

Area Mutual Aid & Shelters

• There is a lot of organizing happening in Plainfield, please scroll down for their own section of information on this blog post.

• NEK Organizing has a mutual aid spreadsheet for NEK towns to directly offer help to locals. Vist: https://nekorganizing.org/2024-flood-recovery/. More info on them can be found at https://www.instagram.com/nekorganizing/ or https://nekorganizing.org/

• Barre Up is coordinating volunteers daily starting at 10am and until about 4pm on the front lawn of the Aldrich Public Library. Food, clothing, water, and hygiene supply distribution is at the Rainbow Bridge Community Center, on Main Street across from Exile on Main Street. To get OR give help, please email info@barreup.org or call us at 802.227.2536.

• Area Shelters have opened at the Barre Auditorium (Red Cross and pet friendly), 16 Auditorium Hill, will be open at least until July 26. and Williamstown Middle/High school, 120 Hebert Rd. Please note the St. Johnsbury School shelter closed on Friday due to lack of need. The American Red Cross opened a third regional disaster shelter in Lyndonville at the Lyndonville Fire Department (316 Main St.) on Friday, July 12 in the afternoon. Pets are welcome.

• Individuals evacuating to a Red Cross shelter should bring essential items for each member of their family, including: Prescription and emergency medications, Foods that meet special dietary requirements, Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort item, Chargers for any electronic devices, Books, games and other forms of entertainment.

• Barre Up, a flood recovery organization that formed after last year’s flood, is activated in Barre and providing support in the North End of the city at the Dollar General parking lot.

• The Hardwick Emergency Supply and Support Center will be open for the next week from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM and is located in the Hardwick Senior Center at 56 High St, Hardwick, adjacent to the police station. DONATIONS NEEDED: dehumidifiers, fans, shop vacs, and sump pumps. If you have some to give or share, please drop them off at the Senior Center during open hours. Alternatively, you can call 802-441-3301 or email hardwickneighbors@gmail.com, and we can arrange a pick-up or drop-off.

• The Civic Standard has a “Small Support Fund” that started in last year’s floods to help local folks with fiscal needs of all kinds. If you or someone you know is in need, email them at thecivicstandard@gmail.com or stop by their building at 42 Main Street in Hardwick.

• More info on how to help smaller NEK town recovery is at the NEK Organizing Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/nekorganizing/. Info on this org can be found at: https://nekorganizing.org/

• Marshfield folks, if you need help the Marshfield General Store has this mutual aid form to fill out.

• The United Way of Lamoille County is organizing volunteers. Info on their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/uwlamoille/

• In the Northeast Kingdom, the Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort (KURRVE) has information about local mutual aid groups and a spreadsheet for needs and offers of help. More info at their website at: https://nekprosper.org/get-involved/flood-recovery-resources/

• Central Vermont Canine Recovery shares the following: "We're seeing tons of posts for missing, lost, found, and stray dogs from the flooding last night. WE WANT TO HELP! Please reach out to us if you have seen a lost dog, have missing dogs, etc.

  For those of you that want to help/volunteer please reach out to us. This is going to take a team!"

• Please note that WGDR/WGDH is a non-commercial station, we cannot promote fundraising for any other entity or individual (GoFundMe). It is an FCC rule, even in times of emergency. There are many GoFundMe sites popping up and being posted in community Facebook groups and other locations to directly help folks that way.

• If you need help cleaning up, call the state’s Crisis Cleanup line at 802-242-2054.

• If you want to help volunteer, sign up at Vermont.gov/volunteer or find a local town coordinate effort.

• If you want to donate to flood recovery, you can call 888-653-7715 or email donations@vermont.gov or find one of the many GoFundMe individual support sites.

Plainfield Response & Recovery

From the Town of Plainfield:

There are 3 places that anyone affected by the flood should register:

1. 211- Call 211 to log your damage with the state and FEMA.

2. Crisis Cleaning: If you have damage that needs mucking, pumping, and cleaning you need to register for help by calling the Vermont Crisis Cleaning Hotline at 802-242-2054

3. Red Cross: Call 1-800-RedCross to get registered. They have case management, financial assistance, and more for those affected by the floods.

   We now have a resource website, please check it out for even more updates and ways to help: https://sites.google.com/view/plainfieldfloodresponse

   Volunteers: WE NEED MUCKERS!

   New assessments in town have given us the green light to begin to do more work on places that we haven;t been able to muck and clean. So while we have some organizational work crews out tomorrow, we could also use 40 muckers Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to help at houses as their capacity builds over the week and into the weekend. So if you have time, please come down to the Opera House. We’ll be here to orient new volunteers at 10am, but can send you out anytime between 10-4.

   Showers

   Those who are still without water, we have access to showers for you if you need. Contact us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com or 802-227-2660 for specifics or you can stop by the Opera House after 10am for that information.

   Donations

   We are in need of a food coordinator. If you would like to help us coordinate the drop off of food for the lawn and prepared meals, please email us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com

   This is the list of our most current needs from the Methodist Church Donation Center. You can drop off donations from 12-6pm.

   Thank you so much to everyone that has donated so far. We are PAUSING clothing and hygiene donations. The basement is full! We will post when and if we are ready to receive more. Hold on to the items because this will be a long road to recovery.

   • Canned Food

   • Batteries

   • Can Openers

   • Steamed Microwavable Rice (no flavors!)

   • Microwavable Food (but not frozen)

   • Gift Cards or Prepaid Visa cards

   • Large Plastic Totes with Lids

   • Contractor Bags

   • 2xl and 3xl t shirts

   • Paper towels

   • Towels

   • Ice

   • Granola Bars

   • Small Individual Pre-Packaged Snacks (nuts, chips, etc)

   • Juice Boxes

   • Gatorade

   • Water

   • Fresh Fruit (clementines, bananas, apples)

   If you are in need of items we currently have: clothing (adult and children), toiletries, non perishable food (incl gluten free), pet food, bedding & towels, shoes & socks, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, paper plates, toilet paper, paper towels, housewares, cleaning totes w/ brushes, trash bags, maps, etc.

   Registering your needs

   One Important note: there are 2 places that anyone affected by the flood should register:

   211- Call 211 to log your damage with the state and FEMA.

   Crisis Cleaning: If you have damage that needs mucking, pumping, cleaning you need to register for help by calling Vermont Crisis Cleaning Hotline at 802-242-2054

   Assessments/Inspections

   Starting today we will have assessors from several state agencies and charitable groups in town making assessments of homes. These include from the State Fire Marshal, Electrical Inspector from Vermont Fire Safety, Red Cross, and others. These groups will be doing individual assessment and so some homeowners/renters may have to have several conversations to get into the various systems. We know this will be frustrating, but we are told that this is the way it needs to be processed. In the coming weeks it is likely that FEMA will also be doing assessments.

   Work Crews

   Work crews from larger charitable groups who have experience in disaster response are beginning to arrive in town. Their capacity will be ramping up through the week and into the weekend. You will likely see their vans around town as crews from Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Mennonite Disaster Relief, Team Rubicron and Red Cross start working with our neighbors.

   Veterinary Care

   The Mitzvah Fund of Vermont is offering veterinary care for animals stressed by the flooding. They can help replace lost meds and provide pet food. Applications are online at www.themitvahfund.org

   Porta Potties and Water

   There are porta potties and water in a few locations in town including:

   Corner of Mill St and Main St: Porta Potty, water and cleaning station

   Corner of Mill St and Brook: Porta Potty and water

   Creamery St: Mobile water station

   Town Parking lot across from Opera House: Porta Potty

   Contact Info

   If you want to call or email Plainfield Flood Recovery Coordinators, please email us at plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com and call us at 802-227-2660 also at https://sites.google.com/view/plainfieldfloodresponse

4. The Plainfield People (VT) Facebook group has many postings of town folks offering free food, places to charge devices, and even spare rooms to stay in. This group is also posting items found washed up down river of Plainfield - photos, instruments, and all kinds of things have been found. They are being brought to the stone wall at the Stone Church in Plainfield for folks to try and recover personal items of meaning. They ask that folks keep an eye out while cleaning up and look for these types of things down river, in hopes that small acts of joy like this can lift spirits. Connect on Facebook.

5. The Plainfield Opera House is gathering volunteers, offering resources, and more daily from 10am-4pm for at least the next number of days. The Town of Plainfield Emergency Operations Center can be reached at 802 322 5019. The Town Clerk’s office number is 802 454 8461.

6. This week, the Cutler Library in Plainfield will be open outside of normal operating hours from 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday and Monday. The library is a cool, calm place where you can access computers, laptops, iPads, high-speed WiFi, and a printer. And don't underestimate the power of a good book when going through a stressful situation.

   You may also use the library's computers or phone to contact 211 to report flood damage.

   From the librarians: “The library is also here for those who just need a hug or someone to talk to. If you can't access the library but need support in some way, please don't hesitate to email or phone us during open hours. We love you and will do our best to help you in any way needed.” info@cutlerlibrary.org & 802.454.8504

7. Need help clearing mud/silt clearing/driveway repair/debris removal in Plainfield and Barre area? Dan Caddy on the Plainfield People FB group has offered help all next week (July 15-20) for FREE. If you need assistance clearing your driveway/parking area, driveway washouts filled/graded, debris moved, or other things that need equipment to make your property/home accessible please post here with the below info: 1. Description of what is needed 2. Address 3. Accessible by road or not

   4. Please add pictures. Post your needs on the FB thread of the post in the group here or search “Plainfield People” for the group on FB.

8. Plainfield is accepting donations of good usable household items, clean clothing and personal hygiene products for the numerous folks who lost their homes and belongings in this week’s flood. Donation center set up at Grace United Methodist Church open from noon-6pm every day this week.
   Contact Plainfield recovery coordinators: plainfieldfloodresponse@gmail.com
   802-227-2660.

Road Outages & Area Info

• Road outage updates via VT 511.

• You can sign up for alerts from the state at vtalert.gov.

• It will be hot and you will be tempted to cool off in rivers or area ponds or lakes. Please do not swim! The flood waters contain all sorts of toxins and the waterways need time to clear from that.

To Seek Help, Stay Safe & Report Damage

• To get help, report damage, resources and other services, call Vermont 2-1-1 or visit vermont211.org. 211 is NOT for emergencies, please call 911. Reporting damage is critical for the state to get federal relief funding. Here are links to the business damage form and the residential damage form.

• Mental health support. If you need to talk to someone you can access Starting Over Strong Vermont by calling 211. You can also call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which will connect you to someone locally.

• For mental health support, call 9-8-8, or call or text the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

• Flood safety information in multiple languages at vem.vermont.gov/preparedness/floods.

We will provide more updates as we collect them.

Stay steady everyone. We are here for each other.

WGDR’s Future On Campus

Update: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

In the midst of the flooding impact in our area in these last few days, we’ve also had our own big headlines at the station. The sale of the Goddard campus was put back out for bid late last week and we are now once again awaiting a new owner and timeline. WGDH, Hardwick also was knocked off the air by a broadcast gear failure. Here is a bit more on each of those issues.

What’s up with WGDR’s future on campus?

At this point in the process of the sale of campus, we have no viable leases going forward. However, we have no reason not to expect a new buyer won’t negotiate a new lease with us and help us stay put. 

When the last potential buyer was closing in on the sale, we were preparing for trying to buy as much time as possible with a temporary lease and then work out what it would take to move the station, if we had to. Through this process, we are clear that moving a radio station would be a significant undertaking, perhaps bigger than taking on community ownership. We have used the last many weeks to explore all our options, including if we had to move, what it would take, and the cost. A small CVCR Future committee has been working on this since June.

Even with a new buyer in the mix, there are still many unknowns that we are trying to work through and we are doing our best to be responsive to the facts we have when we have them. 

What would a move of the station mean?

• Moving the WGDR antenna off campus to a new tower. This could significantly increase listener broadcast reach. This requires FCC approval and takes at least 4-6 months to process. Moving an antenna can only be done at certain times of the year and there is a very small area in which we can legally move it. The one-time cost to move the antenna could be at least $60K or more if we need to put up our own tower somewhere else.

• Moving the studio location. A new location would bring many wonderful possibilities for the station’s future. However, the one-time cost of the move is significant, estimated to be at least $125K.

• New locations would significantly increase our annual budget. We will likely need to downsize our space and would take on increased and new utility and rent costs. We project that could be an additional $75K on top of our existing $100K current budget.  

• By design, with the last Goddard administration, our rent was way under the market rate. We pay just $4/sq and the average is $15/sq. 

• Moving anywhere else will increase our rent, add rent of a new tower location, and add full utilities for both the station and a tower location for operation. 

• While we are hopeful for future community-minded partnerships with other location landlords, we can’t count on that.

Ok, then what’s up with WGDH?

Separate from the situation on campus and the recent flooding, WGDH’s audio processor died on July 12. This is one of three key pieces of gear that broadcast our signal from the station (the other gear is a transmitter and exciter). We are working hard to assess the right investment to make in replacing the gear and better upfitting the station shed to prevent gear from literally frying out. Climate change over the last 14 years of WGDH’s time on the air has made the broadcast shed experience extreme heat for long stretches of time. This, and the age of the gear, is part of what led to the gear frying - and the other gear is just as susceptible to heat failure. To replace just the processor would cost around $3,500. To update all the broadcast gear would cost closer to $15,000. To make the shed climate resilient with a heat pump to keep the gear protected and allow it to last 20 years or more, would cost $9,000. This is all why we are trying to consider what is the best investment to make for WGDH’s future and avoid more costs in the long term. We will have an update on WGDH as soon as the board makes this decision.

Could we even move WGDR? Could we even upgrade WGDH due to the costs?

WGDR and WGDH are built on a history of resilience. We are for the community and of the community. Together, we can take on any challenge - we have and we will again if a move is needed.

We are also still working hard to right-size our annual budget and finish raising what it will cost just to run the station in 2024. For an organization just three years old, we’ve come through a number of pricy challenges already - a WGDR transmitter replacement in 2022 for $11K, recovery from covid, and the fundraising pitfalls we had to absorb from last year’s flooding. We are trying to be very mindful of not burning out our current donors. To adjust for new expenses to operate WGDR under new campus ownership and to address WGDH’s needs, we are going to have to find new funding from new donors, underwriters, and others, and we need help doing that.

As we move forward, we are committed to:

• Being transparent and honest with the community about what we know, when we know it, including board decisions on these matters and the costs associated with those decision.

• Engaging the community - at the station and with listeners - as partners in this project for the future needs and wants of the station, to generate ideas for how we can do this, and to connect us to resources to make it all happen.

• Building a plan (plans?!) and enacting them in smart, phased ways.

• Making it happen, together. 

What can our supporters do right now?

• Help share this update of what is happening at the station; direct folks with ideas and resources directly to us.

• Help us increase our current operating and fundraising resources, by:

• Helping the Board Search Committee identify possible new board members for end-of-the-year openings. We especially need folks with fundraising and organizational change experience. Potential candidate ideas can be sent to Llu@WGDR.org who will pass them onto the board.

• Introducing us to friendly leads for new underwriters and sponsors in the business and nonprofit community.

• Introducing us to community-minded philanthropic Vermonters who’d invest in the move and our future success.

• Consider giving a one-time gift to help build the start of our CVCR Future Fund. These are one-time donations that would be money we can spend on capital costs like broadcast gear upgrades at WGDH (and WGDR), help us meet the increased cost in rent and utilities under new ownership at Pratt, or for other unplanned needs this year.

We will continue to share more information on the air and our website as this all unfolds. You can sign up for email updates from the station on the website. To reach out with resources to help or actionable ideas on the move, contact Station Manager, Llu Mulvaney-Stanak, at Llu@WGDR.org or call the station office at 802-276-0365.

Thank you all for listening and for your support of the station now and through this process.

Summer Haps

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Friends of WGDR/WGDH -

Happy Solstice! We hope those of you in Vermont and elsewhere under this heat dome many in the country are stuck under. This is going to be a busy summer at the station, and we'll have more to share about what that entails, soon. For now, we've got a few updates from the last few months, including some programming changes, to catch you up on.

Welcome New Programmers, See You Again Soon to Some Departing

In the coming weeks, you will hear four new live programmers coming on the air during some otherwise syndicated filled slots:

• Natascha Deininger - music and interviews with local folks talking about their favorite albums, sort of like Desert Island Discs (check out the BBC podcast if you haven't heard it).
• Mac Dates - a metal and more music show
• Bill Nowlan - a range of music focusing on the lyrics of the tunes
• Jason Hagler - RPM, ambient, and spacey music

You may have caught these folks training live on the air. Thanks to our team of trainers helping these folks join the team!

By the end of the summer, the following current programmers will be signing off the air with us.

• Thomas Mattera - Styrofoam Stereo
• Merry Gangemi - Quilting Hour (part of the rotation)
• Tim Metayer - The Tim Show
• Richie Walker (Turkey Joe) - The Jive Turkey Show
• Maria Shumann - Bread & Salt
• Chris Buckridge - Predictably Unpredictable

We send these folks off with nothing but radio love and appreciation. A mix of big life things are drawing each of them away from the air, but there will always be a spot for them in the future.

A final schedule will be confirmed by the Programming Committee in July. Stay tuned!

Celebrating Excellence: First Station Awards

Earlier this year, before the spring drive and 51st party, we proudly presented our first Station Awards to honor the achievements of our dedicated programmers and volunteers. These awards were voted on by folks involved in the station as programmers and volunteers, as a way to celebrate how much extra effort folks put into the station's success. Here are the winners:

Best in Show:  "Curse of the Golden Turnip" by Alan LePage and Steven Farnham, a 30-year staple focusing on gardening and listener calls.

Niftiest Newbie: Delia Gillen hosts "Magpie in the Morning," our Monday morning, 7am live, delighting listeners with fresh content.

Vitalist Volunteer: Dave Tucker, host of "The Long and Winding Road" and key contributor, is recognized for his tireless efforts and multifaceted roles.

Thank you to all our team members for making our station a hub of creativity and excellence. Here’s to another year of outstanding programming! You can read more about this here.

Special Programming Highlights

• Jules Rabin's 100th Birthday Celebration: On "Gathering Peace," hosted by Joseph Gainza, we honored Jules Rabin's impact as an activist, baker, and community leader in Vermont. Listen here.

• WGDR History Series: Over the past few months, we aired three special shows highlighting WGDR's rich history:

  • WGDR's 51st: Archival Stories and Clips from 50 Years: Chris Buckridge and his wife, a VT Historical Society archivist, explore the archives of WGDR on the air.
  • WGDR's 51st: Birthday History - Stu Bautz & Friends: Hosted by Tonio Epstein and Alan LePage, with special guest Stu Bautz, former station manager in the 1990s, and additional guests Kirk Gardner, Dennis Darrah, Charles Rossell, and Steven Farnham.
  • WGDR's 51st: Past Station Managers' History: Tonio Epstein and Charles Rossell host past station managers Bon Kelly, Greg Hooker, Kris Gruen, and current station manager Llu Mulvaney-Stanak.

We extend a special thank you to all the 50+ donors, matching donors, and community sponsors who combined to raise $6K for our birthday weekend. Your support and generosity are deeply appreciated and make a significant impact.

Thank You to Our Underwriters and Sponsors

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our underwriters and sponsors from the past year. Also, Noyle Johnson Insurance (missing logo above). Your generous support has been instrumental in helping us continue to provide quality programming and services to our community. We encourage everyone to support those who support the station!

We're excited to be adding even more underwriters and sponsors (of our live stream) to the mix this summer.  If you're interested in becoming a new underwriter or sponsor, please contact Chris Buckridge, our coordinator, at Chris@WGDR.org. We've got custom package deals to work with any budget. You get the word out, while supporting great community radio, win/win!

Thanks for reading this latest station update and for tuning in.

Warmly,

Llu Mulvaney-Stanak, Station Manager

Llu@WGDR.org, 802-276-0365

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 for the whole world. Our studio is located at the Eliot Pratt Center at 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667.

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

Celebrating Excellence: Our First Station Awards

At the start of this year, we were thrilled to present the first-ever Station Awards, celebrating the incredible accomplishments of our programmers and volunteers. These awards were a token of our appreciation for their dedication and the high-quality content they bring to our station. The winners were selected by their peers, reflecting the respect and admiration they have earned through their hard work and talent.

With nearly 100 individuals contributing to our station's success, it was no easy task to choose the winners. We are immensely grateful to everyone who makes our station a thriving hub of creativity and passion. Here’s a look at our esteemed winners:

Best in Show: Curse of the Golden Turnip

Hosted by Alan LePage and Steven Farnham, "Curse of the Golden Turnip" is an engaging talk show focusing on gardening and listener calls. On the air for over 30 years, Alan and Steven's show captivates audiences with its unique blend of humor, storytelling, and expert gardening advice. Their chemistry and dedication have set a high bar for quality programming, earning them the well-deserved title of Best in Show.

Niftiest Newbie: Delia Gillen

Delia Gillen, the dynamic host of "Magpie in the Morning," has delighted listeners at 7am on Mondays with her morning soundtracking and stories. We’re excited she has returned to programming with us after a few year hiatus too! Delia’s ability to connect with her audience and bring a fresh energy to the station has won over listeners and colleagues alike, earning her the title of Niftiest Newbie.

Vitalist Volunteer: Dave Tucker

Dave Tucker is a cornerstone of our station, wearing many hats with unwavering dedication. As the host of "The Long and Winding Road," a Program Committee Member, Board Member, and Co-Music Director, Dave's contributions are invaluable. His tireless efforts and commitment to excellence have not only enriched our programming but have also been pivotal in steering the station towards continued success. Dave's recognition as Vitalist Volunteer is a testament to his multifaceted role and the vital energy he brings to our community.

A Heartfelt Thank You

These awards are just a small way to recognize the immense talent and hard work that our programmers and volunteers put into making our station a beacon of creativity and excellence. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Alan, Steven, Delia, Dave, and all our dedicated team members. Your passion and dedication make our station a special place for listeners and contributors alike.

Here’s to another year of outstanding programming and community spirit. Thank you for being the heart and soul of our station!

Here’s to 50 more years!

Some of the many, many partygoers at WGDR’s big 51st birthday party, May 18, 2024.

Photo by the amazing James Buck!

We were overjoyed to see so many of y’all come down to the station for the Party at the Pratt to celebrate 50 years of WGDR being on the air. Wow. We are truly humbled by the turnout - over 150 folks! 

There were so many new and old familiar faces. What a joy to come together to celebrate this amazing station. It truly has been the people who have made WGDR what it is. 

What a great weekend of WGDR historical and celebration programming too. You can also listen back to the weekend shows for up to two weeks on our archive.

Lastly, we also raised some big birthday love for the station!

As of the end of the weekend, had 50+ donors who gave $3,023 as a birthday gift to WGDR. Many of these gifts were made at the party and most of these folks were new donors to the station. 

Even better, every one of those dollars was matched, meaning we raised at least $6,045 for the station. Thank you!

Thanks again to the matching support of the CVCR board, our community sponsors of Onion River Campground, Northfield Savings Bank, and Washing Electric Coop, along with two generous anonymous donors.

View a handful of photos from the party on our Facebook page.

Thanks to ORCA Media for recording the party music and few remarks. Watch it on their site here.