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Pioneer 90.1 Morning Host and Operations Director Ben Kosharek invites station supporters to pledge during the 2009 Winter Pledge Drive, which began Monday, February 9 and continues until the $6,000 goal is reached. With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, the station invites you to pledge “for the love of music.”
“Many view Pioneer 90.1 as being first and foremost a part of Northland Community and Technical College. While that is both celebrated and true, what most people don’t realize is that 90.1 is also a public radio station, aimed at the general population, and heavily dependent on local community support,” Kosharek said.
“That community support gives listeners an eclectic weekday music variety, many volunteer-driven programs, and excellent national specialty music shows that you would not hear in this region otherwise,” continued Kosharek. “Listener support also means you get those programs without long, distracting blocks of commercial advertising. The support of our listeners and fans make this service possible.”
Any dollar amount is appreciated and all donors receive a bumper sticker, a printed program guide, and access to the email newsletter. At a level of $5 per month, the station also sends donors a mug. At $10 per month, donors choose between a long-sleeve T-shirt or a tote bag, plus a CD from a featured artist. At a dollar a day ($365 annual total), donors receive all three thank-you gifts and a CD.
Pioneer 90.1 Station Manager Travis Ryder says that listener support donations have formed the basis of the station’s successful fund diversification.
“In the last 5 years the station has gone from having no individual supporters, to having hundreds of supporters donating thousands of dollars,” Ryder said. “Local businesses have also stepped up to sponsor programming. That backbone of local support enables us to win large grants like the recent one from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. A small donation from a listener has the potential to snowball into a significant grant from a larger organization.”
Tax-deductible pledges are accepted by phone at 218-683-8588, online at www.Pioneer90.org, or by mail: KSRQ, 1101 Highway 1 East, Thief River Falls, MN 56701.
Northland Community and Technical College is a comprehensive college with campuses in East Grand Forks, Minn., and Thief River Falls, Minn. One- and two-year degrees, transfer programs and diploma certification are available in a variety of majors, as well as workforce training and continuing education programs. NCTC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Visit the College at www.northlandcollege.edu. NCTC is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
