Local station begins fall fundraising

Wrangell's public radio station KSTK began its annual fall membership drive Monday, with hopes to raise $18,000 by Saturday.

The fundraiser is one of two the station holds each year, raising a total of $36,000 for its yearly operating budget.

The rest of KSTK's approximately $290,000 budget comes from public funds, with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) making up the largest share along with Alaska Public Broadcasters.

“Without these funds we can't rely on the CPB or Alaska broadcasting money,” station manager Cindy Sweat explained. The public monies are dependent on a demonstration of local stations' community support, similar to a cost-share arrangement, which makes the pledge drive important.

“We do two membership drives every year,” she said. The drives are typically in November and April, and the fall pledge drive is the first of the station's fiscal year, which began July 1.

Sweat explained that most contributions come from individual listeners. Local businesses tend to support the station by underwriting contracts or supporting blocks of programming.

“That's a separate revenue stream,” she added.

To celebrate the drive, Sweat said they will be hosting an open house on Saturday at noon.

"Everybody's welcome to come up and enjoy that.”

Contributions can be brought in to the Church Street station by hand, phoned in at 874-2345, made online at http://www.kstk.org, or delivered by post to P.O.

Box 1141.

In addition to its other programming, Stikine River Radio features blocks of shows where residents can share their musical tastes and a bit of personality. KSTK is still looking for volunteers interested in jockeying some discs.

“It's always great to get a new person in there to curate a show,” Sweat said. Those interested in developing a program idea can contact her at the station.