Thank you, listeners!

We had an amazing birthday weekend thanks to you tuning in and coming down to the station to party. Over 150 people turned out to celebrate and we had over 36 hours of special, live and local programming broadcasting all weekend long.

As of Monday, June 9, we have raised almost our entire goal for the weekend ($4K).

• With another $108 in gifts from listeners, we will hit that $4K.

• Our community sponsors also put another $500 in matching gifts for any last minute gifts coming in the mail by check or after the weekend. So, that could mean we could raise $5K.

• If you have yet to give to the station this year and want to make a birthday gift, you still can.

Thanks again to our community sponsors Physician’s Computer Company, Northfield Savings Bank, Lawson’s Liquids, Washington Electric Coop, and Concept2!

For those of you who missed the party - we felt you in spirit! Here are the brief remarks from our Station Manager, Llu Mulvaney-Stanak about a past year recap since our past party.

Welcome to our now annual birthday party! This marks 52 years of WGDR, 15 of WGDH, and 4 years of CVCR. These are big milestones for this station and everyone here in the room has been part of our success. Truly, we hope you all treat yourself with some great food, music, and company and celebrate with us here today! 

There are many folks to thank! 

To all volunteered to help set up the party and host and clean up. To our party committee – Charles, Maura, Barry, and Steve. I especially want to thank, DJ EhMmAh, Benge, and Kind who are DJing live today. To Charles for the great food spread. 

This year’s party has many great community sponsors who are matching every single dollar we raise, up to $2,500 this weekend. Thanks to Physician’s Computer Company, Northfield Savings Bank, Lawson’s Liquids and Concept2! Also, thanks to ORCA for PA.

Thanks to our board of directors, many of whom are new! Charles, Tom, Barry (here today) and David M., Elizabeth, Audrey who couldn’t be here. 

Thanks to our Programming Committee – Anna, John, Erica, Maura, Peter, and Ari. 

To our now 70 local programmers who are making great radio every single day for you, including this weekend with special birthday programming. 

And of course, to our listeners and supporters. We now estimate we have at least 15K folks who listen loyally to the station – about 10K of those on their radios and another 5K online and on demand. The station is growing in leaps and bounds and we are appreciate all the support the community has given us over the last FOUR years under community ownership!

It's been another big year at the station since our last birthday. I want to give folks some quick updates on what we’ve done together:

• We’ve added another 20 local shows on the air, taking the schedule up to 70 local shows. Alongside our curated syndicated shows, the schedule is getting really full, such a good problem to have!

• We’ve transitioned our board and programming committees from our founders to new groups of folks. These folks are tackling strategic planning as part of the next phase of community ownership.

• And we’ve added a few very part time staff positions – Corey & Levi are helping us with underwriting & sponsorship, as well as operations and programmer support. 

• We’ve also lost some friends along the way. Dave Tucker, long time host of the Long & Winding Road, member of our Programming Committee, co-Music Director, all around volunteer of nearly everything, and our most recent board chair passed in March. His impact on the station is immeasurable and we miss him dearly.

• We outlasted the “who’s buying Goddard campus” adventure of last year and now have a 2 year lease with Ledgeworks. This will see us through our strategy planning for what comes next with the station.

• We also secured state funding from the legislature – a first for community radio in the state and no small feat in our current times! This funding will help us finally move the WGDR tower to a better location for broadcast across our area. 

Lastly, I would be remiss to not take this opportunity to invite you to consider giving the station a birthday gift while you are here. Quite simply, this mission doesn’t move without money or in our case, broadcast without the bucks. In these times, protecting the public access to the airwaves is more important than ever. Community investment in our future success is what will keep this station in the hands of the community!

• First, we’re hoping for your time and talents. The station is always looking for volunteers to join committees, the board, help with special projects, and to help us improve the station. You don’t have to do a radio show to be part of this place! If you are interested in this, please seek out me, a board member, or a staff person to learn more.

• We are also asking for folks who have not yet given to the station, to consider giving a donation as a gift today. We’re currently at _______ raised, and that includes our match from sponsors. We’re hoping to raise at least $4K this weekend encourage folks to consider a gift of $15 or $52 – for the ages of our two stations – if you are able to make a gift. We can take cash or check today or you can give at WGDR.org. There are a few places here today you can make that gift online today or via OR code with your smartphone. Just find a staff or board member to help you. And, thank you!

Alright, that’s it folks, thanks again for coming to the party today. Enjoy yourself and we’ll give this back to DJ Emma!

Here’s to many more years of community radio broadcasting all over our area and online for generations to come! Woo hoo!