Public radio WETS 89.5 FM, the radio station that broadcasts from campus, began its fall fund-raising campaign Saturday.
Until the station reaches its goal of approximately $150,000 it will be interrupting the regular programming with requests for donations.
“The sooner we raise it, the sooner we can get back to normal,” said Station Director Wayne Winkler.
“Normal” is programs such as Prairie Home Companion starring Garrison Keillor, Car Talk and the news show, All Things Considered. These shows are expensive for the radio station to purchase rights to. Both Car talk and Prairie Home Companion are each about $12,000 a year, Winkler said.
Public radio is non-commercial radio that obtains its operating expenses from a combination of listener support, government funding and in the case of this particular station, from ETSU.
Forty-two percent of its funding is from the school, 15 percent from the government, with the remaining 43 percent coming from listener support and underwriting.
The spring fundraiser brought in over $165,000 during nine days of fundraising.
WETS in turn supports the local music scene with such shows as Studio One, and Town and Country.
The ETSU Bluegrass Band has recently releases a CD that was recorded in the WETS studios.
They also get involved in sponsoring events throughout the area like “Jonesborough’s Music on the Square.”
There has been some concern over requesting money from a public that has been giving so generously to relief efforts and charities since the tragedy on Sept. 11.
“Giving to the station is like giving to yourself,” Winkler said. “It is something most people enjoy and want to keep going.”
During the drive the station needs volunteers to answer phones and take pledges.
“Some students who can’t afford to give money give their time,” Winkler said.
The radio station asks that you call 1-888-895-WETS to make a pledge over the telephone, however in this technological age you can also join the cyber drive check them out on the World Wide Web and make an online pledge on their site: www.wets.org.
If you would like to volunteer call Denise Cozad at 439-6443.

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