Democracy Now! KSER Convention Specials

Amy Goodman and the staff of Democracy Now are gearing up for special coverage from the political conventions, starting next Monday at the Republican Convention in Tampa.

Next week you will be able to listen to a special 2-hour-long edition of Democracy Now every morning at 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. with extra coverage from the Republican convention.

Juan Gonzalez; Amy Goodman

You'll still be able to hear the normal 1-hour version of Democracy Now at both 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. on KSER.  But if you're looking for Amy and Juan's special take on politics in longer form set your alarm for 7 a.m. every morning next week (August 27 through August 31) for a 2-hour Democracy Now special.

Amy and Juan will also broadcast two-hour specials on KSER from the Democratic convention in Charlotte September 4 through September 7.

Here's another alert for Amy Goodman fans.  She's coming to Everett!

Amy and Denis Moynihan will do a special KSER event in Everett at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 27.  It's part of a national 100-city tour to promote "The Silenced Majority," a new book Amy has written with Denis.

We'll have details on location and ticket information later this week.  Listen to 90.7 FM for details.

Your Organization, Non-Profit, Business On The Air

One of the questions we're asked most frequently is, "How can my organization get our message out to the public on KSER?"

We try to make it as easy as possible.  If your non-profit or organization has an upcoming event and you're looking for publicity, here's how you can get 'on the air'

Put your Non-Profit behind the KSER mic!

We're more than happy to run acceptable Public Service Announcements from non-profit organizations and community groups in Snohomish, Island, Skagit, and King counties.  And we do it for free.

The easiest way to get your free announcement on KSER is to submit a suggested script and fill out a form on the KSER website.  You can always send announcements in regular mail as well.  Here's our mailing address:

2623 Wetmore Ave
Everett, WA 98201

If you're submitting a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for your organization you should remember to include the important points. Always try to answer the obvious questions of who, what, when, where, why and how. If it's a hearing or event, make sure to include dates, locations and times.

You don't need to record your announcement. KSER announcers will read it live. 

Another question we get is, 'How long should it be?"  KSER PSA's are 20 seconds. That may not seem like much, but you can get a lot of information into that time frame. When you write your announcement, read it back to gauge the time.

And don't wait too long.  We prefer to have PSA scripts at least two weeks prior to your event.  Earlier, if possible.

If you are in charge of a business, you can also get great positive publicity for your brand by using KSER.  If you're trying to create greater community awareness for your business, you should consider becoming a KSER underwriter.  It's a very cost effective way to both get your company's name in front of our loyal audience and help support KSER.  You can find more information on our website.  

Put your business on air at KSER

There are a number of ways you can get your message on KSER. It's a great way to reach a valuable and loyal audience.  We're here to help!

Weekend Manager's Mailbox

Another weekend, the worst of the heat is over. Time to chill out with another edition of the highly acclaimed (cough) KSER Manager's Mailbox:

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Aaack, I keep hearing songs I like on KSER but sometimes I can't stick around long enough to hear the name of the song or the artist. Is there a way to find out what the DJ played?  Bernie, Gold Bar

Bernie:  You can always track down our playlist online. Just go to www.kser.org and click on live playlist. You can also listen to past shows, both music shows and all of our news and public affairs programs for the past two weeks, using the radio replayer button.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Hi, I moved to Alaska about 2 years ago but I still listen to KSER a lot when I'm at home.  I listen online.  But, I'm on the road a lot and would like to listen on my I-phone. Is there a way to do that?  Leonard, Wasilla

Leonard: It's easy. Go to App Store. Search for the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) app. Once you get the app, simply search for and bookmark KSER and you can listen on your phone anytime, almost anywhere. Even if you go moose-hunting with you know who.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: My favorite program on KSER is Amy Goodman. I've been listening for several months now.  Can you tell me how I can learn more about her?  David, Everett

David: There are a few links and background info on Amy in this recent KSER story.  And Amy is about to launch a 2-month, 100 city tour to promote her new book she has written with Denis Moynihan. It's called The Silenced Majority. The tour includes a KSER stop in Everett just before the election on Saturday, October 27.  We're working on details and looking forward to her visit.  Stay tuned.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: I just started listening to KSER and I heard your announcers talking about ballots and voting for the board of directors?  But I don't know how you vote or what the voting is for or even what the board is really for. I love your station can you tell me more about it?  Dennis, Seattle

Dennis:  Anyone who is a member of the station is eligible to vote. And anyone who contributes at least $35 in a calendar year becomes a station member.  There's a board of directors election once per year.  The board members serve on a volunteer basis and are local citizens who help guide and control the operation and future of KSER, which is a non-profit community station.  If you'd like to become a member, you can sign up here. We mail out ballots every year at election time. And not only do you get to vote and help decide the direction of the station, you'll also be making an important and vital contribution to local community radio.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Not sure if you're the right guy to ask this, I love KSER but my girlfriend always switches the station to some hip-hop stuff.  Should I go along with her?  Put my foot down? Get a new girlfriend?  Any advice? Sean, Lynnwood

Sean:  I'm not the right guy. Try the Stranger.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Have you ever thought about playing more music from Hawaii?  I love Aloha Friday, but it's only an hour and I'm often working and miss it.  Please think about playing more!  Emma, Mill Creek

Emma:  We already do. Every weekend. Check out Da Coconut Wireless every Sunday afternoon for 2 hours at 5 p.m.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: That one DJ you guys have, Van Ramsey, has a band. I heard you guys play some of their stuff.  They are great. What's their name and where can I see them?  Luke, Lake Stevens

Luke: Van Ramsey's band is the Wild Snohomians. They play a lot of places. They're at the Everett Craft Beer Festival this Saturday; at Lake Stevens Music in the Park next Thursday; and the Evergreen State Fair next Friday...among others. They've reached a stature somewhere between the Grateful Dead and the Beatles.  Sort of.


Dear Tom@KSER.org: I saw that picture on your website earlier this week of the four outgoing members of your board of directors. I couldn't help but notice that they all are wearing the same designer eyewear. My eye prescription just changed and I need new frames. Can you tell me where I can get those?  Sasha, Everett

Sasha:  They're Versace's. Try Neiman-Marcus.

Sandy Thompson; Tom Killorin; Karen Crowley; Miriam Driss

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Do you think maybe you overdo how often you ask for people to contribute to KSER?  Otherwise I like your blog a lot.  Mike, Arlington

Mike:  Thanks for the tip. And I like you, too. Oh, check out this cool link! 

The Mayor Visits KSER

Maybe he's the mayor that brings the weather extremes.

The last time Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson visited KSER, we were digging out from a January snow storm.  Friday he arrives and we're suffering through what people in the Northwest call a heat wave.

Mayor Stephanson getting ready for questions.

KSER's Ed Bremer interviewed the Mayor for a full hour Friday afternoon on Sound Living.

The Mayor said he is closely monitoring the plans to tear down the now closed Kimberly Clark plant on the Everett Waterfront and the plans to sell the land.

Mayor Stephanson said it is industrial zoned land with a deep-water port.  He wants to make sure the public has input on the plans to replace Kimberly Clark on the 66 acre waterfront property.  The Mayor told Ed that Kimberly Clark is hopeful the building can be torn down, the land cleaned and one developer will purchase the land. But it probably won't be that simple.

There will probably be several buyers and developers.  The mayor says so far the ground contaminants in the area are not greater than Kimberly Clark had projected and expected and he says that's very good news.

The City Planning Department will have a public workshop on the land and it's use next Tuesday. You can find more information here.

The Mayor says the opportunity to build and maintain fishing fleet ships at that site would be an attractive option.  He also thinks some aerospace assembly could be realistic.  But he wants to avoid uses that would lead to odor, smoke and noise but could still provide a significant number of jobs.

KSER's Ed Bremer talks with Mayor Stephanson

Mayor Stephanson said one thing he doesn't want the land used for is a ferry terminal.  He says such a use would lead to major traffic congestion with very little economic benefit. He's hopeful we can end up with land use that will lead to new jobs and public access of the land.

The Mayor says he's hopeful that over the next 6 months we'll get a clearer picture of how the land will ultimately be used.

Inspiration

You don't need to put a name under that picture.

Everyone recognizes an amazing icon. It seems like the entire Northwest was hurting this week hearing the news about the death of legendary Seattle TV news anchor Kathi Goertzen. Few people can ever have that kind of impact on an entire region. She was an excellent reporter who became a trusted and enduring TV anchor. Being that successful for that long in the broadcast business is tough. But she made it look easy.  She was that good.

She was respected by colleagues and competitors.  She was loved by her family. She was admired by people she worked with every day and by people she never met. She worked hard at her job and worked just as hard for numerous charities. An inspiring person.

Most of us were also incredibly inspired by the way she handled the health challenges that impacted the final years of her wonderful life and remarkable career.  At 54, she died way too young.

When I first heard the sad news I also couldn't help but think of Aloha Friday.  That may seem odd, and I hope it doesn't seem disrespectful, so let me explain. KSER's popular Friday at noon Hawaiian music hour "Aloha Friday" is hosted by Donn Erisman.

And Donn, for the past few years, was following the news about Kathi Goertzen probably a lot more closely than many people. Donn is courageously dealing with a medical condition almost identical to the condition that impacted Kathi...non-cancerous epidermoid.  Donn's tumor is located in a different part of the brain than the tumors that Kathi dealt with.  But like her, Donn has had to undergo some pretty daunting surgical procedures three times...so far.

Donn decked out for Aloha Friday

 
Donn grew up in Juneau, Alaska. He went to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks and actually got his first job in radio when he was 13.  His broadcast career blossomed and he also became a very successful TV news director.  Donn says he always had health challenges, even from a young age, but no one could figure out why.

Then, in 2003 they figured it out. Brain tumor.

He had what they called a very slow growing, benign tumor on his brain.  Doctors told him it was probably there from birth. By the time of it's discovery it had grown to the size of an orange. So, in 2003 he underwent his first round of serious brain surgery and intense follow-up treatment. Then a second, and then a third round of surgery.

Doctors have not been able to remove all traces of the tumor even after three surgeries.  But the tumor and the surgeries and the difficulties it creates have not been able to keep Donn down.

He says the tumor affected a lot of things in his life, including his relationships and career. He suffers from short-term memory challenges and he's no longer able to drive because of the threat of seizures. The tumor and multiple surgeries have also slightly affected his speech pattern but he still sounds great on the radio. And he continues to do what he loves and has a positive attitude that might embarrass some very healthy people.

Morgan; Kyle & Brandon with their dad, Donn

Donn has recording studio equipment in his home where he puts together some of the music segments for his weekly show.  And at least twice a week he makes the trip from Marysville to the KSER studios in Everett to do show prep and then to do his live 3-hour show every Friday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. which always includes the Aloha Friday hour at noon.

And here's a little-known fact about Donn that may surprise you. Even though he launched Aloha Friday and selects all the music and talks about the artists, he's never been to Hawaii.  He's hoping to make it some day.

And like all of the DJ's you hear around the clock, 7 days a week on KSER, Donn is a volunteer. He puts in 16 to 20 hours in a normal week putting together his show, helping with the KSER website and often filling in for other DJ's.

Kathi Goertzen waged a courageous battle and was very open about her tumors. She talked about how she didn't want to hide from her illness. She worked and lived life to the fullest as long as possible. And even set up a foundation to raise funds for brain tumor research.

Donn Erisman is fighting the same battle and not hiding from his challenges.  To me, they're both incredible inspirations. We're all hoping for many more years of Aloha Fridays.

New KSER Board of Directors Members

There were no satellite trucks parked outside; no hanging chads; no calls for a recount and not one of the TV networks projected a winner prematurely.

The KSER Foundation annual meeting was held Tuesday night and included the official ballot count for the 2012 Board of Directors election.  There were 5 open positions for the board and five candidates running unopposed to fill each position.  One current board member, Pam Somers, was re-elected and four local community leaders were elected new members of the KSER Foundation board of directors.

The four new KSER members are Cheryl Telford; David Kosar; Brad Goergen and Marla Hamilton Lucas.

Cheryl Telford

Brad Goergen

Marla Hamilton Lucas

David Kosar

   Cheryl Telford is a resident of La Conner and is the Strategic Partnerships Manager for Sno-Isle Libraries.

   Marla Hamilton Lucas is a small business owner from Snohomish. She is a Washington State CPA and a member of Snohomish Toastmasters. 
                                                                                                              David Kosar lives in Everett and is owner and President, David Kosar Insurance Agency, American Family Insurance. He is also a member of the advisory board, WSU, College of Education.

   Brad Goergen is a resident of Edmonds and is an attorney with Graham & Dunn, PC. He is a member of Leadership Snohomish County and Western Oregon University Foundation.

The vote tabulation Tuesday evening was open to the public, and ballots were counted and double checked at the public meeting.

The KSER Board Vote Count

 Welcome to the new KSER Board Members!  Just like the more than 100 volunteers who work behind the scenes and on the air to keep KSER up and running, the KSER Board of Directors are also all volunteers. They, too, give their time and effort to maintain a great community radio resource in the North Puget Sound.

Pam Somers

 And a special thanks to four now 'former' board members who have decided to take a break from the rigors of KSER board work.  Karen Crowley, Tom Killorin, Miriam Driss and Sandy Thompson can now get some of their free time back...for a while.
  

KSER Board President Brenda Mann Harrison thanking outgoing Board Members

Sandy Thompson; Tom Killorin; Karen Crowley; Miriam Driss

 Because of their hard work and dedication the outgoing KSER Board Members were given very fancy certificates and extremely valuable red plastic glasses!

Did you know that you can vote for the KSER Board of Directors once a year?  Every KSER Member gets a vote.  One way to become a member is to contribute $35 or more to KSER. It only takes minutes and a few clicks to contribute online.  One popular way to support the independent, community voice of KSER is to become a recurring member. Sign up and have an amount that works for your budget contributed automatically to KSER once a month.

Not only will you be supporting KSER, but you'll have a say in it's future when you cast your ballot next election!
                                             

News That Gives Voice to Struggles

Many KSER listeners tell us there is one host and one show that they try to absolutely never miss: Amy Goodman and Democracy Now!

Amy Goodman

Just like KSER, Amy Goodman and Democracy Now is a non-profit, proudly independent broadcast that relies heavily on the financial support of listeners.  As regular KSER listeners know, Amy asks questions many reporters won't ask; get's guests that many media organizations wouldn't touch; and even get's arrested for her efforts.

The New York Times published what some describe as the definitive Amy Goodman article late last year.

And while it would be rare to see the major network Sunday morning talk shows include Amy as a guest, she did appear last month on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.  You can see the program here.

Juan Gonzalez

Amy and co-host Juan Gonzalez are supported by a great staff of leading progressive journalists, producers and volunteers.  You can read about the Democracy Now staff here.

And remember, Amy and Juan are working for a non-profit program that's being aired on non-profit community supported stations like KSER. Her model is dramatically different from the typical network television news reporter or anchor. You may remember the media buzz recently over the $25-million annual contract for NBC's Matt Lauer.

The Daily Beast recently did a report on the salaries of Lauer and others. Diane Sawyer makes $12-million annually; Anderson Cooper: $11-million.  You can read the Daily Best network salary story here.

That's not to suggest that those anchors aren't worth the money they are paid by the corporations that own the networks.  After all, they generate ratings that sells advertising that keeps the corporate networks profitable.

But think about that the next time you're listening to Amy Goodman and wondering why she's covering stories and asking questions you won't hear almost anywhere else.

Reminder: Time's running out if you want to make a nomination for KSER's annual Voice of the Community Award.  Nominations must be received by this Wednesday, August 15.  You can find out more and make a nomination here.

And of course, you can always help support KSER and independent public radio. It just takes a few clicks and a few minutes online. Thanks!