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What It's All About

It’s hard to believe that September is already upon us. It has been a sensational summer, not just because of the natural beauty of the great northeast, the glorious weather (mostly) and all of the incredible cultural events that take place throughout the region. I think you’ll agree that this has been THE most extraordinary run-up to any election, possibly ever. I was recently reading the trade newspaper that comes to all of us public broadcasters. We already know that the number of people listening to public radio has increased dramatically with the election in sight and I figure it’s probably in large part due to the, “What will they do next?!?” factor. Well, rest assured, I promise you that whatever they do next, we’ll be talking about it on WAMC. It’s already been quite the roller coaster ride and together, we’ve watched it all unfold, from the earliest primaries to the latest polling data. As a collective family, we might not agree on everything, but looking back on our morning Roundtable discussions, I think civility has been the word of the day. Of course, sometimes passions flare and people get excited but that’s what makes it interesting and real. The amount of feedback we’ve gotten assures us that you are listening and that’s what it’s all about.

So here we sit, awaiting the cooler weather and, among other things, a series of Presidential debates in advance of a national election and the October Fund Drive. These two things are not unrelated. Here’s the thing, as they say. Nobody is going to force you to vote. That’s your choice. But if you believe in the democratic process, you understand that it is both your privilege and your responsibility as a citizen to participate in the upcoming election. Now, think about this radio station. Nobody is forcing you to “pay up.” Unlike your cable company, nobody is sending you a monthly bill. There’s no “radio tax.” But if you are a listener, and I know you are, I ask you to consider your responsibility to the station and contribute what you can to keep us going. We simply cannot do it without you.

Remember that wherever you may be, WAMC can and will be there with you, either on your radio or online. I hope that you’ll think about all that it takes to bring you the programming you’ve come to rely on. A summer full of beautiful music from Tanglewood, coverage of regional, national, and international news, new podcasts, a greatly improved website, and the list goes on. With your support, we’ve been able to do so much. But you know the drill – we are only as secure as our last fund drive.

The October Fund Drive is coming up fast. How about casting your vote for WAMC with an early contribution to the Locked Box? The on-air portion of the drive starts on October 17 and every dollar that goes into the Locked Box before then will count toward the first day of the Drive. Or maybe you’d like to do even more by coming in and volunteering during the fund drive. We always need help and volunteering is a wonderful way to meet nice folks and eat great food. You can call the station at 800.323.9262 or volunteer online at wamc.org. And one final thought…this will be the last Fund Drive of the calendar year, so as you consider your charitable contributions, I hope you’ll put WAMC high on the list. And even though the nights are getting cooler, stay tuned as this election season heats up.

Remember that wherever you may be, WAMC can and will be there with you, either on your radio or online. I hope that you’ll think about all that it takes to bring you the programming you’ve come to rely on. A summer full of beautiful music from Tanglewood, coverage of regional, national, and international news, new podcasts, a greatly improved website, and the list goes on. With your support, we’ve been able to do so much. But you know the drill – we are only as secure as our last fund drive.

The October Fund Drive is coming up fast. How about casting your vote for WAMC with an early contribution to the Locked Box? The on-air portion of the drive starts on October 17 and every dollar that goes into the Locked Box before then will count toward the first day of the Drive. Or maybe you’d like to do even more by coming in and volunteering during the fund drive. We always need help and volunteering is a wonderful way to meet nice folks and eat great food. You can call the station at 800.323.9262 or volunteer online at wamc.org. And one final thought…this will be the last Fund Drive of the calendar year, so as you consider your charitable contributions, I hope you’ll put WAMC high on the list. And even though the nights are getting cooler, stay tuned as this election season heats up.

Dr. Alan Chartock is professor emeritus at the University at Albany. He hosts the weekly Capitol Connection series, heard on public radio stations around New York. The program, for almost 12 years, highlighted interviews with Governor Mario Cuomo and now continues with conversations with state political leaders. Dr. Chartock also appears each week on The Media Project and The Roundtable and offers commentary on Morning Edition, weekdays at 7:40 a.m.