As one of the newest volunteers at WPVM, I can’t speak to past experiences or grievances at the station. As a matter of fact, I’m happy as a toad that I’m getting a chance to enhance the Asheville community by being a volunteer here. So what a shame it was for me to find that right as I was walking in, many were walking out. (I’ve taken Cecil Bothwell’s job of being the volunteer coordinator of Democracy Now.)
I actually get to be on air for about three minutes a week. While Amy Goodman breaks, I read weather predictions and such—which thrills me to no end. So my concern is that the station keeps operating and continues to bring great programs like Democracy Now to the city (there are a lot of great programs—check the schedule).
A great community-radio station can be one of the best features of a great town. It’s like a big bulletin board that plays good music, or a great music outlet that keeps you well informed. Either way, it’s an important asset.
I’m writing now to support the volunteers who are trying to keep WPVM going strong and free during the power shift that is occurring. As people look away from top-down corporate-media outlets, some are turning to volunteer-run, grass-roots, democratically organized community-based media. I support the volunteers’ hard work on coming up with an excellent structure for maintaining a fair, free and open radio station that serves this community.
I’ve been wonderfully impressed with the level of dedication, devotion and plain hard work that this group of volunteers has shown me, and I’m hoping to become more like them.
Generally, when volunteers come to the community for help, it’s the usual financial kind. But now we’re asking for something even more precious: your trust and your vote of confidence. The volunteers have a real handle on what is and isn’t needed at WPVM. They are more than capable of taking this station to the next level.
I hope you will look into the situation and see that the volunteers need your help in resolving this governance crisis. Contact a MAIN board member and let them know that you, too, support volunteer-run community radio. It’s only gonna get better.
— Scotty Owen, WPVM volunteer
Asheville
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