OCTOBER 2008

Dear Friend,

If you've been listening recently, you may have noticed that we're in our fall on-air membership drive. I have the privilege of sitting in "pledge central," where I see all the comments people make about why they've decided to pledge. As they come across the computer screen, I see that many are short and to-the-point, some are breathtakingly eloquent, others are funny. Each is a celebration of the programming we all enjoy, and a reminder of the importance of listener support. I'd like to share a sampling of comments with you:

I live with WPR. It's a source of information and imaginative ideas. It's wonderful.

Election year coverage, this is the only place I get it!

WPR has been the best thing that has happened to my brain. It has inspired me to be a life-long learner and I'd like to support bringing that passion to others.

I happily work out of my home office and besides my two dogs, WPR is my constant daily companion!

This is the only station I listen to and I've been listening since the mid-1930s.

WPR keeps me in excellent touch with all I really care about.

We can't wake up in the morning without our coffee and WPR!

As a graduate student from California, I've listened to WPR over the last five years while writing my dissertation. WPR has played a large role in making Wisconsin my new home.

Wow! What fun to read these comments. If it's time for you to make a pledge, we'll be happy to hear from you, too. Just call the numbers they give out on the air, or go to our online pledge page any time. And thanks for all you do to make WPR a resource for everyone in the state to enjoy.

This month in RadioWaves, you'll find — what else — election information from NPR. Joy Cardin continues to take her show on the road on Fridays, and in recognition of the Joy Ride tour, I have interviewed Joy for this issue. It's also fall sweepstakes time, and we've got some sad news about Calling All Pets. Finally, don't miss the many regional events going on this month.

With warm regards,

Susannah Michaels
RadioWaves Editor

WPR Photo-of-the-Month

What's the number to call to pledge? What's the website? That information is front-and-center
in the studios for the on-air hosts during pledge drive.

You can find it on the NPR website ... election information

How could I write this section of RadioWaves, a month before the election, without referring you to the NPR election information page? I can't. So here it is: if you're not getting enough election news and analysis from the NPR News programs and from Ideas Network talk shows, you can find some more on the NPR election 2008 page. A nationwide map of current poll results, articles by NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin, issues, headlines, campaign trail news, audio files — all this and more can be found on the NPR election 2008 page.

And here's a nice little RadioWaves extra — NPR has passed along a video of Ken Rudin giving a tour of Studio 4A. Studio 4A is the place where all the NPR election night reporting will come from. Check it out: Tour of 4A is found here

Staff interview – Joy Cardin, morning talk show host

In honor of the Joy Ride tour, I felt it was time to interview Joy Cardin, host of Conversations with Joy Cardin, which airs weekdays 6 - 9 AM on Ideas Network stations. The Joy Ride, where Joy broadcasts from a different locale in Wisconsin each Friday, is going on up until the presidential election.When I went to Joy's office to talk about doing an interview, she held up an index finger, asking me to wait a minute. The announcement had just been made that Sarah Palin was to be John McCain's running mate. Joy was going to do an impromptu "breaking news" call-in show on the Ideas Network and she desperately needed to know how to pronounce Palin's name. She was intently listening to NPR audio, waiting for them to say the name. That scene — of intense concentration on the news — is typical of Joy. To host three hours of talk each weekday, often centered on politics, she has to have a keen eye and an ear focused on all forms of media. To find out how early Joy gets up to follow overnight developments, and whether or not she'll jump out of an airplane again, click here.

Veronica Rueckert, Friday mid-morning host, Ideas Network

It's finally official! I'm pleased to announce that Veronica Rueckert has been named the Friday mid-morning Ideas Network host. Her show will concentrate on arts and culture. Watch http://www.wpr.org/ for more information. You can find archives of her program, which has already been on the air for several months, here. And soon, she will also have a web page, like all the other hosts. During the rest of the week, Veronica is a producer on To the Best of Our Knowledge. Kathleen Dunn can still be heard from 9 - 11 AM Monday through Thursday.

Special broadcasts of the presidential debates
Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 15, 8 - 10 PM, Ideas Network Stations

Fall Sweepstakes – enter by October 29 for your chance to win!

Fall sweepstakes are here! That means that you have a chance to win Packers tickets, airline tickets, coffee for a year, a digital radio, and many other prizes. If you receive mailings from WPR, your sweepstakes mailing will arrive any day now and you can enter through that mailing. No contribution is necessary. Also, any online donation made through Wednesday, October 29 will automatically get you entered. Or, you can mail us a card with your name, address, and phone number. The complete list of prizes, and all the entry details are available here. And good luck!

Calling All Pets to be retired

On the bright side, I am happy to report that you will still hear Patricia McConnell as an occasional guest on Larry Meiller's program (weekdays, 11 AM - 12:30 PM, on the Ideas Network). And you can keep up with Patricia's advice, books, and even her blog, on her website: http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/.

Soon after we met to discuss the decision, Patricia shared the following comments:

“Although I am sad that WPR has decided to cease production of Calling All Pets , I understand they have to make the decisions that they think are best for the long term health of the station ... I am grateful for the chance to have spoken, laughed and sometimes cried with so many wonderful people who share a mutual love and respect for the natural world. I will miss Larry terribly, but l look forward to being on his show, and to staying connected with all the listeners of Calling All Pets on his show, and through my blog and website. Thank you all for a great ride.”

If you’d like to learn more, take a look at our detailed “FAQ” (Frequently Asked Questions) item on the Calling All Pets website http://wpr.org/pets/.

If you want to register comments about this schedule change, or anything else related to WPR, please contact our Audience Services department at 800-747-7444 or listener@wpr.org. All comments get logged (without any identifying information), and distributed weekly to all staff, including management.

Regional events and news

Eau Claire Area

In an exciting development, digital capability (or "HD") has been added to 88.3 WHWC Menomonie/Eau Claire. Digital capability allows a radio station to carry a second stream of programming on one frequency. To hear this second stream, the listener needs to have a digital radio. WHWC's second stream, called 88.3-2, is WPR's 24/7 classical music service. Weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM, listeners will hear WPR-programmed music, as heard on all NPR News and Classical Music Network stations during those hours. Outside of those hours, listeners will hear classical music from a service that WPR subscribes to. Listening to the HD station is free with the right equipment. For more information about HD in the Chippewa Valley, click here.

Phil Corriveau, director of WPR, and Dean Kallenbach, western Wisconsin regional manager, will hold two listening and information sessions about digital radio. On Wednesday, October 22, they are at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Conference Center in Rice Lake, 6 - 8 PM. And on Thursday, October 23, they are at the regional Wisconsin Public Radio studio, 1221 W. Clairemont Ave. in Eau Claire, 11 AM - 1 PM. Snacks will be provided. Phil and Dean welcome the opportunity to show you the attributes of high definition radio, and to answer your questions. If you can't make the sessions, you are also welcome to call the Eau Claire office at 800-228-5615 or 715-839-3868. And finally, even more information can be found about HD on WPR, here.

The Joy Ride hits River Falls, October 31
Friday, October 31, 6 - 9 AM, UW-River Falls, University Center - Falls Room, 410 S 3rd St., River Falls

You are invited to be in the audience for a live broadcast of Conversations with Joy Cardin. This "campaign stop" is part of her Joy Ride tour in honor of this political season. This is the final stop of the tour! At 6 AM, Joy's guest is Mike Norman, emeritus professor of journalism at UW-River Falls, and author of Haunted Wisconsin. At 7 AM, Joy welcomes Wes Chapin, political scientist at UW-River Falls. And at 8 AM, you'll enjoy the famous "Week in Review," with local guests yet to be determined. Click here for up-to-date information about the Joy Ride.

Green Bay Area

Randall Davidson's 9XM Talking book discussion
Wednesday, October 15, 1 PM, Miller Arts Museum in the Sturgeon Bay Library in Door County

Join Randall Davidson, former WPR chief announcer, currently director of radio services at UW-Oshkosh, in a discussion of his book, 9XM Talking: WHA Radio and the Wisconsin Idea. This book chronicles the fascinating history of Wisconsin's educational and public radio stations, and details the pioneering and innovative work of WPR, from the first broadcast by experimental station 9XM, to the network of stations known today as Wisconsin Public Radio. This event is free and open to the public.

La Crosse Area

In an exciting development, La Crosse-area listeners can now hear WPR’s full-time classical music service, 24 hours, every day, on Classical 90.3 WHLA-HD2. You will need a digital radio to hear this second stream of programming on WHLA. Learn more at http://www.wpr.org/whla.

The Joy Ride hits Onalaska, October 17
Friday, October 17, 6 - 9 AM, The Timbers Food Court, 426 2nd Ave., Onalaska

You are invited to be in the audience for a live broadcast of Conversations with Joy Cardin. This "campaign stop" is part of her Joy Ride tour in honor of this political season. At 6 AM, Joy's guest is Monique Hooker, chef and local foods advocate. At 7 AM, Joy welcomes Joe Heim, professor of political science at UW-La Crosse. And at 8 AM, you'll enjoy the famous "Week in Review," with local guests, yet to be announced. Enjoy a breakfast snack and beverage at the broadcast, and a short reception after 9 AM. Click here for up-to-date information about the Joy Ride.

Joy Cardin, guest speaker at "Leadership at Noon" brown-bag lecture series
Friday, October 17, 12 - 1 PM, Viterbo University, Reinhart Center, room 107

Joy Cardin will make extra use of her time in the La Crosse area by being the guest speaker at the "Leadership at Noon" series presented by the D. B. Reinhart Center for Ethics in Leadership. This talk is free and open to the public.

Tent Show Radio performance
Friday, October 17, 7:30 PM, Heider Center for the Arts, West Salem

Tent Show Radio host Warren Nelson and friends will travel from northern Wisconsin to open this year's concert series in the La Crosse area. They will present Big Top Chautauqua's "30th Star," a songwitness account celebrating 150 years of Wisconsin statehood. Additional details are available at http://www.wpr.org/whla.

Candidate debates

Several western Wisconsin races for political office will be the focus of special broadcasts being produced by the La Crosse Regional News Bureau. The series will include debates sponsored by UW-La Crosse, as well as one-on-one studio conversations, featuring candidates for state and congressional office. For the latest, watch Ideas 90.3 WHLA’s regional website at http://www.wpr.org/whla.

"War of the Worlds" radio theater
October 3 - 11, University Theatre, Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue, Madison

Don't miss Norman Gilliland in this 70th anniversary production of the famed radio drama "War of the Worlds." You'll enjoy both the play-like staging and the live sound effects. Performances are on October 3, 10, and 11 at 7:30; October 4 at 8 PM; and October 5 at 2 PM. The October 4 showing at 8 PM will be aired live on Old-Time Radio Drama. Call the University Theatre box office at 608-262-1500 for tickets. Tell them if you have a WPR MemberCard, and bring it with you the night of the show, to get two-for-one pricing. Tickets range from $14 to $20.

David Sedaris, This American Life contributor, at the Overture Center, October 7
Tuesday, October 7, 7:30 PM, Overture Center, Madison

Do you enjoy hearing David Sedaris's stories on This American Life (Ideas Network, Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 2 PM)? Are you entranced by his tales of his life and experiences, whether it's learning French or quitting smoking or trying to drown a mouse, which he tells in his unmistakably nasal voice? If so, you might enjoy seeing him in person at this WPR-sponsored performance. Tickets range from $29 to $50. For more information, including some video clips and a link to Terry Gross's interview with Sedaris on Fresh Air, see the Overture Center website. And in an exciting development, WPR has obtained two pairs of tickets to this show to use as a thank-you gift during our fall membership drive. Listen to the show on Saturday for your chance to pledge for these tickets. Your pledge of $365, that's just $1 a day, will help support the programs you love on WPR, and you can also get these tickets. If any tickets are still left after Saturday's show, they will be offered again on Sunday's.

To the Best of Our Knowledge event, October 19
Sunday, October 19, 10:30 AM - 12 PM, Wisconsin Public Radio, 821 University Ave., 7th floor Vilas Hall, UW-Madison campus

As part of the Wisconsin Book Festival, To the Best of Our Knowledge (TTBOOK) will be hosting a morning of book talk in the WPR Madison studios. The discussion, moderated by TTBOOK's executive producer Steve Paulson, will feature authors Marilynne Robinson and Elizabeth Strout. This event is free and open to the public; however, tickets must be picked up at A Room of One's Own bookstore at 307 W. Johnson St. For more information about the TTBOOK event, go to the TTBOOK page on the Wisconsin Book Festival website. From there, you can also find out about other festival events.

Milwaukee Area

You are invited to be in the audience for a live broadcast of Conversations with Joy Cardin. This "campaign stop" is part of her Joy Ride tour in honor of this political season. At 6 AM, Joy's guest is Stacey Schiesl, director of the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. At 7 AM, Joy welcomes Mordecai Lee, professor of governmental affairs at UW-Milwaukee. And at 8 AM, you'll enjoy the famous "Week in Review," with guests Louis Fortis, editor-in-chief of the Shepherd Express and Owen Robinson, a conservative blogger at BootsAndSabers.com and a columnist for West Bend Daily News. Click here for information about location and parking at the Stackner Theater. This event is free and open to the public, no pre-registration necessary.
 

Kathleen Dunn broadcasts from Marquette University — "Your vote. Your future."
Thursday, October 30, 9 - 11 AM, Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union, Monaghan Ballroom

You are invited to join this live broadcast of Conversations with Kathleen Dunn. The first hour will feature a panel of guests from both major political parties. The second hour is devoted to Marquette students as they discuss what has been happening on campus to get out the vote. Admission is free, but registration is required. Call 414-227-2047. There will be a short reception at 11 AM.

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