Berthold Reimers

:: NO SALE ! ::

Dear WBAI Supporter:

Earlier this month, Pacifica National Board member Dan Siegel (Esq.) launched a radical divestment campaign that would mean the end of Pacifica as we have known it: Sell WBAI, to cover for the combined debt(s) of the five stations as well as the national office that comprise the Pacifica foundation! This extremist proposal to dismantle Pacifica is not the first institutional conflict of interest for Mr. Siegel, an attorney currently representing Berkeley station KPFA. Previously, he simultaneously occupied the key positions of Pacifica Executive Director, and Corporate Counsel, with Foundation litigation handled by his own law firm.

And now, he and a few others at some of our sister stations are campaigning to boost their own local bottom lines by neutralizing WBAI, surrendering Pacifica's most vital FCC broadcast license, and having the (temporarily) remaining four Pacifica stations divvy up the loot.

Sadly, this is not the first time such desperate and destructive strategies to sell WBAI have been proffered. And each time, institutional misinformation and media attention thrust the network into its latest frenzy of irrationality, ambition and avoidance of systemic solutions.

At this critical moment, we must return to rationality. When I accepted the job of General Station Manager two years ago, WBAI's previous management team had accumulated a whopping deficit of more than $600,000 for that year! This culminated a lost decade of mismanagement, infighting, and factional rule.

But today - after only two years of improved management and broadcasting - we have reduced that inherited deficit to a projected level of $260,000 this fiscal year! That's an improvement of $340,000, or a 60% recovery over a two-year period. In corporate America, CEO's are normally given 3 to 5 years to turn companies around. And this is exactly what we are doing at WBAI -- a not-for-profit organization in the midst of the worst national recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

But we can't travel this road to recovery alone. We need you to help make sure we reach our destination of fulfilling WBAI's historic mission of service. I encourage you to browse through our new website, and learn even more about the rejuvenation of WBAI. Tell your friends about our diverse on-air community of information, arts, peace and justice. And above all, please continue to donate all you can to take us to new heights, as we simultaneously strive to reduce the number of on-air fundraising days.

Here's how you can help, right now: Become a WBAI Buddy!

All it takes is for you to sign on and donate a mere $10 a month. And for this modest but vital commitment, you will also receive a WBAI tote bag for shopping and travel, a WBAI Member Perks Card with discounts and privileges, including free or reduced entry to WBAI events, and the opportunity to participate in periodic on-air give-aways. To become a WBAI Buddy, just click this link HERE.

Every 215 members who become BAI Buddies eliminate another day of on-air fund fundraising! And if enough of you join now, we can totally eliminate our summer fund drive. Now that's change you can believe in. Meanwhile, don't believe the hype about selling out your station's future, or rumors of WBAI's demise . Quite to the contrary, thanks to your support, 

WBAI is alive and well!

_______________________________________________________________________________________  

I would also like to acknowledge a generous donation from Helen S. Cairns in memory of Sonja McDaniel. Thank you for your support.  

• September 3, Monday, WBAI's Live Annual Labor Day West Indian Carnival Parade Coverage: Airing 1:00 am - 7:00pm from Empire Blvd. & Eastern Parkway.  Live coverage of the Jouvert Morning celebrations from 1:00 am to 5:00am. Followed by live coverage of WIADCA's 45th Annual Parade of the Bands on Eastern Parkway at 1:00 pm to 7pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
• September 3, Monday, Airing 7-11pm, Building Bridges Labor Day Special - The American Dream Unraveling or Fighting the Merchants of Austerity:
  Produced by Mimi Rosenberg and Ken Nash. No, say it ain't so - can it really be that the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is convening ironically on Labor Day, in a nonunion convention hall, its participants staying in a nonunion hotel, in a right to work state, Charlotte, North Carolina?  Well, it's true! So, there's all the more reason to cover the protestors who will converge on Wall Street South (the second largest concentration of finance capital in the U.S., after New York City) - and we'll be there.                                                                                                                                                               

• September 11 Tuesday, 9/11 Commemorative Coverage - Listen in all day for segments dispersed through our regular programming, much of it devoted to the day as well. day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
• September 12, Wednesday, 6:30-8pm, Between the Lines: The Courage To Hope by Shirley Sherrod with Esther Armah - Interview, dramatic reading and book signing. The Scomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, in partnership with Atria Books, Emotional Justice Unplugged, and WBAI presents Shirley Sherrod in conversation with WBAI host Esther Armah discussing Sherrod's new book, The Courage To Hope. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd, NY, Subway: 2, 3 to 135th Street. Free/ registration required: www.schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com                                                                                                                                                                                          

• September 15-29 Saturdays, 8pm,  Alwan for the Arts Sacred Music Festival: Exploring Sufi Traditions: This festival has celebrated sacred musical traditions of the greater Middle East since 2007. The programs on this season's celebration of the sacred focus on Sufi, mystical Islamic, traditions that stretch across North Africa through the Levant and east into Central and South Asia. The series will include Arooj Aftab on 9/15, Ushāq on 9/22 , and Tarab,on 9/29. Info here. Alwan Center, 16 Beaver St 4th Fl,NYC. * Listen on September 12 for free concert ticket giveaways for becoming a BAI Buddy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

• September 25 Tuesday, 6:30PM. Radio Unnameable at Film Forum, Special Showing for WBAI Members- with appearances by Director Jessica Wolffson and Bob Fass: Documentary film about longtime WBAI host, Bob Fass, the  pioneer of free-form radio, who let the talk and music flow all night long, as some of the city slept. At Film Forum, 209 W.Houston St, NYC.  Tickets here                                                                              *Listen on September 12 for free sets of movie tickets when you become a BAI BUDDY.                                                                            **Free popcorn and soda to WBAI members- email your name and address to popcorn@wbai.org to be added to the list. 

WBAI wants to hear what you have to say!  The WBAI Blog is a place where you can submit your feelings/reflections/opinions/essays to possibly be posted. We'd even love for you to submit pictures (appropriate please), videos, and audio clips. Keep in mind, that we ask that what you submit relates to WBAI and the shows that we broadcast daily.  

We ask that any submissions be less than 500 words. As you'll see on the blog, our posts are not very long. Also, we ask that anything you post be your own original work that you own the rights to, especially photos - you be the photographer.

WBAI is committed to being a free speech radio, focusing on independent news and talk about politics, the arts and music, science and health, and life in general in NYC. Therefore, we open this submission page to anyone with something to say. Please note: this is not a place to voice your ideas for a new show, or for commercial solicitation.

SHORT BIO (2-3 sentences with a portrait)

If we wish to use your submission, we will contact you via e-mail.

Send in articles to: submitmyarticle@wbai.org

Please send your comments, complaints, or compliments related to any program subject matter aired this month toListenercommentary@wbai.org with "Listener Comment" in the subject line. Submissions should be limited to 400 words and please include your full name and location. We reserve the right to edit where deemed necessary.