Round Up: ”Once a Year!”

KWMR is officially gearing up for our Annual Spring Pledge Drive (April 18 – May1) and KWMR Day (May 2)! We went to one drive as an antidote to the frequent public media pleas and to make it extra special for our volunteers and our listening community. I estimate that this is my 35th Drive since joining KWMR in June of 2010 as the Station Manager.

This is our first drive since Congress cut public media funding by defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in July of 2025. This was a big blow to KWMR, eliminating 26% of our budgeted funding in the blink of an eye.

Save the Date! KWMR Day is on May 2nd every year and this year it falls on a Saturday. KWMR has reserved the Dance Palace’s beautiful outdoor area and will be hosting a family friendly event in the afternoon that will include food, fun, and a “No Talent Show” on the fancy new stage. We are still working out the details, but suffice it to say it will be fun, so pencil us in!

So, we had a hang…

Last Friday we hosted a “Programmer Hang” at the station and about 40 people showed up. It was so much fun. KWMR is a vibrant community, but we don’t often see one another in a group as shows follow one another and most folks are on twice a month… check it out, and then I’ll tell you about all the great events we have lined up…

1 – Amanda with Ashley Hathaway, chatting with Julie Manson

2 – Michael Neuman (Morning Mike) with Dallas Smith (West Marin Naturalist Hour)

3 – Amanda with Lee Giammona, the back of Mike’s head, Betsy Nichols (Foraging w/ Betsy Nichols) and Ashley Hathaway

4 – Todd Sulzinger (Board Member) with Nancy Vayhinger (Board President, Classical Thursday), Stuart Davidson and Jim Schultz (Epicenter contributor)

5 – Neshama Franklin (Reading to John) and Kendra Downey (Acoustic Afternoon)

6 – Betsy Nichols with Jason Miller (Redwood Sideband)

7 – Jason Miller with Jeff Manson (Program Director), Vickisa (Coastal Airwaves) and Susan Hayes (In the Coastal Garden)

8 – Stuart Davidson, Larry Rippee (Coast Highway Blues) and Nancy Vayhinger

9 – Gregory Demascio (Kammermusik) and Lyons Filmer (In the Coastal Garden, Mesa Refuge Interviews, former Program Director)

10 – Jeff Manson with Liz Wilhelm (West Marin Naturalist Hour)

11 – Ashley Hathaway with Lee Giammona 

12 – Flynn! 

But wait, there’s more…

The Pledge will be from Saturday, April 18 and will end on Friday, May 1. 

Because Friday’s hang was so much fun, we are hosting open “Community Hang” events – three of them, during the drive. Still have that pencil out? Jot these down, too.

Hang #1 will be on Pledge Eve on Friday, April 17 from 5 – 7 pm. All of these “hangs” correspond with “Happy Hour” programs, the first being hosted by Rob Richards. 

Hang #2 is on Friday, April 24th from 5-7 PM. Liberacha is hosting “Happy Hour” that evening and I’m working to lure her out of her Sonic Bunker and get her to KWMR.

Hang #3 is on Friday, May 1 when Magillicutty will be “in the house.” And we will be celebrating the drive ending and getting psyched up for KWMR Day on Saturday, May 2.

Our pledge drive goal is big and bodacious: $150,000. We will be using the funds from Jennifer Jewell’s “Cultivating Place, Live” event as “seed funding” for the Pledge Drive. Hey, if we are going to have a seed swap, why not raise some seed money! Want to pitch in early with a Challenge Grant? You can do so HERE.

And the icing on the cake is that Alyssa Tanner, KWMR’s legendary Development Director is taking a few days off from her new job in Massachusetts and will be here LIVE to help us through our big annual drive! Whew!

I hope that you are feeling the great vibes and enthusiasm from KWMR as much as I am. After spending six months mourning the loss of public media’s federal support – losing the money is as heartbreaking as the lack of respect for what all these media outlets provide, I am encouraged by our volunteers and the amazing staff at KWMR!

We are ready to kick some radio butt!

Amanda Eichstaedt
KWMR Station Manager, Executive Director & Development 

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