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IT’S THE HRM VERSON OF THE PBS FUNDRAISER |
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Written by Alex J.Walling
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Sunday, 13 May 2007 |
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ALSO: Did you know Global TV launched a news package at 11pm? A. J. Walling has something to say about it!
 This is the third attempt at a SEASIDE-FM fundraiser. I hope this one will work.
For those not in the know, Seaside FM is the community radio station (94.7) that is located in Eastern Passage and broadcast to parts of metro. They are nearly five years old and that by itself is a major accomplishment.
They are a non-profit radio station. The official title is ‘a non-for-profit’ station and for the most part it is run by volunteers. The morning person, Thom Leonard, and I believe Frank Cameron are given a small amount of money and that is it.
Leonard is the only close to full time announcer the station has and is on air every weekday from 7am-9am with the Rise & Shine show. In fact Leonard has been with the station since the beginning or very early days and the money he makes probably fills a few tanks of gas. In addition to the morning shift, he comes back to do a soft and easy Saturday night show. The kind Tony Beech used to do on CFDR.
Next to Paul Meagher (see article on the Paul’s) Thom Leonard is probably the most recognized and best easy listening voice in Metro. No jazz, no luncheon gold with this guy. Simply great EZ music.
As for Uncle Frank he does a once a week show which airs on Saturday afternoons from noon-3pm. The only other person making money from the station is Joe Coe, who works full-time for the government and makes a hefty commission from the station. He is a part time sales person. In fact the station does not have a full time station manager who makes DAILY calls. It's one of the reasons they need this fundraiser.
The rest of the time this station is run by volunteers and some of these guys have tons of radio experience in this market such as the Paul’s (Kennedy and Meagher), Ian MacPhee, Gail Rice. Others are just good volunteers such as Dave Abbott, Mike Shacklock and so many more who do this because they either like the music, like radio, or have an interest in both.
Wayne Harrett who took an idea and made it a reality runs the station and is the General Manager. He has done a remarkable job from starting as a special event 28-day operation to their new studios in the Passage. This station thought of a fundraiser within its first year. They wanted and approached Eastlink cable about a fundraising event but that went no where.
Last fall they looked at a fundraiser and were going to give away a ‘cookbook’, not really an award-winning prize.
But this time it seems, from what I have heard, to be well organized. Forget the cookbook (I mean how many cook books can one have and most people by age have many, including the Betty Crocker one). This time the sales people went and got some very good prizes from the sponsors. Giving something while asking for money is always a good thing.
I hope they do well with this venture.
The first idea with Eastlink was to soon after their launch in August of 2001. Something has to grow before you go to the public and Seaside has grown. No one knows how many listen, and for how long, but after a near half-decade it has made a mark.
The first aspect the station has to be congratulated for their format. Not only is it unique and distinct, which is a blend of easy listening, and other genres not available in metro, but the fact is they have not done like many others stations, and that is change their format.
It seems to be a game. A group or existing radio station applies to the CRTC for a license. They promise a format and then as soon as they get the license, they change the format.
Not these guys, they are known for their easy listening music. Johnny Mathis, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Floyd Cramer, James Last, live on this station.
They certainly are and have got the ‘older demographic’ and I’m certain these folks listen for a very long period of time.
The next reason they earned the right to fundraise is the variety of unique programming.
PBS flood our TV airwaves once, or twice a year and tell us of the great programs they and only day offer.
In HRM, Seaside can make that claim.
Seaside offers a Big Band show. Where else can you get this? When was the last time you heard Glenn Miller on Halifax Radio? How about a Barbershop program, or a Gospel show, an Irish show, a show or large portion dedicated to the Chairman (Frank) himself and so much more. And no one plays more East Coast artist than 94.7.
In other words they’ve earned the right to ‘ask for your support’ and that’s all they can do.
They’ve also ventured into an area of public trust and that is when you ask for funds and support you have to show where it is going. I hope they have the necessary checks and balances in balance and can account for every penny earned and where it will go. And it shouldn’t go into any pockets but 100% into the operation of Seaside FM. In fact they should take an ad out in the paper when it is over showing full disclosure. This is not the time for mistakes.
As of this column they were approaching 10 thousand dollars after three days and their goal is 30 thousand by next Sunday, May 20th.
I for one hope they make it and wish them well.
I see that Global TV has launched a news package at 11pm. I also see that they didn’t bother to advertise it much.
Tell them you’re going to do it.
Do it.
And tell them you’ve done it, is a great PR motto I learned 35 years ago and it still applies.
And in this great, new, one-hour package they don’t have a single second of sports. Nary a mention in a full hour. No highlights, nada, nilch, nyet, nothing. Not good.
Look, I’m the first to agree that weather is much more important than sports but Cindy Day has around 8 minutes for weather and anchor Paul Palmeter doesn’t have 8-seconds for sports.
Sorry, I don’t buy it and I don’t really care what the consultants say. They say that the real sports fan will tune into TSN and The Score, and Sportsnet for his fix. And they are right.
But I don’t see to many stories on these national networks dealing with the SMU Huskies, the high school scene and other Maritime sport matters.
How about six-minutes of Cindy and two-minute sports package? I mean, how often can Cindy say "Sunshine and lots of it for tomorrow and the day after."?
I’m a big fan of the CBC weather. They show us the sunshine, and rain on a board and we can see for ourselves.
You can reach Alex J via email at:
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