We Can Use Your Support!

I have always felt that my blog is a place for my thoughts about hockey and random other things. I never wanted it to cost anything, I wasn't going to make anyone subscribe, and I certainly didn't feel like I had "premium content" that had to be behind a paywall. Even the extensions of this blog - the grassroots hockey coverage and the radio show - are all done without any demand for subscription fees because it wouldn't feel right asking anyone to pay for our goofy content.

I do believe deeply in the work that UMFM does as a campus and community radio station. Part of our CRTC license mandate is that we need to cover campus and community events which is why The Hockey Show is quick to volunteer when it comes to covering great community hockey events such as the Female World Sport School Challenge and the sledge hockey games we've had the honour of calling. In saying that, this will be the only time we ever ask for help.

UMFM's annual pledge drive known as Pledge-O-Rama started last Friday, and you may have heard Jason and I talking about it on The Hockey Show last week. Pledge-O-Rama is where UMFM asks its listeners for a little bit of cash in order to fund major projects, capital improvements, and infrastructure upgrades through donations to the station. All donations are tax deductible if one chooses a tax receipt or UMFM merchandise can be acquired for a donation. All donations, however, go into the major project account for UMFM's improvements. No donation is used for day-to-day operations.

Some of the improvements that UMFM listeners have helped bring to life include a new radio tower erected in downtown Winnipeg that has allowed us to expand our broadcast reach beyond Winnipeg's outer reaches, funds to purchase our mobile broadcast units that have been used a number of times by Jason and I, and upgrades to the technology in our server room that saw the quality of the UMFM online radio stream and the individual show recordings improve greatly. Needless to say, we are grateful for our amazing listeners!

So how much is UMFM seeking in this pledge drive?

It may sound like a lot, but the station is aiming to raise $34,000 before Friday at 8pm. That may sound like a lot, but the station has already raised over $21,500 over the first four days! That's an incredible total already, so thank you to everyone who has donated! If you're looking to make a donation and join the UMFM community, the online pledge form can be found here or you can give us a call at 204-474-6610 and we'll fill out the donation form for you!

What improvements are you planning with these funds?

As stated, Pledge-O-Rama funds will go into making UMFM even better, and this year's projects are pretty cool when it comes to UMFM's dedication to the University of Manitoba campus and the communities in and around Winnipeg and southern Manitoba. The funds raised during Pledge-O-Rama this year will be used for:

• A UMFM news department! UMFM is creating a dedicated news department that brings local, campus, and community-focused reporting to the UMFM airwaves. With local news coverage shrinking everyday, independent stations like UMFM are uniquely positioned to fill that gap. We aim to do that.
• DJ and Live Production training! UMFM is developing new training opportunities for anyone who wants to learn how to DJ or produce content — students, neighbours, friends, and anyone interested in radio or podcasting - and UMFM is expanding our live studio recording program so local and emerging artists have a professional space to record, perform, and share their work while learning the radio craft.
• A new memorial archive! Over the years, UMFM has lost hosts and contributors who helped shape the station into what it is today. We want to honour them properly by building a dedicated section of our website to pay tribute to those friends we've lost. They matter to us and to our listeners!
• A secured content hub for campus partners! This new website space will house content produced through a new joint project for collaborative work that reflects the connection between UMFM and the University of Manitoba.

Clearly, these projects would eat up a lot of the station's annual budget without the Pledge-O-Rama funds, so we are grateful, we are humbled, and we are appreciative of any and all support that one can give. I'll even add that if you're unable to donate any money, we're just as appreciative of people who call to tell us how much they enjoy the shows and hosts found on UMFM. That boost to the UMFM ego never hurts, and it's awesome to hear that we're doing well!

If you have the means, please donate what you can afford. A nickel makes a world of difference when it comes to these projects, and we'll thank you just the same as if you donated $1000. Again, I would never ask for any money for my own personal gain, so this will be the only time I'll ask for you to give anything other than your time when it comes to reading HBIC. I am more than grateful for anyone who stops here, and UMFM would love to earn your listenership!

As a special programming note, The Hockey Show will be on the air at 5pm CT tomorrow for 90 minutes as we wrestled away the half-hour before our show from the syndicated French music show. Jason and I will be going through the first exit interviews among the various fun we have planned, and we may even have a few show incentives you'll want win by making a donation! It could be worth your effort!

I'll have more details on The Hockey Show preview tomorrow, but UMFM's goal of $34,000 is entirely reachable thanks to listeners like you. If you've made your donation, thank you so much for supporting great radio. If you haven't or are planning to, please do so by clicking the link or calling us at 204-474-6610! Thank you for your support!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!