KBXE Publicity Committee Meeting in Bagley

Things are starting to really cook with the KBXE project, and I hope you can join our next publicity committee meeting this Thursday at Daroo's Pizza in Bagley from 5:30 - 7pm. More info here.

We'll work out the final details for the Spread the Love party and fundraiser this Saturday at the Blue Ox in Bemidji, more details here.

And we'll brain-storm upcoming events (we're due for some guerrilla theater this summer ;D)

There has been a lot of information published lately about the KBXE project:
How to Understate Excitement
How KAXE and KBXE will Coexist
What is Northern Community Radio

Your voice, your community, your station... see you at the meeting!!!

Rock on,
Doug

Doug MacRostie
Northern Community Radio
260 NE 2nd St
Grand Rapids MN 55744
mac@kaxe.org
218/326-1234
800/662-5799

91.7 KAXE www.kaxe.org
90.5 KBXE www.kbxe.org
www.northerncommunityinternet.org

Spread the Love THIS Saturday

There will be fun and games galore at our annual Spread the Love party and fundraiser this Sat., February 5th, at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in downtown Bemidji starting at 6pm.

Julie Crabb and Brandon Chase will be hosting love-themed Green Cheese Trivia with prizes from the Bar Bell Bee Ranch, K.D. Floral and Gardens, Chocolates Plus, and Chronicle Books.

And we’ll have great live music with The Limns from Minneapolis, a high energy rock band with influences of reggae and funk.

It's all to help Spread the Love for 90.5 KBXE, the new radio station we’re building to secure and enhance the service of KAXE and Northern Community Radio in Bagley, Bemidji, Puposki, Erskine, Clearbrook, Buzzle Lake and beyond.

Get more information, and find out how you can help build KBXE, at Spread the Love this Saturday, Feb 5th at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in Bemidji. The Taco Bar and veggie alternatives start at 6 with trivia and music throughout the evening to help Spread the Love for KBXE.

You can RSVP on Facebook here.

Let's Get Together and Feel All Right

Our second annual Spread the Love party and fundraiser is coming up on Sat., Feb 5th at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in downtown Bemidji starting at 6pm. Come on out for fun and games, live music and find out how you can help spread the love for KBXE!

We'll have love themed Green Cheese Trivia and prizes with Brandon Chase and Julie Crabb. Big thanks to the Bar Bell Bee Ranch, KD Floral and Gardens and Chocolates Plus for providing the prizes. Plus, we'll have a couple copies of The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex to give away - how's that for love themed prizes? ;)

And we are really excited to have The Limns joining us that night for some excellent live music. Out of Minneapolis, the Limns are a high energy reggae-rock band with more than enough love to go around.

There will also be a taco bar and veggie alternatives. We'll start with trivia after food, then The Limns will rock out, then another round of trivia before The Limns rock out the rest of the night.

Join us on Sat., Feb 5th to Spread the Love for KBXE. You can RSVP here on Facebook.

Let's Spread the Love

Wondering what KBXE is? It’s a new radio station we’re building to enhance the service of KAXE and Northern Community Radio in Bagley, Bemidji, Gonvick, Shevlin, Debs, Wilton and beyond.

You can get more information, and find out how you can help build KBXE, at our annual “Spread the Love” party and fundraiser starting at 6pm on Saturday, February 5th, at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in Bemidji.

We’ll have a Taco Bar and vegetarian alternatives, and fun and games including love-themed Green Cheese Trivia with Brandon Chase and Julie Crabb.

Plus live music with The Limns, a high-energy reggae-rock band from Minneapolis.

Join us on Saturday, Feb 5th at the Blue Ox Bar and Grill in Downtown Bemidji starting at 6pm to help Spread the Love for KBXE.

You can RSVP on Facebook here.

Meetings, Parties and Construction... OH MY!

Happy New Year!!!! Nothing against 2010, but it's nice to finally be in 2011, right? We have barely over a year to build KBXE, LET'S DO IT!!!

This Thursday, Jan. 6th, the KBXE Publicity Committee is meeting at the future KBXE Studios, 3rd and America in downtown Bemidji, at 5:30pm. All are welcome! Bring friends, neighbors, strangers, whoever! We'll be working on Spread the Love II, planned for Saturday, Feb 5th. RSVP on Facebook.

Some homework to bring to the meeting: 5 love-themed trivia questions (not raunchy!) for the bar-edition of Green Cheese Trivia with Brandon Chase. If you can't make the meeting, feel free to message them to me (mac@kaxe.org).

And keep in mind that we have a "Call for Help" out there for remodeling the KBXE studios - It's a modern day barn-raising; where a community comes together and builds something great. Read more here.

Thanks for all you do, let me know if you have any questions and see you soon!

Rock on,
Doug

Doug MacRostie
Northern Community Radio
260 NE 2nd St
Grand Rapids MN 55744
mac@kaxe.org
218/326-1234
800/662-5799

91.7 KAXE www.kaxe.org
90.5 KBXE www.kbxe.org
www.northerncommunityinternet.org

Let's Build This Thing!

Northern Community Radio and 90.5 KBXE have a New Year's resolution, and hopefully it involves you! It's remodeling the new studios at 305 America Avenue NW in downtown Bemidji.

It's a modern day barn-raising; where a community comes together and builds something great. In this case, it's building 90.5 KBXE - a public radio station for the entire community to use and enjoy.

It's the kind of project that requires the skills, experience, labor and networking of many. In short, 90.5 KBXE supplies the materials and you help in the assembly.

If you want to volunteer in the renovation of 90.5 KBXE, contact John Bauer: jbauer@kaxe.org, or call 218-326-1234.

So Bright You Might Need Shades

by Doug MacRostie

Last year was KBXE's first time in the Night We Light parade in downtown Bemidji. We had cute kids in a truck with our mock-tower on the trailer covered in glow sticks next to a mock-radio studio, homemade banners on the side outlined by strings of lights - all run from an inverter. It was a very fun and cool thing. Then we saw the rest of the floats and in terms of the "light" part of the parade, we were the dimmest.

WELL NOT THIS YEAR!!! Come out and see the spectacle, starting at 6pm on Friday, the 26th in downtown Bemidji.

Last Sunday, members of the community and the KBXE Publicity gathered to put together this years float. We have upped the ante with a giant, reflective cornucopia that will have a pile of radios pouring out. Plus, a generator. Why a generator? Well...

We'll be hooking up some speakers and blasting tunes. And we've got 4 professional, sturdy, die cast aluminum, multi-color stage lights combining for a total of 144 high powered LEDs to wash our float with colorful light. Factor in the multiple 4' x 5' LED light spreads for the cornucopia, the flashing light on top of the tower and the brake lights and you might just want to bring your sunglasses.

No, we will not be the dimmest float this year! Oh, and we'll have cute kids again too :)

Like last year, we'll be doing a video of our adventure, and this time the Video Ninja will be capturing the footage so be sure to get nice and loud when you see the float. I'm talking big excitement. Screaming, waving your hands, perhaps feigning a faint, you get the idea.

We'll be meeting at 3pm on Friday the 26th to finish up the float at the KBXE Studios (3rd and America) - stop out if you would like to help, OR if you have any radios/stereos we can use on the float drop them off between 3 and 4:30. It would be a good idea to put a piece of tape on the bottom of the radio with your name and phone # so we can make sure it gets back to you.

If you would like to walk with us in the parade, be to the staging ground (behind the County buildings in Bemidji) between 5:30 and 6 - we'll have candy, KBXE info, buttons and stickers for you to hand out.

90.5 KBXE is a new public radio station being built by Northern Community Radio, who's mission to build community in Northern MN through radio broadcasts, cultural events and interactive media. Northern Community Radio has been operating 91.7 KAXE for almost 35 years (available at 105.3fm in Bemijdi) - 90.5 KBXE is intended to expand and enhance our service to that region, and has to be on the air by March of 2012. More info at http://www.kbxe.org.

Ever See a Giant Cornucopia Pouring Out Radios?

90.5 KBXE will have a float again this year in the Night We Light parade in Bemidji on Friday, Nov. 26th (the day after Thanksgiving). Last year we had a glowing tower and radio station and a truck full of "cute enthusiast." This year we plan to make things bigger and better with a giant cornucopia with radios pouring out (and more).

If you would like to help spread the news and excitement about 90.5 KBXE you can help us assemble the float on Sunday, Nov. 21st at Noon at the future KBXE Studios on 3rd and America in downtown Bemidji (RSVP on Facebook). Bring a snack to share, hands to help, and any old radios or stereos we can use in the float. We'll be using chicken-fencing and fabric to make the cornucopia, which we'll pull behind a truck in a trailer (full of cute enthusiast, obviously). We'll also have a generator to power music and lights, including some professional stage lights :D

You can also walk with us in the parade, which starts at 6pm on Friday the 26th - arrive a little early! (RSVP on Facebook). We'll have stickers and 90.5 KBXE info to hand out, as well as candy! The more, the merrier. Give us a call if you have any questions, 800-662-5799 or email comments@kbxe.org.

90.5 KBXE is a new independent public radio station being built by Northern Community Radio which has been operating 91.7 KAXE for almost 35 years (at 105.3fm in Bemidji). 90.5 KBXE will enhance and expand the local, community coverage of Northern Community Radio. Give KAXE a listen if you haven't, we're streaming live at http://www.kaxe.org.

Here's a video of our experience last year:

VIDEO: KBXE Zombie Crawl in Downtown Bemidji

The KBXE Zombie Crawl & Guerrilla Theater video was captured and produced by volunteer Jamie Hall, aka the Video Ninja. Thanks to the mass of zombies who dragged themselves around downtown Bemidji for the KBXE Zombie Crawl!!!

What is KBXE?

Zombies Flood Bemidji to Build Community

When word spread around Northern Community Radio that Lara Gerhardson and Mike Bredon were planning to close a street in downtown Bemidji to shoot a mass zombie scene for their film Lazarus at the same time KBXE was planning to host a Zombie Crawl in downtown Bemidji, we knew it was going to be a very cool thing. We joined forces and yeah, it was. Check out pix in our photo album.

On Sat. Oct 23rd 2010, hundreds of zombies gathered for the Lazarus film shoot on Beltrami Avenue NW and for 2 hours we dragged ourselves through the streets, mobbed a truck and had a lot of fun. Everyone involved was very happy to be there and from the film crew & producers to the security and zombies, it was all smiles between takes. The zombies ranged from young kids to grandparents.

Director Mike Bredon said that the shooting went excellent before climbing into the truck for one last mass-mob shot. "You guys have been amazing and thank you so much for being here." Local producer Gary Burger said that he was impressed by the seriousness of the the zombie participants, "I didn't see anyone goofing off at a camera, or smiling and laughing out of character. No horsing around or interrupting, just serious zombies. And that makes it so much easier for us."

Immediately following the filming was the KBXE Zombie Crawl which lead many of the undead all around Bemidji for coffee and drink specials and a little guerrilla theater (video coming soon :D). Chants of "What do we want? BRAINS! When do you want them? BRAINS!" could be heard throughout the night, and Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" was played on multiple jukeboxes. The mob got bigger as the they crawled on and Brigid's Cross was packed with Zombies for live music to rock out the night.

"It's great seeing so many young people at a community radio event" said KBXE producer Doug MacRostie, "I think the zombie's helped a lot." The Zombie Crawl was to support Northern Community Radio's new station, KBXE. When it is built, KBXE will provide a new and powerful signal to people who live near Bemidji and Bagley.

Please contact us if you would like to help build KBXE!

Zombies Spotted in Bemidji!!!!!!!!!

One Night, Two Events, Lots of Zombies! On Sat. the 23rd of October we'll be flooding Bemidji with Zombies - you can be part of a Zombie Film, and/or our Zombie Crawl:

Be in Lazarus - a Zombie Movie set in Bemidji
Have you ever wanted to BE in a Zombie Movie - now is your chance! Lara Gerhardson and Mike Bredon have been working on a full-length feature film called Lazarus. It's set in Bemidji and is the story of two brothers coming to terms at the end of the world. They have a big Zombie mob scene and we need YOU to be there. They are closing Beltrami Avenue in front of Brigid's on Sat. the 23rd from 5p-7p to do a multi-angle shoot of lot...s of zombies flooding the street. Bring all your friends! Meet at the parking lot behind Brigid's Cross. Wear old raggedy clothes and be ready to act like an old-school, slow moving zombie. If you can be ready to go with costume and make-up, be there by 4:30 to be part of the scene. If you need help with make-up, then be there by 4. Filming will start around 5, after some preliminaries and training. This is going to be a lot of fun and I hope you can be a part of it. If you would be interested in helping as a make-up artist, please let us know! This film shoot will be followed by the KBXE Zombie Crawl around downtown Bemidji. RSVP on Facebook.

KBXE Zombie Crawl
Join 90.5 KBXE for an evening of cavorting and fun for our Bemidji Zombie Crawl!!! On Saturday, Oct 23rd we'll be gathering at the parking lot behind Brigid's Cross Irish pub to start the crawl at 7pm, arrive early to be part of the group! Show up in your best zombie clothes and make-up! There will be make-up artists at the parking lot behind Brigid's if you need help with that - be sure to arrive early then - maybe around 6:30.... The route will take us to 209 at 7pm, Blue Ox at 7:30, Backyard BBQ at 8, Keg N' Cork at 8:30 then finish the night off with a party and live music at Brigid's Cross Irish Pub at 9. There will be a drink special happening from 7-9p at the Cabin Coffee House too! There will be drink specials at each bar for anyone dressed as a zombie AND wearing a KBXE sticker or button (which we will have available). And we'll probably plan a few "mobbing" moments as we travel from bar to bar (more details will be given the day of ;) RSVP on Facebook.

More details at KBXE.org

What is KBXE? Find out: http://www.kaxe.org/kbxe/faqs.html

Clearwater County Fair Photos

90.5 KBXE was at the Clearwater County Fair in Bagley from Thursday August 5th through Sunday August 8th. Check out more pix here. Many local musicians performed at the KBXE booth including Lance Benson with Steve Ross and Mark Bauer, The Brothers Burn Mountain, Drew Warne-Jacobson & Friends, Aaron Tank, Eric Carlson, Miriam Tell and Katie Corning. Plus we had drawings for CD packages, KBXE stickers and more info on this soon-to-be-built radio station from Northern Community Radio.

Get more info at www.kbxe.org

KBXE's Clearwater County Fair Kickoff

by Doug MacRostie

When we arrived to set up and the Clearwater County Fair yesterday, some other radio station was in our spot (and we had rented the BEST spot). This was quickly resolved and didn't seem to be too big of a deal to anyone. But still, for our first event IN Bagley, we bumped out a different radio station..., "Hi, here comes KBXE" ;). A sign of things to come? lol.

Right away we had issues tying knots to hang weights for the booth, a new thing we hadn't tried before. After one knot untied unexpectedly, we inquired at the booth of Cub Scout Pack 53 of Bagley to see if anyone could help us. Josh and Sam came over and saved the day! As they were working on the knots and we were chatting about this new station we're building, we found out that Josh actually already listens to KAXE, streaming on his smart phone! (KAXE isn't available on-air in Bagley...hence, KBXE is on the way). We didn't even have everything set up yet, and right away we had someone signing up for more info and volunteering help for the station. The perfect start for the fair - not to mention the Cub Scout booth was covered in KBXE stickers all day after that :)

When we were set up and ready to go, we could hear the Country Oldtime Tuners performing on the Pine Stage behind us. A duo with a guest, they had two guitars, vocals and accordion playing traditional country and gospel music. The Pine stage is a nice shady area, with an artificial pond and benches. One thing is for sure, the Clearwater County Fair has a great atmosphere! We forgot to bring our extension cords so we didn't have any music playing, and the red light on the tower wasn't flashing. That is all fixed starting today - so if you stopped by yesterday, you have to come out again to see the full effect (not to mention the live music).

Today's live music at the KBXE Booth will be performed by Eric Carlson at 4pm and Aaron Tank at 6pm. Tomorrow (Saturday) is our "big day" of music, with multi-piece bands including drum kits. A lot of people said they would be back tonight (Friday) to see Lance Benson at 6pm - check out the full schedule at KBXE.org and stop out and say HI!

What is KBXE?

KBXE Brings Local Bands to Clearwater County Fair

90.5 KBXE will be at the Clearwater County Fair in Bagley from Thursday August 5th through Sunday August 8th. Many local musicians will be stopping by to perform at the KBXE booth including Lance Benson with Steve Ross and Mark Bauer, The Brothers Burn Mountain, Drew Warne-Jacobson & Friends, Aaron Tank and Eric Carlson. Plus we’ll have drawings for CD packages, KBXE stickers and more info on this soon-to-be-built radio station from Northern Community Radio.

Performer Schedule
Friday August 6th:
4pm: Eric Carlson
6pm: Aaron Tank

Saturday August 7th:
2pm: Drew Warne-Jacobson and Friends
4pm: The Brothers Burn Mountain
6pm: Lance Benson with Steve Ross and Mark Bauer

Sunday August 8th:
2pm: Miriam Tell
4pm: Katie Corning

What is KBXE?

We Came, We Flash Mobbed, We Left

So wow, the KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob was a HUGE success. With over 50 people coming together dressed as Paul Bunyan, a lot of smiles and double-takes at Art in the Park, and a video that has over 1,300 views in the first week it was an eye-catching event, and a lot of fun. Not sure what I'm talking about? The Video is at the bottom of this blog.

The video and story of the KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob was picked up around the internet including The World News Network (see screen shot), Minnesota Brown, MinnPost, ICTV, the FlickrRiver, it was the most popular story on Northern Community Internet, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Strong Towns Blog, Roy C. Booth's Myspace page, and many other content repeaters :) Not to mention the people who watched on the Bemidji Chamber of Commerce Paul & Babe webcam :) There was also a clear impact on the KBXE Facebook page; compared to the previous week, our monthly active users was up 141.3%, total fans up +13.9%, interactions up 722.2%, and overall page views up 123.5%.

If you can think of anyone or anyone else who should cover this story, feel free to encourage them to do so ;) Will we do another Flash Mob? Join the Publicity Committee to find out :D

This was the latest event from the KBXE Publicity Committee, a group of volunteers working to raise public awareness and build support for 90.5 KBXE - a new independent community radio station that will serve Bagley, Bemidji and beyond. Please contact us if you would like to get involved the the Publicity Committee (email Sarah MacRostie, sdemac@paulbunyan.net), or any of the other ways you can help - call Northern Community Radio at 800-662-5799.

The KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob

It was a beautiful day in downtown Bemidji. The sun was shining and people were enjoying Art in Park when a Paul Bunyan walked by. What? A Paul Bunyan? There's another! And three more! They're everywhere, what's going on here?

It was Northern Minnesota's first ever flash mob, courtesy of 90.5 KBXE. On Sunday, July 18th 2010, a group of over 50 people gathered at Diamond Point Park in Bemidji for pizza and planning. Then the group set off for the Lake Bemidji Waterfront, dressed in red and black flannel shirts, blue jeans (rolled up of course), a painted mustache and a dark knit cap. The group slowly trickled through Art in the Park, turning a lot of heads and getting even more smiles. The Mobbers then drifted to the Paul and Babe statue, where they froze one at a time. What started as a couple of frozen Paul Bunyan's grew into dozens and people stopped to watch and take pictures while passing cars honked their horns.
Members of the Flash Mob ranged in age from 88 to 1, or "older than the Paul Bunyan statue to younger than it's latest paint job." There was even a Paul Bunyan on a bicycle, and families of Paul Bunyans.

After remaining frozen as a group - they suddenly turned away from the statue and pulled open their flannel shirts to reveal KBXE Bumper Stickers to a cheer from the gathered crowd.
The KBXE Paul Bunyan Flash Mob was conducted by the Publicity Committee of KBXE - a soon-to-be-built independent community radio station that will serve Bagley, Bemidji, Fosston, Gonvick, Clearbrook, Debs, Erskine, Zerkel and beyond. Lead organizer Sarah MacRostie said, "KBXE’s publicity committee has been working hard to raise awareness in area communities in creative ways - from a phenology walk in Clearbrook to being in the Debs 4th of July parade. Getting members from the community to perform guerrilla theater in the form of a Paul Bunyan Flash Mob seemed like a perfect fit for the First City of the Arts, and a great way to get peoples' attention."

90.5 KBXE has to be broadcasting by March of 2012, and you can help make it happen! Contact us if you'd like more information or would like to join one of the committees working on this project. KBXE is being built by Northern Community Radio, whose mission is to "Build Community in Northern Minnesota through radio broadcasts, cultural events and interactive media." Northern Community Radio operates 91.7 KAXE, which is celebrating over 34 years of independent community radio with studios in Grand Rapids, and translators at 89.9 in Brainerd and 105.3 in Bemidji. KBXE is being pursued as a way to preserve community radio for that region.
More info: kbxe.org

Thanks:
The KBXE Publicity Committee

Video:
Jamie Hall

Photos:
Jeremy Anway

Food:
Papa Murphy's Pizza, Bemidji

And of course, all you Mobbers :D

Press Leak: KBXE Flash Mob

ATTENTION: Group of Volunteers Plan “Flash” Event for Bemidji’s Art in the Park

On Sunday, July 18th, during Art in the Park in downtown Bemidji, something amazing is going to happen. That something will start at 1pm and last for a matter of minutes, gathering at the Paul and Babe statue. And it’s something you should cover. Have your cameras pointed & reporters posted for Northern MN’s first ever Flash Mob, courtesy of KBXE.

At first you’ll see one or two…, then there will be one or two more…, and three more after that…and then more… what is it? Be there to find out!

Think of it as community guerrilla theater by volunteers of 90.5 KBXE, a soon to be built community radio station serving Bagley, Bemidji, Fosston, Gonvick, Clearbrook, Debs, Erskine, Zerkel and beyond.

This information is embargoed until culmination of the event on July 18th and should not be announced in advance. Contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks and see ya there,
Doug

Doug MacRostie
Northern Community Radio
260 NE 2nd St
Grand Rapids MN 55744
218/326-1234
800/662-5799
mac@kaxe.org

91.7 KAXE www.kaxe.org
90.5 KBXE www.kbxe.org
www.northerncommunityinternet.org

----------------------------------------------------
P.S. If you want to be involved with this event, get in touch with KBXE Publicity Committee by contacting Sarah MacRostie at sdemac@paulbunyan.net.

Community Radio is People: That's YOU!

The following is a message that was sent to members of the KBXE Publicity Committee, but - all our welcome, so here is your official invite :)

---------------------------------------------

Yo! Here's my attempt at urging you to dedicate some of your valuable and limited time to help KBXE this summer - it's a LOT of work to build a new radio station and we really need your help.

I can completely understand how busy you probably are this summer - I know my calendar has very few "open" weekends left, along with wanting to spend time with Escher (almost a year and a half old now!) and what not, it's crazy and seems like there is barely time to breath...

But, KBXE is important. And, KBXE is on a tight timeline. I hope you can come to our meeting tomorrow night at 5:30 (Thurs, July 1st, 2nd and Minnesota – old People’s Nat. Gas building meeting room). From sharing ideas to planning events - the more people the better!

If you can't make the meeting, but still want to help, please let us know if you can help with events on these dates:

Sat. July 3rd (THIS sat) we are going to be in the Debs parade - meeting in Debs at 10a, with the parade starting at 11.

Sun. July 18th - something really cool is happening, but you have to contact me to find out what (mac@kaxe.org).

August 5th-8th, the Clearwater County Fair - we'll have a booth there and need volunteers to help staff it. Even if you can just offer a couple hours, we truly need all the help we can get.

If you are available at any of these times, please come out and help! Contact me back to let me know, and feel free to ask any questions: mac@kaxe.org

Northern Community Radio has a great reputation doing a lot with a little, and we do that with volunteer support - help make KBXE happen and thanks!

~Doug

What is KBXE?

90.5 KBXE Is Heating Up in July

by Doug MacRostie

July is shaping up to be an exciting month in the world of 90.5 KBXE, the yet-to-be-built radio station that will serve Bagley, Bemidji, Fosston, Gonvick, Clearbrook, Debs, Erskine, Zerkel and beyond. From new studios to parades, from fairs to ???, it's going to be a lot of fun!

Coming up this Thursday at 5:30pm the KBXE Publicity Committee meets at it's temporarily-regular time and place (first Thursday of the month, 2nd and Minnesota – old People’s Nat. Gas building meeting room in Bemidji) with a lot of exciting things to talk about (if you want get involved with the Pub Comm, check out the group on Facebook, or call us for more info 800-662-5799). The reason this is the temporary regular date and time is...

The purchase of studio space for 90.5 KBXE has to be closed by July 7th - we have teamed up with Harmony Natural Foods Cooperative to purchase the former TruStar Federal Credit Union building at 413 3rd Street Northwest in Bemidji. 2,600 square feet of that would be 90.5 KBXE studio space (next to Dave's Satellite), the rest would be the new location of Harmony. The location serves both organizations, and it's been great that we've been able to work with another local, community-oriented group in a mutually beneficial way. So, by the time the next KBXE Publicity Committee meets, we should be sitting in the future home of the KBXE studios!!!

Coming up on Saturday July 3rd, volunteers from 90.5 KBXE will be in the Debs 4th of July Parade starting at 11am.

On Sunday, July 18th... [more information available through the Publicity Committee ;D] ...how cool is that?

The first weekend of August we'll have a big booth at the Clearwater County Fair in Bagley, next to the kiddie barn area. We're planning to have some local musicians stop by the booth to play some tunes, and we'll have CDs and stickers to give away - plus all the info you need to support a radio station being built. We could definitely use some volunteer help at the fair, again contact the Publicity Committee for more info, or call 800-662-5799.

Do you have questions about KBXE? Wondering how, exactly, we're going to do what, exactly? Get involved! Building a community radio station is a community process - we're a grassroots organization, and we're still at the early stages of this project - you're help is more than welcome, it's needed!!!

Help Save PTFP!

PTFP is an acronym for a federal program: the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. PTFP is in trouble.

PTFP is the place public radio and television stations go to apply for federal funds to help build new stations. It also keeps existing stations on the air when the equipment wears out, and helps public radio stations prepare for or recover from hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters.

It is a good program. It has just 3 employees and low overhead. PTFP helped KAXE replace an ailing transmitter in the past, and we hope it will help us build KBXE in the future. It is a small federal program; a drop in the proverbial budgetary bucket. PTFP received a total $44 million in 2011, most of which will be distributed to public radio and television stations.

Yet, for some reason, PTFP has been targeted as one of only 4 programs in the whole government as examples of what the President wants to line item veto this year. Efforts to cancel the program have come from both Democrats and Republicans in congress. They have linked cancellation of PTFP with lowering the deficit.

At the root of this, there seems to be general misunderstanding about PTFP. Some people think it is redundant, because the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds many aspects of public broadcasting, and has recently provided funding for digital conversion.

Unlike the CPB, the PTFP doesn’t exist to fund HD radio or digital TV. PTFP exists to build stations. PTFP is the only place organizations like Northern Community Radio can go for federal funds to buy actual, basic broadcast equipment. The PTFP’s highest priority is to make sure public broadcasting is available to people everywhere in the United States. It won’t pay for everything—the program requires every applicant to leverage public money with matching private funds.

In 2007, the FCC opened what is probably the last window for applications for new noncommercial broadcast licenses ever (because the FM spectrum is pretty much completely full now). They granted hundreds of new construction permits, many to grassroots organizations—community licensees, colleges, nonprofits and American Indian groups, to name a few. Most of these new stations are not built yet. A loss of the PTFP right now will mean an irreplaceable loss in new community radio stations because the stations in the pipeline—that had counted on PTFP for help—may not be able to find enough money to build. If they can’t build in time, their licenses will go to wealthier organizations that can, and it is likely that no new licensing opportunity will ever come again.

This is a critical issue for all small and community-based radio stations in the public radio system. You can help! Here is a link to a letter you can send to your congressional representatives (by email or printable letter) about PTFP. It is on an NPR website, the Public Radio Action Center (when you fill in the identifying information, most of you will be a “non-station advocate.”)

Here is a link to write to your local congressperson: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

And another link to write to your senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Or, call KAXE if you want more information, and ask to talk to me! 218/326-1234.

-Maggie Montgomery, General Manager
Northern Community Radio