Fall Campaign - A Leap of Faith
Hello, and from all of us at CKUA Radio Network, "Thank You" for being a friend and supporter of CKUA. I’d like to briefly pass along to you some important information about CKUA’s Fall Campaign.
Firstly, our decision to shorten our on-air campaign from 17 to 10 days was a significant- some might even say a radical change for CKUA. On-air campaigns raise almost one third of all donations during the year (approximately $1-Million); and donations account for more than 60% of CKUA’s entire operating budget of about $5-Million. So, making a dramatic change, particularly one that reduces or limits the window of fund raising opportunity was a dramatic shift and a bold leap of faith.
However, while we knew there were inherent risks in making such a change, the decision was made after significant consultation with our donors, listeners, staff and volunteers; and because of the support received for the idea, we felt confident we could succeed.
So, was our Fall Campaign a success? Without doubt; after all, we raised $484,000 in 10 days. That equates to 92% of our goal in 60% of the usual time. In addition, the number of New Donors and New Subscribers who joined the CKUA family is extremely heartening and ultimately vital for CKUA’s long term viability.
Shift Leader Alan High changes the numbers on the Campaign tote board
What about the shortfall between our goal and our total? Well, the targets we set for campaigns are not arbitrary. They are based upon CKUA’s financial need as well as our reasonable expectation – based on previous campaign experience - of what is achievable. When we do not meet a target, it means we must make up that shortfall somewhere or reduce costs elsewhere. Right now, we are examining our options, but it is our hope that we can raise the balance of our necessary funds without affecting service to you.
I wish to express my personal thanks to everyone (CKUA staff and volunteers) who worked so hard to make our Fall Campaign the success it was. Most importantly though, I want to offer sincere thanks to you, the CKUA listener and donor. Without your generosity and your belief in the value and relevance of CKUA in this world, this wonderful Canadian broadcasting treasure would slip away.
We appreciate your faith in us – and your willingness to take a leap of faith, with us. Together, we have and will continue to accomplish great things for music, arts & culture and for our communities.
Ken Regan
General Manager
CKUA Radio Network
This Holiday Season… Give the Gift of CKUA
With the holiday season approaching, there’s no time like the present to select that special gift for the music lover in your life. And if you’re looking for a unique gift this year, how about giving someone their own personal hour of CKUA Radio? Donating an hour of CKUA programming is easy and a great way to spread the joy of any season. The recipient of your gift will be able to personally connect with the CKUA show and announcer of their choice, and they can even offer a special greeting to friends, loved ones and the whole world! And when you give the gift of CKUA, you’ll share in the joy, knowing you’ve also helped CKUA!
Fun…Unique…A gift of music, a gift of CKUA... and it's tax deductible as well.
To give the gift of CKUA contact: Alan MacKenzie at amackenzie@ckua.com or call 1-800-494-2582 ext. 2019 or fill out the pledge form at ckua.com and select "program donation."
40 years of Holger Petersen: A CKUA Celebration
On November 8th, Cook County Saloon in Edmonton was transformed from an average country bar to a swingin' blues club. Over 300 people came out to celebrate 40 years of Natch'l Blues and its well-loved host Holger Petersen.
The meal was delicious, the banter was hilarious, the toasts were touching, and the music was rockin'! Fantastic tributes where given in Holger's honour, from musicians Joe Louis Walker and Donnie Walsh, former CKUA Board Chair and childhood friend of Holger, Bud Steen, and CKUA's Jack Hagerman and Ken Regan.
Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel presents Holger with a congratulatory plaque
In classic CKUA fashion, the moment the music started chairs and tables were abandoned for the dance floor, where most people spent the remainder of their night.
It truly was a wonderful evening. All funds raised from this event will go towards CKUA's archival recordings project.
Holger began working at CKUA when he was 19 years old… The rest, as they say, is history.
Knockin’ on Dylan’s Door
A brand new radio show is blowin’ in the wind. On the first Friday of each month, David Ward travels down the many roads of the eclectic and ever-expanding musical world of Bob Dylan. Ward delves into Dylan’s musical inspirations and collaborations, those who have covered his tunes, artists featured on his Theme Time Radio Hour and perhaps includes a tune or two from Bob himself!
Knockin’ on Dylan’s Door made its world debut on November 6th, leaving listeners eager for episode number two, slated to air Friday, December 4th at its usual time slot, right after the Celtic Show, at 8 PM on the CKUA Radio Network.
Telus Presents Cheque to Support Digitization of CKUA Archival Materials
L-R: Eric Young, Telus Edmonton Community Board Member; Michael Betmanis, CKUA Library Technician; Ken Regan, CKUA General Manager; Dr. Robert Westbury, Chair, TELUS Edmonton Community Board.
On October 28, 2009 it was with great gratitude that General Manager Ken Regan and Library Technician, Michael Betmanis accepted a cheque for $14,000 from Eric Young, a Telus Edmonton Community Board Member, and Dr. Robert Westbury, Chair of the Telus Edmonton Community Board.
The funds will go towards the Capturing Cultural Voices – Digitizing Historical Arts and Cultural Interviews Project. This project will entail digitizing countless interviews from a CKUA Arts & Culture series dating back to early 80’s that include conversations with cultural icons and political figures of the day, such as Karen Kain, Maureen Forrester, Robert Goulet, PM Pierre Trudeau, and Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed.
We are looking forward to these slowly deteriorating tapes being preserved as their content will continue to shine a light on Alberta’s musical, artistic, and political history; showcasing and reminding us of our rich and eclectic heritage.
Scenes From the Library
Each week, the CKUA Library receives CDs from all sorts of different sources, from mainstream labels to Indie groups. In this CKUA Library section of the Newsletter, every month I highlight a new CD that we have received in the library that I consider to be an undiscovered gem of the Albertan music scene.
Artist: Lyra Brown
Album: Lyra Brown EP
Every so often a person sees a young artist burst onto the music scene, and you know that this artist has a good chance of making a name for themselves with their unique music in the music industry. Edmontonian Lyra Brown is one such artist. As part of the U22 fold, she has created quite a stir with her unique songwriting and very quirky and witty stage presence. At the recent CBC U22 taping at the Royal Alberta Museum, Lyra really stood out in the crowd of talented U22ers as being very original. Recently she opened up for another U22 performer on the rise, Joe Nolan, at the packed Shell Theatre in the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan.
Lyra is such an original as a musician that it’s hard to find the right comparison for her music – a bit of the childlike singsong enfant terrible quality of Kimya Dawson, perhaps? Or - possibly some of the same storytelling way of writing songs that one associates with Joni Mitchell, or the playful, hip, wordsmith edginess that one associates with Emily Haines from Metric. Actually, Joni Mitchell and Emily Haines are two artists that Lyra cites as influences for her music. And Lyra has a special connection with Emily Haines, who invited her to open for her in Toronto, in March 2008, after hearing Lyra’s 2-song EP. Lyra credits the encouragement she received from Emily Haines as a big reason why she became braver as a songwriter and performer.
Lyra’s songwriting is quite rich in observation and storytelling. This is completely understandable when among the many influences that she has for her songwriting, she is influenced by "…Sylvia Plath, Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, people in the street, my dog, nature, love, pain, the rain, heart, soul, mind, my little brothers, the bus that was late, and the drip drop drip drop of my bathroom tap …".
Lyra currently has a 6-song EP, and is writing and recording on her 4-track and will, she says, "one day have an official record". While we are greatly enjoying her 6-song EP, her official album can’t be finished soon enough for us at CKUA!
You can hear Lyra’s music and learn more about her at her MySpace site.
Lyra’s next concert will be with Cori Brewster and Rob Heath on November 19th at 8 PM at the Blue Chair Café in Edmonton.
Got some feedback for CKUA? We love to hear from listeners – send us your comments.
