Shawn Campbell writesGreat Thank-You Gifts in CHIRP’s Spring Fundraiser

Here at CHIRP, we're in the middle of our spring fundraising campaign with a goal of $15,000, and we're so excited about the great thank-you gifts we have to offer!

For example, a $60 gift (or $15/quarter) gets you this great reusable grocery tote, perfect for the upcoming farmers' market season:

Give $120 (or $10/month) and you'll get this cool limited edition t-shirt designed by the wonderful Jaclyn Miller of Fort Foot:

And for a $240 gift (or $20/month), it's this sweet CHIRP umbrella, with a special vented design that means it won't turn inside out in the those big spring gusts:

If you give $180 (or $15/month), you'll get both the tote and the shirt, and when you become a $365 ($31/month) member, you get all three!

Make your donation today and score one of these great CHIRP gifts before they disappear forever on March 28th!

Scott McKenna writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Scott McKenna

I consider myself nothing less than very fortunate to have been welcomed into such an organization as CHIRP. From the first moment that I discovered the station, I knew that I wanted to be involved and took immediate steps to join. This is back just after we first began streaming live and I had absolutely zero experience in the radio industry, but had always been an avid music listener and a pro when making mixes for my friends. CHIRP gave me an opportunity and an outlet, allowing me easy access to a community of like-minded people and dedicated supporters of commercial free, community focused programming.

To look back now and appreciate what exactly we have accomplished since the beginning is astonishing. Our team has started a cultural dialog in our city that you have engaged in whether you listen, contribute, volunteer, or all of those things! While we are so appreciative of our past, it is important to look ahead now and plan for where CHIRP is going and how it will get there. As we continue to grow, evolve, and expand the reach of independent radio, your support is more important than ever. Please consider donating what you can during our spring fundraising campaign, and help us continue to foster the conversation that has become so important to me.

CHIRP is truly what you make of it, so please make the most of this opportunity to help.

Mike Bennett writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Mike Bennett

I’ve been with CHIRP from the beginning, when we were about turning the idea of a radio station into a reality. I volunteered because I believed in the mission for this community radio station, although I now realize that I didn’t fully appreciate what the “community” part of community radio meant. It means many things.

First, there is the community of listeners, as CHIRP provides music programming that is a true alternative to commercial radio, playing songs and artists that you don’t hear anywhere else.

Second, there is the community of local artists that CHIRP plays, providing exposure, especially for up-and-coming bands. Chicago has one of the most amazing music scenes in the world, and to be a vital part of that community is exciting.

Finally, and most importantly, there’s the community of volunteers who bring various levels of expertise, along with an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm. For a substantial percentage of our volunteers, this is their first experience in radio. I know I have trained over 10 people to become disc jockeys, and I’d guess about a third, if not more, of our DJs are first timers.

And that’s what makes CHIRP so important – anyone can volunteer, as long as they are willing to put in a little bit (or, if they want, a lot) of time. Volunteers can learn all sorts of new skills – in production, in tech, in marketing and much more.

As an original board member, I helped create some of the structure that helped get this station going. And it’s a real station, with real needs for equipment, supplies, payroll (we now have two part-time employees) and anything else any radio station needs to keep going. This is why support from our listeners is so important, so we can continue to serve our communities – the listeners, the Chicago music scene and our volunteers (who knows – one day you, dear reader, might be a volunteer).

Please join me in becoming a member of CHIRP today!