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!