Nicole Oppenheim: Ear Candy writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Nicole Oppenheim

Hi there!  I'm Nicole Oppenheim, Secretary of the Board of Directors and DJ at CHIRP.  I'm happy to say that I've been volunteering with CHIRP for almost 6 years.  I'll be honest.  The main reason I volunteer with CHIRP is because it's fun.  I have made many friends in the organization--some best friends--and it feels good to interact with people who like independent music as much as I do.

It's so satisfying to be part of a large organization of people willing to work hard and give independent artists a voice in a big city like Chicago.  Everyone in CHIRP does this work because we love it.  We're a non-profit, so we're not out to make money.  Our goal is to focus on independent, local, and generally lesser-heard music as well as to give local community artists, activists, and other interesting people a voice in the conversation.

We are loyal to Chicago, but our focus is not narrow.  We play music from all genres, all eras, all locations.  Major stations and broadcasting companies may speak louder than we do, but we are here nonetheless and we're committed to being the best independent media outlet in the city.   Unlike the bigger stations, we don't take money from advertisers or special interest groups.  We are listener-supported and our programming reflects that.  You won't hear lengthy commercials or the same bland songs played over and over.  Our DJs bring you the best of independent music, local and otherwise, and we strive to create and maintain the best soundtrack possible for our listeners.

As a member of the Board of Directors and a DJ, I support CHIRP with my time, my money, my voice and my ever-growing music collection.  I am proud of what I have helped to build.  If you are interested in joining us, by all means check our website to see when the next Volunteer Orientation meeting will be held.  We'd be glad to have you on board.  If you don't have the free time to commit to CHIRP, please consider making a donation, large or small.  We would not be here without your support and we truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Shawn Campbell writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Shawn Campbell

I don't know what it is, but radio has always been the thing. You know, THE thing. It's hard to explain. From the time I was about ten years old, I wanted to work in radio. And from that point forward, it was  the only thing I wanted to do. So I went to college and studied radio and worked at my college radio station (see photo - and scrunchie). I got a job in commercial radio, did that for awhile, went to grad school and studied more radio (WHY?), then worked some more in commercial radio. It had its moments, but there were always compromises.

Then in 1999, I made the move back to non-commercial radio and found my true home. To get to play the bands you think are amazing, no matter what label (if any) they are on. To have the chance to showcase organizations and issues no one else is talking about. To get to make your own playlists and curate your own shows rather than going from a pre-programmed playlist. To work with passionate, like-minded music fans. All are pleasures of non-commercial radio.

But even in that non-commercial world, there are battles to fight, and at the end of the day, the party that controls the broadcast license controls the fate of the station. And with that in mind, in 2007, I decided Chicago needed a truly independent community radio station. I got a great group of people together, and we sat on the patio at Moody's and plotted out what was to become CHIRP.

Since then, it's been quite a run. We built the station we imagined. We literally created it from the ground up. More and more people joined in as we went along, even in the days (years!) before the station physically existed. And now we have more than 250 amazing volunteers. We've won awards. And we won our battle that began with day one of CHIRP -- to change the law at the federal level so we would be able to apply for a broadcast license. We applied to the FCC last October, and currently are awaiting word on our application, but we're very optimistic.

Meanwhile, we're not resting on our laurels -- everything at CHIRP is a work in progress, and we still have plenty of big dreams that we haven't checked off our list. But the fact is, it's only because of the people who have believed in us over the years that this station exists. It's because of YOU. And that's why, as we begin the second week of our spring fundraising campaign, I really hope you'll make a gift to CHIRP in whatever amount that fits your budget. 2014 is going to be a huge year for us, and your support makes all the difference. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported CHIRP over the years, and who are making pledges of support for the very first time right now. As ever, you guys rock.

Mike Pakowski writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Mike Pakowski

Today is $10 Day at CHIRP, and I hope you'll join me in becoming a member at this very manageable giving level. If you love CHIRP and what it represents, membership is really important, and $10 Day is a great point of entry.

I started volunteering for CHIRP in 2009, and the station and organization has become a huge part of my life. Not only am I surrounded by people with great taste and interest in the local music, arts, and cultural scene; I’m also surrounded by kind and caring individuals who are passionate about Chicago and everything this great city has to offer. There’s no other organization out there like CHIRP. I am extremely proud to be part of CHIRP, and I am very excited about what the future holds for us.

So please join me in upholding the values of community radio, because it truly is a community. Become a $10 member (or whatever level works best for you) today!