Erin Van Ness writesGearing up for the Fall Membership Drive!

We here at CHIRP just love our membership drives! After all, with every new member comes a new story, telling tales of inspiration, admiration, encouragement, and gratitude. We receive so many kind and thoughtful words of support, that it would be a shame to keep them all to ourselves. We hope you’ll visit us over the next two weeks as we share some of the stories about the impact CHIRP is making on the Chicago community and beyond.

To kick off our Fall Membership Drive, veteran volunteer James Vest shares why he devotes his time to supporting the mission we call CHIRP.

Imagine if every major art gallery in the country was owned and run by a handful of companies. Every city had the same collection of galleries, arranged by the same commoditized genres, exhibiting the same few pieces of art. What if those companies helped pass a law that prohibited smaller, local galleries out of concern that their art might interfere with the larger conglomerates. If this happened, would you do something about it?

Radio was a lot like that when I joined The Chicago Independent Radio Project three years ago. Since then, CHIRP has helped overturn a federal law prohibiting low-power FM radio stations in major metropolitan areas, providing hope that we, and other stations like us, can eventually apply for a low-power FM license. CHIRP has also launched a wildly successful internet station that gave a group of radio and music enthusiasts a voice through a vast collection of music, personalities, and creative talent as diverse as Chicago itself.

I joined CHIRP because I believe radio stations should be involved with and reflect the unique communities they serve. Like a local art gallery, community radio informs, inspires, empowers and challenges the listener’s perspective while expanding our understanding of music and the cultures that produce it. Independent radio stations like CHIRP host a wide variety of music that reflects our cultural backgrounds, regional identity and our country’s collective legacy.

I am proud to be a part of CHIRP, a commercial-free, volunteer-run organization. Through the support of grants, donations and community volunteers like me and hopefully you, what CHIRP has accomplished in the past few years will only be the beginning.

—James Vest
CHIRP Volunteer Since 2009

Agree that CHIRP is a vital service worth supporting? You can always:

• Learn about volunteering CHIRP Radio is always accepting new volunteers. No experience in radio required—just an enthusiastic attitude and a willingness to pitch in!
• Become a member CHIRP needs more than just birdseed to run the station. Show your support by becoming a member today!
• Share your story What does CHIRP Radio mean to you? Let us know and we may feature your story in future materials!