Welcome:
As the general manager of KMSU/KMSK, I would like to welcome you to our first official e-newsletter keeping you in tune on what’s happening here at the station. We are at the start of an exciting summer and everyone here is looking forward to sharing the experience with our listeners!
Jim “Gully” Gullickson
NEWS:
New Transmitter:
After 45 long years, the KMSU Sintronics/Singer transmitter will be laid to rest. You may recognize the brand name Singer. That’s right, the company that makes sewing machines. Singer has been out of the transmitter business for quite some time. The old transmitter will be replaced by a newer, but slightly used Harris 20 Kilowatt FM transmitter. Construction on a new tower and antenna system has begun near the Gage dormitories on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDot) and Radio Mankato.
KMSU stumbled upon the donation of the transmitter after a brief mention of the faltering transmitter at the Service to America Awards in Washington, D.C. It sparked talk between emcee Deborah Norville of Inside Edition and Karen Wright. It resulted in the owner of Clear Channel Communications, Mark Mays, pulling some strings and making it happen.
The instability of the old transmitter posed a threat to the future of KMSU and on several occasions has resulted in going off the air. Being unable to afford a new transmitter, the donation could not have come at a better time. The new transmitter was donated by Clear Channel Radio and came from KIZZ-FM in Minot, North Dakota.
KMSU has planned the unveiling of the tower for September 27, 2008 with an open house to celebrate. This is also Minnesota State University, Mankato’s homecoming so it would be a great time to come out, root for the Mavericks and check out KMSU’s new tower.
Online Listeners’ Survey:
KMSU recently enlisted the help of the Organizational Effectiveness Research Group (OERG) of MSU to create and conduct an online survey to get public feedback and criticism. KMSU will use the findings to devise programming strategies and develop ways to better promote the station.
OERG is managed by the nationally recognized graduate program in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato. OERG offers a wide range of professional, human resources and management consulting services related to employee selection, training and employee development for private and public organizations.
The survey closed on May 31, 2008 and the results are pending. OERG is analyzing the data and as soon as the results are in the listeners will be informed on the results and programs that may change. If you participated in the survey, KMSU thanks you for your input.
Students Around for Summer:
KMSU is happy to announce Allison Reul has stayed on board this summer and has taken over as the assistant of public relations and marketing. Zack Thieman has also stayed on board this summer working at the radio station as the operations assistant. Mandi Bingham joined the KMSU crew this summer working as the underwriting assistant. Graduate student Jessica Jorgenson is also volunteering her time working with KMSU as receptionist/office assistant.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
St. Peter Fourth of July Parade & North Mankato Fun Days Parade:
KMSU has teamed up with one of its underwriting partners, St. Peter Food Co-op, this summer for two parades. On Friday July 4th you can come over to St. Peter to join in on the fun of Independence Day and celebrate the state’s 150th birthday. Then on Saturday July 12, 2008 KMSU will be in North Mankato for the Fun Days Parade at 11 a.m. Come join the fun and don’t miss your chance to get a KMSU temporary tattoo or two! If you’d like to join the KMSU/St. Peter Food Co-op float, please call 507-389-5678 or email james.gullickson@mnsu.edu.
Don't miss this opportunity to support independently programmed KMSU/KMSK!
WHO’S WHO OF KMSU: KMSU has some 40 volunteers from Southern Minnesota communities who bring the great programming you enjoy. Each newsletter will feature a different volunteer. This newsletter’s featured volunteer is David Engen.
Volunteer Profile:
David Engen – Listen to Your Folks
Every Sunday at 9 a.m. you can catch David Engen on air playing the likes of John Prine, Steve Goodman, Pete Seger and Lucinda Williams on his show Listen to Your Folks. But it’s more than just the artists that catch Engen’s attention, it’s the stories told 
throughout the songs and his opportunity to share them with others. “I love the way the music tells stories in like three minutes, whereas novelists get hundreds of pages.” Engen supports community radio because he enjoys the idea that anyone can share the music and information they love with others and get feedback. Engen’s program, Listen to Your Folks, has been on the air for almost five years and it has given Engen the outlet to incorporate his passion for audio and stories of everyday people for listeners and his students.
Engen is a professor of speech communication at Minnesota State University, Mankato volunteering his time, but also finds ways to introduce his students to the field of broadcast interviewing and storytelling by collaborating with KMSU. Engen is slowly gathering stories from the local community to share with listeners on-line through his new project “Voices from the Valley,” which is still in development. Engen grew up in Fridley, Minn. and currently lives with his wife and two children in Mankato. To contact him, email, david.engen@mnsu.edu.
MISCELLANEOUS:
New links on website:
KMSU has recently added new links on its website to archive past programs and interviews so if you missed something you can go back and review it. The Southern Minnesota News Project and Mankato History This Month are recently added links, as well as an interview with singer/songwriter Anna Laube, and others.
Letters from KMSU Listeners:
Dear KMSU,
“No one listens to Echoes the way I do on an old four-channel headset radio. It is old and very heavy and big, but does Echoes ever sound good on them! I came across this radio a few weeks ago at a store in Waverly, Iowa up on a shelf covered with dust. It had been sitting for years I guess. A great find. It’s thirty or more years old. It’s worth gold to me. Keep up the good work and signal at KMSU!”
Gary Thieme
Waseca, MN
KMSU enjoys hearing from its listeners so feel free to send your comments to james.gullickson@mnsu.edu.
This Month’s Featured Shows:
Whad’ya Know: Saturday 10-Noon. Michael Feldman hosts America’s most off-beat and entertaining radio call-in quiz program featuring trivia, contests, special guests, music and humor. Feldman is accompanied on stage by Jim Packard and musically by the Whad’ya Know Trio.
Le Show: Sunday Noon-1 p.m. A weekly, hour-long romp through the worlds of media, politics, sports and show business, leavened with an eclectic mix of mysterious music, hosted by Harry Shearer.
Blue Monday: Monday 6-7 p.m. Mark Halverson can never get enough of the blues and since 1991 has offered a variety of new artists and classic releases.
http://www.mnsu.edu/kmsufm/schedule/blues.html
Dreadbeat: Saturday 6-7 p.m. Get the night started right with the sweet Jamaican sounds of reggae, roots reggae, dub and ska with host Steve Fligge.
http://dreadbeat.blogspot.com/2006/10/dread-beat-show-8-repeated-on.html
Echoes: Monday – Friday 9-11 p.m. John Diliberto hosts a daily soundscape of world fusion and ambient music, interviews and living room concerts that has aired on Public Radio International stations since 1989.
How You Can Help:
KMSU is always looking for volunteer help with daily tasks around the station and with new and upcoming events. KMSU lost its dedicated front desk volunteer, Nancy Imes, who sadly passed away in November 2007. She volunteered twice a week answering phones and greeting guests. If you would like to share your time and talent, contact Jim Gullickson or Karen Wright at (507) 389-5678.
Mission:
KMSU’s mission is to provide programming for underserved populations, to provide a learning environment for University students, and to advance the programs and goals of Minnesota State University, Mankato to the greater community.
KMSU is a member of Independent Public Radio; a network of 12 independently licensed and managed community-based public radio stations in Minnesota. KMSU annually provides more than 420 hours of free air time for organizations and causes – equivalent to nearly 18 full days of local public service programming, valued at $21,000 annually.
In 2006, KMSU received the National Association of Broadcaster’s Educational Foundation’s first-ever “Service to America” award to a college station.
