In support of local Public Radio

WVPE 88.1 FM is in the midst of their spring pledge drive. You can pledge here.


A bit over ten years ago I discovered WVPE had become an NPR affiliate. I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but what I did know was that there was suddenly a lot of interesting programming each day – replacing the “smooth jazz” format in the daytime.

As I remember the lineup, Bob Edwards (I still miss him) started things off with Morning Edition. The Diane Rehm Show, Fresh Air and the Derrick McGinty Show followed. In the afternoon it was Talk of The Nation with Ray Suarez, followed by All Things Considered. At various points in my life since then I have been able to listen much of the day - and really felt I had a lot better idea of what was going on in the world.

I became a member shortly after this discovery – my small business even sponsored “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” for a couple of years.

When I first met the woman who became my wife, we decided to make our first real date be a Meet Me On The Island event – which was up until recently was cosponsored by WVPE. You see, she too was a Public Radio fan and a fan of that gathering. We still go.

A bit over a year later, we sponsored a Marry Me On The Island event – our wedding – commemorating that first date. I snuck backstage at the WVPE Blues and Ribs fest a few weeks prior to it, and talked Junior and The Igniters into playing for our reception. People still talk about that party.

Obviously, WVPE has great significance in our family.

I also noticed in recent years that the station made an ongoing effort to solicit listener commentaries and had been a bit surprised at how few takers there were. Over time, it became clear that the station wasn’t just trying a short term program; rather, it was clearly a station policy.

Well I got involved in a few projects and causes and decided I had some things to say about this and that, and discovered to my delight that they meant what they said. They’ve let me put my two cents in from time to time on the airwaves. What a privilege.

“The thing of it is”, as Chicago Public Television host John Calloway would start a thought… the thing of it is the combination of local news, local music programs, award winning syndicated talk and news analysis programs, sponsored community events and citizen access to broadcast media simply isn’t available anywhere else in our area. In Michiana, WVPE puts the public in Public Radio.

So as a long term member at this point, I’d ask you to think about what WVPE means to you. Heck, go into their studio and tell the rest of us. I, for one, would love to hear your story.

And all of us who love what we have here should think about what we are able to do to keep what we love going and thriving. For me, some years I can do more than others. I think the point is to try to do something always.

I hope you do too.

Don Wheeler
Editor