10/07/2025
October 6, 2025
Dear Members and Listeners,
KBBI’s Fall Membership Drive is this Friday, October 10th, and Saturday, October 11th. Join us in supporting your public radio station with a financial contribution to help us cover the expenses of keeping the station functioning. Due to the loss of federal funds which we would have received this week, we are now funded 100% locally, with over half of that in donations from members. While this makes things more challenging, this is also an opportunity to refocus on the communities we serve to provide content that is relevant and important in an effort to bring in more listeners as members.
Additional membership revenue will help us ease the transition of operating with a lower budget while keeping as many voices and programs on air as possible. Our goal for this drive is $50,000, and we’re already on our way to reaching it, thanks to you. Once again, a group of generous supporters has provided a matching fund for new members to double their contributions. If you can donate to this matching fund, please get in touch with me. Also reach out to me if you or your business wants to donate goods or services for the station to use as premiums for the drive, every little bit will make a difference.
I want to take a moment to address one of the very crucial reasons public media exists and why KBBI’s role in our community is so important. Public media was established nearly a century ago, and subsidized by the government over 60 years ago, to provide a source of news that was produced without commercial influence, to be accountable to the consumers of that news, not to the whims of profit or personal opinion. A couple of weeks ago, we watched as commercial influence was exerted over another local source of news which resulted in the resignation of several reporters.
As a member supported organization, KBBI will never prioritize commercial interest over factual, independent reporting, to help our listeners to be properly informed about the functioning of our governmental bodies and the communities we live in. We don’t take our position in the 4th estate lightly, and we will continue to uphold freedom of the press and freedom of speech as the highest of ideals. In support of that ideal, former Homer News reporter Chloe Pleznac is joining KBBI’s reporting staff to continue covering our region. Your support helps keep our local reporters on the job.
We’ll be glad to help you set up a sustaining donation, increase an existing donation, or take additional gifts. Don’t wait for our drive to start on Friday, give now on our website, KBBI.org, drop off or mail a donation to us, or give us a call during business hours, 907-235-7721.
Once the drive is over, join us for KBBI’s annual meeting, Wednesday, October 15th, at the Porcupine Theater. Doors open at 5:00pm, the business meeting will start at 5:30pm, and Homer’s own Cosmic Creature Club will provide entertainment after the meeting. Admission is free, and you are welcome. Beer and wine sales during the meeting will go to KBBI.
Thanks for supporting KBBI and keeping public radio strong in our community with your membership!
Josh Krohn
General Manager, KBBI
(907)235-7721 x.222
[email protected]
