Vol. 5, No. 5: May 2012
Signal This Month on Morning Conversations
An Online Newsletter from WSIU Public Radio P o w e r e d b y Yo u ®
SIRIS Annual Picnic Recognizes Volunteers
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IRIS was pleased to honor their dedicated staff at the SIRIS Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on Thursday, April 24.
Tue, May 8 • SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng Mon, May 28 • SIU President Glenn Poshard Share your comments and suggestions for Morning Conversations to mornings@wsiu.org. All Morning Conversations episodes are available online at www.wsiu.org/live. You can also find them on our podcast page and get a calender listing of upcoming events at www3.wsiu.org/radio morningconversation.
Volunteer Melinda Woker. Photo: Katie Tullis.
SIRIS volunteers enjoyed delicious barbecue and other goodies, and met colleagues from around the region.
All volunteers received certificates of appreciation and gift boxes. Director Vickie Devenport also presented the 2012 SIRIS Volunteer of the Year Award to Melinda Woker who has worked for the organization since 2007. Congratulations, Melinda!
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Congratulations to Jennifer Fuller, the Illinois Associated Press News Finder of the Year!
SIRIS director Vickie Devenport addresses volunteers at the annual SIRIS Appreciation Picnic. Photo: Katie Tullis.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SIRIS!
ongratulations to WSIU Radio morning news anchor Jennifer Fuller for being named the Associated Press (AP) News Finder of the Year! Fuller received the honor in late April at the annual Illinois News Broadcasters Association Convention in Macomb, Ill. Fuller also was presented with a 1st Place award from the AP for Best Downstate Radio News Reporter.
If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities, SIRIS is a great place to start. Your work at SIRIS has a positive impact on individuals who are blind or printimpaired. Get involved today by contacting SIRIS at (618) 453-2808 or send an email to wsiu.org/siris.
Meet SIRIS Operations Manager: SIRIS Welcomes Randall Hopper
New Operations Manager
Radio Fans Share Stories at Cape Storytelling Festival
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Robert Kern. Photo: Katie Tullis.
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lthough we are sad to see Randall Hopper leave the SIRIS family this May due to graduation, we are happy to announce the arrival of a new student employee. As one door closes, we are happy to open another to welcome Robert Kern, who will be the new SIRIS Operations Manager.
e love a good story… and so did hundreds of festival-goers at the 5th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival in April.
A native of Gurnee, Illinois, Kern came to Southern Illinois University to study Music Business with a instrumental emphasis in guitar. He also is pursuing a minor in Marketing. Kern learned about SIRIS from Hopper, whom he met in one of their guitar classes. Hopper shared details about his positive experience with SIRIS, which inspired Kern to apply for the job. “I wanted to work (at SIRIS) because it’s good experience. And it’s an experience I really couldn’t get unless I did a summer internship.” Kern says one of the best parts about joining SIRIS is his ability to help others while learning valuable media and leadership skills. He has also enjoyed meeting the SIRIS staff and volunteers. “I really enjoy the conversations I have with the people I’ve been meeting,” said Kern. When asked why he thinks SIRIS is an essential community service, Kern said, “I think it’s important to help people who can’t read for themselves learn about what’s going on in their local community. I don’t think people with any kind of disability should feel disconnected from the world.” Outside of work and school, Kern says he volunteers for an organization called Operation Christmas. “I started working for the group last winter. We get all types of donations, such as clothes, jewelry, and toys, and distribute the items to people living in homeless shelters in Chicago.”
Visitors had the opportunity to tell their favorite family story, funny tale, or poem at WSIU’s “Share a Story” audio recording booth on Saturday, April 14. Fourteen storytellers stopped by WSIU’s booth to share their stories. Children also enjoyed fun PBS KIDS activities and materials. This year’s storytellers included: Shay Alderman, Hope Botwinski, Richie Flentge, Bruce Gentry, Don Greenwood, and Jordan Huff of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Elaine Abramson of Hazelwood, Mo.; Bella Carlson, Sheila Faire, and Jonell McNeely of Jackson, Mo.; Barbara Curtis of Warrensburg, Mo.; Joyce Daniels of Scott City, Mo., John Myers of Sikeston, Mo.; and Katie Tullis of Carbondale, Ill. Storytellers received a CD copy of their recording, and their stories will be featured online at wsiu.org. To hear stories from previous years, visit wsiu. org, and select “Radio Voices: The Storytellers” from the Radio tab. Outreach coordinator Vickie Devenport coordinated WSIU’s activities, with assistance from employee Ryan Kinsella, students Danielle Farley, Katie Tullis, and Randy Hopper, and volunteers Carolina Badiano and Terry Nolan.
An avid music fan, Kern also works for the Registered Student Organization Digital Dog Records, a student-run record label on the SIU Carbondale campus that gives students hands-on experience in producing music for distribution. Students also learn how to write, produce, and perform radio commercials and present the annual Midwest Music Fest, which features musical acts of all genres. After graduation, Kern hopes to start his career by securing an internship in Audio Engineering either in Los Angeles or New York City.
Storyteller Shay Alderman of Cape Girardeau. Photo: Katie Tullis
WSIU Radio & TV Co-Sponsor the Southern Illinois Saluki Pow Wow
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or the second straight year, WSIU Radio and TV were proud to cosponsor the Southern Illinois Saluki Dancers perform during a colorful intertribal dance. Pow Wow, Photo: Monica Tichenor. a unique cultural event showcasing Native American art, music, culture, and food. Dancers from North American and Central American tribes gave exhibition dances throughout the day. Guests of all ages were invited to join dancers during intertribal and social dances. Over 1,700 visitors ranging in age from babies to seniors enjoyed dancing, drumming, and singing, traditional arts and crafts, and cultural presentations. The event was made possible by co-hosts the Native American Student Organization and Native American Studies Minor at SIUC, numerous University departments and offices, and co-host Carbondale Main Street together with dozens of regional business and organizational supporters. WSIU would like to thank everyone who supported and attended this year’s event.
Children check out a wigwam in the demonstration area. Photo: Monica Tichenor.
Reading Baseball Returns
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atter up! Richard “Pete” Peterson, host of the Reading Baseball series on WSIU Radio, will present a special segment of the series every other Friday, during baseball season, at 6:30 & 8:30am and 5:29pm.
About the Series Baseball historian and retired English professor Richard “Pete” Peterson presents commentary and stories celebrating America’s favorite pastime, its history, and the people who make it great.
2012 Southern Illinois Music Festival Preview
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he 2012 Southern Illinois Music Festival is coming! This year’s festival will be held June 8-24. A preview of this year’s concert will air on Friday, June 1 at 9am. Edward Benyas, Music Director in the School of Music at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, will host. Check next month’s Signal for more details on this Southern Illinois tradition!
Family Matters: The Money Squeeze
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oin us on Morning Edition for the final episodes of this series hosted by NPR’s David Greene. Family Matters tells the stories of three families who are struggling to care for aging parents while supporting their own children.
AnnaBelle Bowers talks with her greatgranddaughter and her friends. Photo: Kainaz Amaria / NPR.
Tuesday, May 1
The Hunter-Christian family has decided to keep their grandmother at home, no matter what the costs. How do they make the decision to quit their jobs and take care of a parent full-time?
Tuesday, May 8
In the Martin-Hawkins family, two sisters-in-law switch off every two weeks to keep Grandma at their homes. The family has made significant sacrifices financially. As insurance premiums spike this year, is long-term care insurance still worth it?
Celtic Connections host, Bryan Kelso Crow: Photo: Suzanne Milano.
Tuesday, May 15
The Martin-Hawkins struggles to manage in-home care for their aging grandmother while preparing to send two kids to college. How can the family cover expenses while saving for the future?
Tuesday, May 22
When an aging parent can no longer live in their home, how should you handle their real estate matters? Do you sell the home in a down market, hold on to the home, or rent it?
Tuesday, May 29
David Greene examines how families can plan for retirement.
Tuesday, June 5
Should families now expect to plan to care for their parents, and what is the government’s role in assisting families who can’t afford nursing homes or in-home care?
Thank You, Underwriters! Please join us in thanking the underwriters who recently began, renewed, or expanded their partnerships to make public radio possible:
Joseph Hudgins Orthodontics Carbondale & Marion, IL Scott McClatchey with Alliance Investment Planning Carbondale, IL Pheasant Hollow Winery Whittington, IL Office of the Chancellor Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL College of Liberal Arts Humanities Forum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL School of Law, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL For a complete list of WSIU sponsors and information about sponsoring WSIU programming, visit us online wsiu.org or call (618) 453-4286.
Saturdays at 7pm • Sundays at 6pm May 5 | New Releases What’s new in the world of Irish and Scottish music? Tune in to this week’s program to find out!
May 12 | Donegal Bands The spotlight this week is on bands from Donegal of the past and the present, playing the traditional music of their part of Ireland. We can expect to hear from Altan, Clannad, The Cassidys, T with Maggies, Fidil, and others.
May 19 | Child Ballads IX The ninth episode in this occasional series focuses on some of the classic ballads of Scotland and England, collected by Harvard musicologist Francis Child in the late 1800s.
May 26 | 30 Years Ago: Best of 1982 We travel back three decades to 1982 for a nostalgic look at the best new releases in Celtic music of that year.
Share Your WSIU Story! Tell us why you love WSIU Radio, and we’ll share your story on the air, online, or in print!
Online • www.wsiu.org/you Email • you@wsiu.org W S I U i s P o w e r e d b y Yo u ® WSIU Public Radio Communications Building 1003 - MC 6602 Southern Illinois University Carbondale 1100 Lincoln Drive Carbondale IL 62901 • 618/453-6101 • www.wsiu.org • wsiuradio@wsiu.org