Signal WSIU Public Radio
An Online Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 2 • Februar y 2013
Lo v e i s r i A e h t on Make your pledge online at wsiu.org/love or by phone at 1-800-745-9748 by 1pm on Monday, February 11 for delivery on or before Valentine’s Day.
WSIU’s annual Love is on the Air fundraiser is spreading love and appreciation to those closest to your heart this Valentine’s Day. When you make a donation to WSIU, we’ll send your loved ones boxes of beautifully wrapped, handmade regular or sugar-free gourmet chocolates from The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, Illinois. We’ll ship these tasty treats to anywhere in the continental U.S., courtesy of Mil Boxes Etc. of Carbondale. Another amazing gift is the Comfort Heart Pillow™, the sweet little Heart that comforts, from Mother Earth Pillows™ of Arnold, Mo. The pillows are handcrafted using natural golden flax and fabrics, and can be used to ease pain, tension, and discomfort. Warm the heart of someone you love with a onepound box of chocolates and a Comfort Heart Pillow™. Items are available for the following donations:
CHOCOLATES • Half-pound box, $45 donation • One-pound box, $60 donation • Two-pound box, $100 donation
Sponsored By
Comfort Heart Pillow ™ and a one-pound box of chocolates, $120 donation
This Month on Morning Conversation Feb. 12
SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng discusses rules and expectations from faculty and students
Feb. 13
Southern Illinois Women’s Teen Conference (preview) Host Jennifer Fuller
Feb. 19 Food Justice
Feb. 5
Illinois Policy Institute Director John Tillman
Feb. 11
Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale (Trivia Night At The Oscars Fundraiser)
Feb. 25
SIU President Glenn Poshard talks about campus issues and events
Feb. 26
Science Café preview (Cache River)
Morning Conversation airs at 8:30am on Tuesdays and other weekdays, as scheduled, and repeats at 5:30pm. Check the Morning Conversation Calendar at wsiu.org/programs/ morning-conversation for updates.
Keep
the Beat
Jennifer Fuller’s Keep the Beat series returns for American Heart Month. Each Monday in February, she’ll run a feature spotlighting different aspects of heart health and care. Topics include the world’s smallest heart pump, hypothermic therapy for cardiac arrest patients, congestive heart failure care and post-hospitalization treatment, and remedies for holes in the heart.
SIRISArtvolunteer Fitz-Gerald
FUNDRAISER On Saturday, March 2, the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) will host a Trivia Night Fundraiser at the Newman Center to support reading services for the blind and visually-impaired.
Before he was involved with the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS), Fitz-Gerald volunteered with the Salvation Army. He was also a reader at the Illinois Radio Reader in Champaign – a similar reading program at the University of Illinois.
Fitz-Gerald reads once a week at SIRIS, and enjoys sharing stories from The Southern Illinoisan. His areas of interest include articles on local and state government, and how they’re handling today’s issues. Fitz-Gerald also reads smaller newspapers like The Daily Register, and is particularly fond of their “This Day in History” section. His most memorable SIRIS moment was attending the SIRIS Holiday Party. “They had great food, and I met a lot of the board members, Vickie [Devenport], and a few of the other readers…that was truly an enjoyable experience,” says Fitz-Gerald. “I probably hung around a little longer than I should have,” he jokes. Fitz-Gerald looks forward to helping out at future events and hopes to meet new volunteers this year. “I encourage everyone to get involved. It’s really fun to read, and the people really appreciate it,” he says. Fitz-Gerald wants people to know that a great way to find out more about this organization is by attending the SIRIS Trivia Night Fundraiser (see sidebar) in March.
SIRIS
TRIVIA NIGHT
Art Fitz-Gerald is originally from Wilmette, Ill. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in history, and obtained his master’s degree in history at Southern Illinois University. Fitz-Gerald now teaches American history at both John A. Logan College and Rend Lake College.
Fitz-Gerald has been volunteering with SIRIS since last August. He would have joined sooner, but says there was a waiting list. “All the slots were filled… everyone wants to read,” he explains. When he finally heard back from SIRIS, he was thrilled and couldn’t wait to share interesting news articles with listeners.
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SIRIS Volunteer Art Fitz-Gerald. Photo: Christina Clayton.
Outside of SIRIS, Fitz-Gerald hosts a morning show called Phil Ossify on Friday mornings on WDBX 91.1 FM. There, he plays music, reads poetry, and shares works from philosophers like David Hume. Fitz-Gerald also docents at the Harrison/Bruce Historical Village at John A. Logan College. In addition to teaching, volunteering, and hosting his own radio show, FitzGerald holds the title of musician. “I play acoustic guitar... I take [modern pop hits] from artists like Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and Taylor Swift and play them in minor key.” You won’t get a chance to hear any of his music on YouTube, though. His renditions are simply for personal enjoyment. Fitz-Gerald is a huge fan of WSIU Radio’s Morning Conversation with Jennifer Fuller. “I like how she can hold her own against the big wigs. She’s not afraid to ask them difficult questions,” he shares. Dave Armstrong’s Sounds Like Radio is another favorite. To volunteer at SIRIS, please contact WSIU Outreach Coordinator Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.
Teams of up to eight people will compete for first, second, and third place prizes. Participants have the option of registering as individuals for $15 or as teams for $120. Teams can register beforehand or the day of the event. WSIU’s Jak Tichenor will be the Master of Ceremonies SIRIS will provide drinks and snacks for a small fee, but individuals are more than welcome to bring their own snacks or beverages. To register, please call SIRIS at (618) 453-2808, or register the day of the event. Doors open at 6pm and trivia starts at 6:30pm. The Newman Center is located at 715 South Washington St. in Carbondale, Ill.
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What’s the Scoop? Puerto Rico series on
Morning Edition Voters in Puerto Rico recently took the first step towards statehood, a move many say is one of desperation, indicating how tough life is now in the Caribbean paradise. Puerto Rico has been in recession for more than six years, and the government is selling off its assets to cover massive debts. The island is plagued by violent crime as drug cartels move in from Mexico, and many residents are fleeing to find jobs on the mainland. NPR examines these issues facing Puerto Rico -- and their implications for the rest of the U.S. -- in a four-part series airing on Morning Edition, beginning Tuesday, February 5.
Puerto Rico: Part One Tuesday, February 5 Many Puerto Ricans who leave are settling in central Florida. They’re often young, educated professionals, and some even relocate businesses there. NPR’s Greg Allen reports from Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, where Puerto Ricans are transforming local neighborhoods, local economies and national politics.
Puerto Rico: Part Two Wednesday, February 6 Puerto Rico’s newly elected governor has to figure out how to solve an economic meltdown – fast. Things are so bad, some analysts call Puerto Rico “the Greece of the Caribbean.” Host David Greene reports from San Juan and Cabo Rojo to learn how relatives of the Puerto Rican residents of Central Florida profiled in the start of this series cope with their shattered economy. Photo: Pete Souza.
Puerto Rico: Part Three Thursday, February 7 Puerto Rico’s per capita murder rate is five times that of the U.S. as a whole and three times Mexico’s, mainly due to a huge increase in drug smuggling. Host David Greene talks to a man who created an anti-crime movement after his son’s murder, and to the new commissioner trying to reform Puerto Rico’s police force.
Puerto Rico: Part Four Friday, February 8 Host David Greene visits legendary rapper Tego Calderon at his studio outside San Juan. Calderon built it close to where he grew up, and he’s trying to turn around his economically depressed neighborhood.
All Things Considered’s Calling all creative writers...
Image: NPR.
All Things Considered’s Three-Minute Fiction Contest is back for round 10 with a new judge, author Mona Simpson. The contest, hosted by NPR’s Guy Raz, has a simple premise: Listeners submit original short stories with a 600-word limit that can be read aloud in three minutes or less. This round’s special rule, along with contest details and deadline, will be announced February 2nd on All Things Considered.
State of the Union Coverage Tuesday, February 12 at 8pm President Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, February 12. NPR will offer live anchored special coverage at 8pm, augmented with reporting and reaction from NPR correspondents on Capitol Hill, as well as analysis of the speeches from NPR correspondents and outside contributors.
Photo: Pete Souza
This Month on
Thank You Underwriters! Please join us in thanking the underwriters who recently began, renewed, or expanded their partnership to make public radio possible:
Attitude Designs, Carbondale, IL
Blacklock Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Carbondale, IL
Caring Transitions, Carbondale, IL
The Chocolate Factory, Dixon Springs, IL
Fat Patties,
Carbondale, IL
Leadership Development Program, College of Engineering at SIU
Saturday 7pm • Sunday 6pm Feb 2 • New Releases & 22nd Anniversary We celebrate our 22nd anniversary at the start of February with some new releases and some tracks used in our very first program back in 1991.
Feb 9 • Musical Siblings Bands of brothers, bands of sisters, and bands mixing brothers and sisters are the focus this week, with music from The Willis Clan, Screaming Orphans, and other musical siblings.
Feb 16 • 30 Years Back: The Best of 1983 This week’s program continues our annual tradition of looking back at some of the best Celtic releases of 30 years ago, which takes us to the music of 1983.
Feb 23 • Welsh Traditions
As we approach St. David’s Day, we celebrate Welsh musical traditions with songs in Welsh and English, and dance tunes played on harp, fiddle, accordion, and other instruments.
Mailboxes ETC, Carbondale, IL
Mother Earth Designs, Arnold, MO
Touch of Nature Environmental Center at SIU Women for Health and Wellness, Carterville IL
For a complete list of WSIU sponsors and information about sponsoring WSIU programming, visit us online at wsiu.org or call (618) 453-4286. WSIU Public Radio Communications Building 1003 Mail Code 6602 Southern Illinois University 1100 Lincoln Drive Carbondale IL 62901 (618) 453-6101 wsiuradio@wsiu.org