Signal eNewsletter | March 2013 | WSIU Radio

Signal WSIU Public Radio

An Online Newsletter

Vol. 6, No. 3 • March 2013

Because of your love this year...

WSIU’s 17th Annual “Love is On the Air” event was a huge success. We shipped 135 boxes of delicious chocolates across the country and raised $8,195 to support the programming, services, and community engagement activities of the WSIU stations and SIRIS.

Lo v e i s on the Air

“Love is On the Air” has become a popular Valentine’s Day tradition among public media fans. For donations of $45, $60, $100, or $120 viewers and listeners were able to send locally-made gourmet chocolates from The Chocolate Factory in Golconda, along with Comfort Heart Pillows from Mother Earth Pillows™ in Arnold, Mo., to loved ones around the country, courtesy of Mail Boxes Etc. in Carbondale. It was a great way to support public broadcasting and surprise someone special with a sweet treat!

WSIU would like to thank The Chocolate Factory, and Mail Boxes Etc., and Mother Earth Pillows™ for generously donating their goods and services for this worthwhile cause each year. Thanks again to everyone who supported public broadcasting and WSIU this Valentine’s Day. We appreciate you!

Thank You Sponsors

This Month on Morning Conversation Morning Conversation airs at 8:30am on Tuesdays and other weekdays, as scheduled, and repeats at 5:30pm. For updates, check the Morning Conversation Calendar at wsiu.org/programs morning-conversation.

Host Jennifer Fuller

March 4 • Imagining Geographies

Coordinator Peter Lemish will discuss this year’s series, which features Land Issues and more.

March 5 • Math Week

SIU Mathematics Professor Greg Budzban will be in the studio to talk about the importance of math.

March 12 • Rethinking Money

Authors Bernard Lietaer and Jacqui Dunne talk about their research on states creating their own currency in an attempt to avoid national debt problems and other issues.

March 19 • Kids Fun & Fitness Day

Dr. Tony Miksanek will be in the studio to promote Kids Fun and Fitness Day.

March 20 • SIU Chancellor Rita Cheng

Cheng will discuss campus rules and expectations from students and faculty.

March 25 • SIU President Glenn Poshard Poshard addresses issues and events on campus.

March 26 • Science Café: Goodson

SIU chemist Boyd Goodson will chat about his upcoming Science Café.

SIRIS volunteer

Morrill says her favorite part about volunteering with SIRIS is being able to read to individuals who really appreciate the service. “It makes me feel more inclined to do my best and to put forth a good reading,” she says. “Just knowing you’re doing a good service is the most rewarding part of it.”

“As I meet the people involved, they’re all wonderful individuals,” she says of her fellow volunteers. “ They all have such talent, and different skills and backgrounds, that it makes for a very interesting family of people…I can’t wait for our next [event].”

Julia Morrill SIRIS volunteer Julia Morrill. Photo: Christina Clayton.

J

ulia Morrill was born in Evanston, Ill. Her father was a college administrator at several Midwestern schools, so Morrill spent most of her childhood living in various cities throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. In 1964, her family moved to Carbondale after her father accepted a position at Southern Illinois University (SIU). Morrill attended SIU briefly, but finished her studies in Communications at the University of Colorado.

While living in Colorado, Morrill worked as the Director of Community and Public Relations at the Fine Arts Center in Colorado Springs. This is where she really honed her communication skills. “I was able to do [write-ups for commercials], I was interviewing people on a classical station there, and doing informational programs for the art center…I really liked it,” she says.

Morrill later moved to Delaware to be close to her mother who had become ill.

She worked in Delaware for about ten years and helped open the Delaware City Fine Arts Center. “I organized a lot of artists and exhibitions there. We had [live performances] and workshops.”

She retired last year and decided to move back to Southern Illinois. As a busy person, Morrill wanted to stay active and began looking for things to do. She recently stepped out of retirement, and works fulltime again at a law firm in Murphysboro, Ill. Morrill has been volunteering as a Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS) reader for a year-and-a-half now. She became involved with SIRIS after reading one of the Signal newsletters, and later realized that a close family friend, and former SIU professor, Tom Dickey, had used the services. “It made it more of a heartwarming experience to be involved with something he had used,” she shares.

Her role at SIRIS is unique because she’s one of the few volunteers who reads from home. “Vickie [Devenport] came out and she helped me get set up at home. Now I’m doing weekend readings of the Southern Illinoisan.” She records about thirty minutes of readings on her computer and sends her recording to student worker Rob Kern for editing once she’s done. She says it’s a convenient way for those with busy schedules to help.

Like several other SIRIS volunteers, Morrill is also involved with The Stage Company in Carbondale. She explains, “It’s the attraction to being able to communicate with the public [that draws so many theater people to SIRIS].” Morrill says her involvement with theater during high school is what truly shaped her passion for communication. “It was very influential on the types of things that I’d enjoy doing going forward…it lays cornerstones on what kind of things you feel comfortable doing…[like being at] ease when talking to people, and being in the public eye. A lot of people don’t get that experience and I think it’s really valuable,” she says. Morrill worked with the Stage Company in the 1980s, and now that she’s back in the area, she’s happy to be helping out again.

Her advice to those considering new volunteer or career opportunities is to follow what you think you like to do. “You’ll meet the people on that path that can encourage you enough to do it and give you that support,” she says. “Get into those areas that you really think you’d like to be a part of, and try it. That’s the only way you’re going to find out.”

“I’ve been to a lot of different places, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of different things,” says Morrill. “I think the more I’ve been able to experience, the richer of a person I’ve become.”

Want to volunteer at SIRIS? Contact WSIU Outreach Coordinator Vickie Devenport at (618) 453-6148 or vickie.devenport@wsiu.org.

You’re Invited to the SIRIS Trivia Night Fundraiser!

D

o you have a knack for remembering volumes of random information? Do friends argue over who gets to have you on their Trivial Pursuit™ team?

Put that smart brain of yours to work in support of the Southern Illinois Radio Information Service (SIRIS)

by joining WSIU Radio for the firstever SIRIS Trivia Night fundraiser on Saturday, March 2 at 6pm at the Newman Center, 715 S. Washington in Carbondale. WSIU-TV’s Jak Tichenor will be Master of Ceremonies.

Teams of eight people will compete for first, second, and third place prizes.

Individuals and teams are welcome.

Registration is $15 per person or $120 per team. Bring your own food and drink, or buy snacks from SIRIS! To register, call SIRIS at (618) 453-2808 or sign up at the Newman Center on the day of the event. All proceeds will benefit SIRIS.

What’s the Scoop?

March 6 at Noon Catch Live Coverage of Governor Pat Quinn’s Budget Address

John David, 73, teaches an exercise class called PACE to seniors in New York City.

Photo: Shiho Fukada for NPR.

Working Late continues on

Morning Edition

A dramatic change in the U.S. workforce is taking place as more Americans over 65 are working now than at any time in decades. In Working Late, NPR’s Ina Jaffe reports on this trend by telling the stories of these Americans. Parts 1-3 of the 5-part series aired in February.

Part 4

Week of March 4

NPR’s Ina Jaffe profiles Dian Sparling, a 71-year-old nurse-midwife from Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Part 5

Week of March 11 TBD

On Wednesday, March 6, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will deliver his annual Budget Address to the Illinois General Assembly.

WSIU Radio will provide live coverage starting at noon on WSIU 91.9 FM, WUSI 90.3 FM, and WVSI 88.9 FM. Additional coverage will aired on All Things Considered from 3-6:30pm.

WSIU-TV will give viewers inside access as part of the statewide public media series Illinois Lawmakers from noon-1pm. This will be available on WSIU’s primary channels, WSIU-TV 8.1 and WUSI-TV 16.1. A repeat of the speech will air the same day at 10:30pm.

The speech also will air on WSIU WORLD – WSIU-TV 8.2 and WUSI-TV 16.2 – on March 6 at 8pm and again on Saturday, March 9 at 8pm, Sunday, March 10 at 10am, and Monday, March 11 at 5pm.

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Have you heard the news

W

Best Downstate Radio Reporter by the Illinois Associated Press.

In 2012, WSIU Radio programs scored big. Morning Conversation’s Jennifer Fuller produced nearly 60 new features, and was awarded the 2012 News Finder of the Year and

Other noteworthy mentions include the hit music series, Celtic Connections. It was named the second-highest rated Celtic music program in America by DAR.fm.

Additional series, like Reading Baseball, celebrated the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, and Radio Voices shared unique stories and facts on the migration patterns of

SIU Public Broadcasting is making a huge impact in your community. We continuously strive to give our listeners and viewers the programs they deserve by providing quality news, entertainment, and educational series for all ages.

monarch butterflies.

In 2013, we promise to continue our commitment to excellence. Thank you all for listening. WSIU Radio appreciates your support!

For more details on how WSIU Public Broadcasting is making an impact in your community, check out the 2012 Local Content and Service Report to the Community online at wsiu.org, or click here.

Thank You Underwriters!

Please join us in thanking the underwriters who recently began, renewed, or expanded their partnership to make public radio possible:

Big Muddy Film Festival

Dept. of Cinema & Photography at SIU

Budslick Counseling & Psychotherapy Services Carbondale, IL

Cristaudo’s Café, Bakery & Catering and 6Pence Gifts Carbondale, IL

Dr. Sujatha Rao, M.D. of Hem-Onc Care

Saturday 7pm • Sunday 6pm March 2

New Releases New and recent albums from both sides of the Atlantic are the source of this week’s musical samplings.

March 9

American Women Tune in this week to hear some of the leading American female Celtic and folk singers and instrumentalists, including Cathie Ryan, Krista Detor, Laurie McClain, Shannon Heaton, Liz Carroll, and quite a few more!

March 16

St. Patrick’s Celebration

It’s an all-Irish week in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, with upbeat dance tunes and songs from some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians.

March 23

Spotlight on Six

This week we focus on six new and recent releases, with an opportunity to hear two or three tracks from each set of performers.

March 30

Old Favorites

Music from past decades is dusted off and displayed for your enjoyment in this week’s program.

Carbondale, IL

Element 74

Cape Girardeau, MO

Forbes Financial Group Carbondale, IL

Joseph Hudgins Orthodontics Carbondale/Carterville/Marion, IL

Kiwanis Club of Carbondale Leslie P. Williams, C.P.A. Murphysboro, IL

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIU School of Law at SIU The 9th Street Grill Mt. Vernon, IL

The Design Gallery Carbondale, IL

Town Square Market Carbondale, IL

Wright Do-It Center Murphysboro/Sparta, 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