The first sign of spring in Portland has happened, and no, it is not the arrival of the robin. It is WMPG’s Spring Begathon. The Begathon started March 29 and ended on April 4. As of March 31 everything was on track to meet the goal of $25,000.
WMPG is a commercial free, community radio station serving University of Southern Maine students and the Portland area with two channels on the FM dial: 90.9 and 104.1. WMPG is also available to the nation via live stream on its Web page (wmpg.org). Approximately two-thirds of the operating budget for WMPG comes from the USM student activity fee, underwriting and grants. The rest comes from listener support through the semiannual Begathons.
Aside from the usual fees of maintaining any radio station, WMPG has some major plans in the work, including adding a digital transmission, increasing public affairs and news and, within the next five years, finding a new space.
Despite the name, the Begathon is much more than taking two minutes out of every fifteen to ask for money. It is a chance for the community to provide feed back and to get involved. “We want to know what they [the listeners] like and what they don’t like about WMPG,” said Development Director Tom Flynn.
This is Flynn’s fourth Begathon and the third he has managed. For him the Begathon is a chance to get USM students and community members in the door. “This is a chance for the community to come in and see the inside of a radio station,” said Flynn. “It’s important for people to see what community radio looks like.” Students are encouraged to come in and sign up for the free DJ training being held in May.
And many listeners do get to see what community radio looks like as they stop by to drop off their pledges, pick up promotional hats and tshirts or just drop in to see what community radio is all about. Local businesses also join with area restaurants and coffee shops providing refreshments, lunch and dinner for the entire seven days.
This years promotional items, or premiums, included hats and t-shirts designed by Ron Harridy from Idea of North, CD’s and CD box sets, lightweight jackets, baseball caps, lunch boxes, and steel travel mugs. All left over premiums are made available to students at reduced prices at WMPG’s location at 92 Bedford Street.
Joseph R Thompson can be contacted at [email protected]