Topic: Why don't dues-paying listeners have voting privileges to elect WAMC-FM's trustees?

The Pirates think it's because the self-righteous Liberals who run the station don't trust that members will elect the 'right' people to the board. If you can provide a better explanation, we'd like to hear it!
Your Feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's on-air 'Political Commentary'.

Is WAMC-FM's on-air 'political commentary' balanced, or does it carry a bias?
If so, what type of bias, and how much of one?
What changes would you like to see made in order to make the station's on-air 'political commentary' better or more insightful?
Should a publicly-supported, not-for-profit radio station be in the business of offering 'political commentary' in the first place?
Is 'political commentary' the same as editorializing?
Is the totality of WAMC-FM's political commentaries generally balanced between left and right (or whatever political labels one assigns, e.g.: Democrat/Republican; Liberal/Conservative; Blue/Red; etc.)? -- Credit to Brian for raising this question.
Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC Performing Arts Studio and Linda Norris Auditorium

Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's Web site.

Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's salaries.

At not-for-profit radio station WAMC-FM, are executive salaries too high, too low, or about right?
Are staff salaries too high, too low, or about right?
Should executives (or staff) at not-for-profits expect to be paid the same scale as executives (or staff) at for-profit companies?
Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's On-Air Personalities.

Who should stay, who should go, who should improve, who should be hired (or persuaded) to come on-board?
And please state why?
Your feedback:

Topic: What I'd really like to discuss here.

Your feedback:

Topic: I heard this on WAMC-FM today!!!

Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's finances.

WAMC-FM's Management regularly says that it has only a month's operating expenses in the bank. Management took in revenues of $5.5 million this past year (Fiscal 2004) . Management also keeps buying more radio stations.
Your feedback:

Topic: What works well at WAMC-FM? What doesn't?

Your feedback:

Topic: Miscellaneous -- Pot Luck!

You name the topic.
Your feedback:

Topic: Is WAMC-FM well managed?

Are not-for-profit WAMC-FM's company assets being managed responsibly and/or wisely?
Have there been instances -- that you are aware of -- of wasteful spending?
Your feedback:

Topic: Programming -- What's good? What's not?

Your feedback:

Topic: On-air fundraisers.

What dollar goal should be set (how much money should be raised) at WAMC-FM's on-air fundraisers.
Should fundraisers be held less - or more - frequently than the present 3x annually?
How much do you think it should take to run a not-for-profit radio station?
Your feedback:

Topic: WAMC-FM's Corporate Governance.

Are WAMC-FM's dues-paying members being taken for granted?
Are dues-paying members entitled to elect the station's board-of-trustees and its corporate officers?
What should be done to change the status-quo?
Your feedback:

Topic: Sexual Harassment at WAMC-FM.

Please attempt to stay within the bounds of good taste in your comments on this topic. The 'Blogger' software does allow The Pirate 'blog' editor to edit out words and phrases, but The Pirates prefer not to have to resort to any form of censorship. Therefore, if it is necessary to indicate names of people who have been subject to harassment, please use either initials only, or astericks (*) in lieu of letters. Thank you for your cooperation.
Your feedback:

Topic: Congressman Charlie!!

The following letter was sent via e-mail to U.S. Congressman Charles Bass (R-NH) following his recent appearance on WAMC-FM's Congressional Corner, a daily segment within The RoundTable program.
Your feedback appreciated.

Subject: Hey Charlie!!!!
Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 11:44:51
From: "WAMC Northeast Pirate Network, G. M. Heller, editor"
Organization: WAMC Northeast Pirate Network
To: cbass@mail.house.gov
Dear Charlie (See how inappropriate it is to be addressing you in this fashion?),
I heard your interview on WAMC-FM with interviewer Alan Chartock.
I just wish Mr. Chartock would refer to you on-air as 'Congressman Bass.'
I never hear Tim Russert, George Stephanopolous, or Bob Schieffer referring to their respective Sunday morning TV guests on-air by first names.
When a Congressman is being interviewed on local radio, I similarly do not think first name familiarity is appropriate.
To me, it not only takes away from the office, but over the long term it is demeaning to the office holder.
Be honest: Would you expect to hear Mr. Chartock go on-air and address Senator Kennedy as Ted or Teddy?
I doubt it.
Thus, if you would not expect to hear Senator Kennedy addressed on-air in that fashion, why is it okay for Charlie to be addressed on-air that way?
Get my drift, Congressman?
Very truly yours,
G. M. Heller, editor
WAMC Northeast Pirate Network
Monterey, MA
Washington, D.C.
Website: www.wamc.net

Welcome to The Pirates' new blog!

Hi Everybody and Happy Spring (Finally!),

This Blog is set up by The Pirates to provide an open public forum for matters related to radio station WAMC 90.3 FM Northeast Public Radio. WAMC-FM is the NPR affiliate in Albany, New York.

This Blog site is offered in conjunction with The Pirates' Web site at www.wamc.net .

Please feel free to post your comments, opinions, thoughts and feedback. Postings can be as lengthy as you see fit.

The suggested topics are merely just that -- suggestions. Please do not feel constrained by them and feel free to raise any and all matters you feel bear relevance to WAMC-FM.

Just click on Comments and blog away. When you are satisfied with what you have written , click on Login and Publish.

(Please note: It takes a few seconds for your comment to upload to the blog server, therefore it is only necessary to click once on Login and Publish. Clicking more than once will result in the same comment being posted multiple times.)

If things get too down and dirty or overly raunchy, The Pirates -- Puritans that we are -- reserve the right to delete postings that go beyond our pirate standards of taste.

Should you decide you want to see a topic that is as yet not listed, please feel free to e-mail The Pirates directly with your suggestion. Our e-mail address is editor@wamc.net .

Thank you for your interest, and happy blogging!

The Pirates
WAMC Northeast Pirate Network®/™
Web site: www.wamc.net