Notes from Friday’s meeting:

            With Marcia Yost presiding, John Liechty provided our opening prayer.  Gene Stutsman led our singing of the National Anthem as well as “Sing Out a Song of Rotary,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “Smile.”  Marcia Yost introduced visiting Rotarians and guests.  Doug Risser was present as a visiting Rotarian, and John Ulmer was present as a guest. 

            Marcia reminded us that the Rotary fiscal year will be concluding soon and that our Foundation giving this year has declined.  If you are considering any donations for the Rotary Foundation, please be sure to get those in before the end of June.  We also recognized National Paper Airplane Day with many good efforts made at designing and flying one’s own concept and model. 

            Justin Joldersma introduced our program provided by Zach Miller of Froggy 102.7 Radio.  Zach has been with the radio station for 15 years and now serves as its program director.  He began as an intern as a student with Goshen College in 2008. 

            Federated Media currently owns the Froggy 102.7 radio station.  As the program director, Zach has responsibilities overseeing the scheduling of music, sales, promotions, and community involvement.  In this role, he hopes to provide the “best variety” of music in the local area. 

            A brief history noted the radio station’s beginning in 2002 as WLEG from the Truth Building in Elkhart.  The station moved to the Bag Factory in 2010 and then switched to a full sports lineup with ESPN in 2012.  It switched back to adult contemporary music in 2017.  It is now identified as a hot adult contemporary station focused on providing the best in adult contemporary music.  The signal originates just north of Lake Wawasee at 2000 watts and provides the best service in the areas around Goshen, Nappanee, Ligonier, Middlebury, Syracuse, and Elkhart.  Zach highlights the station as Elkhart County’s radio station.

            Regular events that one will see Froggy Radio attend include Goshen First Fridays, the Elkhart County Fair, the Elkhart Art Walk, area festivals, and other live events.  An app is available for Apple and android users allowing listeners to connect with the radio station worldwide. 

            Zach noted a significant change in the radio industry in recent years with music now going to electronic formats.  Voice tracking is available for disc jockeys to record their show and have it available even when not in the studio.  Listeners can now follow radio through smart speakers, smartphone apps, as well as traditional radio.  Social media is another important community connection for radio stations with more changes certain to occur with the coming of artificial intelligence.  Zach noted that radio connects people through storytelling, emergency information, local news, entertainment, and community involvement.  Federated Media currently has 13 radio stations in the area from South Bend to Fort Wayne.  Thank you to Justin Joldersma and Zach Miller for a local look at the radio industry in our area. 

            Quotes for the week:

“I watched a lot of baseball on the radio.” – Gerald R. Ford

“I grew up on radio, not TV.” – David Lee Roth

“TV gives everyone an image, but radio gives birth to a million images in a million brains.” – Peggy Noonan

 

                                                            Until next time.