[WestMALocals] 6/29 Grassroots Radio Conference meeting

[kate harris]

From: Tim Scott <timdscott at hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 15:28:29 -0400

Valley Free Radio is looking for volunteers to help out with the 10th 
Annual Grassroots Radio Conference (GRC) and the Valley Free Radio 
Barnraising happening August 4th-7th, Florence, MA

If you can help out, please attend the next planning meeting:
*When - Wednesday, June 29th at 6pm
*Where - The Media Education Foundation Community Room (1st floor) - 60 
Masonic Street, Northampton
For more info about Valley Free Radio and the GRC go to:
www.valleyfreeradio.org

More information about the GRC and the VFR barnraising -

Media reform campaign goes global with the launch of tiny radio stations in 
Northampton, Massachusetts and Arusha, Tanzania.

This summer, ordinary people will be gaining access to their airwaves, two 
stations at a time. From August 4-7th, more than 400 people will gather in 
Northampton, MA to launch Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP), a hundred watt 
licensed radio station. As Valley Free Radio takes flight with its first 
broadcast, we'll also be building the transmitter for an international 
sister station in Arusha, Tanzania. Both of these exciting events are part 
of the Grassroots Radio Conference and Radio Barnraising.

The Grassroots Radio Conference (GRC) is an annual convergence of media 
activists, producers, and community radio stations from the U.S. and 
Canada. The launch of Valley Free Radio (VFR) marks the first time the GRC 
will coincide with a Prometheus Radio Project Radio Barnraising. The VFR 
barnraising - Prometheus's eighth -  will bring community radio enthusiasts 
together to build and launch the radio station over the course of a single 
weekend. Immediately after the GRC, a team of engineers, radio and video 
producers, and volunteers will travel to Arusha to help get the United 
African Alliance Community Center's (UAACC) station on the air.

Both Valley Free Radio and UAACC's radio station will be public, 
volunteer-run spaces for community education, discussion, and debate. They 
will also help support the development of local musical artists. "In this 
age of corporate control of our airwaves, community radio stations like 
Valley Free Radio and the UAACC are essential in paving the way to a more 
democratic and accessible media landscape," said  Prometheus Volunteer 
Sarah Miller. "Radio barnraisings turn people's concerns about the state of 
mainstream media into something tangible: bricks-and-mortar radio stations 
for the people of Northampton and Arusha."

In addition to getting their hands dirty with transmitter grease, GRC and 
Barnraising participants will take part in workshops facilitated by dozens 
of leaders in community radio and communications, including media scholar 
Sut Jhally, Free Press founders Josh Silver and John Nichols, and public 
radio producer Jay Allison. To help us share this event with the world, 
Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman will host the show from the GRC in Democracy 
Now!'s first ever live remote broadcast on Friday, August 5th. Childcare 
will be available, allowing even future generations of community radio 
activists to attend.

For more information please email Margo Robb at:  margorobb at speakeasy.net
or Tim Scott: timdscott at hotmail.com

For more information on the Grassroots Radio Conference and Radio 
Barnraisings, visit www.prometheusradio.org