KRCU TO BEGIN FIRST-EVER ON-AIR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Ask Jay Landers what he wants most from the weeklong fund-raising campaign beginning Saturday, and KRCU's general manager will say "members."

The public radio station's general membership base is a paltry 100 people. "We need an active membership base of at least 1,000 people," Landers says.

The station's first-ever on-air membership campaign won't change the station's regular schedule, but periodic "pledge breaks" will interrupt the proceedings.

A number of community figures will take to the air during the week to help enlist new members. Among them will be Southeast Provost Charles Kupchella from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, and music store owner Mike Shivelbine from 4 to 5 p.m.

During the early part of the week, appearances will be made by Derieck Hodges, Karen Hendrickson, Harry Rediger, George and Jocelyne Aussil, Fob Foster, Jeanne Goodman and John Mehner.

Behind the mike on 90.9 FM later in the week will be Msgr. Richard Rolwing, Steve Gregg, Joe Sullivan, Greg Saxton, Tim Barron, Charlie Hutson, Anna and Harry Sanders, Grace Hoover, Don Dickerson, Mary Spell, Marge Loiseau and Kala Stroup.

The goal for the subscription drive is 500 new members.

One thing the station manager hopes the campaign does is state the radio station's case.

"We want to show the university and people there is a need for a radio station like this," Landers says.

The station receives just over $11,000 annually from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the least of any public station in Missouri. Most of the station's funding comes from Southeast, which views it as a valuable outreach tool.

But, Landers says, "Our most reliable source of income is the people out there listening."

With added funding the station will be able to upgrade its library of classical, jazz and New Age recordings. Barbara Herbert, who recently began a Sunday night opera program on the station, fortunately brought along her own library.

The station has had a full-time manager only since 1989, and until 14 months ago it's signal reached only as far as M ount Auburn Road.

With the upgraded 6,000-watt signal that now reaches 30 miles into Southeast Missouri -- to Sikeston, Marble Hill and Perryville -- came the name Southeast Public Radio and bigger plans.

"We would like the signal to go further into Southeast Missouri," said Landers.

Regional transmitters in Poplar Bluff, Kennett and Malden are on the drawing board.

"We have Southeast Missouri pretty much to ourselves," Landers sa id.

The pledge drive comes at a time when Congress is threatening to slash funding for CPB or do away with it entirely. "This is probably the most anxious year in the history of public broadcasting," Landers says.

The CPB provides supplemental funds through annual Community Service Grants to public radio stations that qualify. To qualify, a station must employee a minimum of five full-time professionals.

KRCU currently has two full-time broadcast professionals who oversee a staff of 14 students. "We need three more," Landers says. "Then we could run with it. I'm sure the university is waiting to see what the community desires."

Landers wants KRCU to do much more in the way of community programming than currently is possible, including coverage of news events and debates.

Despite the 230-foot tower that rises above its Henderson Street home on campus, many people don't know where KRCU is, Landers says. Steve Engles at KBSI gave the station a neon sign, and large signs will be going up on the four exterior walls.

"I'm out there trying to personalize the station," Landers says. "It takes a seeker to find (the signal)."

The dream, Landers says, is to qualify for CPB funding one day, but the reality is generating listener support for the station's current operation.

Memberships are available at a variety of levels, including $25 for fixed income/student and $40 for member. Memberships also are available ranging from a $60 "friend" to a $500 "capital investor," and are rewarded with premiums ranging from a coffee-table book about the behind-the-scenes NPR to a cookbook and a choice of a ceramic or travel mug.