NEWSLETTER - SPRING 2009 Progress continues as we lay the groundwork for launching community radio in Port Townsend. Read on to see what we’re up to and how you can support our efforts to be up and broadcasting by the end of 2009!  KPTZ GEARS UP FOR CONSTRUCTION We’ve spent the last couple of months honing our construction plans for the transmission facilities, including permitting, site preparation, equipment choices, and long term strategies.  The Transmitter Site Our FCC construction permit dictates that the transmitter site be at the Lakeside Industries property on West Hastings Avenue.  We’ve learned that a telephone pole will serve most effectively and economically to mount our antenna. After we are operational at the Lakeside site, we can apply to move with our equipment to a preferable site closer to town, which will have better reception in Port Townsend. We are very fortunate now to have the voluntary services of Lou Schneider, an engineer who’s retired from a career in building and maintaining radio stations, to help us with the technical details and FCC permitting issues.  Thanks, Lou!  The Funds Thanks to contributions from our Founders, the transmitter site will be in place this summer.  However, we will wait to equip the studio until we know whether or not we will receive a federal grant from the Public Telecommunication and Facilities Program.  (Fortunately, the new administration’s budget included funding for that agency!)  If awarded, the grant would provide 75% of our construction and equipment costs.  We will know about the grant by the end of July.   If we get the grant, the funds will come and construction of the studio can begin in September.   If we don’t, we will prepare a scaled-back construction and equipment budget and fundraising plan.  In either case we hope to be on the air by year end 2009.  Most Founders have paid their pledges (Thank You!), which has given us a strong start financially. We still need $12,000 in unpaid pledges.  If you pledged, please send your contribution to P.O. Box 2091, Port Townsend WA 98368.  If you’re waiting for our tax exempt status to be approved, we expect to receive it soon, and we will let you know when we hear from the IRS.  All contributions will be deductible retroactive to the date of our incorporation in 2007.  The Studio We are exploring studio location options. Fort Worden and Uptown are more likely possibilities than downtown because it’s easier to get a signal to the transmitter. Let us know if you have any leads on a possible studio location with reasonable (or possibly free?) rent.  KPTZ GROWS ORGANIZATION  Volunteers It really does take a village to grow a radio station!  We are delighted by the professional skills and support we’re receiving from the community.  In addition to Lou Schneider as engineer, Marilyn Butz is providing bookkeeping services, Kurt VanderSluis and Jill Beaumont are sharing their internet and website skills, and Christopher Overman, who designed our logo, is helping with graphic design. We are still actively searching for looking for someone to help us with raising the funds we need.  New Board Member Larry Stein, KPTZ Program Coordinator has joined the Board of Directors!  His knowledge of radio and nonprofit organization in general is extensive.  He has been involved for many months, contributing his good judgment, commitment and hands-on help in all facets of the project.  We are now turning our attention to his area of expertise, and the heart of radio – programming.  We expect to be sending out a call to all you potential programmers soon!    KPTZ JOINS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY BROADCASTERS The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) is a support organization for independent community based radio stations like KPTZ.  In the universe of public radio, community broadcasters stick together and learn from each other, to help with our common mission -- to be truly independent and relevant to our communities. NFCB held its annual conference in Portland in April. Four of us attended at least part of this three-day event which was jam-packed with training and networking in many areas, including legal, marketing, development, programming, and technology.  We learned that we have many colleagues around the country and there are people we can call with all our questions. We left the NFCB conference with a sense of accomplishment about what we’ve done so far, excitement and confidence about where we are going, and renewed appreciation for all of you and our supportive and creative community!  For more information visit our website kptz.org Stay tuned!