The legendary home of Rip Van Winkle and widely regarded as the first art colony in America, attendees of the 19th annual Grassroots Radio Conference will find their way to Palenville, N.Y., to take part in workshops and discuss important topics regarding community radio stations. The recently launched WLLP(LP) 102.9 MHz is set to serve as host for the four day conference scheduled to begin Sept. 24.
Founded in 1996, GRC has sought to preserve and develop community radio all across the country. To do so, this year’s conference will hold workshops that include “Station on a Shoestring,” which focuses on creating and operating a station of a tight budget, “Rivendell for Managers” on the Rivendell Linux-based automation system, and “Finding Talent.” The conference will also hold salon sessions including “The Community Clock,” “So You Have an Extension, Now What?” and “Emergency Broadcasting.”
There will also be fun social events during the conference. Things kick off with a pizza, pasta and veggie party on Sept. 24. Attendees can also take part in either indoor or outdoor camping; $50 donations are suggested for indoor camping, $30 for outdoor. Also, Patrick Carlin, the older brother of the late comedian George Carlin, is tentatively scheduled to perform the morning of Sept. 26.
WLLP, which launched on July 27, is a “pagan”-owned radio station, with its parent organization the Maetreum of Cybele. Even so, Cathryn Plantine, the station’s general manager, says their main goal is to serve the community. “We don’t get on the air and talk about nothing but paganism, we are actually an actual community radio station,” said Plantine. “We do about three total hours on pagan themes for the entire week on a 24/7 schedule.”
And despite serving as the host, Plantine and WLLP are just as excited about what they will be able to learn from the conference as the expected attendees. “I am hoping to learn a whole mess from this conference,” said Plantine.
The 19th annual Grass Roots Conference will take place from Sept. 24–27 at the Maetreum of Cybele in Palenville, N.Y.
