KCUR Year in Review 2009 by sara crane

A service of the University of Missouri-Kansas City

KCUR Year in Review 2009 { compelling

+connected

}

KCUR Year in Review 2009 Dear friends, When the year began, I was told to be worried about our future. I heard pundits say the internet would replace radio listening, listeners would no longer contribute, and the federal government and University would be forced to eliminate any help with our funding. Public radio would outlive its purpose. Fortunately, none of that is true. KCUR has more listeners and more relevant local and national and international programming than ever before. However, the economic slowdown has made us reexamine our expenses, eliminate salary increases, cut back on travel – we’ve even eliminated the purchase of KCUR coffee mugs. We have worked on receiving new grants and other sources of income while continuing with our on-air membership drives and underwriting. The KCUR Year in Review is (as the name implies) the station’s 2009 yearbook, of sorts. It’s our chance to brag about our accomplishments over the last year – a recap of our news awards with highlights from our local talk shows and our local music shows. We want to take this opportunity to thank our underwriters and major donors who help us continue our mission of providing our listeners with highquality programming and services (look for a list of underwriters and major donors on the following pages). Our listeners should know where our money

comes from – and where it goes – so you’ll find revenue and expense information included here as well. We also want to take this opportunity to again thank our many volunteers who generously give their time to the station and who help to make our services possible. For the Year in Review, we’re turning the spotlight on KCUR’s 2009 “Volunteer of the Year” award recipients. KCUR appreciates all of our listeners who let us know – through their comments and financial contributions – that public radio is significant. We believe that public service begets public support. Thank you.

Patty Cahill General Manager KCUR Radio P.S. After perusing these pages, we encourage you to spend some time enjoying our terrific website and the myriad of stories and features to be found there. If you have any comments or questions about KCUR, please send me an email at patty@kcur.org.

KCUR Community Advisory Board Members Angela Bennett Scott Burnett Patricia Cahill, ex-officio Marilyn Carbonell Mark Eagleton Linda Edwards Jane Gard Dale Jarka Janet Justus Kris Ketz Fred Mitchell Regina Nouhan Steve Paul Adriana Pecina Steve Roling David Smith Phyllis Stevens David Warm William Whitener

Mission Statement of KCUR KCUR Radio will provide a premier non-commercial program service which allows people in our urban community and listening area to better their lives and tomorrow’s communities. It is the responsibility of KCUR to provide an audience of significant size with a program service that informs, entertains and enriches the community.

Awards Local news coverage is a cornerstone of KCUR programming. Awards presented in 2009 to the KCUR news team include the following: Kansas City Press Club – Society of Professional Journalists Heart of America Awards

Kansas City Association of Black Journalists

News Program (gold): KC Currents – Susan B. Wilson, Sylvia Maria Gross, Alex Smith, Annie Walsh

Broadcast News Magazine Award: “KC Currents”

Cahill earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Kansas. Her term on the CPB board will expire in 2014.

Broadcast Radio Feature Story Award: “Ties to Alvin Ailey Endure in Kansas City” – Laura Spencer

Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Talk Radio (gold): “Up To Date” – Steve Kraske, Stephen Steigman, Danette Alexander, Kara Caldwell Investigative Reporting (gold): “Kansas City Homicides: Beyond Data” – Dan Verbeck Business Reporting (gold): “From Wall Street to Main Street” – Maria Carter Business Reporting (silver): “Brazilian Beef Company Takes Over U.S. Industry” – Frank Morris Feature Story (gold): “Greensburg Anniversary” – Frank Morris Feature Story (silver): “Paying to Burn the Prairie” – Sylvia Maria Gross Feature Story (honorable mention): “The Matthew 25 Project” – Steve Bell

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

In August, the United States Senate approved the nomination of KCUR General Manager Patricia Cahill to serve on the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Cahill has been the general manager of KCUR-FM for 22 years. She also serves as an assistant professor of Communication Studies at the University of MissouriKansas City. All told, Cahill has worked in public radio for more than 40 years. Prior to KCUR, she was the general manager of KMUW-FM at Wichita State University, as well as its news and program director. Cahill was also an instructor in speech communications and journalism at the school.

This year, the station was awarded a $35,000 grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City to support local health coverage. The grant funds a reporter and has enabled the station to enhance its health coverage on the web at www.kcur.org/health. The health care foundation has awarded this grant to KCUR for several years now.

Missouri Arts Council

In July, the University of Missouri-Kansas City was awarded a $5000 grant from the Missouri Arts Council (MAC). The award was designated specifically for KCUR 89.3 FM, operated on the campus of UMKC. The grant is part of a $7 million package that MAC awarded to non-profit organizations throughout the state. The focus of the grants is to support various programs involved in the distribution of arts education and performance in Missouri.

2009 Year in Review

Radio Station of the Year: KCUR-FM

Broadcast Radio Talk Show Award: “The Walt Bodine Show”

She has served on the board of directors of NPR and as president of the board of Public Radio in Mid America (PRIMA).

Up to Date with Steve

Kraske of The Kansas City Star

Online and on the air, we’re on top of it 2009 was a memorable year for Up to Date. This year we spoke with authors, politicians, physicians and actors … chefs, musicians, journalists, film critics, and bio-ethicists. We expanded our regular “religion roundtable” discussions and welcomed Brian McTavish on a weekly basis to give us some ideas for the weekend. We even began “tweeting” – follow us on Twitter at KCURUptoDate. This year was also an especially exciting one for remote broadcasts: January’s Missouri Governor’s inauguration from Jefferson City; an October broadcast with Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl in Steve Kraske’s kitchen; and a December visit with celebrity chef Nigella Lawson at Webster House. These broadcasts require a lot of extra work, but we think they’re a great way of “stepping outside the (broadcast) box.”

The best part? All of these broadcasts are in our on-line program archive at kcur.org. Listen at your computer or download to your mp3 player. Listen to what you want – when you want. Thanks to all of you for supporting the show. We look forward to spending more time with you in 2010.

Stephen Steigman Producer, Up to Date

The Walt Bodine Show Another year of what matters to Kansas City

KCUR 89.3 FM

It’s been an eventful year on The Walt Bodine Show. Team Bodine grew to include producer Jamie Medlicott and intern Daniel Barber. We’ve talked about everything from the science of sleep to Iraqi refugees living in Kansas City, from our fair city’s parks and winding boulevards to more treacherous twists and turns in a tongue twisters show.

We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming some heavy hitters into the studio this year. Walt had the chance to tell Lilly Ledbetter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, “You travel first class because you are, by golly.” Saturday Night Live’s Jason Sudeikis talked to us about the nuances of his Joe Biden impersonation. Economist Bill Black joined us shortly after he appeared as a recurring interviewee in Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story. And Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the Little Rock Nine, spoke with us about her three years as one of the first African American students to attend Little Rock High School after the Supreme Court ruled that “separate but equal” would not hold in the public schools of this country.

But we’ve also talked about the things that matter to Kansas Citians in their everyday lives. We’ve hit on the challenges faced by pedestrians and bicyclists in Kansas City, access to grocery stores, and how stimulus funds acquired by the police department would be used. Most exciting, however, were the opportunities we had to invite each and every one of our listeners to join us in person for The Walt Bodine Show during our live remote broadcasts in the spring. And if you didn’t catch the documentary Walt Bodine: To Kansas City With Love that aired during our Kansas City History Series, check it out at kcur.org/ WaltBodine. Thanks for another great year, Kansas City.

Gina Kaufmann Co-host, The Walt Bodine Show

KC Currents Embracing our local media leadership role We’ve noticed that stories first reported on KC Currents are popping up in other media around Kansas City more and more frequently. We’re not only flattered, but also especially proud to be adding new voices and ideas to local news and arts coverage. KC Currents has tried to keep a keen focus on the local, taking you places and introducing you to folks whom you might not have met otherwise. Here are just a few of our favorite stories from 2009: Sylvia Maria Gross visited the living rooms of families facing foreclosure and examined the unique effects of the housing crisis on Latino immigrant neighborhoods. Susan B. Wilson visited with a raucous knitting group in a church basement and a support group for mothers whose children are incarcerated. Alex Smith brought listeners to a martial arts academy that focuses on the Israeli practice of Krav Maga, and took us behind the scenes at one of the oldest haunted houses in the West Bottoms.

We all stepped up our interviews of local musicians this year, including Latin rockers Making Movies, the reggae band Blue Riddim, and legendary jazz singer Marilyn Maye. Our hard-working interns made some outstanding contributions this year, too: Ashly Kissman reported on a new trend towards green burials; Annie Walsh talked to a champion teen chef; and Tim Bridgham visited the workshop of a master luthier. We hope you heard local stories that moved, intrigued, or motivated you this year on KC Currents, and we plan to bring you much more in 2010!

Sylvia Maria Gross Producer, KC Currents

KCUR News New partnerships to overcome challenges This was a momentous year – a difficult year for many in the Kansas City region – and KCUR was on the ground covering it from many different angles. We had stories on the foreclosure crisis, told from the point of view of people losing their homes, and also from that of police and maintenance workers who have to do the unpleasant work associated with reclaiming a home. We brought you stories of tough times in the manufacturing and auto industries, but also of people putting new careers together from the wreckage of their old jobs. We covered the promised influx of federal stimulus money, and the enormous struggles faced by Missouri, Kansas, and many area municipalities as they grappled with the worst budget crises in memory. In addition, we significantly stepped up our arts coverage, as other media outlets had to cut back. We poured resources into the web and have worked to make our site a destination for regional news.

Also in 2009, KCUR forged new partnerships. Our joint coverage with KCPT had our reporters producing television stories for the first time ever. Our collaboration with other Missouri stations covering the financial turmoil contributed a large and growing body of work to the Missouri Budget Project. In 2010, we hope to announce still more partnerships that will dramatically broaden and deepen our coverage and enhance KCUR’s reputation as a bright light in the public radio news galaxy. Stay tuned.

Frank Morris News Director, KCUR

Arts Coverage on KCUR An amazing year for the arts in Kansas City This was a great year for the arts in Kansas City – and for KCUR’s arts coverage. In July, KCUR received a $5000 grant from the Missouri Arts Council (MAC) that has allowed us to expand and enhance our on-air arts coverage by pairing stories with interactive slideshows on KCUR’s web site. Our primary area of focus: Theatre Deconstructed, which examines the various jobs and professions within the theatrical arts. We encourage you to check our archives at www.kcur.org/multimedia for arts coverage that you may have missed, including these highlights: • Quality Hill Renovations Change Experience for Actors and Audience In 2009, the second of three phases of renovations at the Quality Hill Playhouse was completed, resulting in changes that are impacting both the physical and artistic dimensions of what audiences will experience. • Dancing with a Tent-like Skirt Provides Challenges Choreographer Jessica Lang staged “Splendid Isolation III” for the

Kansas City Ballet. The program presented a unique challenge for Lang and the dancers: how to perform in a “tent-like skirt.” • Moisés Kaufman Tackles “Into the Woods” at the Rep When Eric Rosen, the artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, asked noted playwright and director Moisés Kaufman to pick a musical he’d like to direct here, at the top of the list was Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” Thanks to all of you for supporting the arts in Kansas City! We look forward to sharing more stories with you in 2010.

Laura Spencer and Steve Walker Arts Reporters, KCUR

A note from Bill Shapiro, host of Cyprus Avenue 31 years of intelligent rock and roll 2009 marked the 31st Anniversary of Cyprus Avenue on KCUR, affording me another 52 opportunities to share my lifelong love of music with an amazingly loyal audience. When the show began, I described it as “an intelligent look at rock and roll.” In all honesty, I’m not really sure what “rock and roll” is today. The form has morphed into countless sub-genres and has clearly become the world’s “pop” music. With so much music available from so many sources, it’s impossible to be aware of, let alone listen to, even a meaningful sample. Rest assured that I make every effort to find recordings that move or impress me to share with you every Saturday. In candor, only a few new releases in 2009 met my criteria for something great or enduring, a fact that may reflect a music buying audience more interested in something new and momentarily distracting than in something that sustains over time.

The clear highlight of 2009 was the remastered Beatles catalogue, which represents the best pop music ever conceived. I’ve already

devoted four hours of Cyprus Avenue to their wondrous material and I “ain’t done yet.” The fact that these recordings have sold multimillion copies gives me faith that music matters and great music sustains. I cannot adequately thank you, my listeners, for your continuing and exceedingly generous support of KCUR during the station’s fundraising drives. You are genuinely appreciated. Finally, I want to thank those who have attended Cyprus Avenue Live at the Folly, which has provided us an opportunity to visit in person, to see and hear some of the artists whose music enlivens the radio broadcasts, and the opportunity to maintain the Folly Theater – the best live music venue in Kansas City for over 100 years.

Bill Shapiro Host, Cyprus Avenue

A Year of Highlights at The Fish Fry From the Cowtown Ballroom to the Nakota Nation 2009 was another great year at the Fish Fry. Highlights included a visit from Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm (aka, the “2 Man Wrecking Crew”), a conversation with Joe Heyen and Tony Ladesich about their film, “Cowtown Ballroom … Sweet Jesus,” and a spontaneous unplugged in-studio performance by Mato Nanji of the blues-rock group Indigenous. Cedric Burnside gave fresh insight into the life and career of his grandfather, blues legend R.L. Burnside. Heyen and Ladesich were kind enough to liberally feature interview footage with me in their documentary about Cowtown Ballroom. Their documentary brought back fond memories of seeing Van Morrison, John Mayall, and other greats who played that legendary venue. Many listeners responded with their own memories of Cowtown in the early 1970’s. Mato Nanji, a Native American from the Nakota Nation, talked about how his heritage influences his music. He then proceeded to pick up

his acoustic guitar and illustrated his points with an impromptu studio performance. We also caught a rising star, Shay Estes, and bid a fond adieu to the Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor. In addition, 2009 was a stellar year for new releases and reissues, and Michael Byars – the hardest working music director in public broadcasting – garnered a wealth of fresh recordings for The Fish Fry library. One final note: I look especially forward to 2010, as The Fish Fry will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on KCUR-FM.

Chuck Haddix Host, The Fish Fry

Reflections from Renée Blanche, host of Night Tides A great year for new releases and exciting interviews Night Tides exploded in 2009 with the CD release of AOMusic’s “Twirl.” The listening experience is a smorgasbord of geographical rhythms layered with the masterful vocal styling of Miriam Stockley and various children’s chorus ensembles. For maximum listening pleasure, I recommend that you play it LOUD! Another Night Tides’ favorite, Steve Roach, enjoyed a busy year. Fans of his long-form electronic music were treated to a trio of releases: “Afterlight,” “Immersion: Four,” and “Dynamic Stillness.” A native Kansas Citian and new Night Tides artist, Sounding the Deep, made quite an impression with the CD release of “Night.” His music was the perfect Night Tides fit, and it was a genuine treat for me to air music by a local artist. One final highlight for me in 2009 was my opportunity to interview pianist-composer Ludovico Einaudi who was on tour in the states this

past summer. Einaudi’s previous releases include “Divenire” and “Eden Roc.” This year, he teamed with brothers Robert and Ronald Lippok and composed “Cloudland” under the pen name, Whitetree. As always, I encourage you to check out playlists and archived programs on www.kcur.org/NTArchives. Thanks to all of you for supporting the show. I look forward to discovering and sharing more music with you in 2010!

Renée Blanche Host, Night Tides

Underwriters listing

KCUR 89.3 FM

As of December 31, 2009

Aberdeen Village AIDS Bicycle Challenge American Friends Service Committee American Heartland Theatre American Humanic American Jazz Museum American Restaurant Americans for Fairness in Lending Ameristar Casino Applebee’s International, Inc Arkansas Arts Center Atchison County Historical Society Audubon Center BB’s Lawnside Bar-B-Q BKD, LLP Backwoods Baltimore Bend Vineyard Bancability Network of Banks Bang & Olufsen on the Country Club Plaza Bartlett-West Beaver Productions Benton Festival Bloch Cancer Foundation Blue Grotto Blue Koi Blue Nile Café Bo Ling’s Bonterra Catering Boulder Visitors Bureau Brookside Art Show Brookside Barkery Brookside Business Association Brookside Chiropractic and Acupuncture Brookside Farmers Market Brown & Ruprecht C-BIZ CFM Distributors Café Augusta Cafe Sebastienne Caliber Construction Californos Restaurant

Carolyn Curry Elbel Memorial Foundation Center for Practical Bioethics Central Presbyterian Church Child Abuse Prevention Association Children’s Mercy Hospital City in Motion Dance Theater City Market City of KCMO City Tavern Civic Opera Theater of KC Colonial Church in Prairie Village Colorado Technical University ComfortCare Homes Commerce Bank Community Christian Church Community of Christ Communiversity Congregation Ohev Sholom Conservatory of Music Contract Furnishings Coterie Theatre Country Club Bank Country Club Christian Church Country Club Congregational United Church of Christ Creative Courseware Custom Lawn & Landscape Datamax Dement, O’Flaherty & Collier Dermatology Consultants Midwest, PC DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Digital Labrador Digital Lagoon Digix Inc. Dobies Healthcare Group Donnelly College Downtown Council Dry Basement and Foundation Systems Duff ’s Buffalo Ranch Dynamic Earth The Elders

The Elms Resort & Spa Energy Star Episcopal Community Services Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri Ethnic Enrichment Festival Evans & Mullinix Law Firm The Family Conservancy Farm to Market Bread Fasone & Partners Festival of Faiths Fine Arts Chorale Fisher & Phillips LLC Folly Theater Friends of Chamber Music GEHA Genworth Financial Good Samaritan Project Dr. John Gordon Grand Arts The Grasspad Great Harvest Bread Co. Greater Kansas City Acura Dealers Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition Greater Kansas City Japan Festival Green Acres Market GreenTech Efficiency Solutions HCA H.M.S. Beagle HNTB Corporation Habitat for Humanity Kansas City/ Habitat ReStore Half Price Books Hallmark Business Expressions Halo Foundation Harbinger Property Group HarperOne Harriman-Jewell Series Haw Ranch

Hawk Student Employment Hayward’s Pit Bar B Que Heart of America Shakespeare Festival Heartland All Species Project Heartland Men’s Chorus Heartland Renewable Energy Society Heavy Constructors Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration Hidden Glen Arts Festival HomeFree USA Hot Basal Houlihan’s Hovey Williams Hudson Home Humane Society of Greater Kansas City Intercontinental Hotel International Relations Council Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City JCCC Carlsen Center Jack Miller Subaru James B. Nutter Jay Wolfe Automotive Group Jeffrey Burne & Associates Jewell Inc. Jewish Community Center Jewish Federation of Kansas City Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest Johnson County Community College Johnson County Education News Bureau Johnson County Library Johnson County Transit Junior League of Kansas City Missouri Just Desserts Bakery and Pastry Shop KC Cat Clinic KC Tribune KCPT Public TV 19 KU Alzheimer and Memory Program KU Confucius Institute Kacico Dance Company Kansas City Actors Theatre Kansas City Ballet Kansas City Business Journal

Mid-America Arts Alliance Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center Mid-America Nazarene University Mid-America Regional Council Midwest Highland’s Arts Fund Mid-Winter Art Fair at Ward Parkway Minsky’s Pizza Missouri Western University Moxie Catering Musica Vocale National Visitors Council of Greater KC National World War I Museum Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art New Ear New Letters Weekend Writers Conference Newburger Foundation Northeast Arts Commission Northland Symphony Orchestra O’Neill Automotive Otto Fleck’s Dry Basement and Foundation Outback Concerts Oxfam America Pak Halal International Foods Park University Parkville Mainstreet Merchants Pat Rhia Productions Paul Messner Puppets Pella Windows Pembroke Hill School Perceptive Software Pet Cremation Services Peter’s Clothiers Pitch Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative Polished Edge Polsinelli Shugart Powell Gardens Prairie Village Merchants Project Workout on Wheels RBC Wealth Management

REACH Healthcare Foundation Renaissance Festival Research Medical Center Resources of Kansas City, Inc. Retro Inferno Rimann Liquors River City Solutions The Roasterie Rockhurst University Rose Brooks Center Rosemann & Associates Russell Advertising Ryan Lawn and Tree Schloegel Design Remodel Scott Joplin Foundation Scrape the Plate Catering Second Presbyterian Church Shapiro Protzman & McMullen Shawnee Mission Medical Center Sheehan Irish Imports Shook, Hardy and Bacon Small Step Energy Solutions Smart Spot Smiles Change Lives Spanish Voice Group Speaks Funeral Home SPIN! Neopolitan Pizza Spur Communications St. Andrew Christian Church St. James Church St. Mary’s Episcopal Church St. Paul School of Theology St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School St. Teresa’s Academy Starlight Theatre Stinson Morrison Hecker Stueve Siegel Hanson Stuff Suburban Lawn & Garden Summerfest Concerts Sunflower House The Sweet Guy Sweet Spot Marketing

Swope Health Services Systen, L.L.C. Ten Squirrel Ten Thousand Villages Terrace on Grand Time Warner Cable Business Class Tinseltown Media Tivol Jewels Toy & Miniature Museum Trapp & Company Truman Library Truman Medical Charitable Foundation Unicorn Theatre Union Station University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Saint Mary USA Rise Up Vanderslice Home Tour Vespa Crossroads Kansas City Village Presbyterian Church Visitation Fine Arts Society (Venue Visitation Church) Visiting Nurse Association Ward & Ward Custom Picture Framing Washburn School of Business Washington University Wayside Waifs Weston Chamber of Commerce Westport Center for the Arts Westport Regional Business League Westwood Manor Wheels To Freedom White Light New Age Books William Jewell College Willow Productions WineAndMusic.com Winslow’s Barbeque World’s Window Wornall House YouthFriends

2009 Year in Review

Kansas City Cancer Center Kansas City Chamber Orchestra Kansas City Chorale Kansas City Civic Orchestra Kansas City Hospice Kansas City Irish Fest Kansas City Jubilee Kansas City Kansas Public Library Kansas City Museum Kansas City Power & Light District Kansas City Puccini Festival Kansas City Repertory Theater Kansas City Sailing Kansas City Scottish Highland Games Kansas City Symphony Kansas City Zoo Kansas Historical Society Kansas Humanities Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art Keystone Nissan King Hershey Knotty Rug Lewis Rice Fingersh Lexington Tourism Bureau Liberty Hospital Lied Center Linda Hall Library Live Nation/CCE St. Louis Livestock Exchange Building Luke’s Lab Lyric Opera MAST Ambulance Services M&I Bank MPress Printing Madrid Theatre Majestic Restaurant Mark Twain Writers Workshop Mazuma Credit Union McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan Metzler Remodeling

Major Donors Consistent high quality and rich diversityâ&#x20AC;Śthanks to you. The following lists include members who donated $500 or more between July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

KCUR 89.3 FM

$500 - $999 Members

John & Dena Adams Shannon Aita All Care Sweeping John & Cathy J. Anderson John & Joan K. Anderson Rania Anderson Dr. & Mrs. Edward Andres Matt Anthony Jane Ash Julia Atkins Alan & Mary Atterbury Mark B. Bailey Gloria J. Bandstra Bank of America Matching Gifts Program Gordon & Nancy Beaham Dave W. & Dianne Bell Don & Ann Bender Eliot & Marcia R. Berkley Patricia A. Bernal Bruce D. Bettinger Rick & Alice Blanner Lee G. Bolman & Joan Gallos Laurie A. Bomba & Andy Fromm Suzanne Bremser Scott & Michelle Britton-Mehlisch Douglas D. Buesher Randall D. & Penny Burdge Jeff & Merrikey O. Burkey Kathryn Burlison Michael Byars Patricia D. Cahill Alan & Barbara Ann Callaway Lourdes Carvajal Robert L. Claassen John W. Clark Jason & Stephanie Cole Carter T. & Jennifer Combs Linda D. Cooley William & Jill J. Coughlin Tex & Teresa Courtney Crumbaugh

Bill & Dorothy F. Curry Ivan Damjanov Barry & Pat Daneman Renee Daniels Terry Davin Cheryl K. Dillard Duana M. Dralus Richard & Janet S. Dubinsky Rex & Kathy L. Elbert Ben & Sandra L. Embry Brad & Virginia Epsten Rayla A. Erding David R. Erickson Escreen Glenn W. Esser Samuel O. Fadare Howard & Lisa Feingold Susan J. Fershee Joe L. Fessler Dana E. Fields Bradley & Linda M. Finkle Meg Fishback Tim Fisher Jack & Anne Fitzpatrick Daniel & Candace N. Flanigan Jan E. Fortney Louise Frank-Graham Mark Frazier Michael G. Gerken Chad M. Giddings Paula L. Godwin Laura Lee Grace Richard C. Green, Jr. Gary J. & Vera Gregg Michael W. & Sharon Grochowski Richard Gumpertz & Karen Rowinsky Jerry & Janet L. Guyer Thomas E. Hafer John Flaherty & Marnie A. Hammer George & Kim L. Hanson Kelly Z. & Robyn Hart

Salah & Penny S. Harzi John Haslam Stephen & Jean Hawkins Jerry & Rosemary Heidrick Karen L. Helwig-Marchand Nicola Heskett & Walter Cofer Miki L. Heyne John & Carol Hiebert Honeywell Foundation Gary Hood Charles S. Hughes Human Resource Management Association of Johnson County Jim A. Jennings Amie C. Jew Johnson and Grotewiel Giving Fund Bryan & Linda Johnson Mike & Jerilyn Jones Jesse & Jo Anne Jones K.C. Southern Industries Charitable Fund George & Kathleen J. Keenan Kristen Kelly David & Shannon Kelman Jonathan M. Kemper George & Mary H. Korbelik William & Regina M. Kort Sara Kurtz Herbert & Barbara Kussmann Mary D. Lewis Linda Lighton & Lynn Adkins Brian & Cathy R. Lincoln Fred J. Logan Lowenstein Brothers Foundation Dennis & Susan Marker Tami D. Martin Gaye McCarty-Stevick Ken & Cynthia R. McClain Jeremy & Becky McElduff Darren McElfresh Andrew & Patricia McGhie William & Joyce McKnelly

Paul & Deborah D. Russell Peggy F. Schmitt Stan & Tommye Sexton William J. Shapiro Yvonne Shull Paul & Dianne C. Shumaker Beth K. Smith Robert F. Smith Scott M. & Mary Beth Smith Burt & Barbara Smoliar Shelley A. Snyder Morton I. & Estelle Sosland Jean St. Pierre Georgia S. Staples Debbie Starks Mary Steeb Martha Steintamp Lisa A. Stickler Teressa T. Stout Alexandra Jean Strong Ben F. Studebaker Sweet Spot Marketing Steve Taylor Nalini Tella Claude & Bertina P. Thau Ellis B. Thigpen William J. & Tracy Thomas T M House Cleaning Tomkins Corporation Foundation Wayne & Diane E. Tompkins Oscar K. Tshibanda Sherrell H. Tyree George & Elizabeth Ulbrick Donald E. Walker, Jr. Todd A. & Janice Walline Jeffrey Weidman Pam Whiting & David Bayard John & Michele A. Wilinski Stephen K. & Marta Williamson Jerome P. & Tammy Wood

Marie S. Woodbury-Claiborn Peter L. Woodsmall Jerry Young Zoglin Family Foundation

$1,000 Members

John C. & Ellen A. Aisenbrey Suzanne E. Allen Anonymous Listener Lowry K. & Linda Arnold Keith & Connie Ashcraft AT&T Foundation Bert & Joan M. Berkley Mark & Renee M. Bernhardt Stephen R. & Andrea Bough Catherine A. Brazeal George Breidenthal Marilyn R. Carbonell & David Weinglass Holly Combest Michael Cox DST Systems, Inc. Advised Fund Mark H. Edelman Eric R. & Beverly O. Elving Embarq Matching Gifts Program Bob & Susie Evans Andrew & Elizabeth Felling Patti A. Flinn J. Peter & Barbara Gattermeir Hallmark Corporate Foundation Tom L. Handley Mark L. Hayes Shirley and Barnett Helzberg Foundation Henry & Karen L. Herrmann Michael L. & Lucile C. Hobbs Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation William T. Kemper Foundation David Woods Kemper Memorial Foundation Deedee King

Teresa Larocco Lon & Nancy Lewis Family Fund Alise Martiny Thomas A. & Jean W. McDonnell Paul McGraw The Morgan Family Foundation Regina Nouhan Debra W. Parmet Roger & Karen Prewitt Robert P. & Dianne Priest Jamie P. Rigden Landon & Sarah F. Rowland Elaine B. Ryder Roswitha Schaffer Ralph Schultz Family Foundation John Scott Gilbert & Mylinda S. Scott Randell L. Sedlacek John & Mary N. Sherman Paul K. Shumaker Susanne Christopher Shutz David Smoot Gita Sprague Sprint Foundation Pat & Deborah Starke James E. Stowers III & Michelle Stowers Charlie Sunderland Julie Sykes Ursula Terrasi Vanessa Thorsten Robert & Kim Van Maren Mark A. & Nancy J. Viets Sean Wang W. Russell & Debbie Tate Welsh Nancy J. Welsh The Westport Fund Felecia Williams

2009 Year in Review

Donald McMican Cydney E. McQueen Merck Company Foundation Carol H. Merry Fred Mitchell James & Virginia Moffett Steve & Valerie Moore Jill A. Moormeier Galen Morrison Richard J. Mundis Marli Murphy Jay M. & Kathryn Nadlman Frank & D. Joan Neff Katherine Newman Pamela J. Nicklaus & Steven Simpson Mr. Paul B. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Gorman Jane Josephine Overton Marvin & JoAnn Ozley Pak Halal International Foods John M. Parisi Kent & Ava J. Payne Sanford & Elizabeth S. Peterson Pfizer Foundation Carolyn J. Phelps Larry & Betsy D. Piebenga Piersol Foundation, Inc. Scott Pioli Lewis & Sally Popper Nigel & Karen M. Price Quest Diagnostics Mike & Usha Rafferty Donald & Pamela Raffurty Ruth W. Rick Albert Riederer & Sandra C. Midkiff Kristi L. Roberts Stephen & Judith Roling Beth E. Rosemergey Vernon & Elizabeth S. Rowe Joshua Rowland Gerald & Deborah A. Rushselt

The John C. Dods III Watts Endowment Society: Power for the Future Hundreds of thousands of people listen to KCUR. Thousands of these listeners support the station with their membership contributions. And a very devoted group of KCUR members are investors of the future.

children and grandchildren. Members also get to know the people whose voices you hear on the air, and how the magic of KCUR radio is created.

These investors are the John C. Dods III Watts Endowment Society.

When you join the Watts Endowment Society, you align yourself with distinguished members who share a passion for insightful news programs, intelligent analysis, lively interviews and surprising entertainment. And you share a commitment to making all this available to the entire community in a non-commercial format.

Earlier this year, we renamed the society to honor our late friend and community leader, John Dods, who was the inspiration behind the endowment’s development. John believed it was necessary to “ensure a strong future for KCUR in our community,” and his devotion to the station inspired others to follow his lead. Together, they created an ensemble of passionate public radio patrons. Members of the Watts Endowment Society are commited to ensuring that KCUR thrives and serves the generations that follow us - our

You can learn more about the Watts Endowment Society and how to help provide more power in KCUR’s future. Visit www.kcur.org or call Danny Baker, director of development, at 816-235-2861. Join those who are taking their membership commitment to a new level, and are enjoying the benefits.

John C. Dods III Watts Endowment Society members Members as of December 31, 2009

KCUR 89.3 FM

Charter Members:

Anonymous (in memory of Ann Douthat) John C. and Joan Dods The Kenneth C. Hill Foundation (Director: Charlotte Hill) Robert W. Lefferd Linda and Mike Lyon Regina Nouhan, M.D. RLS Illumination Fund Peter G. and Elizabeth Torosian Foundation (Trustees: Jean T. Kiene, Mark F. Titus, Lisa Kiene and Richard H. Kiene, III)

Members:

Anonymous (in memory of Elizabeth A. Gibb) Danny Baker Nancy Bowman Pete B. Browne and Julie Walker-Browne Michael Byars Patricia Cahill (in memory of Sam Scott) Ernie Capobianco Marilyn Carbonell and David Weinglass Jan and Richard Dubinsky Jane and Keith Gard George and Barbara Heymach Dale E, Jarka, M.D. and Brian M. Wicklund, M.D. Stuart Jenkins and Family Vivian L. Jennings and Roger D. Doeren

Kris and Lisa Ketz Deedee King (in memory of Dick King) Mark and Shelly Kramer Mary Larson-Diaz Dennis and Laurie McCormack Mira Mdivani and Dennis Ayzin Mitchell Capital Management Company Sarah Morris Uzziel and Adriana Pecina The Ralph Shultz Foundation Steve and Judi Roling Elaine B. Ryder Steve and Judy Sherry C. Parker Van Hecke David and Julie Warm

KCUR Financials Local support makes it happen. Eighty-four percent of KCURâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operating budget is funded by the Kansas City area community. This revenue makes possible the outstanding programming you hear on KCUR and kcur.org, including your favorites from National Public Radio, plus exceptional local news coverage, health information, business reports, features, music and arts coverage. During KCURâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 fiscal year, nearly 10,000 members made gifts exceeding $1.3 million to maintain the programs they value. In addition, community businesses and corporations continued to discover the quality of KCUR programming. Underwriting sales exceeded $1.14 million in fiscal year 2008.

Revenues for year ending June 30, 2009

Expenses for year ending June 30, 2009 $166,189 (6%)

$18,600 (1%) $72,113 (3%) $95,881 (3%)

$205,724 (8%)

$2,441,653 (84%)

$243,185 (9%)

$240,604 (8%)

$1,594,515 (57%)

$267,280 (9%)

Our thanks to all of you for your generous support.

$344,199 (12%)

Community Support

(includes membership and underwriting revenue)

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Grants University Support* Other Grants Endowment Revenue *UMKC also contributed other forms of support, which represented more than $740,000 in value.

Total Expenses: $2,818,511 Programming Membership Management & General Underwriting Engineering Promotions

2009 Year in Review

Total Revenue: $2,871,432

(includes new media)

Volunteers Honored The heart of KCUR In November, the staff of KCUR celebrated with 200 volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party. Sincere thanks to our entire family of volunteers. Special appreciation also to Terrace on Grand (Pete Herber and staff), Bonterra Catering (Alisa Breitenstein, John Shene, and crew), Ornamental Petal (Bridget Kelly), and the band, The Good Foot. As part of the festivities, we presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Carolyn Turner and Mike Taylor. Mike Taylor began volunteering for KCUR in the ‘80s. Mike remembers showing up for his first volunteer shift when the “phone room” was located in a corner of the station that is now the newsroom. He recalls, “We didn’t get many pledges ‘cause there weren’t many listeners and no development director.”

KCUR 89.3 FM

“Most of my early efforts were in the phone room,” Mike continues, “Occasionally, I’d volunteer 40-hour weeks during fund drives. I also helped promote KCUR at a jazz concert in Volker Park, handing out pamphlets and signing people up for a mailing list. I volunteered at one or two Whad’ya Know? broadcasts and the first July 4th broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion at Starlight Theatre. Most recently, I helped address and stuff envelopes for the station’s holiday mailing.”

Through the years, Mike says he has witnessed many good changes at KCUR, from the growth of listenership and KCUR’s recognition in the city; to the amount of news and information that is broadcast today; to the professionalism of the staff; to the sophistication of the fundraising process. “The tenure of so many staff members,” Mike says, “speaks highly of the way the station is run.” When asked what he likes best about volunteering at KCUR, Mike replies, “I like being with the other volunteers – such an intelligent group. The staff ’s become so gracious that it feels like family. When KCUR comes up in conversation, I feel like saying, ‘That’s my radio station.’”

Carolyn Turner first volunteered as an on-air pitcher for KCUR in 1997. Carolyn recalls, “In a casual conversation with someone – who I later found out was a member of the KCUR Advisory Board – we talked a bit about our favorite programs during the driving time to and from work. I guess my enthusiasm for KCUR’s programming prompted him to refer me to the development director and the rest is history.” “My first time pitching was fun and interesting,” Carolyn remembers, “and I was fairly nervous. But the staff and other volunteers put me at ease.” “KCUR has always been professional in its approach to fundraising,” she says. “I’m impressed with how the equipment we use has improved over the years. The local news department just gets better and better. Through the years, changes in programming continue to keep KCUR interesting and up to date. And the staff always makes us feel so welcome and at home, like they consider the volunteers just another part of the KCUR family.” “And that’s what I like best about volunteering for KCUR,” Carolyn concludes. “Doing just a little something that feels right for something that’s important. I strongly believe in the mission of providing the best local programming and offering the best of National Public Radio. I appreciate the broad spectrum of in-depth news, analysis, features, and fabulous entertainment. It’s an honor to be able to share my enthusiasm by volunteering a few times a year.”

KCUR in the Community KCUR is committed to Kansas City and the organizations working to improve and enrich the lives of so many in our community. The radio station is proud to have sponsored the following events and organizations in 2009 (see also a complete listing of KCUR underwriters in the preceding pages): AIDS Walk Kansas City & AIDS Bicycle Challenge American Heartland Theatre American Jazz Museum “Jammin’ at the Gem” concert series ArtsKC pARTnership Awards Bach Aria Soloists Bloch Cancer Foundation Walk Child Abuse Prevention Association “Power of Prevention” gala City in Motion “A Modern Night at the Folly” showcase Coming of Age: Kansas City (Shepherd’s Center Central) Communiversity Cyprus Avenue “Live at The Folly” concert series Ethnic Enrichment Festival The Family Conservancy “Family Achievement Night” Folly Jazz Series Good Samaritan Project “Corks and Canvas” auction Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Green Acres Market “Healthy BBQ Cook-off” Habitat for Humanity “30th Anniversary” celebration Heart of America Shakespeare Festival H.O.R.S.E. “The Horse Boy” movie screening International Relations Council Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest Kansas City Actors Theatre Kansas City Civic Orchestra Kansas City Irish Fest Mark Twain Writers Workshop New Letters Weekend Writers Conference Renaissance Festival Sunflower House Truman Library “Arianna Huffington and Friends” national forum UMKC Alumni Awards Luncheon UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Unicorn Theatre Wayside Waifs “Strutt with your Mutt” Dog Walk

A Decade of Digital We’ve come a long way from one stop on the FM dial. Wow! It was a decade of dizzying digital expansion at KCUR! The year 2000 was the begining of the “digital decade,” and KCUR had one very attractive “web page” where you could find the program schedule and mailing address. We have since redesigned and expanded our online presence several times and now offer over 18,000 pages of high quality news, music and multimedia. Through our live program streams, podcasts, news feeds, social networking sites, e-newsletters and mobile applications, an estimated one million people have accessed our online content this year alone. What was once a lone FM broadcast signal is now a full-fledged online destination, effectively changing KCUR from “Your Station for NPR News” to “Kansas City Public Media.” (Did you notice our new logo?) The biggest and perhaps most game-changing development this year was the addition of mobile applications developed by NPR and other public radio groups. Our listeners no longer need a radio or a computer to keep abreast of the news, catch up with Walt Bodine, or keep their weekends hopping with The Fish Fry. Today, several mobile applications allow you to access KCUR on your iPhone, BlackBerry or any other web-enabled mobile device. NPR Mobile Web is a site optimized to deliver local and national news from NPR and KCUR directly to your phone. Recent upgrades now offer a better audio experience and more audio format choices. Simply point your mobile browser to: http://m.kcur.npr.org.

lets you scroll through more than 400 stations and more than 800 podcasts, picking favorites for later listening. Pause, rewind, fastforward or search by guest features should be added in the near future. You can find Public Radio Player developments at publicradioplayer.org. The very latest development for our mobile users is the new NPR News Android app - the first Android app developed by a major US radio broadcaster. Android is the new Google-backed open-source mobile operating system. Currently all T-mobile phones operate on Android, and it is expected that Verizon and Sprint will incorporate it within the year. Many industry experts believe that the number of Android users is poised to explode, outpacing iPhones by 2012. Users with an Android-equipped phone are encouraged to go to the Android “market” to download the free NPR News Android app. Unlike the iPhone app, the NPR News Android app allows backgrounding, so users can click to listen to audio and toggle between applications as the audio is playing. It also uses open source code, which means that public radio-loving developers will be able to adapt and improve the app for us in the future. At launch, this app only features KCUR and other stations’ podcasts and archived NPR programs, but by spring 2010, we are hopeful that it will also feature KCUR and other stations’ live streams, similar to what is available now in the iPhone app. What will KCUR look like in the next decade?

• Hear, read and share NPR and KCUR news stories • Keep up with the news via hourly NPR five-minute newscasts • Listen to KCUR live, to your favorite KCUR or NPR program wherever it’s on air, or to the most recent show on demand • Use audio controls to pause or skip forward in any story or program • Create a playlist of stories to hear in any order – right away or later

Arriving soon will be the rumored iTablet from Apple (and others like it). Connected full-time to the Internet, these devices will receive audio, video, text (including newspapers), books, magazine, blogs, email and web content. In order to be ready for this major change in technology, KCUR and other public broadcasting institutions must be ready to create and present consistent, high quality, locally meaningful content in multiple formats. KCUR’s digital offerings are off to an exciting start and with continued support from our listeners, we hope to unfold creative, exciting, rich and important multimedia for our community for many decades to come.

The Public Radio Player was developed by a consortium of public radio entities and has become one of the top free software applications on Apple’s iTunes store with over two million downloads. The program is free, but for now can be used only with Apple products. This app

Sara Crane Web Administrator, KCUR

If you own an iPhone, you can download the NPR iPhone application from the Apple App Store or directly from the iTunes Store. With the iPhone app, you can:

University of MissoUri-Kansas City KCUr-fM 5100 Rockhill Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Kansas City, MO Permit #6113

Renew Your Membership Since 1957, KCUR 89.3 FM has provided its audience with a service that informs, entertains and enriches the community. Each time you turn to 89.3 FM, you benefit from the noncommercial programming provided by National Public Radio, Public Radio International and KCUR’s own local shows. You are a vital part of the KCUR community. Donations from our listeners provide a large part of our operating budget each year. With your support, KCUR is here every day with the quality programming on which you have come to rely.

Whether you’re a new member to KCUR or a longtime donor renewing your membership, there are several easy ways to donate. You may: • Go to our secure online pledge form at www.kcur.org. • Call KCUR at 816-235-1551 and ask for our membership department. Request monthly billings by mail, pay with credit card or arrange for electronic funds transfers. • Mail your gift to the station. Make your check payable to KCUR and address your donation to KCUR Membership, 4825 Troost Ave., Suite 202, Kansas City, MO 64110. Thank you again for your support and for listening to KCUR. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact our membership department.

KCUR 89.3 FM Sun. 5 a.m. 6 a.m.

2010 Program Schedule

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

Thurs.

Fri.

Morning Edition

New Letters on the Air

6:30 a.m.

Humankind / Documentary

7 a.m.

Weekend Edition

Sat.

Only a Game

Weekend Edition

9 a.m.

Car Talk

10 a.m.

This American Life

The Walt Bodine Show

11 a.m.

A Prairie Home Companion

Up to Date

Here and Now

Talk of the Nation

Noon 1 p.m.

Thistle and Shamrock

2 p.m.

Fresh Air Weekend

3 p.m.

On the Media

Fresh Air

4 p.m.

All Things Considered

5 p.m.

KC Currents

6 p.m.

Documentaries and Specials

6:30 p.m.

Whad’ya Know?

Cyprus Avenue

American Routes

All Things Considered A Prairie Home Companion

Marketplace

7 p.m.

Hearts of Space

The World

Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!

8 p.m.

Night Tides

KC Currents

This American Life

Car Talk

Studio 360

The Fish Fry

Classical 24

Kansas City Symphony Hour

BBC Overnight

9 p.m. Midnight

BBC Overnight

Program Descriptions 12 O’Clock Jump – Live from the Mutual Musicians Foundation in Kansas City’s 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District, 12 O’Clock Jump is KCUR’s jazz, blues and comedy jam. All Things Considered – This news magazine delivers in-depth reporting, news, analysis, commentary, interviews and occasional quirkiness. American Routes – A broad range of American music – blues, jazz, gospel, soul, old-time country, zydeco, Tejano, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical. BBC News Overnight – An international perspective on the news, including live breaking stories from the BBC. Car Talk – Tom and Ray Magliozzi, affectionately known as “Click and Clack” offer advice for car problems with a large dose of humor. Classical – Classical and romantic repertories illuminated by wellresearched, insightful information. Cyprus Avenue – An intellectual study of the many facets of rock ‘n roll, with Bill Shapiro. The Fish Fry – A party in your living room as Chuck Haddock serves up the best in blues, R&B, soul, jumpin’ jive and zydeco. Fresh Air – Interviews with cultural figures and newsmakers, plus commentary and reviews of movies, books, television, music, theater and art. Hosted by Terry Gross.

Humankind – Stories of remarkable people dedicated to humanizing our society. Kansas City Symphony Hour – A weekly one-hour broadcast featuring the live concert performances of the Kansas City Symphony. KC Currents – Amplifies the voices and stories of cultural and ethnic communities in and around Kansas City. Marketplace – A weekday wrap-up of the world’s business news with feature pieces vital to your business, personal finances and life. Marketplace Morning Report – A 10-minute update on the world’s stock markets, with features about business and personal finance.

Talk of the Nation – Intelligent talk on compelling issues and your phone calls are welcome. Hosted by Neal Conan. This American Life – Personal stories about living in America. Some are sad, many are poignant. Hosted by Ira Glass. Thistle and Shamrock – A contemporary and traditional Celtic musical journey. Hosted by Fiona Ritchie. Up to Date – Brings pressing local, national and international issues to the table including politics, planning and design, economics, history, entertainment and social points of view. Hosted by The Kansas City Star’s Steve Kraske.

Morning Edition – Five hours of in-depth news reports, features and commentary from NPR and KCUR.

Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! – Test your knowledge of the week’s news and have fun playing along with the cast on this fast-paced quiz show.

New Letters on the Air – A literary review of some of the foremost contemporary writers who talk about and read from their works. Hosted by Angela Elam.

The Walt Bodine Show – A live call-in show exploring a wide variety of provocative issues, topics and personalities. Co-hosted by Gina Kaufmann.

Night Tides – Renée Blanche presents a mellow blend of new age and innovative music forms.

Weekend All Things Considered – News magazine that features in-depth reporting, breaking news, analysis, commentary and interviews.

On the Media – Decodes what we hear and see in the media every day. Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield.

Fresh Air Weekend – The best episodes from recent weekday broadcasts.

Only a Game – A magazine that appeals to sports fans and nonfans alike. It’s characterized by exceptional writing and friendly presentations.

Hearts of Space – Quiet, contemporary space music, electronics, classical adagios, soft jazz, and meditation. Hosted by Stephen Hill.

A Prairie Home Companion – Two hours of wit, wisdom, skits, music and the news from Lake Wobegon. Hosted by Garrison Keillor.

Here and Now – News, information and cultural features. Hosted by Robin Young.

Studio 360 – A richly textured and emotionally resonant look at art’s creative influence in everyday life.

Weekend Edition – News, health, finance, human interest, movie and book reviews, sports, listener letters and a puzzle. An NPR program hosted by Liane Hansen and Scott Simon. Whad’ya Know? – Michael Feldman hosts America’s most off-beat and entertaining radio call-in quiz program, featuring trivia, music and the staccato beat of Feldman’s humor. The World – An evening news magazine — a joint production of the BBC, PRI and others — that features news, arts and culture.