All of you will be missed

I live in Burlington Ky and despite that I still get your signal. I have been a member for several years and have really enjoyed the music and the locally produced shows. I hope that WVXU or WNKU are smart enough to maybe pickup some of them.

All of you will be missed. Good luck.

--Stan, via email

You have become like family

Keep thinking of all of you there with fondness as I will miss you all so much. I loved the early morning programs that you people produced and I will miss them as well. You have become like family.

I won't be able to make it there tomorrow [2/27/09], but please wish everyone my best. You all deserve so much more for the listening pleasure and professionalism you have brought to WMUB. Don't know what I'll do without those spectacular Day Sponsor parties in January either.

I hope you might let me know where you are going and what is going to happen to the rest of the crew.

God speed.

--Carol, via email

Thank your for your years of terrific programming

To all of the members of the WMUB staff:

First and foremost I want to thank you all for the outstanding work you have done over the years. I have certainly enjoyed the national NPR programming but have always appreciated the local offerings from WMUB. I originally switched to WMUB from another local public broadcasting station to pick up the Mama Jazz Show. I soon grew to appreciate many of the local programs. In addition to quality programming there was always a personal touch, such as when John Hingsbergen emailed the answer to my inquiry about a specific jazz recording I had heard and liked during a broadcast. With a son who is a freshman at Miami I understand the financial constraints of the university, but you will be a loss to the community. I wish you all well.

Sincerely,

--Jonathan, email to Sound Health

Learned much from working at WMUB

[Ed.: sent to Program Director John Hingsbergen]

I realize that this message comes with much unnecessary delay, as nearly a month has spanned since the news broke about WMUB. And though I can now only speak as a far removed spectator from all the events surrounding the impending changes, I hold an elephant's weight of sympathy for all you folks at the station. I had a rare perspective into the amount of work you and others put into the operation of WMUB and it was indeed a pleasure to work alongside everyone; I learned much from the experience. Thanks for the opportunity, John.

And though this comes despite the great legacy of Mama Jazz (and the hours of construction and implementation of control room C), I can't help but thinking of all the hours tinkering with MAMA files and P: drives that now seemingly go for naught. Nevertheless, that tinkering remains a small portion of the entire effort that you and everyone else actually contributed in keeping an excellent NPR affiliate up and running at high standards. It may comfort you to know that (in my opinion) the Little Rock affiliate by no means equals the informative announcing and reporting of WMUB. They never run breaks during the alloted music beds and their weather reports are a bit painful to listen to in comparison with the high-quality of WMUB's reportage. Anyways, forgive that tangent.

I hope you'll excuse this message's tone if it is a bit too formal; I had not exactly intended to sound overly professional or anything. Also, please excuse the tardiness of this message in relation to the release of the news. And please give my best regards to Cheri and everyone at the station to whom I was unable to extend personal wishes of good luck and thanks.

Best of luck,

--Chris (WMUB Board Operator)

Thank you for the contributions over the years

We will certainly miss you each day. Thanks to each of you for all your contributions over the years. We listened in our cars and in our home everyday and you have become so much a part of our lives.

We wish each of you the best in the future. Thank you for bringing the news and so much more to this region on a daily basis.

Sincerely,

--Juan and Marcia, via email

Will miss all the programs

Hello all WMUB staff,

I have enjoyed your programming for many years as I have driven up and down I-71 and around the Miami valley area. In the late afternoon I always appreciated your traffic reports for both the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. I will miss all the programs both national and local. Cheri Lawson's health program was always so well done and helpful. The computer help desk was also always a very interesting program. I was amazed at how well the experts could answer all the PC and Mac questions.

I am sorry Miami U. decided not to fund you anymore. I think this is really very short-sighted and certainly won't endear them to their local alumnae.

I wish all of you the very best as you move on with your careers.

Good Luck!

--Janet, Lebanon

Happy college moments at WMUB

I found some of my happiest college moments at WMUB... where I learned to play the piano, learned to love jazz, wrote my first song for my love, learned my first management principles from John and Cleve, and, in many ways, “found my voice.” My recording is attached; please let me know if it needs re-recorded or something, and please feel free to edit for time/content.

I am tremendously saddened by WMUB’s ceasing of on-air production... and I guess I still hold out hope it will be temporary. I am so thankful for my years there, and I pray that somehow, future Miami students will get a similar opportunity.

My best to you and the folks at WMUB; please let me know what I can do for you, if anything, to help find your next gig. In the meantime, I hope to be able to stop up on Monday to shoot some pics and say hello.

Cheers,

--Justin, via email

Saddens me greatly

It saddens me greatly that WMUB's current broadcast lineup will be lost when WGUC takes over management. I listen to both stations, with a significant preference for the creative and local community orientation of WMUB.

The staff and management of WMUB deserve praise and appreciation for the unique and outstanding radio they consistently provided to the southwest Ohio region. The loss of WMUB will be a significant cultural, informational and community adhesive loss to southwest Ohio.

I wish all the outstanding radio personalities, who will be picking up the pieces of their careers to go elsewhere, to understand they have pure gold nuggets among those seeming shards. Our loss will be someone else's gain.

As one who could have done more, these words will not help, for I know I could not - alone - have done enough. But had I the resources . . . .

--Roger, via email

Overcome with sadness

I have just opened the March SoundWords and am overcome with sadness. Seeing the faces of the voices I have been listening to as they say goodbye just seems too final.

I have lived in Ohio for almost five years now and I have listened to your station everyday that I have been at home during those years. What a wonderful station. I cannot imagine being without your voices and programs in my home.

Thanks for all your great work and all the best to everyone of you as you move on.

--MLH, Lebanon

Professionalism is appreciated

Since moving to the Dayton area 5 years ago, I must say that you have been my source of entertainment and information while commuting to and from work every day. Your professionalism has been appreciated. The content of your message has been perceived as facutal and reliable. I will truly miss the names and voices of those who I have listened to for these few years. Cheri Lawson and Tana Weingartner have become unknown friends. I don't know where your future leads, but I wish you the very best. Through my career, experiences such as what you're going through have always been viewed as blessings six months to a year down the road. I hope this holds true for all of you as well.

Thank you.

--John, Dayton

Come back, Shane!

For all WMUB radio staff...

I am so sorry you are leaving us...Al I can think to say is "Shane! Shane! Come back, Shane!"

And thank each and every one of you so very much! You will not be forgotten!

--Roger, Eaton

[Ed.: we can't assume everyone in our audience has seen the classic Western Shane. But everyone should.]

You've touched my family

I’ve been a dedicated listener and supporter for about six years. WMUB is my number one pre-set station and I almost always have my radio tuned to listen. My son, now 10, has grown over the past six years listening to local shows as well as national broadcast. We talk about stories we hear and he asks me questions about things that I wouldn’t have thought he’d pick up.

I’m going to miss each of your voices, the local programs, and everything about WMUB. Please know that you’ve touched my family and you’ve made us better, smarter, more aware people.

Kind regards and best of luck to each of you.

--Michelle, via email

Flat TVs are expensive; WMUB is priceless

An Open Letter to President David Hodge, Provost Jeffrey Herbst and VP David Creamer:

[On February 3, 2009], I attempted to attend the public meeting Miami University conducted on its planned lease of WMUB’s signal to WGUC and the cessation of local programming in Oxford. I managed to get as far as Loveland before the winter storm virtually paralyzed traffic on I-275. I suppose I was just one of many who were unable to be there but the trip was not in vane.

As I entered Ohio and drove west on the interstate, I picked up WMUB, which was providing excellent coverage of the weather on its newscasts and during breaks on All Things Considered. I noticed that Gary Scott devoted his fine program, WMUB Forum, Friday morning on the response to the storm, from a Butler County perspective. I’m sure WMUB filled the entire week with timely information about utility services, emergency shelters, road conditions, school closings and the like, all with a more rural flavor reflecting the region the station covers. Of course, this is precisely why WMUB should continue its current services.

WMUB holds a broadcast license to serve its community and that community extends far beyond the Miami University campus. It would be folly to presume WGUC, also a wonderful station, will fill this void.
Having worked at WMUB for 12 years and being a proud graduate of Miami, I know how the station has provided unique and comprehensive public affairs programming to address the region’s needs and challenges. The station won AP awards for its reporting on a water crisis in Oxford, a strike by teachers in the Talawanda School District, hunger and homelessness in Butler County, plant closings and job retraining, problems with the farm economy and others too numerous to mention. Under the leadership of former News Director Bob Long, the station broadcast election returns, candidate debates and special programs on key issues appearing on local ballots.

The above endeavors were not just important because of the exclusive service they offered but because they involved the education of Miami students. Student reporters blanketed the region, interviewing members of Congress and the state legislature, city managers, county commissioners, and citizens impacted by public policy decisions. For many, it was their first experience as news reporters and today they work at networks as well as local radio and TV stations across the country. The success stories are legion and phenomenal. However, those students who heard a different calling in life were the better for it, too. The traditional classroom walls of the university came down and students had opportunities for educational experiences they would not otherwise have had, were it not for WMUB. They would all tell you this if they had the opportunity.

As a former manager myself at two different radio stations, I can certainly understand the need to make sometimes painful economies in one’s budget. However, I’ve read the articles about WMUB and Miami University’s financial dilemma and I find considerable incongruity between these situations. As I understand it, here’s the problem in a nutshell. Miami University’s budget totals nearly $350 million dollars and it‘s facing a budget deficit of more than $20 million dollars. It costs Miami $200,000 more to operate the station than WMUB is able to bring in through grants, membership drives and underwriting.

So, it’s too expensive to continue running WMUB? Too expensive to provide the aforementioned community services to the region. Too expensive to offer students the type of “hands on” vocational training that has supplemented their classroom experience for decades. Two-hundred thousand dollars out of a budget that stretches into the hundreds of millions.

I reject this conclusion. Flat-screen TVs are too expensive. British sports cars are too expensive. A license to broadcast is an incredibly powerful and influential tool. It is priceless.

Finally, the decision to shut down local operations at WMUB is very unMiamilike. You’re giving up. You’re saying the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, Kent State and others are all able to do things we can’t. They beat us and we simply can’t compete.

As a life-long lover of Miami sports, I’ve seen some lean years on the gridiron and on the basketball court. However, I’ve never seen a Miami team give up. Let’s not do it with WMUB, either.

Sincerely,

--Dan, Morehead, KY

Going to be a sad week

To all of my Friends at WMUB,

It is going to be a very sad week as I listen to the final segments of so many parts of the station that is an integral part of my life. From the BBC when I get up in the morning, the weather and school closings tailored for our area, to the voices of so many fine professionals, the local programming, the voices of local commentators, League of Woman Voter forums, Day Sponsors of Friends and Neighbors, imaginative scheduling of extra programming and evening rebroadcasts of shows that are on during the day, I will miss all of you. I will always be a supporter of Public radio, but will miss no longer being a part of MY public radio station. The very best of Luck and Health to all of you in the future,

--Jack from Oxford

Will miss the local content

While my time with your station has been short, I will miss your local news, content and variety.

Thanks to your staff, and Miami for providing great radio, it will sad this week and next as we transition to our sole NPR source from Cincinnati.

--Jeff, via email

WMUB and jazz

[Ed.: Ron Gable publishes the online newsletter Jazz Advocate.]

So how did we come up with the name “Jazz Advocate?” Going on fourteen years ago, I discovered Mama Jazz on 88.5 FM, which rejuvenated my love for the music. In those days, the majority of the station’s program was jazz and a nice selection of other music along with NPR news. Aside from Phyllis Campbell (Mama Jazz), they had a number of other live DJ’s – Sam Meier, Don Leshner and Tracy DiMartini devoted to jazz and big band music.

Then came some program changes along with a new station manager (Cleve Callison) to implement them. Music was dropped from daytime programming with one DJ eliminated, one re-assigned to other duties and one had his program greatly reduced. The one main stay was the Mama jazz program but they did eliminate her call in request lines as well. While all of this was, transpiring at WMUB other media was dropping jazz and this was the main reason I decided to start a website giving our local jazz artists some kind of publication to keep fans informed.

I continued to listen to Mama Jazz and frequently called Cleve Callison to let him know my displeasure and finally on one occasion he said “look Ron, I know you’re a real jazz advocate but.” So the name “Jazz Advocate” came from the soon to be ex-manager of station WMUB. I have long since reconciled any bad feelings with the station and have enjoyed the Mama Jazz show to this day (on their HD channel 2) but all will end soon as Miami University is dropping the station after fifty-eight years.

You can read all the details at: http://www.wmub.org/WMUBchanges2009/#WMUBGM
As Cleve quotes “nothing gold can stay” but I want to thank all of them for the years of enjoyment they brought me.

--Ron Gable – Jazz Advocate

Jazz is greatly loved

I just wanted to weigh in on the fact that Mama Jazz and your HD2 channel are well loved and greatly appreciated! I have listened to Mama for a long time; she kept me awake during my long, late commutes home from grad school at Ball State University. I now reside in Charleston, SC, where the local public radio stations broadcast exclusively "Classical." I CAN'T TAKE IT!

So, I was elated when I recently discovered your HD2 station. However, I also discovered that BIG changes are soon to occur with WMUB, and am terribly upset about it. Even if I now make a small donation (I'm currently laid off), would it be too little too late? What will become of Mama?

Best wishes to all of the staff and management at WMUB; I sincerely hope that all GOOD THINGS do not have to come to an end.

--Nancy, via email

Radio won't be the same

Your radio station has become a friend to me over the years. I can not express how much I am going to miss what WMUB has to offer me. Sure, I can still listen to the NPR shows, but the community news and features will be gone.

Thank you WMUB staff for your professionalism and creativity you have brought to the airwaves.

Radio will never be the same without you.

--Sincerely, Susan, via email

WMUB has been major source of news

We have listened to and supported WMUB for all the time that we have lived in Eastern Indiana, and we have had close contact with Miami University...

We spend much of the year in Montana, now, and we were surprised and concerned by the news that Miami could no longer support WMUB. We listen to WMUB practically every day that we are in Richmond (IN), and, in our area of marginal TV and small-town newspapers, it is our major source of world news. Presently, family ties have carried us to Montana for eight months of the year, but without current affairs public radio we probably would not return to the Tri-State for any part of the year.

I understand from News Releases that WMUB (or at least some NPR coverage) will continue under Cincinnati NPR. Nevertheless, we lost WVXR to "Christian Radio" earlier, and we desperately hope that we will not be left out in a marginal area with no access at all to fairly and honestly reported current affairs.

Whatever the outcome, we wish we could be at the good-bye party this month. We would like to say thanks to all the staff who have helped educate and entertain us over the years, yet whom we have never met in person.

Thank you for all you have done; and please tell us the best way for us continue our support for NPR in our part of the tri-state.

Please send our thanks and appreciation to all the staff.

--Sam and Ruth, Richmond

[Ed.: many of WMUB's current lineup of national programs will continue when 88.5 begins broadcasting the signal of WVXU-FM next week. See WVXU.org for details.]

Will treasure the memories

I wish we could be there, but ... I'll be returning from a business trip. I'm still stunned by the University's decision, and I will still not know how to react until long after the change has been made.

I hope you and your staff land safely, and that any hardships are brief. I will treasure my earliest WMUB memory of joining during a pledge drive while listening to Mama Jazz from my dorm room ("I can't afford much right now, but can I still get a bumper sticker for my dorm window?" - no car at school of course.) And I'll miss listening to you all. Good luck and God Speed.

--Scott, Class of '82

Thank you for being "my" WMUB

Thank you for being "my" WMUB. I can't imagine living in a town without a local NPR station. It is my window to my community and to my world. My perspective on issues is always changed because of WMUB.

And thank you for being you and putting your professional heart and soul into our community. How many physcians can count upon their local NPR manager to help them diagnosis cases as you did when I had a child with
synesthesia....and after multiple neurologists and psychologists had never heard of the condition?

I LOVE the Tuesday morning programing...How can you know so much practical stuff aboutcomputers as a medievalist? I love the Forum and
Free Advice. Particularly when Mary Jo was on Free Advice. I would listen and relisten and copy down her recipes. You are my cookbook to the world!

Thank you Cleve and My WMUB. I love you all and I will miss you terribly.

--Ellen Buerk, Oxford

Cleve Callison (callistc-at-muohio.edu)
Sent from my mobile.

Help Desk contributed to solace of others

I will miss the computer guys on your Tuesday morning, locally produced show [Help Desk]. But my missing it is not as important as Camilla Flintermann’s use of it while she was living.

Camilla was a retired woman, widow of Peter Flintermann (a professor at Miami). He eventually died of Parkinson’s Disease. Camilla, as his primary caregiver found solace and support in an online chat group for Parkinson’s Caregivers. She eventually became moderator of that group as well as one of its chatters. She also used her computer to moderate a chat group of Palestinians and Jews who wished to bring peace to the West Bank region of Israel. Since many Palestinians have left the area to find work around the world, and there are many others from around the world who wish to offer their comments, this was a world-wide network for peace. Camilla was not very computer literate and your computer guys helped her solve more than one glitch on her computer. You even used her voice on your advertising piece describing how many emails she had waiting when the computer guys finally got her back into her email system.

While many people never get to know how their efforts contributed to the peace and solace of others, I wanted you and the computer guys to know what your efforts meant.

I’m so sorry this resource will no longer be with us here in Oxford.

--Bonita Porter, MA
SUMSRI Program Coordinator
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Miami University