With the upcoming AIR board elections, ongoing membership drive and AIR’s Virtual Annual Meeting all happening in September, there’s ample opportunity for members to get involved.

AIR Board Elections Reminder from Sid Selvidge, AIR Board President:

Later this month the AIR membership will be asked to vote for two vacant positions on the AIR Board of Directors. The board is currently facing some very important decisions concerning the future of AIR and your input as voting members is critical. There are some formidable candidates who have offered to serve; I urge you to read their statements in the summer edition of AIRspace and vote intelligently.

Online candidate discussion boards will be opened mid to late September.

Member Drive Research Reveals Surprising Findings

In an effort to help predict the success of the membership drive, we at AIR recently decided to conduct an extensive study concerning the effects of summer fun on membership drive participation. The results are in, and AIR is relieved to announce that referring members and AIRblast readers is an easy task to perform, even while perfecting your tan or getting your ribs just right.

As lead scientist Dr. James Robinson concludes, “Improving your independent community is a relatively easy task to incorporate into other processes, even those of a recreational bent.” So, as the summer winds to a close, get out there and spread the good word about AIR!

Find out how to take the lead and build our organization in the process. (Oh, yeah, and perhaps win an iPod, too.)

AIR Membership Drive

If you would like to review our data and methods, contact memberdrive@airmedia.org

AIR Member Spotlight: Steve Rathe

This year Murray Street Productions celebrates 25 years of independent public radio production, marketing and project development. Founder and president Steve Rathe says, “I'm not sure if we're the last of the dinosaurs or something completely new.”

for NPR and PRI, the 14th season of Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio, a new Symphony Space Live series, a doc on Father of the Blues WC Handy (with Artemis Media), and re-distribution of 1990's HEAT with John Hockenberry—right on time for presentation by PRX.org and WNYC.

“Everyone sees the end product,” says Rathe, “and not the fundraising and development that gets productions made—and the marketing team and stations that get them to the audience. I've been lucky to be surrounded and supported by some very hip, talented people for more than 25 years.”

AIR Goodies

Informal AIR Meeting at PRPD Conference

The Public Radio Program Directors annual conference is being held this September 13-16 in Philadelphia. It's the only public radio conference dedicated entirely to programming; a chance to mix and mingle with colleagues, talk with the nation's producers and get a cutting-edge look at the issues facing today's public radio programmers. For those AIR members attending (of which there are quite a few), AIR plans to host an informal meeting in the early evening of Thursday, September 14. Watch for details on the AIR Daily or contact AIR Executive Director Dolores Brandon at dbrandon@airmedia.org for time and location.

The Word on AIRspace — Fall all-electronic issue coming in October

“Innovation: Inside, Outside and In-Between”

Guest editor Sue Schardt riffs on her benchmark February study “Opportunities for Innovation, Mapping Public Radio's Independent Landscape” to bring us:

• The transformation from radio producer to blogger: “Deconstructing Milt Lee,” a simple how-to from the former Executive Director of AIR.

• WNYC's Ellen Horne's exclusive interview with leading venture capitalist Bob Davoli.

• KCRW's straight-talking GM, Ruth Seymour, tells us what's on her mind in these changing times and links us to programs she produced as a young newbie during another heady, golden era of public radio.

We'd love to get your feedback. You can send comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the AIRblast to airblast@airmedia.org