For the past 36 years, WERU has been entertaining, informing and inspiring listeners with its diverse array of music, cultural programming, alternative news, and community centered public affairs programming. An independent and locally owned radio station based in Orland, Maine, WERU-FM is a volunteer-powered, listener-supported, grassroots nonprofit organization offering noncommercial radio broadcasting to Eastern and Central Maine.
Originally, WERU’s Board of Directors were a group of clergy members from local churches with an idea to start a Christian, noncommercial radio station. An ascertainment study of the community strongly indicated that a community radio station was a more appropriate direction to go, and the idea for the station was born. The call letters WERU were chosen for the suitable alliteration “We-R-U” and reflect the organization’s motto: “A voice of many voices.” To quote one of the station’s primary founders, Noel Paul Stooky, “…from that simple beginning in those four call letters WERU, a concept took reality by storm, because immediately the fractionalization of programming… turned it into a hybrid of every voice of the community.” Originally located at Stooky’s converted chicken barn in South Blue Hill, it was passion and volunteer efforts that were entirely responsible for WERU’s foundation and development. To this day, the station is still largely volunteer-powered; there are about 150 active volunteers currently (in positions ranging from on-air programmers to outreach tabling to facilities maintenance) and 8 staff working at WERU.
WERU began broadcasting to Downeast and Midcoast Maine on May 1st, 1988, from the radio tower on top of Blue Hill Mountain and there was an enormous community effort made to plan and prepare for the “going on air” celebration. Despite it being a rainy morning, a large crowd turned up for the joyous event: live musicians performed on a covered trailer-stage (plastic bags were placed over the speakers to keep them dry), a May Pole was set up, and people danced merrily in the parking lot. As hoped, locals and visitors started tuning in to 89.9 on their radio dials. At first, the station was only broadcast live 12hrs a day, and it was not until September of the following year that the station made it to a full 18hr broadcast. In 1997, WERU moved to a more centrally located, solar powered studio in Orland and finally, in 1999, became a full service station, broadcasting 24/7, 365 days a year. That same year, WERU also began internet streaming, which increased the station’s accessibility to a whole world of listeners.
During an acceptance speech at Maine Initiatives for Watering Can Award as a Social Landscape Artist, Matt Murphy (General Manager at WERU) describes community radio as, “…truly a “village green of the airwaves” where music, culture, ideas and discourse can be shared in a noncommercial, community-centered environment designed specifically to serve the needs of those not fully served by other broadcasters and the corporate media. At WERU we believe that access to information and expression are fundamental human rights that must be nurtured, exercised and defended in order for positive social change to occur… Ultimately, Community Radio is about storytelling: stories that are musical or spoken; stories that help us to understand ourselves, our neighbors, our communities and our world; stories that inspire thought, dialogue and action towards positive and compassionate social change.” This is evident in the tremendous diversity of programming that WERU offers: over 800 artists are played weekly from virtually all genres of music. Additionally, there are over 50 public affair and spoke word programs, such as: National Native News (a weekday newscast dedicated to Native issues), The Nature of Phenology (local nature observations), Boat Talk (a live & local call in show for people contemplating all things naval), and Democracy Now (a daily, global, independent news hour). Prior to COVID, the station hosted upwards of 400 guest speakers and musicians annually – including notable artists such as Arlo Guthrie, Chris Smithers, and The Temptation – and the station is just getting back to having guests in the studio regularly again. Although it’s difficult to get an exact count, it’s estimated that the local listening audience is about 25,000 people. There are about 2,500 active members supporting the station. In addition to live, livestream and on-demand shows, you can listen to archived shows by subscribing to the local Public Affairs Archives as podcasts on the WERU website. There is even a WERU Smartphone App, which allows you to listen to WERU live and access archives from your phone. On the website, you can find the schedule and playback for WERU’s current music, public affairs, and spoken word programs. You can find an up-to-date Community Calendar listing a variety of local events, as well. If you’re interested in staying on top of current happenings at the station (ranging from programming to upcoming concerts and more), you can subscribe to the WERU’s quarterly digital listener newsletter, Radio Waves.
There are a number of ways to support WERU, be it financially or through volunteer efforts. If you are shopping at the Blue Hill Co-op during the month of March, please consider rounding up to benefit the station! Every bit helps to make this unique community broadcast possible. WERU also accepts one-time gifts and recurring monthly gift donations via their secure website. Alternatively, donations can be mailed as a check to WERU Community Radio, P.O. Box 170, East Orland, ME 04431. The station hosts week-long membership drives quarterly, and the three remaining for 2024 will be held May 4-11, August 3-10, and November 2-9. Keep an ear out during these windows if you’re interested in supporting your favorite WERU program! If you own a business and would like to support the station as well as benefit from exposure and community connections, consider a Business Membership (underwriting) and your business will be acknowledged through brief announcements on the airwaves: “Support for WERU comes from….” A list of supporting Business Members is always available on the WERU website, as well. If you have a car that might qualify, you could consider donating it to WERU via Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS). CARS is a nonprofit social enterprise owned by a nonprofit supporting only nonprofits through vehicle donation. They will sell your vehicle and pass 80% of the proceeds onto WERU (after associated fees such as towing, auction & administrative costs). Finally, as an independent, grassroots organization, WERU has depended on volunteer efforts from the start. There are countless ways to volunteer your time at the station depending on your personal preference. This can look like on-air programming (DJ-ing or public affairs hosting), office work, outreach tabling, event management, facilities maintenance, committee service, music library work, answering pledge phones and much more. New Volunteer Orientation usually takes place individually or in small groups, often on Zoom. For any volunteering inquiries, feel free to contact Susan Pierce at info@weru.org or 469-6600.
— by Sarah Scamperlé, Marketing Assistant
Sources cited: WERU.org
