The Fundraising Committee and friends held a fantastic fundraiser in the Lisdoo just before Christmas and they have booked a date again this year. So between now and then there will be some more fun nights out. The first is the Dundalk FM’s 60’s and 70’s POP MUSIC QUIZ which will be on Friday 19th April in the Lisdoo. All welcome. Great night’s craic guaranteed. All proceeds going to renovate the station. Kudos to Sean Callaghan and Tom Gernon who are the question masters. Please come along and join in.

A Radio Documentary Workshop with Alison Lennon and Alan Byrne will be held on Thursday 11th April at the station at 7pm. The closing date for S&V applications is 8th May. If you want to meet Alison to chat about an idea you can reach her at alisonlennon@dundalkfm.com.

Our April Radio Course begins this week and we welcome Andy McKenna, Gregor Byatt, Orla Crilly and David Larkin to the station.

Running orders – are important on 2 reasons- we calculate the Irish Music % played each day – it’s 25% at present moving up to 30% when our new Licence comes into force from 1st September. And also for our Voices on Air – our target is 7,200. We need to have running orders to back up our stats.

We have two Town Talk OB’s coming up – the first will be in the Crowne Plaza for the Age Friendly Conference on Wednesday  17th April and then a week later on the 24th, we will be in St Gerard’s Hall.

The Ready, Steady… Go series will commence very shortly send an email to Marissa at talk@dundalkfm.com and she will contact you with the time and date for your show.

The Town Talk programme on Bank Holiday Monday (22nd April), Marissa is putting together a Poetry Special Show. If you would like to record a poem and select a song get in contact with Marissa.

You may have noticed a photo frame with some old and some new photos in the reception area. These are the photos we put up during March…more to follow each month.

The Volunteer of the Month nomination form can be found here. Nominations can be for whatever you feel merits special recognition e.g: listener feedback, outstanding show content, flexibility, support for colleague, advertising referrals, exceptional hours contributed in month, special milestone e.g. 5 year/10 year on air etc.

Finally, we have put up a Suggestion Box at the entrance to the Main Studio so please pop a card into the box so we can work on improving our studios, services, programming, training, communications and so on.

Volunteer of the Month Awards

In our Engagement Survey last year, many volunteers suggested we introduce a way to recognise exceptional individual volunteer contributions.

We are now delighted to announce the launch of a Volunteer of the Month Award.

Nominations for the award can be made by any two members of Dundalk FM including volunteers and staff. A nomination form is attached and will be available from reception throughout the year. A reminder will go out each month and nominations can be made at any time.

Nominations can be for whatever you feel merits special recognition e.g: listener feedback,outstanding show content, flexibility, support for colleague, advertising referrals, exceptional hours contributed in month, special milestone e.g. 5 year/10 year on air etc.

Awards Judging Panel 2019 will include Chairman (Joe Duffy), Manager (Alan Byrne) and Volunteer Liaison Person (Marian Del Duca). Monthly winners will receive a Certificate and a place on the year’s Roll of Honour 2019. There will be a Perpetual Award at year end for an overall Volunteer of the Year who will be chosen by a vote from all members at year end.

So who would you like to nominate for February 2019 Volunteer of the Month Award?

Kind regards

Joe Duffy

Chairman

Volunteer of the Month Nomination Form 20190218

We are saddened to hear of the passing our dear colleague Jimmy Neary last evening.

Our thoughts are with Marita, Karen and John.

There is a remembrance journal at the station.

Dear Paul,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Dundalk FM, I would like to extend our thanks for all your studio assistance and audio advice during the last three years as Evening Duty Manager.

We hope that you will continue to be involved in music, documentary or other related local community radio activities with us in the future.

I know that all the staff, presenters and presenter teams join with us in wishing you every success with your endeavours.

Kind regards

____________________________________

Joe Duffy

Chairperson

The application for a renewal of our community licence was submitted to the BAI at the beginning of August.

I texted our members for some their own words to help with the application and asked them to answer these 3 questions:

1. What does it mean to you to be a member of Dundalk FM 97.7?

2. What is missing from the schedule.

3. What year did you start?

…and here are the replies…

Being a member of Dundalk FM is extremely important to me as it allows me to contribute something to my community and to be a part of making a difference in the lives of local people. There is very little missing from the schedule. Joined in 2005

Kevin Marley, Heart of the Matter

Being a volunteer at Dundalkfm has been an awesome experience. The staff and management have been so friendly and supportive. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. It has been an amazing learning curve. I’m learning new skills that I thought I could never learn, working the desk producing and presenting programs, interviewing guests etc etc. Dundalkfm is the voice of our community.

I feel part of a very useful and necessary community organization. I’m getting great feedback from the people I meet not only about me but the station in general. This station has given me a new lease of life.

Marian Del Duca, Presenter on the Town Talk, Health and Well Being, Conversations with Dundalk Toastmasters and stand in presenter for Lunch Box, Afternoon Show and Drive Time

I feel a member of a really close-knit and vibrant community. Joined in 2010.

Noel Sharkey, Music and Local History Documentary Maker

Being a member opens a whole new world. …ability to broadcast. .meet new people. …try different types of programmes. …and enjoy the journey.

I feel that more educational and local history programming which involves the local schools should be considered I’ve been involved in community radio for about 10/12 years

Alan Bogan, Radio Documentary Producer

1. I am a member of a viable and valuable community entity that affords me the opportunity to forge strong local links and influence positive action in the sector.

2. Female Voices on Air

3. 2015

Marissa Lucchesi, Town Talk and Dundalk FM Board Member

Great to be part of a community based radio station providing a unique service for the town of Dundalk.

Joined in 2002.

Michael Duffy, Town Talk

1. It has opened doors for me in the dj world. Since starting the show. I have done the Dublin, Cork and Belfast ska festivals and next week I do a set at Wexford ska festival. I feel part of something and I have the freedom to express myself on the station.

2. It needs more music shows and younger presenters to tap into the future of our listenership.

3.2015 and please God I have many more years ahead.

Karl Collins, Rocksteady Rhythms

It means the freedom to broadcast a show to my own style with the support of the management and the members. It has also meant the opportunity to develop skills and attributes that have seen me grow as a person and a journalist.

2. What is missing from the schedule? A late night show for the 16-29 demographic

3. What year did you start? 2009

Ciaran Callan, Drive Time

1. Great to be part of such a great resource for the community of Dundalk.

2. Probably room for more Irish language programming.

3. Joined in 2016. Good luck with application.

Pat Byrne, Dundalk Lions’ Club – at your service, Director

Hi Alan

Answer 1. It means a great deal to me being a member of Dundalk fm as being a person with a disability it has giving me an opportunity to for-fill one of my dreams of presenting my own radio show an opportunity I don’t think i would have gotten anywhere else. Also I have received great help support and advise from the staff and fellow members of Dundalk fm.

Answer 2 subject to demand i think more air time needs to be made available for more programs Answer 3 I joined in 2018

Martin Trodden, Classic Love.

Alan, answers as follows:

1. Being a presenter on Dundalk FM, gives me the chance to communicate my passion for music, with the listeners, and hopefully educate, inspire, and ultimately, entertain them at the same time. Being part of the Dundalk FM community gives me a sense of contributing to the local community, with like minded people, who have a similar goal and vision.

2. There should be more live content, especially in the evening, and most especially over the weekend.

3. I joined in 2018.
Hope that helps.

Mike McMahon, Mike’s Music Express

1. To be a member of Dundalk fm97.7 means a lot to me. I’ve upgraded my mass communication and broadened my mind how community based radio runs and the target audience it is transmitting to.

2. To be realistic I don’t see anything missing. I just assume if the volunteers have the ability to bring up new ideas to upgrade for the better of our dear listeners interest.

3. I joined Dundalk FM 2 years ago.

Tony Banda. Music Show

1. Making listeners happy, bringing sport to their homes.

2. Should be more Outside Broadcasts around Dundalk.

3. about 2004

Gussie Hearty, Summer League Focus.

1. What does it mean to you to be a member of Dundalk FM 97.7? As a new resident of the town, being a member of Dundalk FM means I feel a part of the community. There are familiar faces at the station and out and about now that make me feel like less of a stranger in a new place.

2. What is missing from the schedule? From what I’ve seen, the schedule is pretty broad. I’d like to do more to promote the Irish language on the station. My own level of Irish isn’t great, but making the effort might be as useful as already being fluent.

3. What year did you start? February 2018

Paul Donnolly, News and Sport

,

How to enter

Presenters are asked to complete the seven questions below and and return to alanbyrne@dundalkfm.com before midday on Tuesday 9th May. The Programme and Technical Committee will then judge the entries and select two to represent Dundalk FM.