UNITY FOR CHRY COMMUNITY RADIO 25th ANNIVERSARY

CHRY COMMUNITY RADIO PREACHES UNITY FOR 25th ANNIVERSARY
By William Doyle-Marshall
At volunteer appreciation night for CHRY Community Radio 105.5 fm, programmers many were recognized for their service to the station over the past 24 years. There were awards presented for five years of service, ten years, fifteen years and 20 years as well.It was quite a night. Danae Peart, station manager set the tone of unity for the future growth and development of CHRY. Present and past associates can make a contribution to the strength of the station, she emphasized. Ms Peart urged programmers and other volunteers to look beyond next year, the station’s 25th anniversary.
Veda Narain, host of the weekly Chutney show “Pushkar” was among recipients of five year recognition awards. Speaking about her inspiration and interest in music in a recent edition of the station’s program guide she noted that her life and lifestyle have been surrounded by music forever.
The young Indo Canadian of Guyanese and Trinidadian heritage grew up around a lot of reggae, Indian music such as mainstream Indian, Bollywood, chutney and classical music. Literally she was exposed to a lot of musical influenced that had Indian influences as the foundation. “I was involved in dance as well. So I was geared towards listening to many varieties of music, not just Indian music, but I had a confident handle on Indian music which is what Pushkar is,” Narain said.
“Everybody who has passed through the walls of CHRY has a contribution to make, whether or not you move on to other things, either it is ideas or it is skills sets so we will be calling upon you for sure,” Ms Peart said.
In a 23rd anniversary thank you note Peart and Matthew Fava, who ended his assignment as programme director recently praised volunteers and staff for their contributions in helping the station grow and making it possible to bring socially and culturally relevant programming to the airwaves.
Next year the station will celebrate 25 years as a full fledged FM station broadcasting 24 hours a day. “We got our license two years prior to that. 1987 we were officially FM and of course four years ago we were able to get protected status with 158 watts” she recounted.
“Some of you didn’t even have shows but you loved the concept of community alternative media and you were supporting us from the start and we want to say thank you for contributing to CHRY for more years than their certificate says.
“In calling you out we also call upon you, the stalwarts of the station to be mentors,” Peart exhorted. Going forward in the changing media landscape presents challenges to do the work now undertaken by the station – whether its financial or according to regulations, celebrants were told.
Again the word is united, the station manager stressed. She appealed for a united group going forward. While Twenty five years is a lovely milestone, she advised “we’d love to celebrate 25 more. We can’t do that if we are fragmented so we are asking, we are pleading and we are hoping that you guys will continue to do the good work that you do and also to mentor so others would do as good as you and even better.”
Randy Reid, Volunteer Coordinator said it was an important night for programmers and staff to reflect and join together in unison as they remember the important role they play in the production of media for the countless number of communities the station represents. “Tonight more than most nights is relevant to remind ourselves that we share this opportunity together; united we speak to a number of groups that save our little spot on the dial would have no outlet to have their voices heard and space to celebrate their culture,” he observed.
As Reid endorsed the need and importance of being united he told the celebrants it has a vital role to play as the station moves forward. “We’ve been doing that for 24 years and we’d like to move forward with that continued,” he said.
“So for some of you who have been long in and getting tired on the journey, it is time to mentor; it is time to pass on. If you want to leave, don’t leave us high and dry. Pass on your talents and you skills. If you’re staying, latch on to someone else that you can mentor and help us to go to the next level.”
CHRY’s programming is geared to a diverse community that includes various musical genres, spoken word and a host of cultural expressions such as Chutney, Calypso, Reggae, Soca and many others.
July 15, 2011