PopTodd Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Just renewed my membership to my local NPR station and got my gifts in the mail yesterday: a coffee mug, a half-pound of Intelligentsia coffee, and a This American Life flash drive. I think that the flash drive is about the coolest thing that I've gotten from them in my 3 years of membership, and that includes a big coffee table book about The Velvet Underground.Any of you all members of your local station? What are your favorite member gifts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 We are members and renew in the spring. I think the last member gift we got was reusable grocery bags. Not very exciting, but they get a lot of use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Queen Amaranthine Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I am a regular listener but confess it's been awhile since I've pledged! My kids take up all of my money these days. In the past I was highly inclined to pledge because I was friends with several of the employees of a very small local affiliate, and a few times I volunteered to answer phones during pledge week, but that office has since been transferred/combined into another one, so the station office has moved. I have a few coffee mugs from past years and they're among my favorites because they are big and sturdy, with a cool station logo. One time I got an All Things Considered T-shirt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Not a member but enjoyed the interview with Norton Juster (author of The Phantom Tollbooth, which I'm currently reading to my students) on the drive home yesterday.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Those weenies at NPR love that people think This American Life is their show. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smells like flowers Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I'm a member of the Jacksonville affiliate, but they're so poor they don't even give gifts! (Or my pledge is too small to merit one). Florida's erstwhile Governor, Rick Scott, cut all state funding for NPR and PBS this year, so I'm pretty much a member for life at this point. WHEN, oh when, will Terry Gross interview Jeff Tweedy? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted December 1, 2011 Author Share Posted December 1, 2011 Those weenies at NPR love that people think This American Life is their show.Whose show is it? (It originates from WBEZ in Chicago.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I'm a member of the Jacksonville affiliate, but they're so poor they don't even give gifts! (Or my pledge is too small to merit one). Florida's erstwhile Governor, Rick Scott, cut all state funding for NPR and PBS this year, so I'm pretty much a member for life at this point. WHEN, oh when, will Terry Gross interview Jeff Tweedy? Even thought he got exiled to extra-terrestial radio, Bob Edwards interviewed him earlier this year. Jeff's mixture of self deprecation, self importance and thoughtful reflection makes for a really odd listen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I like most of NPR's stuff, but they can get a little smug.. Sometimes while listening, I think of this guy: I don't listen enough to warrant becoming a "member". This American Life is pretty great though, when I'm able to catch it. Ira Glass is great.. For some reason, for the longest time I thought he was a black guy. Piano Jazz is fantastic as well...... Ah shit I should probably be donating.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 I made a pledge to one of the local NPR stations last year and got a big-ass coffee mug & a LA restaurant guide that I've yet to use (and likely never will). But Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me is so freaking funny that it's worth it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Whose show is it? (It originates from WBEZ in Chicago.) Yeah, its a WBEZ show distributed by PRI, who is an NPR rival. I was mostly kidding since it doesn't make a difference, but technically NPR has nothing to do with it. They do, however, distribute WBEZ's second best show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me so I'll forgive them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 PRI is a rival of NPR? Why do I hear the PRI jingle so often on NPR? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 From wikipedia, emphasis mine: Public radio is a generic term for non-commercial radio stations or programming that are covered under the Public Broadcasting Act. Public radio organizations receive funding from corporate sponsors, public (e.g. Corporation for Public Broadcasting) and private foundation grants as well as donations and gifts from individuals. The mix of revenue differs by station, network and/or producer. PRI, NPR and American Public Media are the largest providers of public radio programming in the United States. They compete with each other for slots on public radio stations and the attention of listeners. Each has distinct missions and emphases in programming—PRI is focused on global journalism, providing diverse voices, and arts and cultural perspectives. Any given public radio station may be simultaneously both an NPR member and an affiliate of PRI and APM. PRI is a not-for-profit organization that has an independent governing board with an independent board of directors. NPR is a membership organization; its board is composed of public radio stations which run for seats on the board. I had no idea about this until last month. I follow This American Life on twitter and they made a comment about how they weren't an NPR show and I researched more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted December 1, 2011 Share Posted December 1, 2011 Is NPR a radio station? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I had no idea about this until last month. I follow This American Life on twitter and they made a comment about how they weren't an NPR show and I researched more.That's interesting. I have been a This American Life fan for years and never realized that. There is obviously some overlap because TAL includes the Planet Money people on shows (and I think Planet Money is an NPR show). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Magnetized Posted December 2, 2011 Share Posted December 2, 2011 I just have to jump in here and say that EVERYBODY needs to support NPR. I think Wilcoworld even has it as one of their "causes." Even if only for the Wilco connection it would be worth a few bucks of tangible support, but This American Life, Fresh Air, Wait, Wait, All Things Considered--the list goes on and on. Plus whatever local programming your local affiliate has--we're lucky to have a terrific show that comes on daily called Out of the Box with Paul Shugrue--it's the only place to hear worthwhile music, IMO. And I actually think NPR is negatively affected by the fact that so many of the terrific shows are available as free podcasts, so people don't even have to listen to the radio live to hear all this great content, thus missing the pledge drives and guilt-tripping. I know I personally listen to TAL, Wait, Wait and Fresh Air mostly as podcasts, since I'm not usually listening to the radio when they're broadcast. So dig deep, you guys, and support your local NPR affiliate! (I will step down from the soapbox now.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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