Did you have any idea how many people walk through this radio station's doors?
Did you have any idea that the Station Manager could sing?

Hills AM has several new projects underway. We are still hoping to find funding for BBC World, so keep your ears open on that. Our plan was to contract to play BBC World overnight, and a couple of hours every day. This would not interfere with our community programmes and provide an extra dimension for our station. We need to fundraise for equipment to receive the signal, so that is an on-going issue.

The Society has been busy with fundraising, and we are very happy to be able to purchase two portable mini-disc players for the use of our programme makers. These would replace the cassette players that have faithfully kept going for at least 8 years. Thanks also to the Otago Community Trust for the grant towards this purchase. The latest newsletter Hearsay is now published. Make sure you read everything so you know what is happening here, and don't forget to come to our Pot Luck Mid-Winter Dinner on June 8th. :) 

• 43% of people are aware of Hills AM
• 20% of listeners, listen everywhere. ie: In the car, at work, at home. That means they are DEDICATED.
• 65% of listeners listen continuously. That is, they listen to everything. So your programme will be listened to by people, not only that you expect, but by many others.
• 42% of listeners listen for more than 10 hours a week. That's a superb result. 

• The Winds of Change Conference (see the link from the homepage)
• The frequent and wonderful fundraising activities from our Society. These include quiz nights, boot sales, and movies.
• The Station Manager's retreat where NZOA takes all the managers from the stations and hides us away for 3 days of intense discussion and workshops.
• We have sent in several submissions to attempt to persuade government to allocate all Access Stations with reserve frequencies in the FM band.
• We have also sent in a submission where we state our opposition to the proposed new Youth Radio network.
• Space Station Zebra, our great kid's show received a highly commended at the New Zealand Radio Awards.
• NZOA approved funding for another year of broadcasting.

Chaio till next time,
Ros

CONFERENCE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS - Click Here

The new computer system is a joy for us. It will schedule days worth of music, play station promos, make editing and production easy and good sounding, plus Steve our Engineer swears that it makes good coffee too. This system (RCS) came with a built in library of music which is a little different from our usual fare, but we are gradually putting our own style of music in there, and soon you will hear the familiar old format.

We have a few new programmes too, and sadly we have lost quite a lot of our regular programme makers this year too. To keep the hours churning over with great programme from the community we are offering a special deal. If you already broadcast on Hills AMand you can bring a new programme maker into the station we will give you two free programmes, and the new programme maker will get a 1/2 hour programme free. If you are new to this station, and want to take advantage of the 1/2 hour free programme deal, give me a call on 03 4716161. (I'm Ros), and I will organise it for you.

We have three lovely studios, and beautiful lemon walls and auburgine carpet and trims.  Our programme makers have their own special lounge to relax in.   We have better and easier systems for working the technical equipment, and in a couple of weeks we will also have our new computer system installed.
We hope if you are in town, that you will pop in and visit us soon.

Those of you who are our greatly loved volunteers attended our volunteer Christmas Party a couple of weekends ago.   We hear that Santa arrived, and some of our Trustees had the opportunity to ask him for some special Christmas pressies. J

We will look forward to you all returning with your programmes in 2001.  Don't forget to encourage others to make programmes on Hills AM and to take the opportunity to support this valuable Otago resource.

• AGM:  The AGM for The Otago Community Broadcasters Society was held this month.  Mike Hamblyn is Chair with Sadie Andrews as Secretary, and Stuart McLauchlan as Treasurer.  Martin Balch our technician spoke on his experiences working for TVNZ on The America's Cup.

 
• So, did you see the article in the Listener (dated 7-13 October).  Roy Colbert wrote a great article about a Dunedin North Intermediate radio programme.  This article discussed the fabulous school shows we put to air, the professionalism of the students and the subject matter they discuss.   Hills AM came out looking very good and only confirms what staff have been saying for years.  The School programmes ROCK.

 
• Kim, our administration assistant and Ros our Station Manager went up to Auckland for a weekend National Community Access Radio Conference.  To read a report about conference please click on this link. CLICK HERE to see the full report.

• August we were all very busy preparing for our telethon which we held 2 days ago.  There were lots of happy tired people and we raised almost $400 to put towards our fundraising for our new studios.  Although some think that is not a lot of money, if you divide it by our 16 hours on air that works out to a 25 dollar pledge every hour, and that is great.  We all had a lot of fun, and raised the profile of the Station considerably.  Thanks go out to all involved including special guests David Eggleton (Poet and reviewer), Matthew Robertson (poet), Ronn Kjestrup (Actor and TV personality), Dame Elizabeth Hanan (Deputy Mayor) and all those special people who answered phones, drove the Hills AM van and had so much effect on-air.

 
• I wonder if you knew that one of our volunteers, Dave G, auctioned himself off for 2 hours of housework.  Congratualtions to the very lucky winner.  You got yourself a bargin.

 
• There have been a few programme changes at Hills AM.

• As you probably know by now, we are fundraising to pay for our Studio soundproofing when we move to our new premises in Dunedin's new Community House.  These are some of the activities we have underway.

 
• If you have never heard of one, we are happy to send you the menu for our No-Dinner Dinner.  This is a dinner you pay us NOT to attend.  (In reality, the dinner does not happen.)  The menu is full of jokes and puns at the expense of media in New Zealand and should raise a few smiles if not some laughs out aloud. Just email us and we will post your a copy. (Don't forget your snail mail address1)

• We have a very successful quiz night arranged.  So far 10 teams have registered and we are very lucky to have the incomparable  talents of Mr Ronn Kjestrup as our MC and quizmaster.

 
• September 2 to September 3 we are holding a RADIOTHON. We are looking for on-air talent, phone people and brave souls who wish to learn how to drive the ambulance to pick up donations personally.  This should be a fun 17 hours.  Join in, give us a call, and we will tell you what you can do to help

• We are planning to move to our new premises in early November.  Our plan has been confirmed and all the specs' regarding the studios have been approved.  Now we will are desperate to raise some money to help our with the cost of the re-fit.  After all, we are the most expensive group to put into the building with all our requirements.  I appeal to you here to put your hand in your pocket and send us a donation towards our goal of $5000.00  Send any donations to the below address. (We will receipt you.)

• We have also ordered our new equipment which will be installed at the new offices.  We will be training everyone in use of this gear, so don't worry.  The turntables, CD players and cassette players will also remain for your use.

• We have some great new programmes.  Welcome to 

• Ronn Kjestrupp - Chairperson
• Moira Styles - Deputy Chairperson
• Lorraine Isaacs - Secretary
• Jonathan Kirkpatrick - Treasurer
• Rob Garrett
• Brian St John
• Bevan Rickerby
• Ailsa Koning
• Tony Sycamore

Please seriously consider making radio with us, whether you are an individual or group, or someone who can offer sponsorship. WE NEED YOUR PROGRAMME NOW! Anyone can make a radio programme, if you are interested, contact Ros and we will welcome you to the station, and teach you how to broadcast.

Please send in contributions and letters for our quarterly newsletter "Hearsay". We want to hear from YOU.