News

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Dear Friends of WCPE!

First, my thanks to you for being a WCPE Member! We appreciate you for listening, and we're proud that you have cared enough about our work to have supported our classical music broadcasts. I wanted to send you this letter so you could help us avoid a summer fundraiser.

Can Success Hurt WCPE?

WCPE has worked so hard to stay on the air non-stop. Because of this success, it is hard to imagine what it would be like for silence to take the place of our beautiful music. It is too easy for people to forget that WCPE has a special and unique value that depends upon their thoughtfulness: "My radio stopped working for a day. I learned how much I depend on you for the pleasure of beautiful music in my home as I eat, or as I rest." Elizabeth in Durham

Too many don't realize how fortunate they are to have WCPE available 24 hours a day. They tend to forget how much Great Classical Music means to them: "Since my move, I've been unable to listen to your fine station. You know the adage: You never know what you have 'til you lose it. Let me tell you, it's true! Continue your good work." Janet in Missouri

I hope you know that your ongoing support of WCPE keeps our classical music coming to you and others you may not have thought about:

"I'm retired and adjusting to a fixed income. I had deleted WCPE from my budget this year; but, as you can see by the enclosed check, small though it is, WCPE has been reinstated." He then enclosed a note from his daughter who is off to school -- "Hey Dad, Guess what? I just discovered the radio function on my computer. I am pleased as punch to get listener supported WCPE loud and clear, which has been playing non-stop as background for my exam prep. I love it! Reminds me of home." Charles in Kenly

I'm asking you to make a donation to help WCPE maintain our tradition of never being forced to add extra talking for a summer fundraiser. To continue this tradition, we must raise $248,000 with this mailout. Last summer, we needed $224,000 -- and you helped us meet that challenge. You know broadcasting costs keep increasing! You know why we must keep pace.

We don't want FOUR fund drives a Year!

This month, WCPE will have broadcast Great Classical Music for twenty-eight years! This demonstrates our commitment to you and to this great art form. Classical music and WCPE's 24 hour service are two good things that are worth supporting. If you used to be able to listen to another classical station, and can't now -- you know that all public radio listeners need to support the stations they enjoy! Our economic stability is intimately tied to your continued help.

Even during the quietest passage, full power is surging through our transmitter and the electric meter continually spins at its 100,000 watt crescendo rate. Our satellite uplink transmitters are broadcasting to our satellite relays and also feed the internet servers across the Nation. Internet bandwidth charges don't slow down when we broadcast soothing music, we still need your help to ensure that the business of running a public radio station moves forward without pause.

We must have your ongoing support so we can maintain our continuous broadcast services. In return is our promise and guarantee that Great Classical Music will be here whenever you wish.

"Please accept my contribution to your radio station. I was unable to contribute during your recent fund drive; I had to wait until payday. I want to thank you for being there for me during a difficult time in my life. I spent 2 years in the Federal Correctional Institute at Butner, grappling with a serious personal issue. Your radio station helped me to regain the path of the legal lifestyle which I had abandoned.

I continue to get Sleepers Awake! as the overnight broadcast from KCSC in Edmond, so you are continuing to help me readjust to living in a socially acceptable manner. Thank you for helping me." A new Member in Oklahoma City

This Mailout and Fund Drives:

Fundraising letters keep most of our music playing! Many community stations hold fund drives four times a year -- spring, summer, fall, and winter. Thanks to you, our fundraising mailouts receive a very good response so we've always been able to avoid a summer drive and we've only needed two winter drives in all our years.

Yearly, we average 20 days of on-air fundraising, which brings in about 30% of our gifts. Mailouts bring in twice that -- so when you see these things in your mailbox remember that answering our fundraising letters keep you from having to hear nearly 40 additional days of pledge drives every year! What more can I say?

If it has been a while since you've made a donation to help us bring you this Great Classical Music 24 hours a day, don't let it turn out that we had to break our silence and hold a first-time-ever summer fundraiser because we didn't hear from you!

"I chanced upon WCPE while changing TV channels. My cable channel uses WCPE as background to the scrolling program guide. The Washington DC area lost its public music station, so you have saved my sanity. I listen to you during the day on my computer at work. I am more than happy to extend my membership and do my part to ensure that your fine programming continues." Anita in Falls Church, VA

Please Don't Ever Think that Your Donation isn't Significant.

It may seem as if it takes an impossible amount of money to keep WCPE running. I worry you might think your individual donation won't matter. Nothing is further from the truth! Your contribution is unique and cumulatively rises with the gifts of others. "Love listening to you on the Internet. Wish it could be more but I'm 79 and on a fixed income." Jeanne in Yorktown Heights, NY "Dear Deborah: I'm 84, on a limited income, but I'll help when I can." Izzy

The boost you give us makes the difference between our just getting by and our being able to give you exceptional programming and better service. Your contribution is uniquely important.

"Enclosed is my check; I wish it could be more. What you all provide makes a huge difference in so many people's lives. I personally am very grateful for all of your work. Just as the music expresses what is inexpressible, it is nearly impossible to express what the music does for each of us. It is a powerful gift and one that I hope we all will work to preserve for generations to come." Marsha in Burlington

Please make your decision now to send back your Stop the Summer Fund Drive gift!

Do it because you are a part of the family who enjoys Great Classical Music on your station. This station truly is special, and you are a part of it. WCPE is a true community of friends regardless of whether we live nearby or across the country.

"The world is so very much in need of hearing music that can literally take us out of the doldrums and let us be lifted to a wonderful height and help to sustain us all hours of the day. Thank you all for being such a driving force for beautiful music that truly enriches all who hear it." Emily in Carrboro, NC

You are essential to our continuation! You do make a difference! So say "Yes!" to this letter and help WCPE now while this has your attention. Your gift is much appreciated and will enable us continue running through the summer without a fund drive.

Take a moment right now to sit down and make your Stop the Summer Fund Drive gift.

Thank You very much!

Sincerely,

Deborah S. Proctor
General Manager

PS: WCPE has NEVER had to hold a summer fundraiser, and we don't want to start now. Our operating costs this summer will be close to two hundred fifty thousand dollars. We must raise that through the mail or on the net, or we'll have no choice but to hold our first-ever summer drive. Do your part and we won't need to interrupt the music this summer. Pledge securely on-line or mail your support to WCPE, Box 897, Wake Forest, NC 27588.

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