A note from the director

Jeff Shaw and I recently attended the ribbon cutting and official launch for KUBU-LP, 96.5 FM in Sacramento. A project of Access Sacramento, the community media center serving our neighbors to the east, KUBU will serve its community a mix of alternative voices and interesting music, giving its citizens a chance to highlight what matters most in their community. KUBU is one of a whole new crop of low-power FM radio stations launched from within community media centers nationwide. Davis Media Access (then called Davis Community Television) was the first center in the nation to do so, launching KDRT in 2004.

It was wonderful to listen to everyone’s aspirations for their new community station. I couldn’t help but reflect on KDRT, and how the hopes they were speaking of were the same kind that have been realized here in Davis. We carried our best wishes for their success with low-power radio in Sacramento

Bringing it full circle, today’s KUBU launch reminded me that along with hopes and dreams, it takes an incredible amount of work, heart, volunteerism and cash to keeping independent outlets on the air. To that end, I thank all of you who have supported DMA and its programs and services this year. Because of you, our work is made possible. Please plan to drop by our Holiday Open House Dec. 8 to share a toast to your community media center!

I’d like to thank everyone who attended the Oct. 23 “Under the Covers Event” at the Sudwerk Dock Store, which kicked off a yearlong celebration of KDRT’s 10th anniversary. Special thanks to the following: Sudwerk Dock Store and its hard-working staff; Gabe Lewin and Clarity Sound; Danny Tomasello, Sara Eley and Music Only Makes Sense; Sweetwater String Band; Wealth of Nations; Sorta Like Heaven; Cold Shot; Pieter and Jeanne Pastoor; Jessica and Doug Kelly; Heather Caswell; Valerie Jones; Diane Crumley; Jim Buchanan, and Jeff Shaw. If you missed it, take heart. We’ll be celebrating well into 2015 and there will be more opportunities to support KDRT.

Warm regards,

Autumn Labbe-Renault, Executive Director

PS: If you’re someone who likes to do your charitable giving at calendar year’s end, please consider making a gift to DMA. Community support helps us provide local election coverage, train youth in media production, and keep KDRT on the air.