[today’s run: nothing yet]
Well, our great hope for a grant for the radio station project went down in flames this morning. We had applied for a literacy grant from Dollar General Foundation and the list came out today and we aren’t on it.
I read a book on literacy programs. The author was pointing out that the patterns of operation in these programs really aren’t very effective. Our radio station idea is definitely not one of the normal patterns. And I can’t help but think that granting organizations are more likely to go for the old patterns than step out with something unproven like us.
And maybe they are right. I can’t say that we have some success to show; we haven’t even started yet. Maybe it won’t work.
But we were hopeful that the idea would resonate with someone.
We have had two sizeable “corporate” grants, one from a children’s medical clinic here in Columbus and one from our mortgage broker. And we have had quite a few people give us “personal” grants, one person gave us $200 after reading about our project in the newspaper.
So, the entrenched powers don’t see us being effective but some of the “normal” people think maybe it’s a good thing to try.
In related news, I have a line on a used FM broadcast antenna up near St. Louis. I’m going to take Memorial Day weekend and drive up there and get it. If I can retune it to our frequency, that will save me a chunk of change. Our single big-item still remaining is the EAS-CAP box, about $2500.