Board President Greg Honeycutt welcomed about 25 people to the annual public meeting, saying the local station, heard at 90.1 FM or online at wovv.org, will always be based on volunteer support. Programmers, underwriters and "great support from Ocracoke" keep the station vibrant, said Greg.
Since January 1, 2012, the station has been financially independent of Ocracoke Foundation, Inc., an umbrella non-profit that sheltered the station in its early years.
Treasurer Andrew Stern said it takes "quite a bit of money to run a station, even one as small as ours. We try to bring in income from a variety of sources." The yearly budget for non-commercial WOVV is about $44,000. Funding comes from underwriters, fundraising events, memberships, donations and merchandise sales.
The board is "very responsible with the money and resources people entrust to us," said Andrew. "When money comes in it is carefully spent and tracked."
About 100 people, both on and off Ocracoke, are current members, at $25 a year for individuals, and $40 a year for families. The board's goal is to double membership in 2012. "Don't be afraid to beat the bushes and scare up more members," said Andrew.
"I'm the payroll line on the financial analysis sheet," said Station Manager Clayton Gaskill, who does a full time job on a part time salary. Clayton is underpaid, overworked and very much appreciated, said Greg. Clayton said he works to "organize the station and keep it that way." Since accepting the position last year, he has streamlined systems and also brings his skills as an engineer to the job.
Volunteer Jason Burdo heroically climbed the radio tower last week and re-directed the antennae, which had been knocked out of whack during Irene. Listeners in Hatteras village once again can hear WOVV more clearly.
On most days between five and ten people are listening to WOVV online at wovv.org. Those numbers reached a record high after Hurricane Irene, when as many as 80 people, including one in Sweden, were tuned in to hear the latest reports.
Peter Vankevich, who has since retired and moved full time to Ocracoke, first tuned in online after Irene to learn the situation on the island. He said the service provided by WOVV was invaluable. When he heard the station play the full version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, he made a note to "send in some money." Peter is one of WOVV's newest programmers, along with Echo Bennink and Jubal Creech.
Program committee chair Debbie Wells said the new broadcasters' handbook is an "organized and easily accessible pathway to getting people on the air." Even completely inexperienced people can be on air in a few short weeks, she said.
"The goal is to have as many live voices as many hours a day as possible, and when we are on automation to make that sound as good as possible," said Debbie. Tune in to WOVV 90.1 every day at 10 a.m., to catch a variety of locally produced shows covering news, art, culture, music and happenings on Ocracoke. "We are always looking to get as many people involved as possible," she said.
Redneck Radio Show host Mike Norris was the first regular programmer on WOVV, which will celebrate it's second anniversary on the radio waves June 15, by hosting the annual Women's Arm Wrestling SmackDown. "We've come a long way," said Mike, whose first programs were podcasts.
"Everyone is working together," he said, and the station is "becoming more dynamic and diverse." Don't be intimidated about getting on the air. "If an old redneck like me can do it, anyone can," Mike added. He serves on the program committee, and may be one of the people who helps train you.
Mike loves listening to the station. "I have a voracious appetite for all kinds of music," he said. "The best thing is when someone is in there doing a show and has passion" for the topic and music.
Everyone at the station has been "so welcoming and supportive," said Peter, who admitted it was a little daunting to do his first solo show. He will build his weekly show around a theme. For example, he might play all the hits from the summer of 1964 and also read news from that era.
Jenny Scarborough invited people to spearhead the Fourth Annual Women's Arm Wrestling, which grows each year. This year WOVV plans to make the event more family friendly, will finally have a real arm wrestling table, and hopes to attract a more diverse group of contestants.
Anyone interested in taking charge of the Ocracoke Bachelor Auction, which takes place in early August, should also contact Jenny.
The upcoming season has lots of events where we need a presence and place, said WOVV founder Robert Raborn. People who want to cover the Firemen's Ball, Ocrafolk Festival, 5K run, and Dolphins' Baseball are encouraged and welcomed!
Sports talk guys Bill Cole and David Allewalt are planning to hit the beach and airwaves again this year during the annual Ocracoke Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament. Fishing. On the radio. Ocracoke and WOVV truly are unique.