Low-Powered Radio's Big Goals

Meet Jim Glavin, treasurer for Martha’s Vineyard Community Radio.

On any given day Glavin is given to multitasking. While he makes his livelihood as a general contractor, he’s passionate about music and, specifically, : a commercial-free, free-form radio station by Islanders for Islanders. So, on a cold Tuesday afternoon in February, he agreed to talk about the low-powered stations’ future goals.

Business treasurers don’t normally act as the public voice of a radio operation, but at the Island’s only low-powered station, roles are fluid. Everyone has a hand in everything. That’s just how they do it at WVVY.

If you haven’t heard of former pirate, now LPFM (that’s Low Powered FM) station WVVY, you’re not alone. The station has kept a low, evolving profile on the Island. Depending on where you’re located, the signal for 93.7 LPFM may fade. Depending on what time you tune in, you might hear jazz, trance, satires, metal or sports. The only constant at WVVY may be its mission: “To be the voice of the Island.”

“I think everyone here just wants to see this work for the Island,” Glavin said recently from the station’s Vineyard Haven offices. “As a community it’s important to have an axis point of communication. And there’s just so much talent here—not even just in the music community—that sometimes gets overlooked."

WVVY contributors don't get paid for their effots. "We all pitch in. We’re all volunteers," said Glavin. "It’s a 501 (c) 3 and we don’t make a dime off it.”

So, with little money to bankroll their efforts, how has the station fared?

Now in its third year, Glavin said that WVVY is “hitting adolescence." "We’re getting over ourselves, over the awkwardness, maturing," said Glavin. "We’re all amateurs, no one has a real background in radio, you know, but everyone loves music. . . . We're learning how to reach out and perfect our presentation, but it cannot be done without [Island] participation.”

So far the station has survived a lot on private generosity, as well as the fundraising events it has thrown. Glavin says the station is hoping for more Islander community support in the coming year.

“We’ve had some great events put on by some great people in the past,” said Glavin, speaking of benefits played by the likes Island favorites Willy Mason and Jemima James. But until the weather thaws and the nightlife reignites, old-fashioned donations—checks or a helping hand—are welcome.

“The goal is for any contribution to be a gift to the Island as a whole, an effort to give our community—the whole Island community—a platform to communicate its nature, its goals, its talents, its future among ourselves to solidify that community. Contributions and trust are the essential ingredients, the crucial participation all Islanders can offer. 

“For those who can, actual involvement is open and welcome. Thus, any gift needs to hold its own intrinsic value with returns to the giver and neighbors, if we get this right,” he said. “We're trying very hard to get it right and be worthy of that trust.” Also, said Glavin, “we’re following up on our new, improved list of things we need.” The nonprofit station could hardly be accused of lofty goals: Actually, said Glavin, “right now our CD player barely works and needs replacing.”

Donations can be made at www.wvvy.org/w4.htm or sent to
 Martha's Vineyard Community Radio, Inc.
 PO Box 1989, 
Tisbury, MA, 02568.