Hey there friend Toni here, thanks for your very informative Facebook article.
I can relate sense as you know I am from Traverse City and live here. I also
went to the college up here and work at the college. I can understand how Msb
and your college had a lot to do with the rest of your life. Again thank you so
much for sharing. I will try calling my device to open WNMC.
On Apr 20, 2020, at 2:45 PM, Fred Wurtzel <f.wurtzel@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello,
I posted the following on my Facebook page this morning. Some of you may not
use FB and others may not be Facebook “friends of mine ” on the service, though
If you are on this list, I consider you friends.
I posted this, here, because it describes how my experiences at MSB helped me
to find a niche when I got to college and effected my entire life, up to this
very moment. My interest in radio was stimulated by Mark Ray and his
connection to WILS. I sure wish I could talk to Mark, so if any of you know
where he is and if he wishes to talk to me, I would sure like to connect.
Radio was my way into a rich college life at NMC and then at Ferris and here in
Lansing at LCC when I attended there in the ‘70’s. My short stint with LCC
radio was in the news department. Another student and I did an in-depth
documentary on the Michigan Ballot issue on abortion. I hesitate to mention
this topic since it is such an inflammatory topic, but, it was transformative
for me I do not wish to or intend to get into any kind of debate on this list,
but, suffice it to say, I remain opposed to abortion, though I recognize that
it is not a simple binary issue. And I do not judge anyone for their position.
Anyway, MSB and MSB alum figure prominently in this story and I thought it may
be of interest to think about how our experiences, even those informal
experiences in the dorms, off campus and on the weekends, influence our
activities and interests throughout our lives.
My experiences at MSB were sometimes extremely difficult. They were also
extremely fun and satisfying. I have a group of friends who are more than just
friends. It is impossible to live in close proximity with folks and not build
some deep and lasting relationships.
Thanks to all of you who have made my life richer and more interesting. I
deeply value our friendships.
Warmest Regards,
Fred
Hello,
Well around 50 years ago, I was a student at Northwestern Michigan College in
Traverse City. I had just Graduated the prior Spring from the Michigan School
for the Blind. It was a transitional time for me. Getting acclimated to
college life was fun, challenging, sometimes lonely and formative.
The key, for me, was finding the college radio station, WNMC. I had always
loved popular music, like most people my age. My MSB friend Mark Ray had
taught me the basics of Disk Jockey work and we had spent time with some local
WILS DJ's, among them, the renowned (in Lansing) Eric O, though Craig Dudley,
another popular WILS DJ was also a great mentor. Eric O had volunteered time
putting on the fun Eric O hops during our Social Hour times at MSB.
One huge blessing, and part of actually assimilating into college life, and
becoming part of the radio station is my gaining of 3 wonderful friends who are
still part of my life. Pat hanlon, Don Sudekum and Allen Combs all of whom
really helped me feel part of a community. The 4 of us made a powerful team.
Pat and Allen were roommates and their room was my second home between classes
and for radio station conversations. I introduced Don to my classmate Sandy
Powell and they got married. We all participated in each other's marriage
ceremonies.
Don and I were the token townees, though I felt as much like a dorm student
as a townee, since I had not graduated from high school in Traverse City. The
radio station allowed me to get a platform and entry point into college life
and politics. I eventually became manager of the station and was elected to
the student council. I ran for student council mainly so we could get more
funding for the very, very, very underfunded station. I am so proud to note
that, today, any of you may tell your smart speaker to "play WNMC." Your ears
will be treated to lots of folk and jazz along with an eclectic mix of music
and information. It has progressed from a very small carrier current broadcast
station serving around 100 dorm students to a full-fledged community FM station
covering the Traverse City area and now worldwide thanks to internet streaming.
The station was about to fold and cease to exist when I was elected to the
student council. Their appropriation saved the station and it is now providing
entertainment and information to the citizens of Traverse City. I hope this
sounds humble enough. I am not bragging, I only wish to convey my personal
satisfaction and sense of gratitude and accomplishment in this rather small
victory. This story also demonstrates the importance of individual people in
our lives and how seemingly small things can make a difference.
On April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day was held. I was a small part of
organizing the Traverse City event. It was a very successful event. We had a
lot of folks who participated in a parade from the Campus, through the Traverse
City downtown and then back to the campus. There were lots of activities on
campus. This was a joyous and optimistic time. My friends and I really felt
that we could have an impact on cleaning up the environment.
There was a positive impact of the first Earth Day where millions of Americans
turned out to support a clean environment. Despite a lot of other high profile
negative things, President Richard Nixon did a wonderful thing by signing the
clean air and clean water legislation. For example, the Grand River,
Michigan's longest river, is immensely cleaner now than then. My friends and I
at the School for the blind used to go down and swim in that awful, stinky,
dirty river. We often joked about possibly contracting some kind of horrible
fatal illness which our imaginations thought up in very graphic and sometimes
profane terms.
So, yes, I am nostalgic for that time, as is quite normal for a lot of folks
when thinking about their college years. I have tried to continue my interest
and commitment to making our world a habitable, beautiful and free place for
everyone and nature. One expression of this is my dedication to helping
blind youth learn about science in the NFB of Michigan's Sense-sational
Adventures in Summer Science (SASS) program. We always have music and music
production as part of our annual SASS activities. you can learn more about
SASS by searching YouTube for our videos. If you like what we are doing you
may feel free to make a contribution to the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan. Contact President@xxxxxxxxx.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recently posted some content
commemorating Earth Week. Below is their connection to the material. I hope
many of you take time to ponder our environment and learn that it is our
friend, not our enemy. We need it more than it needs us. The blessings and
benefits of creating a clean environment are immeasurable and will help humans
continue to grow and prosper. Even if humans become extinct due to our
careless disregard of the environment, the planet will continue to exist along
with life. Life will renew itself and possibly begin another experiment with,
hopefully, better stewards of God's beautiful creation. I have hopes that we
will be these stewards and am working to make it a beautiful place for Mary's
and My 3 beautiful grandchildren.
***
On April 22, 1970, Americans showed their support for a cleaner, more
sustainable environment with massive rallies across the country. An estimated
20 million people – from 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges and
more than 1,000 communities – participated in that historic Earth Day.
To mark the occasion, the DNR’s education team has come up with a series of
short videos that highlight many aspects of what it means to enjoy, share and
take care of the world around us. These Five Days of Earth Day videos cover a
range of fun, engaging topics and share insights, suggestions and humor from
the environmental educators, park interpreters and naturalists who regularly
work to help people of all ages connect with Michigan’s outdoors and history.
Today’s video is “Signs of Spring” – a quick look at some of the sights and
sounds that let you know a new season is here. A new video drops every morning
at 9 a.m. at @MiNatureDNR (and will be part of a YouTube.com/MichiganDNR play
list), so be sure to stay tuned for the Five Days of Earth Day!
Questions? Contact Natalie Elkins at 517-290-0687.
Hello,
Well around 50 years ago, I was a student at Northwestern Michigan College in
Traverse City. I had just Graduated the prior Spring from the Michigan School
for the Blind. It was a transitional time for me. Getting acclimated to
college life was fun, challenging, sometimes lonely and formative.
The key, for me, was finding the college radio station, WNMC. I had always
loved popular music, like most people my age. My MSB friend Mark Ray had
taught me the basics of Disk Jockey work and we had spent time with some local
WILS DJ's, among them, the renowned (in Lansing) Eric O, though Craig Dudley,
another popular WILS DJ was also a great mentor. Eric O had volunteered time
putting on the fun Eric O hops during our Social Hour times at MSB.
One huge blessing, and part of actually assimilating into college life, and
becoming part of the radio station is my gaining of 3 wonderful friends who are
still part of my life. Pat hanlon, Don Sudekum and Allen Combs all of whom
really helped me feel part of a community. The 4 of us made a powerful team.
Pat and Allen were roommates and their room was my second home between classes
and for radio station conversations. I introduced Don to my classmate Sandy
Powell and they got married. We all participated in each other's marriage
ceremonies.
Don and I were the token townies, though I felt as much like a dorm student
as a townie, since I had not graduated from high school in Traverse City. The
radio station allowed me to get a platform and entry point into college life
and politics. I eventually became manager of the station and was elected to
the student council. I ran for student council mainly so we could get more
funding for the very, very, very underfunded station. I am so proud to note
that, today, any of you may tell your smart speaker to "play WNMC." Your ears
will be treated to lots of folk and jazz along with an eclectic mix of music
and information. It has progressed from a very small carrier current broadcast
station serving around 100 dorm students to a full-fledged community FM station
covering the Traverse City area and now worldwide thanks to internet streaming.
The station was about to fold and cease to exist when I was elected to the
student council. Their appropriation saved the station and it is now providing
entertainment and information to the citizens of Traverse City. I hope this
sounds humble enough. I am not bragging, I only wish to convey my personal
satisfaction and sense of gratitude and accomplishment in this rather small
victory. This story also demonstrates the importance of individual people in
our lives and how seemingly small things can make a difference.
On April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day was held. I was a small part of
organizing the Traverse City event. It was a very successful event. We had a
lot of folks who participated in a parade from the Campus, through the Traverse
City downtown and then back to the campus. There were lots of activities on
campus. This was a joyous and optimistic time. My friends and I really felt
that we could have an impact on cleaning up the environment.
There was a positive impact of the first Earth Day where millions of Americans
turned out to support a clean environment. Despite a lot of other high profile
negative things, President Richard Nixon did a wonderful thing by signing the
clean air and clean water legislation. For example, the Grand River,
Michigan's longest river, is immensely cleaner now than then. My friends and I
at the School for the blind used to go down and swim in that awful, stinky,
dirty river. We often joked about possibly contracting some kind of horrible
fatal illness which our imaginations thought up in very graphic and sometimes
profane terms.
So, yes, I am nostalgic for that time, as is quite normal for a lot of folks
when thinking about their college years. I have tried to continue my interest
and commitment to making our world a habitable, beautiful and free place for
everyone and nature. One expression of this is my dedication to helping
blind youth learn about science in the NFB of Michigan's Sense-sational
Adventures in Summer Science (SASS) program. We always have music and music
production as part of our annual SASS activities. you can learn more about
SASS by searching YouTube for our videos. If you like what we are doing you
may feel free to make a contribution to the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan. Contact President@xxxxxxxxx.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has recently posted some content
commemorating Earth Week. Below is their connection to the material. I hope
many of you take time to ponder our environment and learn that it is our
friend, not our enemy. We need it more than it needs us. The blessings and
benefits of creating a clean environment are immeasurable and will help humans
continue to grow and prosper. Even if humans become extinct due to our
careless disregard of the environment, the planet will continue to exist along
with life. Life will renew itself and possibly begin another experiment with,
hopefully, better stewards of God's beautiful creation. I have hopes that we
will be these stewards and am working to make it a beautiful place for Mary's
and My 3 beautiful grandchildren.
***
On April 22, 1970, Americans showed their support for a cleaner, more
sustainable environment with massive rallies across the country. An estimated
20 million people – from 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges and
more than 1,000 communities – participated in that historic Earth Day.
To mark the occasion, the DNR’s education team has come up with a series of
short videos that highlight many aspects of what it means to enjoy, share and
take care of the world around us. These Five Days of Earth Day videos cover a
range of fun, engaging topics and share insights, suggestions and humor from
the environmental educators, park interpreters and naturalists who regularly
work to help people of all ages connect with Michigan’s outdoors and history.
Today’s video is “Signs of Spring” – a quick look at some of the sights and
sounds that let you know a new season is here. A new video drops every morning
at 9 a.m. at @MiNatureDNR (and will be part of a YouTube.com/MichiganDNR play
list), so be sure to stay tuned for the Five Days of Earth Day!
Questions? Contact Natalie Elkins at 517-290-0687.
