Radio Bell Island Official Launch

Kelly Russell 

In 2011, a group of like minded Bell Islanders embraced a Community Development Project offered by The Rural Secretariat of the Provincial Government. On March 14, 2011, Radio Bell Island went on the air for a one week special event broadcast. The results were truly incredible to behold. The Community came alive with students working alongside adults to create unique locally produced programming and the entire town tuned in to listen to their friends and neighbours tell stories, read the news, play quiz shows, perform music and interview seniors and the local law enforcement. A sense of community pride and connectedness emerged. As one elderly resident said appreciatively during a phone in program, “I haven’t had this many Bell Islanders in my kitchen in 40 years”.

A Committee was struck and applications were made to Industry Canada and the CRTC. Radio Bell Island was incorporated and a second special event broadcast was undertaken in March 2012. A fundraising campaign during this event netted over $11,000 in support locally which, along with a $15,000 grant from The Dept of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, enabled the creation of what you see here today.  CJBI 93.9 FM began broadcasting as a permanent station on Jan. 28, 2013.

So, what is to be gained by a community such as Bell Island spending all that money and effort on a radio station? Here is my list of what the teachers here at St. Michael’s School call “outcomes”.

-       Youth Engagement:  Probably first and foremost is the capacity this project has to involve the youth of Bell Island in a constructive and beneficial activity in their community. It is a priority of RBI to incorporate young people into the daily operation of this station.

-       Local Businesses: They can now reach residents directly, creating better awareness of what services & products are available.

-       Benefits to the Tourism Industry: Travelers coming to Bell Island will be able to listen in their cars and get the latest updates on entertainment, cultural events, tours and other essential information.  The potential to positively enhance tourism is huge.

-       Cultural Development: Bell Island has always been well known for its wealth of musical talent. RBI will serve as a training ground for musicians, actors, technicians and perhaps future broadcasters in the provincial and national field.

-       Cultural Preservation: RBI will embrace the past and carry it forward into the future through local storytelling and on air plays, comedy and music. Local history will be revisited and local culture celebrated.

-       Education: The station will play a major role in developing communication skills among young people. Courses can be developed that challenge students to use their imaginations and come up with unique ways to bridge gaps in the past and future generations of the community. I might mention here that already two former students have decided on broadcasting and broadcast technology as their career goals at MUN based on their RBI experience.

-       Emergency Services: The Town will use the radio as an emergency broadcast system to bring people up to date with major problems as they occur on the island. During Radio Week 2012, the town experienced a critical water shortage and Council was able to update residents on when and where shut-offs and repairs would occur.

-       Social Services: Real time communication can occur between disenfranchised groups such as people with disabilities and senior who at times can feel very left out.

-       Community Spirit: The lifeblood of a community is its people and their sense of pride is key to the success of any society. Community radio has the potential to significantly enhance this Pride of Place.

-       Community Improvement: Even something as simple as a “community cleanup campaign” can be enhanced by a radio station, encouraging residents in recycling and anti-littering.

-       Transportation and Ferry: RBI will be an ideal forum for the community to come together to discuss problems such as the Ferry System. Schedule changes, updates, etc will be available to all residents.

-       Network with Other Communities: There are other community radio stations in NL in various stages of development, and RBI can share programming and communicate in real time with these other stations thus bringing together rural NL communities like never before. This was successfully undertaken last year during Network 12, hosted by RBI, when other communities were linked “live” on the air to discuss community issues. Plans for a Network 13 are ongoing.

-       Connecting Bell Islanders Living Away and Connecting Bell Island to the World

RBI can be heard, not just all around Conception Bay but all around the world as well, through internet live streaming.   Many Islanders moved to Cambridge years ago, leaving families and friends behind. Now these people are able to reconnect with “home”.  Last year, live on the air, we linked a Bell Island soldier stationed in Afghanistan with his parents here on Bell Island and his wife in Ontario. This reunion was hosted by a Senior Army Cadet and Level 3 student at this school.

So as you can see, Community Radio really can bring about positive change in a community. Now if we could only improve the transportation system. Perhaps Radio Bell Island can help bring about that change as well. Although, I have to say, now that we have Radio Bell Island, somehow the Tickle doesn’t seem quite as wide.

1.   Training and experience for youth & adults in radio broadcasting

2.   Showcasing of local talent (music, storytelling, knowledge of key issues of the day, etc.)

3.   Preservation of Bell Island's rich history and culture

4.   Creators and contributors of media (alternative and local media) at a time when we are bombarded a one-sided mainstream corporate-controlled media

5.   Entertainment (music, stories, special guests, etc.)

6.   Inform (local issues, problems, conditions as well as non-local)

7.   Educate (a medium for people to learn about a wide range of issues, topics, etc.)

8.   Interactive communication medium (residents and all manner of community organizations can talk to each other)

9.   An Economic Development Tool (both aiding and abetting local economic development and attracting outside business and investment)

10.  A Community Development (CD) Tool to help build and invigorate a sense of responsibility and civic pride in our community.

Intolerance – society’s urgent challenge: by Bill Pardy

The world appears full of intolerance.  Civility appears a thing of the past, a little used or understood concept in a world of wants and consumerism.

   

This intolerance is evident in the struggles and wars that have grown pervasive. In the developed world, it is most apparent in the disparaging commentary, the belligerent and bigoted responses and the use of malicious, hurtful even racist language.

In Canada this was prevalent in the media coverage pertaining to the recent hunger strike by Attawapiskat’s Chief Theresa Spence.  It was evident in the response to the protest by Marlene Giersdorf in Prince Edward Island because her employment benefits had been withdrawn.

The commentary and especially the individual related comments gave one pause for thought. The vitriol espoused by most responding to media articles made one wonder if civility is alive at all.

Canada used to be one of the most respected nations in the world for its caring, socially supportive and peaceful nature. Today in the world it is seen in a different light and the Maple Leaf has lost much of its lustre.

Much, but not all, of this can be attributed to the policy direction of the current government.  This is a government with little regard or reverence for the laws that afforded the country such respect.

Canadian’s are no longer peacekeepers, international policy has become provocative and support for the UN, despite its inequities, is non-existent.  Our response to most countries, except Israel, is mostly caustic.

Most importantly, this government sees the Canadian legislation that provided its stability as something to be usurped or dismissed.  They have only their own vengeful rules and laws which are being imposed.

This government mimics the intolerance that encompasses the globe, because they think it is pragmatic and gives them advantage.  They have no vision, much less one of the more enlightened supportive society of former leaders that made Canada a shining light in the world.

The root of the world’s intolerance, and our own, can fundamentally be found in the growing gap between those that have and those without.  It has surpassed tolerable levels in many countries, and as a result, intolerance abounds. 

This intolerance manifests itself in different ways; through religious persecution, political unrest, economic repression or gender subjugation.  The tone appears disparaging on one side while on the other it is focused on anger and rage.

There is always someone to blame, usually those disadvantaged, whether it is the marginalized, impoverished, elderly or youth.  A Japanese cabinet minister attributed all the blame of his country’s woes to the elderly suggesting that they should “just hurry up and die”. 

In many countries now the blame is on the unemployed, especially the young unemployed; the solution is to slash benefits and support, thereby, forcing migration. 

Some suggest, as with the aboriginals in Canada, that everyone must be integrated, which means they should conform.

 

There appears to be little appreciation for the fact that the world has changed dramatically in the past few decades with growing disparities, which has increased unemployment and resultant marginalization. 

Forgotten are the foundations that facilitated the progress of the developed world encompassed in the concept of caring societies, expansion of opportunity (not just money) and the sharing of the vast resources that still exist in the world.

Respect has been trampled by those in a hurry to have all the money and all the power.  The business and political elites emulate the authoritarianism of those countries least developed; not the democratic basis of those most developed.

People are mere needy clients, but necessary for their vote to win re-election and more power. This power must be sustained at all costs, even if by the manipulation of the rule of law.

How can ordinary people have respect with such an attitude prevalent among those who govern? 

There is hope which is stored in the huge, mostly silent, majority.  They quietly watch and perhaps puzzle at this bizarre behaviour.

Perhaps they are comfortable, maybe afraid, or at present, unable to contemplate their role in changing this mixed up world.

As the disparities within society envelopes more of them and as intolerance expands, one hopes they will be stirred, impassioned and stimulated to action.

It is only then that some balance will be brought back to society and adequate controls placed on politicians and bureaucrats alike.   Then policies and rules can be re-instated to contain financial and business entities who have run amuck, even stealing from those who they are supposed to serve.

Real power always lies with the masses.  What’s required is a quiet revolution led by the grass roots that would remind those who would intimidate, belittle and control where real power lies.

Written by Bill Pardy

February 18, 2013

Co-op Radio Thanks!

Co-op Radio 106.9FM ran from November 22 to 24, 2012 at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia as a participatory communications tool to enhance the Co-operating to Building a Better NS Networking Conference held by a steering committee of some 15+ co-operative stakeholders in Nova Scotia in celebration of the International Year of the Co-op.

Thanks to the following conference, community, student, and artist volunteers and organizers, we were able to broadcast 49 hours LIVE! from the Rosaria Student Centre.

Leslie Brown, Jill McPherson & Mark Sparrow.

Jonathan, Emma, Celina, Bethany, Sarah, Chris, Joseph, Ivan, Rene, Alan, Adam, Joe, Stephen, Jake, James, Aaron, Willie, Miles, Dan, Norman, Amanda, Katherine, Larry, Trina, Bob and everyone else who took some airtime, or helped behind the scenes.

Special thanks to MSVU Facilities, Security, AV, IT and Conference Services. Plus the folks at Vinnie's Pub.  Grant Mitchell for Photography.  Mollie Thompson for Piano.  David Bradshaw for Pub Night.

And our overnight saviors; Howard Beye, Kelsey Iceton, Ben Manuel, Jesse Webber, and Josh Teasdale!

It was such a great event!  We should all be proud!

Photos and Podcasts will be available soon

Co-operating To Build a Better Nova Scotia

Co-operating To Build a Better Nova Scotia is a provincial conference being held Nov. 22nd - 24th, 2012 at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, N.S to mark the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives in Nova Scotia.  The conference aims to bring together co-operatives, credit unions, social enterprise, researchers, academics, government, students, youth, and business service providers.

Three core themes animate Co-operating to Build a Better Nova Scotia, a dynamic, informative, and forward looking event in Halifax November 22 – 24:

• Living the Co-operative Principles – Preserving and strengthening the co-op difference 
• NS Co-operatives and the Global Context- International Year of Co-op and beyond
• Policy - Co-operation to foster a healthy and diverse co-operative eco-system contributing to well-being, innovation and development 

These themes will be addressed via four parallel streams:

• Conference Workshops – Plenaries, paper sessions, and interactive workshops
• Visioning – Action framework and commitments for the NS co-op sector 
• Co-op Radio - Programming, webcast, & social media conversations 
• Co-op Fair and Poster Presentations - NS co-ops showcasing community connections; social, economic, environmental impacts; products & services 

To connect this conference to provincial NS Co-op members, the larger Canadian Co-op community, and citizens at large, Ryakuga will be broadcasting LIVE from Mount Saint Vincent University, locally on 106.9FM in Halifax, with a simultaneous webcast at www.ryakuga.ca. 

The broadcast will begin Thursday, November 22 at 12pm and run for 49 hours straight until Saturday, November 24 at 1 pm.  Programming will come from the conference floor as it is happening, with additional cultural and community content focused around the theme of “Co-operating to Build a Better Nova Scotia”

Ryakuga’s temporary community radio station will be set up in the mezzanine of the Rosaria Student Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University and all are invited to participate in this unique participatory communications project.

www.ryakuga.ca – Broadcast info page where the webcast will be hosted
www.ryakuga.blogspot.com - the Ryakuga blog
www.facebook.com/ryakuga - the Ryakuga Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/nscoopcouncil - the NS Co-op Council Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/groups/coopradio- Coop Radio Facebook Group
@ryakuga - to communicate with Ryakuga on Twitter
@NSCoopCouncil - to communicate with the NS Coop Council on Twitter
#coopradio #NSCoop

What's on #CoOpRadio This Week?

#CoOpRadio 

A Participatory Communications Event for the 

Co-operating to Build a Better Nova Scotia Conference

Hosted by the NS Co-op Council

In Celebration of the International Year of the Co-Op

Listen at 106.9FM in Halifax, or online at www.ryakuga.ca

Interact with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/coopradio 

and on Twitter @ryakuga or @NSCoopCouncil or using the hastag #coopradio 

***UPDATED NOVEMBER 21*******

Thursday, November 22, 2012

12pm - 12:30pm - Sign-On LIVE!
1:15pm - 1:30pm - Prerecorded - A Walk Around Plan B Merchants Co-op 
1:30pm - 2:00pm - LIVE! Show & Tell with Bob Chaisson, President of Plan B Merchant Co-Op
2:00pm - 2:15pm - Prerecorded chat with John Hartling, a local activist and volunteer with Common Roots Urban Farm about the social enterprise model
2:15pm - 2:30pm - Pre-recorded interview with Claudia Jahn from NS Housing and Homelessness Network
2:30pm - 3:30pm LIVE! "Get 'er Done" interactive show hosted by Rene Ross (aka @firecatkitty) Executive Director at Stepping Stone, Dr. Alan Brown (SOAN, Women's and Gender Studies, MSVU) and Charlene Gagnon (Pilot Research, CCPA-NS, NS Housing and Homelessness Network) on social justice in Nova Scotia 
4:00pm - 4:15pm - Prerecorded interview with Don Clairmont (Pilot Research, Atlantic Institute of Criminology) about restorative justice in Nova Scotia
5:30pm - 6:00pm - LIVE! Interviews with Members of the NS Co-op Council Youth Committee
6:00pm - 6:30pm Prerecorded - Dan Anderson - The Disturbing Truth - A project for the Co-operative Enterprise Council of New Brunswick
7:00pm - 8:30pm - LIVE! Keynote Address - Co-operatives and the Canadian Journey - Alain Roy, Manager of Programs and Partnerships, Rural and Co-operative Secretariat
8:30pm - 9:00pm LIVE! Interview with Alain Roy and conference delegates, broadcast of Conference Reception
9:30pm - 10:30pm - Co-opoloy Networking Event LIVE! from Vinnie's Pub
11:00pm - 2am - Howard Beye from CKDU LIVE! with Attention Deficit Disorder music show

Friday, November 23, 2012

2:00am - 5:00am - Kesley Iceton (MSVU Student) LIVE! late night programming
5:00am - 8:45am - The Early Shift
8:45am -10:30am - LIVE! Conference Opening Plenary: International Year of Co-operatives in Review - Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going, A Global Perspective
11:00am - 11:30am - LIVE! Miles Howe from the Halifax Media Co-Op
11:45am - 12:00pm - Prerecorded interview with Christine Saulnier about the CCPA-NS Alternative Budget and the role of co-ops in progressive economic development
12:30pm - 1:00pm -  LIVE! Panel discussion with participants and attendees of Education for Co-operation: Curriculum and the Cooperative Model in Nova Scotia's Secondary and Post-Secondary Educational Institutions
1:00pm - 1:30pm - LIVE! Interview with Katherine Kitching about Co-ops and Credit Unions Poster Project.
1:30pm - 3:30pm - LIVE! The Co-Op Skype-In show - Hear from people in the Co-Op Movement across, NS, Canada and globe
6:00pm - 7:00pm - LIVE! Conference Meet and Greet - with light piano music from Mollie Thompson
7:00pm - 9:00pm - LIVE! Conference Keynote Address & Banquet - Simon d'Entremont, Deputy Minister of Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development and Tourism; Interview with Simon d'Entremont
9:00pm - 12:00am - Pub Night Open Mic Hosted by David Bradshaw; LIVE! Music from Vinnie's Pub
12:00am - 2:30am - Late Night Programming with Jesse Webber and Ben Manuel from Dartmouth punk rock band The Scoop Outs
2:30am - 5:00am - Late Night Programming with Josh Teasdale from 99One Cafe

Saturday, November 24, 2012

5:00am - 8:45am - The Early Shift
 8:45am - 10:30am - LIVE! Conference Opening Plenary: Co-operating to Foster a Healthy and Diverse Co-operative Eco-system Contributing to Well-being, Innovation and Development
10:30am - 12:30pm - LIVE! Conference Visioning Session: Action framework and Specific Commitments for the Nova Scotia Co-operative Sector into the Coming Decade
12:30pm - 1:00pm - LIVE! Closing remarks/next steps
1:00pm - Sign-off

#coop Radio Pub Night!

THIS IS ALSO A VIRTUAL EVENT!

Come join us in Real-Life

or 

Listen from the comfort of your own home!

Tune in 

Friday November 23

9pm and 12am

106.9FM in Halifax

or online at 

www.ryakuga.ca

A showcase of local talent LIVE from Vinnie's Pub at MSVU!

 

Hosted by David Bradshaw

David Bradshaw - www.davidbradshawmusic.com
Joe MacNeill
Stephen Terry from The Repercussionists - http://www.therepercussionists.com/
Jake DeCoste - http://www.reverbnation.com/jakedecoste
Adam Townsend - http://www.townsendinstrumentcases.com/ 
Grant Mitchell and Charlene Gagnon from Ceti Alpha - http://www.projectcetialpha.com/
Jesse Webber and Ben Manuel from The Scoop Outs - https://www.facebook.com/scoopouts
Heartbreak A Stranger - http://heartbreakastranger.com/
Willie Stratton - http://williestratton.bandcamp.com/

Link here to join the Facebook Event!!

 

Virtual Participation in #coopradio

The following blog is intended to assist in virtual participation with the Co-Operating to Build a Better Nova Scotia Conference and Participatory Media event being held from November 22 to November 24, 2012 at Mount Saint Vincent University.   

First of all, you can make note of the following websites and social media platforms we will be using for the event.

www.ryakuga.ca - The page where the webcast will be hosted
www.ryakuga.blogspot.com - the Ryakuga blog
www.facebook.com/ryakuga - the Ryakuga Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/nscoopcouncil - the NS Co-op Council Facebook page
www.facebook.com/groups/403907432998265/ - Coop Radio Facebook Group
@ryakuga - to communicate with Ryakuga on Twitter
@NSCoopCouncil - to communicate with the NS Coop Council on Twitter
@charlenegagnon -  to communicate directly with me on Twitter
www.flickr.com/photos/ryakuga/ - Ryakuga on Flickr
www.youtube.com/user/RyakugaCollaborative - Ryakuga's YouTube Channel

If you have a website, a blog, a photo, a video, or anything you would like to share virtually with Coop Radio, you can either share it on Facebook or Twitter directly, or you can email it to me, and I will post it where appropriate.

We will be using the hashtag #coopradio for the event on Twitter.

Recommended content tags, in addition to the ones you are already using, could include: Coop Radio, Participatory Media, Building a Better NS, NS Co-op Council, Ryakuga

If you have any questions at all about virtual participation feel free to contact charlene.m.gagnon@gmail.com

#coopradio is coming!

The Nova Scotia Co-op Community Radio Project

#coopradio

To connect the Co-operating To Build a Better Nova Scotia Conference with local citizens, provincial NS Co-op members, the larger Canadian Co-op community, and citizens at large; Ryakuga will be broadcasting LIVE! from Mount Saint Vincent University, locally on 106.9 FM  with a simultaneous webcast at www.ryakuga.ca .  The broadcast with begin Thursday, November 22 at 12pm and run for 49 hours straight until Saturday, November 24 at 1 pm. 

Ryakuga’s temporary community radio station will be set up in the mezzanine of the Rosaria Student Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University and all are invited to participate in this unique participatory communications project.

Volunteer/Participation opportunities include:

• Be an On-Air Host – An On-Air Host maintains continuity between programming but also announces information such as station identification; invites listeners to drop by and interact with the virtual component of it; informs listeners on how to find the webcast; reads facts about co-ops; updates audience on schedule.
• Be a Guest – Sharing the story of your co-op, social enterprise or grassroots organization, your experiences, your stories and talents!  If you are a conference participant, share your conference presentation and/or experiences, best practices.
• Be a Greeter – The Greeter maintains the public space as a social environment is important. Welcomes people to hang around and go on-air. Makes sure people going on air are relaxed and present.
• Be a Tekkie – Control the audio mixer and mics.  This is the only real technical job – it’s not complicated though!
• Be a Photographer/Videographer - We will have a digital camera and camcorder available and a computer designated for photos and videos to be shared via Flickr and YouTube.
• Be a Social Networker – The Social Networker delivers messages on-air coming in from Facebook and Twitter, and broadcasts what is happening on-air to the virtual participants.  We will have a computer dedicated to Twitter and Facebook. People are also encouraged to use their own mobile devices on the wireless network
• Be a Roving Reporter – Roving Reporters will have access to a variety of communication tools. We will do live interviews with the wireless mics. In addition, we have flash recorders, camera and video camera. The reporters could also use mobiles ready to FaceBook or Twitter.

To volunteer for #coopradio contact Celina - celina.alisa.lam@gmail.com

To book a timeslot contact Jill - CoopConferenceCoordinator@msvu.ca

To talk to someone about Participatory Communications contact Fred (Broadcast) – fred@ryakuga.org or Charlene (Social Media) – charlene.m.gagnon@gmail.com

To perform at the #coopradio Open Mic at Vinnie’s Pub, on Friday November 24 contact Charlene – charlene.m.gagnon@gmail.com

To talk to someone about the NS Co-op Council or the Conference contact Mark - mark@novascotia.coop

Benefits of Community Radio: 

by Mallary McGrath

Some may say that an area such as the Cape Shore is suffering due to its dwindling population and outmigration of youth. We see the class sizes at Fatima Academy decrease year after year, the number of new homes is not what it was and there exists an obvious emptiness to those who are skeptical of the area's future. Owning a pride of place, feeling fortunate to be able to see, smell and touch the ocean and knowing that you see the same sights generations before you have seen is a special thing. Expressing these feelings of fortune to the world as one is simple with the use of modern communication but expressing pride of place together as multiple communities, as a united front of proud people can be a challenge.

However, community radio events that have become annual events on the Cape Shore allow for such expression of pride. During past broadcasts we have had children telling us on air why they like living on the Cape Shore followed by interviews with senior citizens relaying life stories of gardening, fishing and survival. Combinations such as these being broadcasted over the air waves and on the world wide web are extraordinary means of communicating our stories, our way of life and our pride of place.

Speaking from a town councillor's perspective, I believe that community radio is a particularly unique opportunity to facilitate promotion of the Cape Shore area, communication among the towns and discussion, as it not only encourages discussion but allows it to take place among interested individuals. Cooperation between communities is vital to sustainability and the sharing of ideas and initiatives can enhance council's performance as a devoted team of volunteers. A community radio event inevitably triggers thoughts of pride of place and excitement in the community for an event that will broadcast them to the world; their voices, their opinions and their way of life will be in the spotlight. In many cases, discussions lead to analyzations which can ultimately lead to strategies being implemented for betterment of the community.  

The more I learn about community radio and the more I listen, the more I realize that while I believe the Cape Shore area to be a very special place it is not alone. There are communities such as those on Bell Island and Fogo Island dealing with outmigration and other challenges faced by rural areas but while these problems exist there also exists a definite awareness of how special the community or communities are. While proud residents acknowledge the declining population we also promote the area through the use of community radio and choose to look beyond to the sustainable aspects of the community and the positive characteristics. On air discussions are venues of creativity and allow voices to be heard. 

Tip Sheet for Virtual Participation in Community Radio Events

Facebook

Pre-Event

1. Setup a Facebook Group for the event - Ideally, every community hosting a radio event would set-up their own Facebook Group, which would serve as a central online location for participants to gather virtually, share their experiences, and interact with the broadcast. 
2. Add participants to the group - Whoever creates the Facebook Group will be responsible for adding the first participants.  Note that adding a group member does not require their permission, so as a courtesy it is advised that the group administrator first contacts potential group members before they are added. 
3. Ask group members to add other group members - Administrators will only be allowed to add group members which appear on their friends list.  To broaden the network, all group members should add people from their personal friends lists to the group.
4. Add group administrators - All individuals who are physically present at the event should be made group administrators.
5. Promote the event and solicit participation from community members - Post all information people need to know about the event.  When it will be happening, what it is for, who to contact for participation, etc...

Event

1. Post in the Group - All participants who are physically present at the event should be instructed to post in the group, in addition to on their personal profiles. Posts should include photos, behind-the-scenes happenings, and personal reflections about participation.  
2. Tag the group in personal posts - Participants who use their personal Facebook profile can tag status updates by placing the @ symbol before starting to type the group name.
3. Let listeners know about the Facebook Group - Every time the station ID and website is mentioned, listeners should also be told where to find the Facebook Group for the event.  All groups will have the address facebook.com/groups/*groupname*
4. Ask for participation from listeners - Posts can also be asks for song requests, talk topic requests, shout-outs or relevant stories that can be shared on-air.
5. Monitor Facebook Group -Group administrators should be continually monitoring the interaction in the group; relaying relevant information to on-air participants, responding to posts, responding to requests to join the group.

Ryakuga Facebook Page

The Ryakuga Facebook page is another virtual place for participant interaction during a community radio event which extends networks beyond individual communities and into the broader Ryakuga Network.

1. Assign a Ryakuga Administrator - A community participant can be made administrator at the Ryakuga Page for the duration of the event.  Ideally, this administrator would also be the main administrator of the Facebook Group.  When an individual is made administrator of a Facebook Page, all posts that person makes on the page will show up as being from "Ryakuga" rather than their personal account.
2. Tag posts and photos with Ryakuga - Posts can be tagged with Ryakuga in the same way groups can be tagged; type the @ symbol before the word Ryakuga.  Photos can be tagged with Ryakuga as well in the same way that people are tagged in Facebook photos; click tag photo, click anywhere on the photo, and type Ryakuga into the box that appears.
3. Let listeners know about the Ryakuga Facebook Page - In addition to station ID, website and group name, on-air participants can let people know about the Ryakuga Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ryakuga

Twitter

1. If Twitter is to be included as part of the campaign for the event, it can be done either by creating a Twitter account for the event itself, or through the use of hashtags. Creating an account for the event on its own is unadvised, as building a Twitter network of followers can be task that requires time and effort, and not necessarily worth the work for a one-off event. 
2. Ryakuga has a Twitter account that can be used during the event as well.  All posts to the Rykauga Facebook Page automatically update to Twitter.   
3. Many communities have official or unofficial Twitter representation (for example @Branch_NL), a better approach would be to solicit participation with the individuals behind those accounts to broadcast the event on Twitter in addition to the Ryakuga Twitter.
4. The event can be labelled using a hashtag, which is placing the pound symbol before a one character word or phrase representing the event, as in #nameofevent. Hashtags become search links, and clicking on them will produced a feed of all Tweets containing that hashtag.
5. Tweets mentioning the event with a hashtag can be retweeted by the Ryakuga page and individuals participating via Twitter.  
6. As with Facebook, someone should be monitoring Twitter at all times for mentions of the event, to respond to those tweets and share them on-air.  Also, listeners should be given the hashtag name for tweets about the event.

Radio Bell Island/Network 12: Call for Musicians

Radio Bell Island Returns March 19 to 25. RBI is now recruiting Singer/Song writers, Actors & Musicians, for their programming week & the final Concert at St. Michel's Regional High School. If you would like to promote your music or play. You have to submit a short BIO, What songs or Plays you would like to do, what time slots you are available & the running time for each song. 

Email submissions only please.

terryparsons@nf.sympatico.ca 

radiobellisland@groups.facebook.com

All submissions close at 12.00 noon Sunday March 4, 2012.

Dates are

Monday 19: Singer/Song writers 5.15 to 5.30

Tuesday 20:The Time,Live Local Music  5.00 to 5.30

Weds 21:  Singer/Song writers 5.15 to 5.30

Thurs 22: The Time,Live Local Music  5.00 to 5.30

Friday 23: Singer/Song writers 5.15 to 5.30

Saturday 24: Live Concert @ St. Michel's High School gym.7.00 to 9.00

Network 12 Virtual Participant FAQ

Network 12 is a Radio Broadcast and Community Radio Conference taking place March 19- 24, 2012 on Bell Island in Newfoundland. The following is an FAQ on how to participate in the broadcast and conference virtually.

What is a Virtual Participant?
A Virtual Participant is one which is not physically present at an event, but who participates from afar using mobile devices and social media.

How do I become a Virtual Participant in the Network 12 Event?
Essentially, Network 12 is 2 events; there is the radio broadcast and the conference. We are encouraging virtual participation in both events.

To become a Virtual Participant of the radio broadcast, all you have to do is listen to the webcast while it is on-air, and discuss what you are hearing using Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

To become a Virtual Participant of the conference, you have to contact Kelly Russell

What are the tools of Virtual Participation?
The main tools being used in Network 12 will be:
Twitter: using the #network12 hashtag
Facebook: posting directly in Network 12 group; tagging posts with Radio Bell Island and Ryakuga
Skype: participating in workshops, deliberative conversations
Text Messaging: for direct communication with on-the-ground participants

Can I be a Virtual Participant if I am physically at the event?
Yes! If you are at the event, you can virtually participate by interacting with the non-present participants, and incorporating their content into the on-air broadcast. You can also solicit participation from virtual participants, by asking them to send their messages and requests from away. As a physically present virtual participant, you can also share photos and videos from the event with the virtual participants.

Ewipkek Radio from Flat Bay

On January 19 and 20, 2012, The Flat Bay Band Council hosted a historic community radio event, the first Mi'kmaq radio broadcast in Newfoundland.

Over the 2-day broadcast, youth and elders came together to share stories, music and traditional knowledge from the community.  Students from the College of the North Atlantic Community Studies program were also welcomed into the community and assisted in the broadcast, providing technical support with the broadcast and social media promotion.

Some highlights of the broadcast included:

• Knowledge about traditional Mi'kmaq drumming with the help of members from Grandmother Drum, Flat Bay's Women's Drumming Circle, and listeners enjoyed recorded and live performances from them.
• A history of the Mi'kmaq in Flat Bay was read online by Elder Calvin White and his nephew Ivan.
• Information about the upcoming Flat Bay Pow-Wow, taking place July13-15, 2012, and gave listeners a detailed account of what a Pow-Wow was, its importance for the community, and how it worked.  Including a discussion of Pow-Wow traditions and expected behaviour of participants.  
• An interview with Chief Liz LaSaga

In addition to the FM broadcast, Ewipkek Radio was simulcast online, and social media tools were implemented to engage participants from away.  Facebook and Twitter were used to promote the event and solicit greetings; the Twitter hashtag #flatbayradio was active with over 40 tweets being tagged.  People from Flat Bay who were located elsewhere in the country and world tuned in indicated they were so happy to bring a piece of Flat Bay into their homes and offices for those broadcast days.

Between January 18 and 21 our Facebook page recorded visits from the following towns in Newfoundland: St. John's, Stephenville, Corner Brook, Bell Island, Branch, Mount Pearl, Fogo, Placentia, Baie Verte, Witless Bay and Bonne Bay.

Across Canada, people checked out the broadcast from: Halifax, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Ottawa, Fredericton, Niagara Falls and Toronto.

Globally, people tuned in from the USA, Greece and Kreuzberg, Berlin.

Ryakuga was honored to be a part of this historic event.  We hope that it is the first of many community broadcasts from within the Mi'kmaq community, in Newfoundland and the whole Atlantic region.