No hearing, just a phone call from the PD that "Rockaholics Anonymous" had been removed from the roster. All he's been told is that he was "uncooperative" with the last pledge drive. Allegedly there has also been a staff "shake-up", but no details as yet.

Shipwreck, I am surprised and a bit angry to hear this news my old friend. The show was one of my very favorites and I tuned in often over the years. It was great radio.

This sounds like the exact same song and dance that they used to get rid of "The Church of Northwest Music" and Marc Baker. I am very disappointed at the lack of respect for the long-time volunteer programmers who have built 90.7 brick by brick. It is short-sighted to hinge the schedule on the narrow financial impact of a few hours in an endless stream of beg weeks.

When KBOO whittles away the best shows and hosts that have loyal listeners who consistently tune in to the station, they lose memberships from long-time supporters like me. No pledge drive is as effective as a consistent programming line-up that brings people to their spot on the dial. Public radio is strongest when it serves the folks who renew yearly without the groveling and coercion.

KBOO is community radio. Uncle Mort served the Portland community, not his own selfish interests, or a fringe political agenda. When a family-friendly, historically rich daytime program like "Rockaholics Anonymous" is scrapped, but an insomniac is forced to sit through night after night of noisy atonal dreck and self-indulgent f-bombs, this station is on the wrong track.

A regular expense like the often neglected tower lease is something that members are happy to fund. No listener wants to line the pockets of the Federal government because some migrant hipster has nothing good to say or play, and they say it or play it loudly and often. If KBOO wants to focus on cleaning house, may I suggest dropping the programmers who think that games of chicken with the FCC make good radio.

i agree with you little songs kboo dont care about long running shows they got rid of time sound on mondays nites with kevin berry that show was on for 25yrs in tha old 6p 8p time slot i used be at kboo with the freshconnection sundays nite 12am 3am they got rid of that show as well it was 10 yrs hipop show on that station. kboo is going downhilllllll.

If you look at the numbers. it has allready arrived at the bottom. perfect example of poorly run community radio station.

I agree with you, Littlesongs. KBOO doesn't care about long-running shows. They got rid of "Time Sound" on Monday nights with Kevin Berry; that show was on for 25 years in the old 6-8PM time slot. I used to be at KBOO with "The Fresh Connection", sunday nights 12-3AM. They got rid of that show as well. It was 10 years [that our ?] Hip Hop show [was] on the station. KBOO is going downhilllllll.......

(Hey, all I do is translate from Frreshish. So sue me if I spelled any of the names wrong! -MZII)

Substitute announcer today named Frederick giving a very laid-back presentation of hot rod songs. His mike is open, you can hear him cueing up songs.

Very sorry to hear about Uncle Mort, but I long ago gave up trying to divine KBOO's inner logic. Maybe Dennis Constantine could find Mort a weekend slot on KINK or K-Hitz if enough people ask.

Perhaps, the KBOO inner logic at play here is that inexperienced air talent who cue stuff up on the air give the station a more "grass roots" feel?

I loved that show. Did you know Uncle Mort was a Tri-Met bus driver? He was great making the stop announcements!

Alfredo, is it a "grass roots" feel or just "grass"?

The powers that be at KBOO have never been very fond of rock music, and grudgingly schedule such shows as late as possible. Mort had to fight hard for that slot, and he constantly had to fight hard to keep it. The slot will be going to another format after the programming committee reviews all applications.

Bummer about Mort - he's been on a long time. RA was a great show.

He was removed for his lack of involvement and support during membership drives.

Like he either wouldn't do his program or wouldn't help pitch for support.
He was given the opportunity to make up the volunteer time, answering phones, data entry, but didn't.
Many programmers such as him think that just coming in and doing "my show" every week or even every other week is "enough".

It is not. And he was given warnings.

He didn't get a 'hearing' because it had nothing to do with content.

That's the facts.
Church of NW Music is another story entirely.....
as is the reason DJ Fresh was banned from the station.

Also
There has been no "staff shakeup".

Thanks Jay.

I will restate for the record that I am a longtime diehard fan of KBOO. I celebrate and respect all of the folks who dedicate themselves to presenting quality local programming. At the same time, I find myself less and less enthusiastic about the abundance of dead air, lack of show prep and the truly stupid facets of any given broadcast day. High school students are held to a far higher standard mere blocks away and they deliver on a consistent basis.

We can all firmly agree that raising funds are an important part of the job for anyone in public broadcasting. If the role one plays as a volunteer includes a full range of other responsibilities, that is fair. In commercial stations it is not unusual to find personalities doing sales. However, I also believe that high quality radio sells itself. The challenge of a pledge drive is less daunting if the product is first rate, the voices are familiar and the listener base is loyal.

I miss Mort, but I am hopeful that well into the future, the most gifted KBOO programmers will still be granted the freedom to deliver the best radio on the dial. If the station builds on the legacy of great shows like Drinking From Puddles, and fosters relatively newer community based favorites like The Bike Show, I see a bright future ahead. If great stretches of time are still wasted on technical fumbling, musical bumbling and marginal grumbling, the struggles will be long and difficult.

In this age of the internet, concentrating on twenty four hours of solid information, local insight and quality entertainment is the key to expanding the funding base. It is also the best way to represent our city to the world. If one took a short walk up the street, one would find the studios of a station that boasts listeners and supporters from the four corners of the globe. They represent Portland with class and dignity, tirelessly promote the regional arts, and pay their bills on time.

KBOO must consider keeping a higher standard every minute of the day. Only then will the outlet begin to reach their potential as a strong voice for our area on a local, regional and global scale. Eclectic is wonderful, but sloppy is just plain sloppy. The efforts of raising enough money for operating expenses are always limited by the range of appeal of any given programming. If the quality goes up consistently, so will the numbers of memberships and underwriters.

A "shake up" might be exactly what KBOO needs at this juncture.

Well now that the evening schedule has been revamped we are tackling the daytime now, morning first and surprisingly some programmers are leaving making it that much easier.

After a visit with NFCB personel who did an evaluation KBOO is making many changes and trying to focus a little bit.
Times are surely over for programs being on for 30 years, unless it warrants that gift.

If you want to stop in and sit in on a Program Committee meeting we discuss this in the open and every ones welcome and maybe you can put in your input, we have time for public comment.

They occur on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm at KBOO.

and if the "shake up" rumour is referring to that KOIN6 story well that's garbage journalism and that station should be ashamed of them selves.

and if the "shake up" rumour is referring to that KOIN6 story well that's garbage journalism and that station should be ashamed of them selves.

On the other hand, you couldn't buy that kind of public attention. If they got the call letters and the frequency right, you're ahead in the game.