Answering phones at WYSO

Yesterday from 4-7 pm a group of us from the Yellow Springs Community Foundation took pledges for the WYSO fund drive. We did this last year and had such a good time we immediately resolved to do it again. And it was fun all over again.

First of all, the enthusiasm of the WYSO staff, from Station Manager Neenah Ellis right on down, is absolutely infectious. Neenah would come back into the phone room from being on air and someone would inform her that during that segment we got pledges for X dollars. "Woo hoo!" they'd all go, making me want to "woo hoo" right along with them. I think we set some kind of record between 5 and 6 pm.

Then there are the periods when the phones don't ring. That's when the gossip flows. A great chance for, say, someone like a blogger to stock up on information.

Even when the phones are ringing, there's a good chance it's one of your friends or neighbors. Andre Bognar called in while her son Steve was on air. I finally got the chance to ask Migiwa Orimo how to pronounce her name.

And food...

"Where are the M&Ms," one of our group asked, remembering them from our last gig.

"I'll get them," a staff member said.

M&Ms, almonds, pretzels, drinks... Forget the junk food. "What's for dinner?"

At 5:00 o'clock, right on cue, the Thai food arrived. The garlic rangoon, new to my palate, was something special, no doubt fueling us to that record we set.

I'm thinking about going back again before this fund drive is over, maybe get a chance to plug the Blog and hang out with that groovy WYSO staff again.

If you haven't done this, I recommend that you try it. Email Jacki Mayer at jmayer@antioch.edu and see if she has any slots left. You will have a good time while serving a good cause.