Volunteers keep station alive

In an old fire truck garage, Wolfgang and Little Miss Chocolate Syrup spin 1960s psychedelic pop music during their afternoon Garlic Power show. \nThey are just two of nearly 30 DJs and 150 volunteers who keep WFHB Firehouse Broadcasting community radio alive. WFHB is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that offers the Bloomington community a variety of music and talk radio shows. The station's self-proclaimed mission is to celebrate and increase the local cultural diversity while providing a neutral forum for ideas and issues.\n"Shows range from political and local government to entertainment and bluegrass," said Gerry Bayne, operations manager for WFHB. "We want as many voices as possible to come out and be heard."\nOn the air for eight years and counting, WFHB can be heard 24 hours a day on 91.3 FM and 98.1 FM. It has 10,000-15,000 listeners and hopes to expand listenership by putting up translators in Ellettsville and Nashville within the next two years, said Jonathan Coke, general manager of WFHB.\nBoard of Directors member Helen Gross, 77 -- better known to listeners as her on-air persona, Sweet Girl -- broadcasts two shows each week, "Golden Age Radio" and "Music Maestro." \n"The station offers volunteers a lot of freedom in choosing music and topics for shows so people can broadcast what they love and have a passion for," Gross said. \nGross has been with WFHB since 1995 after stumbling upon the station while driving home one afternoon. Gross thought to herself, "Now this is my kind of music," and tracked down the station. \n"I love big band music," said Gross. "(It's) music you can really dance to."\nWFHB also features talk shows such as "Interchange," which specializes in discussing public affairs and airs Tuesday nights. The show is so popular that it will soon expand to two nights each week, Coke said.\n"We are inclusive. If you want to be a part of WFHB -- whether by donating time, talent or money -- we welcome you," he said. \nNew volunteer meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month. Volunteers are taken on a tour of the station, including an extensive music library housing thousands of CDs and records. \n"We want our volunteers to get a feel for what the station offers and where their individual interests might be," Bayne said. \nOpportunities include everything from "desk jockeying" (answering phones) and reviewing new music, to creating and hosting a radio show. WFHB also offers orientation sessions, which teach volunteers how to use the broadcasting equipment. \nThe station usually receives 150-200 CDs each week, which are evaluated by volunteer reviewers, many from IU. Reviewers write a thumbnail sketch of the music and grade each song so programmers can quickly grab a CD and continually supplement their shows with new music from up-and-coming artists. \n"As a community radio station, we want to stay with the idea of free form mixes," Gross said.\nThe late Herman B Wells, former president and chancellor of IU, strongly supported WFHB, Gross said. Wells felt the connection between campus and community was critical and that community radio could help to bridge the gap. \nWells convinced his friend, Cecile Waldron, to donate $225,000 to WFHB, which allowed the station to buy the former headquarters of the Bloomington Fire Department next to the John Waldron Arts Center downtown.\nWFHB is a member of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and receives support through listener contribution and local business underwriting. On-air fund drives are held twice a year where new and current members are encouraged to pledge donations.\n"One of the great things about WFHB is that things are still fluid because we are still growing. There are no set agendas," said Bayne. "You can hear goth, heavy metal and punk all on one station.\n"We are truly radio for the unrepresented masses"