Time, Talent, Treasure

Try listening to CKUA radio!

Huh??

What does CKUA have to do with Time, Talent, Treasure and Westwood canvass?

I believe there are some parallels between the CKUA story and Westwood canvass – allow me to explain. First of all, I know there is some risk in doing this. We have a lot of CBC fans at Westwood so I know that I am treading on sacred ground. I also know that many CKUA fans are also CBC fans and visa versa so there is lots of overlap here.

I am choosing to talk to you about the CKUA story because I have done a lot of volunteer work for CKUA and it’s a story that I’m familiar with so….here is the substantially condensed version of the CKUA story.

In 1927, the U of A Extension department created CKUA radio. In fact, the “UA” in CKUA stands for University of Alberta. Their original mandate was to bring free university education to people in rural Alberta, people that would typically not have access to post secondary education. In 1948, CKUA received the first FM license in Alberta and they began to develop their trademark style of eclectic and intellectually stimulating programming. It was during this era that young broadcasters such as Tommy Banks and Robert Goulet got their start.

Let’s fast forward all the way to the mid 90s…the Klein government is reviewing operations all across Alberta and looking for any opportunity to cut costs. As a result, in 1994, Gail Hinchliffe is appointed CEO of CKUA Radio and given the mandate to convert CKUA from a government funded station to a private station. She receives a grant of $4.7 million to manage this transition period. During this time, the station starts conducting Spring and Fall fundraisers. Hinchcliffe is a Calgary based property developer with strong ties to the Conservative Party. She has no previous experience in the radio or broadcasting. On March 20 1997, just days after the provincial election, Hinchliffe shuts down the station, citing a lack of funding. Kevin describes the anger, disbelief, frustration, concern, fear he felt on this day.

An audit found that the board of directors had totally bungled the transition, mismanaging the interim grant of $4.7 million. CKUA listeners were angry that the money raised during the fund-raising campaigns had gone towards the huge salaries of Hinchliffe (who was going through personal bankruptcy) and her colleagues. Employees and listeners established the “Friends of CKUA” coalition, conducted a major, province wide fund-raising campaign, and put the station back on the air on April 25, 1997.

This powerful and emotional grass roots response epitomized the Margaret Mead quote “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world – indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Today, like the phoenix that rises from the ashes, CKUA is stronger than ever. They have 137,000 daily listeners and they provide Alberta’s official emergency public warning system. They have a solid foundation of on-going , reliable financial support that is provided almost entirely by it’s listeners. CKUA is now the largest listener supported radio station in the world. The people that use CKUA pay for CKUA. They receive no government funding.

When CKUA went off the air, many people were deeply hurt. They began to realize that the CKUA mix of blues, jazz, world beat, folk and classical music was truly unique. They started to ask a lot of questions: “Does CKUA add value to my life ? How? What would my life be like without CKUA? Whose responsibility is it to keep CKUA going? I if am a regular listener, do I have an obligation to support CKUA? Is it important to preserve these types of institutions? Why? What can I do to help?

You can probably see where I am going with this.

I believe that these same questions can be applied to Westwood. “Does Westwood add value to my life? How? What would my life be like without Westwood? Would it be different? Whose responsibility is it to keep Westwood going? If i attend Westwood, do I have an obligation to support it, in accordance with my means? Is it important to preserve institutions like Westwood? Is it important to preserve liberal religion in Alberta? Why? What can I do to help Westwood survive and thrive?”

Let’s look at the first question – does Westwood add value to my life? If the answer is yes, How does it add value?

Well, we’ve spent a lot of time promoting the canvass theme of TIME, TALENT, TREASURE. We are of course, referring to what you and I have to offer Westwood. Some of us are able to volunteer a very precious gift, our time. Some of us bring specific skills to Westwood – the community benefits from the sharing of these talents. Some of us, most of us, choose to financially support Westwood, each in accordance with his or her own abilities. TIME, TALENT, TREAURE represents the diversity of gifts that we bring to Westwood. This diversity makes us a stronger and more vibrant congregation. TIME, TALENT, TREASURE is what we have to offer Westwood.

But when we take a look at the question “does Westwood add value to my life?” what we are really asking is “what does Westwood have to offer me?

Well, because we are a diverse community, Westwood will mean different things to different people. Let me lead you through a short exercise to help you consider what Westwood might mean to you.

I would like to divide the congregation into 3 types of people – heads, hearts and hands.

The HEADS would be the people that appreciate Westwood for the intellectual stimulation that they receive. This might include the thrust and parry of debate at chalice circles. Some other recent examples of presentations that I found thought provoking were “The fundamentals of fundamentalism” with Mitch and Owen and “conscious consumerism” with Lindsay McWhirter.

These moments motivate me to THINK.

Can you think of a recent Westwood moment that motivated you to think?

The HEARTS would be the people that appreciate Westwood for the emotional and spiritual stimulation that they receive.

As a relative newcomer to Westwood, I have been consistently impressed with the amount of risk that people are willing to take when they light candles of concern and celebration. They obviously feel that Westwood is a safe environment. When people are allowed to open up and share deep feelings and they are accepted and affirmed, it makes us all stronger.

Other recent examples of presentations that I found emotionally stimulating are “Reaching Stillpoint” with Dijie Ratzcliff and “Healthy Bereavement” with Marguerite Robbins.

These moments motivate me to FEEL.

Can you think of a recent Westwood moment that motivated you to feel?

The HANDS are the people that love “doing”.

I think of people that love singing so they join Harmonia. I think of people that love playing piano – this is an area that we are always looking for help in – let us know if this is one of your skills.

I think of people like Oscar Zawalsky that always seem to be doing buildings and grounds work or Bruce MacPherson that like to builds dragons for Harry Potter nights or Miguel, who enjoys cooking for 75 people at a time or Social Justice Committee members that love to raise money for local and international events.

These people and these opportunities motivate me to DO.

Can you think of a Westwood opportunity that has recently motivated you to “do”?

Now, if i were to ask you to slot yourselves into one category…heads, hearts or hands, some of you would find this relatively easy and others would find it more challenging. In truth, many of us would land in two different categories or perhaps even all three.

So, let’s take a quick straw poll. If you can only pick one, where would you fit in? Let’s see a show of hands.

I think this is a fun exercise as it helps us to consider how Westwood adds value to our life.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking….it would not be a canvass campaign unless we talked about money. Well, I am not adverse to talking about money…it is the third T in time, talent, treasure. I enjoyed Owen’s talk on money last year and i think he touched on some important points when he discussed the stigmas that we have regarding money. It is often a taboo subject in our society. But, the truth is that Westwood has done a pretty good job of talking about money recently. I believe that, as a result of the discussions around a part time minister, money issues have been more open and transparent this year. In fact, the congregation has voted strongly in support of hiring a part time minister and this has obviously affected our budget projections. Based on 2007/2008 budget planning, the projected average cost per member is now $1032 per year, $86 per month, $20 per week.

Canvass does have some clear financial goals and I think it’s important that we are all aware of these. Our goal is to generate an increase in overall pledging of 22% or more to cover the cost of a part time minister, and to generate total dollar pledge commitments of $86,500. These are the measurables that I will use when I share our progress with you for the next 4 Sundays, with canvass ending on April 9.

So, there you have it. That’s our discussion about money. If you want more information, I would strongly encourage you to read the revised Dollars and Sense brochure that you received when you came in today. It is interesting, accurate and informative.

So, a few words on canvass logistics…You will probably meet with your canvasser over the next couple weeks and possibly, after lunch today. They will ask you to complete the revised canvass survey (which, by the way, may be conducted on line next year). The survey can be returned directly to your canvasser or dropped off in the survey box at the back. Your canvasser will review last year’s pledge commitment and they will have a discussion around any amount that might still be outstanding. They will review your 2007/2008 commitment and ask you to consider increasing your pledge by 22% or more – they will also ask you to consider writing post dated cheques to cover this amount (we may even has Pre-authorized withdrawal next year)….and they will have a general Westwood discussion with you. Perhaps you can let them know if you are a head, heart or hands.

So, in closing, there are many people I would like to thank for their help with canvass this year….. Carl, Elaine, Deidra, Sara, Allison, Doug, Linda, Linda, Bill, Lorian, Bonnie, Margaret, Bruce, Edda, Susan, David and today, especially, Miguel, Dean and Manfred for preparing lunch.

This canvass belongs to all of us – you, me , everyone. Let’s make it a great canvass.

Kevin Fitzgerald

added March 11, 2007.