Time to Give Thanks

By Jennifer Poenix

There is much to be thankful for at KAXE. Our members and volunteers immediately come to mind.

Since I started working here over two years ago, I’ve met a whole cast of characters that support KAXE, not only with their membership, but also with their time, contributions of programming, food, and so much more. I'm thankful for all of you.

I'm also thankful for the beautiful surroundings of my workplace. We have a view of the Mississippi River complete with Bill the eagle, many other birds, and sometimes even a fox, otter, or raccoon.

Wishing a happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Piroque/Pirogue on Between You and Me last week...

On last week's Between You and Me we talked about holiday gift ideas - especially unique and inexpensive gifts.

Don from Suomi called in to tell us about piroques.... how you can go online, find the plans and get a kit...see here for more info.

What is a pirogue?
{pee roe} a cajun canoe, originally made from a dugout cypress log, usually flat on the bottom and pointed at both ends.

Thanks to Bonnie the Plant lady for sending links and information about the piroques....check here for information about Lousiana Piroque seeds!

As for the spelling, I've seen it both ways - pirogue or piroque.

Dinner-Rama at Jack and Cindy Shelton's

Jack and Cindy Shelton can really throw a party! That’s just what they did last Saturday night, to honor 25 years of Phenology on KAXE. More than 20 people were there, including a visitor who could only speak Russian and a plethora of KAXE friends and supporters.

Jack served 2 kinds of chili - a vegetarian variety and a rich, meaty one with chunks of beef and pork that he had cooked for two days! He also made homemade pita bread and hummus with olives and tomatoes as an appetizer, and Cindy baked several pans of corn bread. Jack and Cindy provided beer and wine and non-alcoholic alternatives.

During the party we checked in with the special “Phenology Meets Green Cheese” show that was live on KAXE. John Latimer asked our Russian guest how to say “deer guts” in Russian. This caused a good deal of confusion! The photo is of Jack Shelton and KAXE engineeer Dan Houg talking to John Latimer, Julie Crabb and Heidi Holtan from the party.

The dinner ended with beautiful carrot cake, and Jack asked for donations for the 25th anniversary of Phenology project. The $565 contributed by Jack and Cindy’s guests will go into the fund to honor John Latimer by supporting Phenology activities in the future.

More dinner-ramas will be held this weekend and into the new year. All of us at KAXE appreciate Jack and Cindy’s work and that of the other dinner-rama hosts! Thank you!

Here is a link to photos of the party.

Popcorn hits the spot

By Jennifer Poenix

Scott Hall just made popcorn, which in turn, has made my day. It also gave me something to blog about (see previous blog). He makes it on the stove, which I haven’t seen anybody do for a long time.

First, you need to heat the oil until it’s starting to spatter. Then, add the kernels until they are bathed in oil (bathed, not swimming). Get them nice and surrounded. Put the lid on the pot, and soon you will have delicious popcorn.

Growing up, my dad made popcorn nearly every night. He made it on the stove when I was real young, but then he got an air popper and never looked back. I hardly ever eat popcorn anymore. Once in awhile, I’ll buy the microwave stuff, but it just does not compare. I think I’ll try making it on the stove at home some night soon. It may be a disaster, but at least I’ll have tried.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to clean my keyboard…and see if there’s anymore popcorn in the kitchen.

Thank you Scott!

I won't have dishpan hands today!

By Jennifer Poenix

If you receive KAXE’s weekly e-mail newsletter, “The Buzz,” you may know that all KAXE staff members are supposed to blog every week or else they have to clean our kitchen. Trust me, it can be a big job. (see photo of Heidi, who is a very good blogger)

We have a staff meeting every Thursday morning at 9:30, and we’re supposed to report on what we blogged about. If you haven't blogged, you are in charge of cleaning up after the meeting. So, usually at about 9:00 each Thursday morning, there is a flurry of blog activity going on around these parts, even though we were each supposed to take a specific day of the week to do our blogging.

But sometimes, it’s really hard figuring out what to blog about. I don’t even know how many folks are actually reading. Obviously, you are, so thank you. What would you like to read about in this blog? Are there things about KAXE that you would like to know more about? Are you looking for information, entertainment, or something else?

Let us know. You can leave a comment on this blog if you wish. Even if you don’t have any suggestions, it would be nice to know if you regularly check this blog or the other blogs found at kaxe.org. Thanks!

We're Having Some [more] Parties!

By Stephanie Rose

On Saturday, November 15, starting at 7:00 p.m., it’s the clash of the mail carriers on KAXE! It’s Godzilla meets King Kong! It’s Phenology meets Green Cheese! What?!

That’s right. Here’s the deal: On the air, two of KAXE’s most popular shows … will … MEET. Green Cheese with Julie Crabb and Phenology with John Latimer will combine for one spectacular night only. AND, folks all over KAXE’s listening area are hosting “Dinnerama” dinner parties in an effort to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Phenology, and to generate support for the Phenology Fund we’re trying to grow. This fund will, among other things, pay for classroom materials for the students that participate in Phenology, and help support John Latimer’s outreach efforts.

Maybe you’re invited to a Dinnerama Party. Maybe you’re hosting your own. If not, stop by KAXE’s studios between about 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Staff and volunteers are planning to make a variety of soups and breads, and the programming will be scintillating! AND, if you pledge $250 or more to the Phenology Fund, you can get a hand lens and a Phenology T-shirt! We hope to see and/or hear from you Saturday night.

Greener Membership

By Jennifer Poenix (KAXE's member services manager)

Other public radio stations throughout the country have sustaining membership programs. These are programs that allow people to keep their membership going year after year, without ever having to renew. Typically, members make a monthly donation either through their bank account or with a credit card. Stations send just one letter a year to verify that the member wants to continue their membership, and sometimes to offer a thank-you gift.

KAXE has had a small group of sustainers for several years now, but they've never really been acknowledged as such. We have now made a few changes as to how we process both automatic bank withdrawals and monthly credit card payments that will really streamline the process.

What I really like about this type of membership is that is has the potential to save a ton of paper. Right now, I send renewal letters each month to those members who are due to renew in the current month, the next month, as well as those who were due to renew the previous month. I also mail statements to those who have already pledged. Each of these letters consists of a half-sheet of letterhead, a return envelope, and an outside envelope. Then 42 cents postage is applied to each one.

Of course, these letters are a good thing because they bring in money to support KAXE. However, if more people decided to become sustaining members, or "Green Members" as I think they should be called, there would be steady support of KAXE with less paper being used. It seems win-win to me.

We're just getting this off the ground at KAXE, but if you would like more information, please contact me. My e-mail address is jennifer@kaxe.org, or you can call 218-326-1234, or even comment on this blog post.

Thank you!

Election Day

By Stephanie Rose
Things are in an uproar around here. There’s tension you could cut with a knife. And shouting matches erupt at every turn! We all worked together on KAXE’s recent fundraiser, of course. But now, with the big election upon us, all semblance of solidarity has vanished. No, not that election. The Puppy/Kitty election! You can vote here, but hurry. Only six hours until the poll closes.
In Tom Cobb’s class at Remer School, Puppies won resoundingly, 62 to 38 percent. But the Puppies now trail slightly at The Northern Observer.
Jennifer Poenix’s young son, Zane, recently christened a new kitten “Butter,” which, in itself, almost makes a person want to vote Kitty. “Their other cat is a tool,” explained Jennifer. “He keeps spilling his water.” Jennifer’s family has dog and cats, so I think she could go either way. At press [bloggy press] time, John and Maggie and I are on the Puppies’ side. Penny and Heidi stand firmly behind Kitties. And Mark Tarner? He votes unequivocally Hedgehog, of course. Stay tuned to 91.7 KAXE for the latest.