$45,550 - Thanks So Much!!!

Our first ever 6-Day fundraiser was a wonderful success. Listeners from all over showed their support and got us within a few thousand dollars of our $50,000 goal and thanks to everyone who helps keep community radio possible in Northern MN - we can't do it without you! If you didn't pledge yet, do it now and help us make our goal, Do It Yourself and call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online! And an extra-big thanks to all the volunteers who came to answer phones, make food and play music - you're the backbone of this place - not just during fundraisers but day in and day out people from all over the area come in and make KAXE something special and unique.

Help Keep It Going: $27,875 from 212 Members

Have you ever experienced homemade Kombucha? Plan to build your own home? Maybe you know someone who raises chickens as family pets? There are as many different DIY projects as there are people and we've been hearing a lot of amazing stories. Like a spare-time home brewer following his passion and now managing a brewery in Minneapolis. Or wool spinners and cheese makers. It doesn't matter if you consider mowing the yard a "big job" or if you think building your home is an every-5th-year enjoyment; we need your support of independent local radio in Northern MN and listening support is our single largest source of funding. We are community radio, and you can hear it when you listen - real voices of real people telling real stories. It's truly local, independent community radio. And, we also bring a lot of these voices and stories to you online as we merge an "old" media like radio with the new media age (follow along on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter for real-time updates). We are on our way to $50,000 by Halloween night to make our budget and listener support is our single largest source of funding, Do It Yourself and call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online! Click here to see do-it-yourself projects at KAXE...

Read This Or Jeremiah Will Stab You

by Doug MacRostie

KAXE is like nothing else you'll find, not only in northern MN, but beyond - and it's something you should be a part of. You should support KAXE. Yes, I'm talking to you. In one way or another you found this post, and however close or far the connection between you and I may be, I think YOU should pledge your support...right now: kaxe.org. You don't want to be chased by Jeremiah driving a 4 wheeler with a sword do you?

Why support KAXE?

Somewhere between the Phenology updates about the nature happening around me and the new Flaming Lips CD during On the River, KAXE finds that excitable spot in my brain and stimulates the hell out of it. When Heidi interviews on author on RealGoodWords I'll hear the most interesting conversations about something I've never even knew to think about. Then a curve ball about reestablishing Bison herds into the ecosystem comes out of A Talk On the Wild Side and mix in a true variety of music and you have a good starting to point to appreciate KAXE. And things like that happen all the time! Even this morning there was a promo for an upcoming history piece on the last official battle between Native Americans and the Federal Government which occured back in 1898 on the Leech Lake Rez.

KAXE is community radio, and that means something. It means that real people from the area come in and share their stories (or swords...), it means local news and information presented by the people involved (or swords...), it means volunteers from all over Northern MN coming to the station to play music they're passionate about. That is something worth highlighting - we don't tell the volunteers what to play, they arrange their own playlists which means you really could hear anything at anytime On the River (instead of the same 50 songs over and over like you hear on commercial radio). And we're also working to bring these voices and stories to you in new media formats. These are just a few of the thousands of examples of what makes KAXE special and unique and VERY valuable resource to this region. I like KAXE because it expands my my mind & it challenges me with different perspectives and ideas.

And while I don't actually threaten bodily harm, it's worth noting that local hero Jeremiah Liend has easy access to a wide selection of swords...so do the right thing and support KAXE, independent local radio.

Still not convinced? Then I invite you to come to the studios this Thursday night at 6 to see first-hand what we're all about. For this special edition of Centerstage MN I'll be joined by Timmy Haus and John Wilber with live music - as part of the audience, you'll be able to see the behind the scenes happening that go into producing a live program and enjoy some excellent tunes. Timmy and John will be playing acoustic roots, blues and rock tunes and they too will ask you to support KAXE.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

DIY - With A Little Help From Our Friends

From getting firewood ready, to baking bread, to building a home and even building a log tool shed - we've heard from all kinds of people who believe in KAXE and what we do. Wednesday mornings really highlight the independent, self-sufficient, DIY lifestyle of Northern MN with Maggie's Local Food Reports about people growing, producing and selling local food in the area along with local history features ranging from the Big Fish in Bena to the last official battle between the Federal Government and Native Ojibwe of Leech Lake back in 1898. Every week, and actually every day, KAXE brings people from all walks of life and backgrounds to the studios to share their stories and information. It's truly local, independent community radio. And, we also bring a lot of these voices and stories to you online as we merge an "old" media like radio with the new media age (follow along on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter for real-time updates). We are on our way to $50,000 by Halloween night to make our budget and listener support is our single largest source of funding, Do It Yourself and call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online!

Moving Right Along: $18,360 from 142 Members

Everything is in double time around the KAXE studios - we're raising the same amount of money for our Do It Yourself fundraiser, but in half the time. We are off to an outstanding start and we need to keep this momentum going. We need everyone to pledge their support to KAXE - an independent rural community radio station that has been on the air since 1976. How on earth is all this good radio possible? It's people like you, listening, supporting and volunteering at KAXE. Thanks for your pledge! We don't ask for more than you can afford, every little bit adds up! Call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online! Click here to see do-it-yourself projects at KAXE...

$8,921 from 71 Members and Counting!!!

Karen Oothoudt is helping us raise money this morning, and from rendering their own lard to installing cast-iron radiators - KAXE listeners have been doing it themselves and pledging their support for independent local radio!!! We're raising the same amount of money as last year, but we're going to do it in half the time with your help during the Do It Yourself fundraiser! Look at your budget and see what you can afford to contribute over the next year (whether it's $1 a day or $5 a month) and call 218-326-1234 or 800-662-5799, or Pledge Online! Click here to check out pix of Bauer rendering the fat...

Don't Try This At Home

We're gearing up for the Do-It-Yourself KAXE Fall Fundraiser* and today we asked people to call in with their "don't try this at home" stories.

KAXE member John Longnecker from Ideal Corners called in to tell us about his shed. "Like lincoln logs" he said. "I'll never do something like that again! The only thing that is new is the shingles. I cheated on the shingles."

It's a beauty though, don't you agree? While John will not build this structure again himself, he has agreed to "consult" with you on your lincoln log shed. (for a fee!)

John is like so many people that live in northern Minnesota, when he needs something done, he does it himself. Even when it comes to media John doesn't wait around for someone else to get things done. He's a proud member from Ideal Corners, Minnesota. Do you listen to KAXE? It's time for YOU to do it yourself. Be a member of KAXE! Like John, you'll be glad you did it yourself.

*We'll be on-air fundraising for the Do-It-Yourself Fall Fundraiser from October 25-31st. We're raising the same amount of money, in half the time. You can pledge ANYTIME online! Thanks so much!