Welcome to my new-ish resurrected blog. I did this many years ago, but like everything else when schedules get busy, it went by the wayside.
One of my goals for 2025 is to bring this blog back as a way to communicate to you – our valued listeners and members. So, grab a cup of coffee and hang with me a bit, as I take time to share Jazz90.1 happenings and other tidbits that I hope that you find interesting.
January 2025
Happy New Year to one and all. When the clock struck midnight on December 31, I couldn’t help but look forward to the new year, while also reflecting on 2024.
Last year, Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM celebrated a milestone that quite frankly – I wasn’t sure we’d would reach.
We celebrated 50 years on the air.
Through the blood, sweat and tears of countless community volunteers and staff members, and through the amazing financial support of our members, we made it.
We have spent the last year not only celebrating our golden anniversary, but also looking back at how far we’ve come.
We’re also keeping an eye on the future, as we head into our next half-century.
I would invite you to check out our special 50th anniversary page. There, we have so much about WGMC’s rich history, including photos, podcasts, news articles and so much more.
Personal Reflection
In November 2024, I reached a personal milestone myself.
I celebrated 20 years with Jazz90.1 as its Station Manager and Host.
20 years ago, I was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college graduate, having just completed my Master’s Degree in education. At the time, I was working for Rochester’s iHeartRadio group – primarily with 1180 WHAM, but also in the news and promotions department for all seven of their radio stations.
At that time, I was hoping to land a nice cushy teaching gig somewhere. I’d hit my 30 years in the system, have summers off, then retire to Florida.
The American Dream – right? (insert laughing emoji here)
Then, a buddy of mine that I worked with at iHeartRadio came walking into the office one day and said, “hey Rob. Check out this job posting!”
The posting was for a “Radio Station Assistant Manager,” but it didn’t specify where. So, as any bright-eyed and bushy-tailed college grad would do, I went right home and applied for the job.
Then, I was contacted and asked to apply for this other posting too – a position as a Radio Station General Manager. But – I had no idea where!
After two interviews (one of which was with a panel including the late Jack Mindy, retired DJ Al Meilutis and volunteer DJ Chuck Ingersoll,) I was hired.
(Ask Chuck about the interviewee that insisted on hugging Jack Mindy after the interview. Jack wasn’t a touchy kinda guy – so, that was interesting….)
At that time, I remembered asking myself, “how hard could this be?”
I had NO idea what I had signed up for.
Some 20 years later (and a lot of wrinkles and gray hair,) I am no worse for the wear, and it has truly been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
During my tenure with Jazz90.1, I have lost both of my parents, I have become a father, I have buried friends and colleagues, and I have continued my work as an educator – now a Professor at St. John Fisher University.
My late father – who was an early supporter and fan of Jazz90.1 – always taught me to never take anything for granted, and that if you want something – you have to work your tail off for it.
He was right. Advice that I follow to this day.
When I arrived to WGMC-FM in 2004, I was tasked with moving the station from its home at Apollo Middle School down the road to our new state of the art (and leaky) studios at Olympia. From there, we went to work with our new increased power and our new studios to grow the station.
More importantly, we went to work to raise needed funds to pay off an over $100k deficit, and of course, support ourselves moving forward.
School district leaders, community members and the press didn’t know how we’d do it. Many doubted that we could pay off that kind of debt.
We couldn’t even afford the budget we had at the time, let alone a gigantic deficit.
But – it was “challenge accepted,” and we went to work. Hard!
There is NO way that we would have come this far without the hard work of our amazing staff and volunteers – past and present. Hundreds have passed through our doors over the years, and each has left an important mark.
We’ve done just about everything to raise money.
We’ve hosted pancake breakfasts (to this day, making a waffle gives me flashbacks…,) wine tasting events, concerts and even craft shows. We’ve done it all in the name of supporting this place. What a ride!
We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of the amazing people who have been involved with the station.
We also wouldn’t have made it here without my good friends and colleagues – Derrick Lucas and Lynda Wildman, and my late friend Jack Mindy – whom I really looked up to.
These folks have supported my vision for the station, and all of the programs and services that we offer.
I could not do it without them.
So, here’s to another 20 (ish) years for me here at Jazz90.1. It has been an honor and a privilege serving our community for the last two decades.
As long as you keep supporting us, we will continue doing everything that we can for you.
They say that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. I am a living example of this philosophy
Thanks for reading.
-Rob