As a community radio station,
our service to members is free-to air. Anyone, whether they are a
member or not, can listen to Yarra Valley FM 99.1. Indeed, we welcome
all listeners. That's what it means to be a community radio station.
Our charter from the Federal Government requires us to be financially
self-supporting. So we have to pay our way while giving away our
product! This is in contrast to membership of fitness gymnasiums, film
societies and so on.
So what makes us special, and why should you pay for membership?
We are local. You hear local people presenting the music, which is
often Australian; you hear local news, local community
information, local weather and emergency information. You hear
interviews with local people. When you phone us, you're very likely to
talk directly to the on-air presenter, and can comment on the show,
make a request and so on. When you listen, you won't be bombarded with
commercials. We broadcast only five minutes of sponsorship
messages per hour - and most sponsors offer local products of interest
to you from businesses which are nearby.
If you can afford it, consider becoming a member. Then every time you
listen to us (or even think about us), you can have that warm, fuzzy
feel good feeling - that thanks to you Yarra Valley FM is still broadcasting for the benefit of the whole community.
If you can't afford it, keep listening. We broadcast for everyone, and
we are glad to have you on board. Every now and again, we'd like you to
whisper a quiet thanks to the folk who can afford membership, and have
chosen to become members out of the goodness of their hearts.
Perhaps not just out of the goodness of their hearts. Members recognise
value. After all, how many organisations do you know where you can
access their products at home, in the car, at work, in the garden or
when out walking the dog - any time of the day or night, every day of
the year? And all for a maximum of $33.00 per year?
Becoming a Member
To apply for membership, contact us and ask for a membership form. Fill it in and post it to Yarra Valley
FM, PO Box 991, Woori Yallock 3139, together with a cheque or money
order for your membership. You can also visit our studio, fill in a form on
the spot, and pay us in cash, cheque or money order.
The annual cost of membership is $35 (single), $70 (family), $70
(corporate) and $20 (unwaged, pensioner concession or
health card).
Special Member Benefits
As
a member you get not only our broadcast transmissions, you get a say in
the running of the station. You are entitled to vote for your choice of
candidate for the Committee of Management, and can vote at members'
meetings on policy and other issues. And you are eligible to be a
presenter, after completing presenter training (both at an extra cost).
We don't like the extra cost, but we operate on a shoestring
budget. For example, one thing you won't get from us is a monthly
glossy membership magazine. We just can't afford it. But we will try
and keep in touch with you - by combinations of email and newsletters,
this website, and of course, in our broadcasts.
As well as this, we try to
give you value-added benefits. We organise social events for members.
(We also organise fund-raising events, but that's another story.) Some
sponsors may give member discounts or special offers. Indeed, we are
working on such an offer right now, and hope to have good news for you
soon.
