I have heard of your plan to eliminate folk music programming from WFCR. As one who listens to and supports the station, I can say that Valley Folk is one of my favorite shows, with an interesting mix of folk music and valuable information about performances in our area. Losing this program would be very painful. I don't understand why you feel it necessary to squeeze out valuable programs like these when you might make room for new shows in other ways, for example by reducing the large number of hours devoted to classical music through a rearrangement of programming hours. Though I enjoy the classical music on the station, I would happily sacrifice some hours of that, in order to keep Valley Folk. I also enjoy the Thistle and Shamrock.

In addition, it seems uncharitable to carry out massive changes in programming without consultation with your listeners and supporters. Why was there no questionnaire included with your fund appeal letters, for example, soliciting feedback on proposed changes such as this?

It seems that you are driving your listeners to tune in to WAMC instead of WFCR for folk music, and to alternative radio stations for Democracy Now! which you strenuously opposed. It has caused me to shift my donations, which earlier went as high as $370, to a much lower level.

I don't know if your proposed changes are already a "done deal" but I hope not, and I hope that you will continue, and expand, folk music programming on the station.

Roger Conant