Volunteers

Mark Abrahamson

Contributions to WTIP: Host of North Shore Morning Monday, Tuesday and Friday; North Shore Weekend on Saturday; Tuesday Classics and Sounds of the Spirit

Vicki Biggs-Anderson

Contributions to WTIP: I'm the creator and voice behind Magnetic North – a feature that airs on North Shore Morning and North Shore Weekend, and is also archived on our website.

Why I vounteer: The thing I like most about WTIP is it's trustworthy. The desire to keep the community informed and pulling together comes through loud and clear. And it's fun. Truly amazing.

Fun Fact: I love to clean my barn and chicken coop, but despise housecleaning. People assume that because I'm a writer, I'm only happy when writing and that words drop effortlessly like gumballs from my mind to my computer keyboard. In truth, I'll go to just about any lengths to avoid writing. Not quite as much as to avoid vacuuming, but close. In fact, I often vacuum just to put off sitting down and starting to write.

Tracy Benson

Contributions to WTIP: Hosting and co-hosting North Shore Morning ; Monday & Saturday Night Mix; Musical Chairs

Why I vounteer: I believe WTIP is another fine example of why Cook County is like no other.

Fun Fact: I would rather be teaching skiing!

Jane Alexander

Contributions to WTIP: North Shore Morning co-host

Why I vounteer: I focus all my volunteering energy on organizations that bring joy to people’s lives. WTIP brings joy and information about where to find joy on the North Shore.

Fun Fact: My parents named me Jane because I grew up with older relatives named after fruits and flowers and my mother wanted her kids to have names that were timeless, not trendy. I still haven’t forgiven her. I wanted to be Kimberly. You can call me Kimberly.

Bill Burkhardt

Contributions to WTIP: Host of Swing Session and special national holiday programming; voice for sports and fund drive promos; business planning.

Why I vounteer: To ensure that Radio, the most personal of mass media, is available to touch the lives of Cook County residents and visitors when most needed.

Fun Fact: If I discover their birth date, I've been known to call people up on the telephone and sing "Happy Birthday" to them!

Joan Burkhardt

Contributions to WTIP: Producer of Swing Session (hosted by Bill Burkhardt), special national holiday programming, and promos; fund drive theme ideation.

Why I vounteer: To ensure that these programs meet listener expectations.

Fun Fact: Bill thinks he has all the good ideas, but you and I know better!

Tom Christiansen

Contributions to WTIP: Host Wednesday Night Jazz and contributing member.

Why I vounteer: Because we like you! Volunteering at WTIP is a great way to participate in the Community, that's Community with a capital C.

Fun Fact: My index fingers are crooked.

Sally A. Dunn

Contributions to WTIP: I usually co-host North Shore Morning, but have also helped a couple of times at Radio Waves and once during a membership drive answering the phone.

Why I vounteer: I was looking for volunteer work that was very different from what I did as a career (nursing), so it sounded interesting.

Fun Fact: I worked as a cheerleader coach when I was working at a Department of Defense school overseas in Tainan, Taiwan as a school nurse. That was in the 1970's ~ so long ago.

Jean Grover

Contributions to WTIP: I have volunteered at Radio Waves a few times since 2014, and after moving up here full-time in 2018 have started serving as a co-host of the North Shore Morning program.

Why I vounteer: WTIP plays a key part in maintaining the strong community that is so remarkable here in Cook County! It is a pleasure to serve with WTIP as they strive to inform and connect the members of this amazing community.

Fun Fact: I was an avid female athlete in the late 60’s & early 70’s - before it was considered cool for women to be athletic. Back then, hang-gliding was the most daring sport I tried!

Bill Hansen

Contributions to WTIP: Community Advisory Board, underwriter, on-air talent/pitch person for pledge drives, West End News community voice.

Why I vounteer: Because WTIP makes a significant contribution to our region’s quality of life. It’s a miracle!

Fun Fact: I was an on-air volunteer at KUMD in Duluth, off and on, for more than 25 years.

Barb Heideman

Contributions to WTIP: Host North Shore Morning, North Shore Digest and engineer Northern Gardening

Why I vounteer: I’m proud of, and love being part of, this vital home-grown institution. By delivering the news and showcasing the talent of our staff and neighbors, I help keep listeners informed and curious about our North Shore community.

Fun Fact: I’ve always aspired to be a backup singer in Lyle Lovett’s Large Band so I could perform some cool moves. Too bad I can’t sing…

Tyler J. Howell

Contributions to WTIP: Host various programs including Swing Session, Monday Night Mix, Wednesday Night Jazz, Thirsty Boots, Roadhouse, Boomer Jam, Saturday Night Mix and Women In Music. I also help out with remote broadcasts, remote set up, pledge drives and the Radio Waves Music Festival.

Why I vounteer: I really enjoy the people I've met at WTIP. Many I can call friends. I am passionate about the music I play on the air and love to share what I've found.

Fun Fact: I love to sail, instruct adults and work with my hands.

Marcia Hyatt

Contributions to WTIP: I'm the creator of and voice behind the weekly feature Best of Ourselves (airs Saturdays on North Shore Weekend), as well as other special programming. I also answer phones during pledge drives.

Why I vounteer: Because WTIP is a valuable community resource.

Fun Fact: I was on my college football team for one season.

Peter Igoe

Contributions to WTIP: I was involved with the idea of WTIP, long before the station existed, as the first chairperson of the group that began the process of bringing community radio to the North Shore in January of 1992. Many meetings around the kitchen table later, many applications to the IRS and FCC later, WTIP has taken root and has far exceeded my expectations. I host Old Time Radio Hour on Tuesday evening.

Fun Fact: When not hosting Old Time Radio Hour, or working two jobs, I enjoy high school hockey, being in the woods and listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts on Saturday afternoons.

Kent Jones

Contributions to WTIP: Host North Shore Digest on Tuesdays with Nick Vavrichek (we are quite well-known for our 'fifth-grader' jokes), and occassionally host Small Change.

Why I vounteer: We couldn't live here without WTIP. If it wasn't here, we'd have to start it!

Fun Fact: I am 'retired' from a career as an Interpretive Naturalist, and since then have built my own house, live off the grid, maintain a large vegetable garden, and enjoy kayak and canoe camping.

Jerry Lilja

Contributions to WTIP: Host of Tuesday Classics once a month, and membership drive co-host and contributor.

Why I vounteer: WTIP is about our community, it's quality radio and it's just a great place with great people to be around.

Fun Fact: Playing the music I love on the radio is "out of the box" fun for me.

Roger Linehan

Contributions to WTIP: I was the WTIP Program Director from late 2007 to early 2013. During that time we went to 24-hour-a-day WTIP programmed broadcasts. Since then, I host one or two music shows per month, usually for Boomer Jam and Thirsty Boots.

Why I vounteer: WTIP is a good way to draw the community together for entertainment, news, emergency info, community and cultural events, and more. It's important.

Fun Fact: My first career, decades ago was as a journalist.

Susan Maijala

Contributions to WTIP: I don't remember exactly what year I started volunteering. Probably around 1994 when I began attending planning meetings, bake sales, dance-a-thons and eventually on-air broadcasting in 1998. I served on the Board of Directors from 1996-2002, Programming Committee from 1998-2002, and have been an on-air host since 1998. I currently host Thirsty Boots, Small Change, Polka Time, Classic Country, the occasional North Shore Morning and Digest, and volunteer at the Radio Waves Music Festival.

Why I vounteer: Volunteering at WTIP enables me to help provide a service to the community and allows me to share music and entertainment with listeners world wide.

Fun Fact: I traveled the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Khabarovsk, 5,700 miles!

Marnie McMillan

Contributions to WTIP: Co-host North Shore Morning on Thursdays with Veronica Weadock and Mondays with Ann Possis.

Why I vounteer: Volunteering at WTIP is a great way for me to give back to this deserving community. I appreciate the dedicated and skilled staff, the generous spirit of the volunteers and our loyal listeners who make it all possible!

Fun Fact: I cherish this time in my life with my husband Ken as we enjoy the gift of six amazing granddaughters, from coast to coast and infant to college age!

Norman Moe

Contributions to WTIP: I volunteer as an on-air sports announcer for both football and basketball games of the local high school teams – Go Vikings!

Why I vounteer: I enjoy being a part of the great team at WTIP that contributes in multiple ways to the community.

Fun Fact: Being the serious guy that I am, I find it difficult to come up with a fun fact about myself. However, I am sure there are many people who have lots of ideas concerning facts about me that they might view as fun or even hysterical. At least that is my hope.

John Morrin

Contributions to WTIP: I contribute by co-hosting First Nations Time with Lil Fisher, and I tell people about WTIP wherever I go! I keep very busy as vice-chair of the Grand Portage Tribal Council.

Why I vounteer: I volunteered when asked to co-host with Lil Fisher after the originator of the show, and first host, Billie Foster, retired and moved out of the area. I had enjoyed listening to the diverse programming for years before that time. Now I really enjoy sharing Native music with the broader audience.

Fun Fact: I totally enjoy selecting and mixing the many Native CDs that we have to produce the show (and of course listening to the music for the hour).

Brian Neil

Contributions to WTIP: I small-c cohost on North Shore Morning, as well as small-c cohost on The Roadhouse. And if someone calls during a pledge drive they just might hear my voice answering.

Why I vounteer: I volunteer with WTIP as my part of helping to build community.

Fun Fact: When I'm not volunteering at WTIP you'll likely find me out searching for a tree to hug. Have YOU hugged a tree today?

Greg Nichols

Contributions to WTIP: Tuesday Classics host

Why I vounteer: I love the privilege of producing and broadcasting a music program, fulfilling a personal ambition. Volunteering for WTIP connects me to a community that is healthy, supportive and a good experience.

Fun Fact: I produce maple syrup for a living.

Phil "Dr. Oz E" Oswald

Contributions to WTIP: A member first, DJ second.

Why I vounteer: A great chance to be a member of the North Shore community.

Fun Fact: My first radio gig was at KMSC 650 AM at Moorhead State College in September, 1971.

Joni Peterson

Contributions to WTIP: Program host of Thirsty Boots, Women in Music, Saturday Night Mix, Monday Night Mix, Polka Time and Classic Country. I also have volunteered to help during pledge drives and for the Radio Waves Music Festival.

Why I vounteer: It's a chance to share the music I love, a chance to contribute to the community and an avenue for getting to know people.

Fun Fact: Hmmm...I like to swim in Lake Superior and dive for good rocks!

Annie Possis

Contributions to WTIP: Small Change host, music fill-in host, proofreader for website and anything else WTIP needs, former board member.

Why I vounteer: because it's one of the best things going for Cook County, bringing the community together, providing information and entertainment, and drawing in visitors and friends.

Fun Fact: I'm torn between wanting to be a willow tree or a rock and roll drummer in my next life.

Mike Raymond

Contributions to WTIP: I was part of the original Board of Directors, and the 2nd Board Chair after Peter Igoe. I helped get us on the air after many years of fundraising, planning, and working through the FCC requirements and engineering logistics. And, I acted as the first station manager as we launched the station in 1998, and worked through the growing pains of building a young volunteer organization. Enjoyed working with Bill Burkhardt to grow our involvement with the state AMPERS organization in the early years. I created and hosted the weekly Jazz Show for many years, and continue to fill in on occasion.

Why I vounteer: The original vision has carried forward and the station shines as the voice of the community, so I feel a strong connection and desire to help out as an ongoing volunteer.

Fun Fact: I’m a music junky and love jazz and alternative music styles, even though I don’t play an instrument, which people always ask me. This was a primary influence on my original efforts to build the station...good music. It was fun to build the jazz library from the ground up, which I think is fairly comprehensive.

Michael Reeves

Contributions to WTIP: Host a number of music programs: Boomer Jam, Women in Music, and Monday Night Mix. Co-host for membership drives; Minnesota State Fair co-host; Board member.

Why I vounteer: I was impressed with the community of people associated with WTIP, both staff and volunteers. The station presents unique opportunities for volunteers to share their interests and passion and, for me, that was music.

Fun Fact: I was a drummer and played in a rhythm and blues soul review in St. Louis in the '60s and '70s.

Lin Salisbury

Contributions to WTIP: I'm the producer and host of Superior Reads and Superior Reviews.

Why I vounteer: I love books and want to support authors and our community by bringing them together.

Fun Fact: Years ago, I was jailed in Budapest through no fault of my own … ;)

John Silliman

Contributions to WTIP: I host the Classic Country, Polka Time, Thirsty Boots, Women in Music, and Monday Night Mix shows.

Why I vounteer: I enjoy being part of something that brings this community together in a way that nothing else can.

Fun Fact: I play eleven different types of musical instruments.

Carl Solander

Contributions to WTIP: I host a number of music programs about once a month, including Blues with Carl on Saturday afternoons, and Women In Music, Polka Time and Classic Country on Sundays.

Why I vounteer: Variety is the spice of life!

Fun Fact: A favorite pastime of mine is traveling (to music festivals in the summertime), and also gardening. A favorite quote: "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep." -- Robert Frost.

Rainbow Trout

Contributions to WTIP: Host of Polka Time and Classic Country…and on occasion Thirsty Boots and Monday Night Mix. I also help ‘behind the scenes’ with remote broadcasts, parades and many other events.

Why I vounteer: The listener-members are WTIP. The volunteers and staff just operate the station for them.

Nick Vavrichek

Contributions to WTIP: I host North Shore Digest on Tuesdays with Kent Jones, and co-host Small Change on occasion.

Why I vounteer: Because WTIP is one of the best things that has ever happened on the North Shore.

Fun Fact: I use a 1,000 gallon Baptismal tank as a ‘rain barrel’ for watering my gardens.