A party on the radio

Would you like to have an open discussion about compost? How about the many cultures that reside in Bay St. George and what it means to belong to one of them?

Over five days in March, various community groups and students of several College of the North Atlantic programs will come together to produce community radio, where people will have a chance to discuss these and many other topics, including everything from agriculture to intergenerational learning.

The Rural Secretariat, Long Range Regional Economic Development Board, Communities in Schools and College of the North Atlantic have come together to plan what they're calling a Sonic Potluck Celebration of community radio.

The idea stems from a similar event held in Stephenville six years ago.

"Together we had decided that there hadn't been an event since 2004 in the area and that it was time to get together and talk about what's going on locally and have a celebration," says Fred Campbell, a journalism instructor at College of the North Atlantic.

Over the course of the celebration there will be discussions about community engagement, a multiculturalism day, environment day, agriculture and economy day and finally an intergenerational day.

"It's like a big kitchen party that you invite everybody you know to," says Mr. Campbell.

"It's very friendly, we're not operating out of a studio, we have a bunch of couches set up in the lobby of [college campus] L.A. Bown and it's for everybody."

Sam Organ of the Rural Secretariat in Stephenville says the event is partly about teaching people.

"People are always looking for a forum, to create forums to talk about issues and topics of the day," he says, adding that community radio has the ability to reach people more than public meetings.

He says the group would like to see government endorse a community radio public policy.

"So that there'd be some kind of support mechanisms in place for it, rather than the Fred's of the world having to apply for licenses through CRTC and whatnot," he says.

The group hopes to get people from all around the bay involved in the week, from March 22-26.

Look for more information about the community radio sonic potluck celebration in upcoming Georgians.