[grc] GRC 2015 - Days of Sunshine

[Ursula Ruedenberg]

Two years ago there seemed to be a questions about whether GRC conferences
were winding down.

In 2014 we brought the conference back, after a hiatus, with some
questions. Were GRC conferences still relevant & necessary & feasible?
Would in-coming LPFM - builders connect with the GRC traditional? Or was
GRC 2014 just a fond revival for old times sake?

The first two questions were answered resoundingly in 2014: YES the LPFMers
showed up and ignited the rest of us with energy and optimism we did not
know was possible. YES, peer - to - peer teaching/learning/ support/fun was
relevant as ever, a real living, breathing, nourishing CULTURE. We all made
it so.

The last question - was there a future and continuity? - had a longer
trajectory. WOuld there be a GRC 2015 or were the lovely embers dying?

Then one Al Davis found all of this fatalism unacceptable. Hearing the call
of the construction permits and he answered by climbing out on at limb the
Matreum of Cybele and asked Donna Dibianco and the Cybeline Priestesses to
join him.

Remarkably, they did, despite the audacity of a conference planned in 2
months by a station that was only two months on the air. This is the kind
of people we are in community radio.

The conference was wrestled into existence; all seemed iffy...possibly a
misstep? Perhaps more symbolic than real...perhaps no one would come except
a few folks who feel really awkward?

And then folks started to arrive and no one missed a beat. Frieda arrived
early, coming from India.  For me, the rubber hit the road when I saw Mike
Murphy all the way from Kansas City loping up the walk and right behind him
- holy moley - Dave Ashton strolls up from Denver and says to me "We can't
have a GRC without KGNU representing, can we?"

I think it can be said about GRC 2015: YES, they came, YES, everyone was
wonderful as they always are, GRC totally totally rocks on, vibrant and
relevant as ever, the irreplaceable value of continuity, tradition, and the
community of extended time for peer-to-peer help and camaraderie.

Community radio willcontinue to face huge challenges for many years in this
world, this country. We need this time together.

Thank you Al Davis and Donna DiBianco for having the guts to go out on the
limb with your vision and trust and for doing the hard work. Thank you to
everyone who came, you totally inspired me again. It felt NECESSARY to see
you.

Thank you to the new LPFM - builders - it is so wonderful to be infused by
your energy and vision and new ideas.

Thank you and hats off to the Matreum of Cybele for their mind-boggling
leap of faith in hosting this conference, proving that willingness and
hospitality, not perfect conditions, are what's needed to host a GRC
conference.

My favorite moments:

Watching the movie "Pirate Radio" at night, and afterwards Randy from WIOF
giving a jaw-dropping impromptu more-than-an-hour-long blow-by-blow account
of what happened with the British (and also New York) off-shore rock n roll
pirate stations. I am hoping the recording of that is good.

After the conference, in the temple in the woods with the priestesses and
then watching the red eclipse of the Harvest Moon.

Every single talk I had - thank you everyone who happened to specifically
talk to me....

The weather was warm, the days were golden, and then two days later it
poured, turned cold, there is talk of a hurricane... apparently God(dess)
loves the GRC too.

Some pics: https://www.flickr.com/photos/32943726@N07/with/21654989658/
-- 
Ursula Ruedenberg
Pacifica Affiliate Network Manager
510-812-7989

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