Orchard Radio
Orchard Radio first sent its signal on the Internet in 2000. The radio broadcasting station started out of a small room in the library, moved to a storage closet, and finally settled in a half glass studio (!) in the cafeteria of Washtenaw Community College. The radio is a student run station that broadcasts on the web for anyone to listen. The shows are as diverse and imaginative as the students in WCC.
My wife Sarit and I were students at WCC and were very excited about the chance to have a show on the radio! and even more excited that it was on the web and anyone in the world (especially in Israel) could listen to our show!
So we created "Promising Music from the Promised Land" with the hosts Honey (Sarit) & Milk (me!). The show was about Israeli music, but we did talk in English. We had various segments (like the "Hebrew Lesson" where we taught a word and provided a song that uses that word, or " Foreign Affairs" where we played Israeli artists singing in languages other than Hebrew, or "Old/New" where we played an old classic and its current remix), dedications, talked about current affairs and just played fun good Israeli music.
The best thing about our show was that we had our family listen in from Israel. It was a great way to keep in touch and dedicate songs to our loved ones we missed...
We had over 50 shows! Some of the highlights include: an interview with Israeli rock group - RockFour, a special about the Holocaust, a broadcast from the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, the 40th show with greetings from all the other Orchard Radio hosts, shows with special guests such as Ziv "Shtrik", Abba Alex, and Tony a.k.a S.K.L.F.L.
Our show won the Golden Microphone Award of Orchard Radio for 2001!
Orchard Radio was so much fun for me that in Winter 2000 I took on the job as student coordinator. I helped recruit new hosts, teach new hosts how to use the equipment, everyday running of the station, planning trips and events for the radio hosts, sent weekly emails to hosts and listeners, created a jingle in 10 (!) different languages, helped with the semesterial Orchard Radio Award Dinner and more.
In 2002 after a break of a semester I became Orchard Radio Assistant Coordinator. The highlight of this position was representing Orchard Radio in the Michigan Broadcasters Association Annual Meeting and Leadership Retreat. I also helped with the move to the new studio and with the purchasing of new equipment.
Orchard Radio will always have a sweet place in my heart. It was lots of fun, a great opportunity and a learning experience!