Overwhelming response to Queens County Radio

“I really didn’t know what to expect as I had never done this before and that is asking for volunteers,” Walling said.

Walling is planning to set up a not-for-profit radio station to serve, at the beginning, Liverpool, Brooklyn, Milton and parts of Queens County. He will apply and is confident he will receive ‘two-or-three’ 28-days Special Events licenses that centre on such festivities as the Privateers Days and the Queens County Sea Fest events.

Following that, if the reaction is positive he will form a not-for-profit company called the Queens County Radio Society and will apply for a full time permanent license.

But he mentioned he needed volunteers and they have stepped forwarded.

“I’ve received calls and emails and ran into people in the streets who want to be part of this. All told it must be close to 25-30 people who have let their intentions be known. There hasn’t been a day since the (Queens County Advance and Queens County Times) articles came out in early February that I haven’t got a call or email and that is terrific,” says Walling who moved out of Halifax, where he has been for the past 20 years and into Queens County last fall.

He moved here with the express purpose of starting this project.

“I’ve heard from some people who actually have broadcasting experience. One of those is Malcolm Charlton who has been in the business in Montreal for decades and is very interested in helping out.”

What has impressed Walling are the different possibilities for volunteers. “I’ve had people who are interested in answering telephones to others who are interested in going on air and doing shows to some people who may have the technical background to maintain the station once it is a reality. I’ve heard from a lawyer, graphic designer and so many others. It’s terrific.”

He’s also been invited by the South Queens Chamber of Commerce and Liverpool Lions club to speak about his project and is willing to speak to any group that wants to hear about his radio station idea.

Walling will handle the application for the Special Events licenses and has a very competent broadcast technician to help him get the station on air.

“We will get QCR going but after that, if people want more, it will depend on volunteers. It will be a not-for-profit station. At the beginning there may be a small stipend for a programmer/GM type and commission sales person,” he says.

If the number of people who want to volunteer continues to climb Walling will find a place to hold a general meeting in a few months time.

“A few dedicated broadcasters will get the station on air; it is after that where the volunteers become indispensable. And we are looking for anyone who wants to help be it a few hours a week to daily or anything in between.”

As for training staff for on-air work, the media veteran will be actively involved in that facet. Walling trained broadcasters for over 20 years as he created, ran and then (a few years ago) sold the Atlantic Media Institute which produced hundreds of people, including several from Queens County, for a media career.

“The most interesting thing so far is to explain to those who have records and want to do shows is that we will not have any records. That the music, and there will be thousands of choices in a wide format from Elvis to Elton, and Johnny (Cash and Horton) to Johnny Mathis, will be on mp3 files on the computer. We will teach people who to use our music program system, which is really simple,” he says.

But if people wish to donate records he will take them and convert the discs to mp3 digital files.

For more interest on the station, Walling can be reached at 947-2066 or via email at ajw@eastlink.ca