KCRW’s January Volunteer of the Month

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Meet Jim! He’s been holding down the KCRW Front Desk every Wednesday afternoon for years now and is one of our all-star volunteers. Whether it’s working on a special project, transcription, research, or stuffing envelopes, Jim has been there to help us through it all. He engages well with each and every caller and is an excellent listener and communicator. For his devotion, wide range of skills, and for being a trustworthy and reliable volunteer, we chose him for January’s Volunteer of the Month!

Here’s Jim in his own words…

Where did you grow up and do you have any siblings? Pets?

I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and I have one older brother.  I have one dog.  His name is Ziggy and he’s a mix of dachshund, beagle and pug.

What 5 things would you wish you had if you were stranded on a deserted island?

A water purifier, a machete, and a hammock for survival purposes.  Then a guitar and a piano for my own personal enjoyment.

What is your current occupation / what do you do outside of KCRW?

A little bit of everything.  It pays to be a Jack of All trades here in Southern California, but a bit a of an entrepreneur, business owner, publisher, and composer to name a few.

What is your fantasy occupation?

Rockstar all the way!

When did you first discover KCRW?

I discovered KCRW shortly after moving to Los Angeles. I’ve always been drawn to non-commercial/community radio and KCRW quickly became my favorite!

How did you find your way to our station for volunteering?

volunteered at the community radio station in Tucson for about three years before moving to LA. Along the way I came to love independent/community radio and what it stands for. So when I moved out here I naturally wanted to continue being involved with independent radio.

 

What’s your current volunteer position and how long have you been at it?

I’ve been volunteering at the front desk for about four years now.

Favorite volunteer moment?

My favorite moment has been getting to see some of my work and contributions go live on the KCRW website. Also, it’s always fun to see musicians roaming the hallways after they play MBE!

If you could get on the mic and say one sentence on the air, what would it be?

Good evening to all the wonderful ladies and gentlemen out there in Radioland…I hope you are enjoying the music tonight here on KCRW. (In my deepest possible tone of voice of course).

What song(s) have you hit repeat on lately?

Not sure about songs, but the Anderson .Paak album hasn’t left my rotation since it came out a couple months ago.

Favorite book, movie?

So many great books and movies that it’s hard to choose, but I’ll say On the Road and Goodfellas.

Favorite thing to do outside the station?

I enjoy surfing, playing basketball, yoga, hiking, playing a multitude of instruments, writing and listening to music.

What does KCRW mean to you?

KCRW is quite an eclectic mix and conglomeration of culture, fresh music, social events, food and so much more. I think the most important part however is its place in creating a strong sense of community. So to me it means community, and it serves an important role in helping to connect the people of Los Angeles. It’s easy for us to get lost living in a city as big and diverse as ours, but KCRW aids in bridging the gap between the many people, neighborhoods and freeways of Los Angeles to create a strong sense of community.

To us, you mean family! Thank you, Jim!