Wednesday, October 23rd:

6:00-8:00pm: Open House and Welcome Party at KSUT Public Radio's Station, 15150 Hwy 172, Ignacio, CO, 81137. Click here for a link to the correct Google map. 
-Enjoy some light refreshments and music by Community Pancake, featuring Clark Adomaitis from KSUT/KDUR in our performance studio while you tour our new facility!
Don't forget to bring your station's swag for the swag swap!

8:00pm-10:00pm: Bring the Thunder!!! Bowling Tournament at the Rolling Thunder Lanes at Sky Ute Casino, 14324 Hwy 172, Ignacio, CO 81137.   
-Put together your best bowling team and join us for a fun filled bowl-o-rama! Costumes are encouraged and applauded. Prizes will be awarded for team spirit, best costumes, best team name, and more!!



Thursday, October 24th:

8:00am-3:00pm: Hotel and Conference check in at Sky Ute Casino and Resort, 14324 Hwy 172, Ignacio, CO 81137.  

8:00am-9:00am:  Breakfast and Opening Blessing by Eddie Box Jr., Southern Ute Tribal Elder and KSUT Board Member.  Eddie will share KSUT's unique history as one of the first Tribally founded stations in North America. This will be followed by a special performance by the Southern Ute Singers

9:00am-10:00am: Plenary Speaker Bruce Auster, NPR Managing Editor-Collaborative Journalism Network, interviewed by Rick Holter of Public Media Co.

10:30am-11:45am: Breakout Sessions:
News: (3x 20 minute sessions) 
         1. How to Collaborate with Digital and Print Media       
        2. Exploring the World of Newsletters          
         3. What Opportunities Does Podcasting Offer?
Explore how to collaborate with digital and print media with Ilana Newman of The Daily Yonder and Grand Junction Sentinel health reporter Jace DiCola; dive into the world of newsletters with Dave Burdick, founding editor of Denverite; and learn more about podcasting with KUNC's Newsroom Executive Producer Brad Turner.
Over the course of these sessions, you will rotate twice to participate in a total of three unique small group discussions.
       

Music and Programming: Running Your Music Department with a Skeleton Crew 
Presented by Douglas DuPont, KDUR Music Director
        

Development:  Membership Engagement
Facilitated by Jonathan Hunt, KSUT Membership Manager
Round-table discussion on successful strategies and best practices for engaging listeners and growing membership in a changing media landscape i.e. CMS platforms, SMS, newsletters, direct mail, surveys, etc.
       

RMCR Strategic Planning: Emergency Preparedness for ND, GMs, and Ops Managers 
Presented by Breeze Richardson, Aspen Public Radio Executive Director; RMCR Board President
This session is for ED/GMs, operation staff, and News Directors; review the results of our 2023 survey of current station efforts towards emergency preparedness throughout the RMCR coalition, and learn about best practices, available resources, and meaningful opportunities for next steps at your station.
       

12:00pm-1:30pm: Lunch, Station Updates: Each station will share notable highlights and updates (five minutes per station)

1:45pm-3:00pm: Breakout Sessions:
News: State House News Collaboration
Presented by KUNC's Sean McKee, Brad Turner, and Michael Arnold
This session will explore the ongoing work of the KUNC State House News Collaborative, which continues to provide essential coverage of the Colorado State Capitol. We'll discuss updates to the service, including expanded access and collaboration with RMCR stations and a potential new partnership with public media stations and The Colorado Sun. Attendees will learn about future plans to enhance political reporting for audiences across the state.

Music and Programming: Music Department Nuts and Bolts Roundtable: Promotional Entities, Software, Finding New Music, and the RMCR Music Department Webpage
Conversation facilitated by Douglas DuPont, KDUR Music Director
     

Development:  Major Donors: How to strategize getting them into your income mix
Presented by Breeze Richardson, Aspen Public Radio and Ashley Krest, KVNF       
What are some of the best (least costly and most efficient) ways to get a steady stream of Major Gifts that is sustainable, year over year? How do you manage your effort into this: ie: staff time/positions, investment as a GM, and tools to keep track of it all, CRMs, Spread Sheets, Good touch point materials and events/one-on-ones? When do you expect to see a ROI? How do you do while also maintaining your "regular giving program" and should you figure sustaining members into the mix by asking for BIG monthlies?
       

3:30pm-4:45pm: Breakout Sessions

News: (2 x 40 minutes)

          1. Rural Climate Reporting Initiative (40 min)
        2. Writing for Radio: Tips and Tricks for Collecting Field Sounds. (40 min)
       
Facilitated by Maeve Conran, RMCR Managing Editor

Music and Programming:

Development: Sound Strategies: Driving Revenue in Public Radio
Presented by Jessica Kirwan, KSUT Underwriting Manager.
In this sales session, you'll learn the essentials of New Business Development and how to leverage Product Knowledge to stand out in a competitive market. We'll explore the power of storytelling in sales, illustrating why crafting compelling narratives is key to connecting with potential clients. You'll also discover how to build strategic partnerships with other media outlets to expand your reach and maximize revenue. Additionally, we'll dive into the importance of connecting with advertising agencies to strengthen relationships and boost your sales opportunities. The course will also provide an understanding of digital media and how to integrate it into your public radio sales strategy.



RMCR Strategic Planning: ED's, ND's and GM's - please attend the Rural Climate Reporting Initiative

6:00 pm:  Happy Hour at 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Avenue, Durango CO 81301, https://11thstreetstation.com/ 

7:30 pm: KDUR's 50th Anniversary celebration with Calexico at the Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall, 1000 Rim Drive, Durango CO 81301
 https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/durangoconcerts/260/event/1376634


Friday, October 25th:

8:00am-9:00am: Breakfast
9:00- 10:00am: Plenary Speaker Rima Dael, CEO for the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, Interviewed by Breeze Richardson, Executive Director for Aspen Public Radio 
"Embracing Adaptive Resilience in Times of Change"
Small, rural, NPR and not-NPR - what are our challenges and opportunities at this nexus? Consider what "Adaptive Resilience" might look like for your station.

10:15am-11:30am: Breakout Sessions:
News: Attend "Empowering Native Communities through Public Media"

Music and Programming: Attend "Empowering Native Communities through Public Media
         
Development: Attend "Empowering Native Communities through Public Media"

RMCR Strategic Planning:
         "Empowering Native Communities Through Public Media"            
Presented by Kyler Edsitty, Program Specialist; Ellery Charley, Operations and Development Manager.
Native Public Media is a pioneering organization dedicated to supporting tribal radio stations across the nation. Through its Emergency Operation Program, Native Public Media equips these stations with vital resources and strategic plans to effectively respond in times of crisis. This unique initiative not only helps ensure that Native voices are heard but also generates essential revenue through the Broadcast Service program, which fosters ongoing support for these crucial media outlets.

12:00pm-1:00pm:  RMCR Board of Directors Meeting

11:30am-12:45pm: Lunch and Breakout Sessions:

News:
         1. Professional Development: Tips and Tricks for Avoiding Burnout

Music and Programming: 
          The Tribal Media Center: A Novel Model
Presented by Colten Ashley, KSUT Tribal Media Center Coordinator.
KSUT's Tribal Media Center represents a variation on many of the programs and practices public media has been innovating in. Come learn about the programs, partnerships, and lessons learned over the past three years, and ways your station can diversity your offerings to better serve Indigenous and other underserved community members.

1:00pm:  Close of Conference. Thank you for attending and please drive safely!

2:00pm-5:00pm:  For those staying in the area Friday evening, optional hike and/or Durango Hot Springs

6:00pm:  Tribal Water Media Fellowship Showcase, Fort Lewis College Student Union Ballroom (free!)
https://www.fourcornerswater.org/flc-students/fellowships/tribal-water-media