CIDI
a re-print from “The Record”
As Alice fell down the hole into Wonderland, she had no idea what adventures awaited her. Neither did any of us know what to expect as we plunged into the CIDI radio project. “I’m late” said the rabbit, and so were we often late with paying the rent or filling out applications. The Cheshire Cat kept grinning, appearing and disappearing at will. So did some of our volunteers. “Eat me, drink me” and as a result grow bigger or smaller: we’ve had those decisions to make many a time.
At the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, the guests just enjoyed themselves, made a mess of things and moved on to a new seat. We’ve seen that happen. The Queen of Hearts wanted to do away with everyone. Yes, certain people have said bye-bye to CIDI.
How did Alice survive, how can we?
a re-print from “The Record”
The time has come to stand up for what we believe in and start “movin’ on up to the eastside” of 305 Knowlton Road, in the Town of Brome Lake. To be more specific, where Valentine’s Restaurant used to be, right across from the post office. CIDI has been suffering from a lack of visibility and desperately needs attention.
Part of “being who we are” is to be noticed, and it doesn’t really happen when Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is hidden away in a basement. After all, we have to practice what we preach. As everyone knows by now, RCM`s mission statement is “Being Who We Are”, and it doesn’t bode well for us if we are hiding out in the shadows.
How about having a sign in front of our building, for a change, directing people’s attention to where we are located? It seems like a simple enough concept. So, what do we do with the newly acquired space?
a re-print from “The Record”
We’ve had a booth at Brome Fair for three years now. To our left are the animal barns, directly in front of our booth is the animal judging area and to the right, we have the police, both the SQ and the RCMP, as well as the border patrol, the firefighters and just across from that is the ambulance. This got me to thinking just how many people do not work from nine to five, Monday to Friday.
All of the farmers must take care of their animals and their crops, and they are reliant upon the weather when it comes to sugaring or haying, planting or harvesting. Most of the firefighters in our rural area are volunteers who make themselves available day or night when summoned.
How about all of the hospital workers? Nurses, doctors, orderlies, lab techs and others? Or the people who work in residences for the elderly or disabled?
a re-print from “The Record”
Radio can be like a trampoline. A springboard of sorts. Launching the feelings, sentiments and interests of a community into the slipstream of magnetic airwaves and electrons, showing up on people’s Ipods, radios and computers. The better the capturing capabilities of CIDI, the more interesting Radio Communautaire Missisquoi becomes to its listeners.
By “capturing devices” I mean good microphones, a piano, and a live broadcasting facility. CIDI’s studio area is such a place, or at least will be by the end of the month. Now that we have removed a couple of walls and are having a stage built at one end of our newly designated venue, which will be able to seat close to 100 people, the mind-gears of CIDI volunteers have been churning coming up with possible artists to present to two audiences; on air, and in house.
a re-print from “The Record”
Ignorance is a starting point for all of us seeking awareness and happiness. And, even though we think we’re smart, a set of training wheels, so to speak, still come in handy when navigating life’s twists and turns.
Does knowledge guarantee success? Conventional wisdom tells us, that if we want to succeed in life we must be educated, or at least, if we don’t have an education (or life that is), have the smarts to seek out the experts. For example, it would be wise to consult an expert if you know what it is you want to do in life, but have no idea how to go about doing it. So, who are the experts?
It can be argued that we are. That every one of us has the ability to attain success through a belief in oneself. Self confidence. There’s no need in having to go to hell in a hand basket. “Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, ‘I am of no value’, is wrong. Absolutely wrong.” says the Dalai Lama. “You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought- so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.”
The “dude with a ‘tude” takes us on a Magical Mystery Tour of the sixties and the seventies with the odd off-the-cuff piece from recent times. The show refreshes our memories and reflects on what Chapman seems to think are the most important musical sounds of our lives; Californian flower power, psychedelic music, the blues, Woodstock and many forgotten songs. Chapman’s two-hour show is on every Sunday and Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.
To listen to my latest show, select it under the “(DC)On The Record” section (on your right) or if you want to subscribe to my podcast click the following link:
And, if you have any comments or wish to contact me by email, please use the form hereunder (You can also leave comments under each individual episode). I’ll be pleased to reply to your posts and answer any questions that you might have.
Julie and Company, a half-hour interview show discussing the benefits of living in the Town of Brome lake features bilingual host Julie Taylor, a McGill graduate with a degree in political science. She has two boys, 7 and 11 years of age, and wants to see them grow up strong and healthy, physically and emotionally.
To listen to my latest show, select it under the “(JT)Julie and Co.” section (on your right) or
And, if you have any comments or wish to contact me by email, please use the form hereunder (You can also leave comments under each individual episode). I’ll be pleased to reply to your posts and answer any questions that you might have.
Welcome to all! My name is Jim Ferrier. I live in West Bolton and have been a nature enthusiast since my childhood summers in Knowlton. A past volunteer and board member for the Ruiter Valley Land Trust and participant in many conservation initiatives, I am also a graduate of Vermont’s Keeping Track program, which trains “citizen scientists” to recognize, interpret and record animal tracks and other signs of presence in order to provide data to local communities on wildlife use of the land.
To listen to my latest show, select it under the “(JF)Down To Earth” section (on your right)
And, if you have any comments or wish to contact me by email, please use the form hereunder (You can also leave comments under each individual episode). I’ll be pleased to reply to your posts and answer any questions that you might have.
