I'd Like to Ask a Favor

I feel I should ask a favor.



This morning from 11 am to noon, Pacific time, on my KALW-FM (NPR-San Francisco) radio program, Work with Marty Nemko, on which I try to help people with their worklife,  I'll asking listeners to donate money to the radio station.



I get none of the money but the amount I collect during my hour is used as an indicator of how many people listen to my show, the strength of their support for the show and, in turn, whether my show should stay on the air.



As in most public radio pledge drives, I offer thank-you gifts for donating during my hour:


If you donate $75, you get an autographed copy of my book, How to Do Life: What they didn't teach you in school.   


For $150 or $250 for a couple, you get to come to the studio on June 30 to watch the show and then have brunch with my wife and frequent co-conspirator on the show, Barbara Nemko, as well as with fellow donors. We've done these brunches before and they are a networking opportunity, a chance to offer input on my show, and oh yes, people find it quite fun. A number of people have come more than once. It's limited to just a dozen people.

It is a bit ironic for me to ask you to donate to KALW. After all, most of the shows on the station are hard leftist while I'm a moderate, and I wouldn't choose to listen to most of the music played on the station.. But I do care to stay on the air, soooh, there you go. At least I'm asking in a way that I believe is devoid of the hype that too often characterizes money-raising efforts.



Oh and, of course, most of the show today will not be spent asking for money. I'm committed to keeping the requests brief. Most of the hour will be spent with Barbara and I talking about how to get cured of interrupting people---one of my many failings.



It's easy to donate. Any time during the hour, just call 1-800-525-9917 or go to www.kalw.org.  As I said, I get none of the money. It's just a way to help keep my show on the air a



Whether or not you donate, I hope you'll listen this morning from 11 am to noon. You can hear it on 91.7 FM in San Francisco, or anywhere on the world right here on your computer at www.kalw.org from 11 am to noon, Pacific time.