KSUT seeking Southern Ute member
The KSUT Board of Directors is seeking a Southern Ute tribal member to serve on the Board of Directors.
As a Southern Ute tribal member Maria C. Baker, the current chair of the KSUT Board of Directors stated about the impact a tribal member can make on the KSUT Board.
“We are insuring the success, visibility and sustainability of the tribal signal, making sure the core reason of the tribal signal is still vital as a functioning part of KSUT tomorrow.”
Do you have knowledge of the community and willing to commit time and energy to KSUT’s mission and strategic directions?
“You must have the right expectations when coming on as a board member, it’s not just a once-a-month meeting, we work in sub-committees, we work hard outside the board,” Baker said.
“But understand, we have a really good board right now,” she added.
As a board member you will serve a three-year term, attend monthly meetings, and perform with decision-making in the best long-term interests of KSUT and the community of listeners, and other responsibilities of serving on the board of directors.
Linda Baker who has served numerous years as a tribal member on the KSUT board said, “Being on the board is a good stepping stone into how a non-profit works, even if you are young, but like music, or have an interest in non-profits, this a great way to be introduced into that process.”
KSUT Radio Inc. has been in existence since June 1976, only one of eight tribal radio stations in the country at that time.
Maria Baker spoke of her earliest memories of listening to KSUT.
“I would go to grandma and grandpa Chris Baker’s house, and they would always have KSUT on the radio, and the scanner,” she said. “They always had powwow music on KSUT.”
Originally, the signal covered Ignacio and part of the Pine River Valley and expanded into a public radio station in 1984, becoming an affiliate of both National Public Radio and American Public radio.
KSUT split into two signals, launching KSUT Tribal Radio in June of 1988. The tribal signal broadcasted Native programming five days a week. The signal incorporated culture, news, Native American and popular music, and broadcasted tribal meetings, and Ignacio High School sports.
Long-time Southern Ute tribal member board member, Eddie Box, Jr. stated of the early signal. “We broke into two signals at one time, we have to remember the importance of both sides, equally. We are now able to keep the tribal signal going.”
Box continued with what he felt was his biggest impact as a board member, “All the advice I had given to the board, and the information I presented – my input, was a positive influence.”
The new KSUT building will adorn Box’s name, to be known as the “Eddie Box Jr. Media Center,” will house both signals of KSUT. For further info of the Capital Campaign KSUT visit the campaign page on KSUT’s website at http://ksut.org/capital-campaign.
Tribal Radio is an affiliate of NativeVoice1, and can be heard in Southwest Colorado at 91.3 FM, and in Northwest New Mexico at 89.7 FM.
Four Corners Public Radio serves 14 communities in the Four Corners including, Durango at 90.1 FM, Cortez 106.3 FM, Farmington and northern New Mexico at 88.1 FM. The station airs news, eclectic music, entertainment, storytelling, and documentary programming, and is an affiliate of NPR, the BBC, American Public Media, and Public Radio International.
The KSUT Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 P.M. in the KSUT Annex Building at 14790 Colo. Highway 172 in Ignacio. Meetings are open to the public, unless prior notice is given to allow members to conduct confidential station business.
If you are a Southern Ute tribal member and are interested in serving on the KSUT Board of Directors, submit a letter of interest to KSUT Executive Director, Tami Graham. Letters can be emailed to tami@ksut.org or mailed to PO Box 737, Ignacio, CO 81137. Seat is open until filled.
