Public radio station KUMR finished its eight-day spring membership drive Saturday, March 12, surpassing its monetary goal of $65,000 and adding more than 50 new members.

The station reached its goal before the popular public radio show "A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor" ended and before Wayne Bledsoe’s program "Bluegrass for a Saturday Night" began. This only the second time the station has reach its goal before the popular bluegrass program, which airs at 7 p.m. Saturdays, started.

KUMR’s new and renewing members from south-central Missouri as well as Internet listeners from Switzerland, Maine, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida and Alaska were included among this year’s donors.

"These are listeners and members who appreciate the important role they play as partners in public radio, a partnership essential to KUMR’s ability to serve listeners in our region and all over the world with the best public radio possible," says Jim Sigler, KUMR general manager. "Exceeding the drive’s monetary goal indicates KUMR’s base of member support continues to grow. It also celebrates the station’s commitment to diverse programming that reflects the varied tastes of KUMR listeners."

In addition to financial support, KUMR gained valuable information from its members about their programming preferences, suggestions and constructive criticism. "The input is vital to the station’s ongoing effort to fine tune its broadcast schedule to serve the varied tastes of KUMR listeners," Sigler adds.

KUMR relies on strong listener financial support to cover the cost of its programming. Member support and underwriting makes up approximately 40 percent of KUMR’s budget. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the University of Missouri-Rolla are the other two largest supporters of the station.

In addition, KUMR receives support from more than 50 businesses that underwrite programming and dozens of volunteers who answer phones during the drive.

KUMR, in its 32nd year of service, is a 100,000-watt non-commercial public radio station that relies on strong listener financial support to cover the cost of its programming and operations. Licensed to the Curators of the University of Missouri System, KUMR offers a mixed format of news from National Public Radio, nationally and locally produced talk shows, and a wide range of music, including classical, jazz, acoustic folk, blues, big band, Celtic, bluegrass and Caribbean. KUMR is located at 88.5FM (96.3 FM in Lebanon) and streams its programs online at www.kumr.org.