Public radio station KMST will launch its first ever online membership drive Feb. 18-24 on its website, kmst.org. The station’s Spring Membership Drive, broadcast live on KMST, will be held Feb. 25 through March 4.

Station Manager Wayne Bledsoe says the new web-based portion of the drive will be a big lift going into the live broadcast of this year’s drive. “With a Spring Membership Drive goal of $70,000, the cyber drive will provide a jump start for the broadcast portion of our drive by encouraging members to invest early and providing new opportunities for those pledging,” he says.

All visitors, including new and renewing members, visiting kmst.org during the cyber drive will have the opportunity to register for a Bose Wave Radio. They will also receive a code that will allow them to listen to regular KMST live-stream programming, bypassing the on-air portion of the Spring Membership Drive’s announcements, interviews and pledge cases.

Depending on membership level, those pledging during Cyber Week will also be entered into one or more of the on-air Spring Membership Drive drawings. Prizes include an Amazon Kindle ($25 level and up), a Vessell’s Fitness Complex membership ($120 level and up) and an Asus Transformer tablet ($500 level and up). Those pledging at the $60 level and up are eligible for a CD gift (classical, bluegrass or “Sounds Eclectic”) and those pledging at the $120 level or more are eligible for a KMST golf umbrella and a “Day Sponsorship.”

Money raised will go toward the general operating costs of the station and will help KMST continue to offer local and NPR programming, including nationally acclaimed, award-winning “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Marketplace” and “The Diane Rehm Show.” In addition to these flagship programs, KMST offers a variety of formats that include local and national news, talk, classical, jazz, acoustic folk, blues, big band, bluegrass, African, Caribbean, Celtic and more.

The on-air portion of the KMST Spring Membership Drive will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, with Bledsoe’s popular program, “Bluegrass for a Saturday Night.” Special guests from around the area will be featured during the drive.

KMST’s programs, music, hosts and behind the scenes operation would not be possible without the financial support of its members. “With the continued decrease in federal funding, it’s my hope that listeners consider a membership upgrade this year,” says Bledsoe. “Pledging at the next level or just pledging a few dollars more will keep this wonderful public radio resource alive and growing.”

Many levels of membership are available. Listeners can join KMST for less than $3 per month and enjoy public radio programming along with the benefits of the KMST membership card. The membership card offers various discounts from businesses throughout the area.

Members and listeners may pledge online or call during the on-air membership drive at 573-341-4386 in the Rolla area, or toll-free at 888-776-5678.

In its 39th year of service, KMST is a 100,000-watt non-commercial public radio station licensed to the Curators of the University of Missouri System, with listeners from 47 states and 41 countries through its website. KMST is located at 88.5 FM in the Rolla area and 96.3 FM in Lebanon and online at kmst.org.