For the first time in recent history, public radio station KMST reached its fall membership drive goal one day earlier than planned. KMST’s goal of $70,000 was reached at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.

The online Cyber Week and mail-in portion of the drive generated investment pledges totaling $7,058 and 10 new members. The on-air portion of the drive generated $72,434 and 86 new members.

“Our staff is overcome by the member support shown during this drive,” says KMST Station Manager Wayne Bledsoe. “Our new and existing members started pledging early in the drive and the pledge phone lines stayed active each day. Thanks to the success of our drive and the loyalty of our listeners nationwide, I see a bright future for public radio KMST.”

KMST also gained valuable information from its members about programming preferences during the drive. This information is reviewed and programming decisions are based on the findings.

According to KMST program director John Francis, it’s vitally important that the station reach its membership drive goals in order to fund the existing programming.

KMST held a drawing during Cyber Week and three separate drawings during the eight-day, on-air portion, which were based on levels of investment. Tom Scheffer won an Apple iPad 3 that was sponsored by the Public House Brewing Co.; Steve Shields won a one-year membership to The Centre, Rolla’s health and recreation complex; Yaxi Liu won an Amazon Kindle Fire that was sponsored by Avalon Photography Studio; and Laura Stoll won a Bose Wave Radio during Cyber Week.

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. KMST’s funding comes from many sources, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Missouri University of Science and Technology, membership investments and underwriting.

KMST offers a mixed format of news from NPR, nationally and locally produced talk shows, and a wide range of music, including classical, jazz, acoustic folk, blues, big band, Celtic, bluegrass and Caribbean. KMST is located at 88.5 FM in and around the Rolla area, 96.3 FM in Lebanon, and is live-streamed online at www.kmst.org. Listeners can also follow the station on Facebook.

Pledges may still be phoned in to 573-341-4386 in the Rolla area, or toll-free at 888-776-5678. Listeners also may pledge online at KMST’s website.