Public radio station KMST exceeded its $70,000 goal during the station’s Fall Membership Drive, which was held Sept. 14-22. KMST received investment pledges of $70,339. Pledges are still being accepted at 573-341-4386 in Rolla, toll-free at 888-776-5678 or online at www.kmst.org.

The online Cyber Week and pre-drive portion of the membership drive generated investment pledges totaling $845. The on-air drive generated $69,494 and 80 new members.

“We’re very thankful to all of our new and renewing members for showing great support of KMST during our fall membership drive,” says KMST Station Manager Wayne Bledsoe. “The resounding success of this drive is proof that public radio has a healthy and bright future in south-central Missouri. And KMST’s membership drive totals will continue to increase in the immediate post-drive days.”

As part of its mission to support other community projects, KMST also raised $3,015 for “Fill a Ford for the Holidays,” a food drive for area food pantries conducted by Denny Ford of Rolla. For each membership pledge KMST received during the drive, Phelps County Bank pledged $15 to the program. KMST’s past joint fundraising drives included partnerships with the Smile Mobile, Wounded Warriors and the Friday Backpack Program.

In addition to financial support, KMST gained valuable information from members about programming preferences and received several business inquiries about underwriting. This information is reviewed and programming decisions are based on the findings. Follow-up calls will be made to prospective underwriters. Marketing Manager Joel Goodridge says it’s important that the station strive to reach its membership goals in order in order to keep pace with the budget needs including programming.

“Our members really stepped up and showed their support of Public Radio KMST at a time when operating cost are trending upward, we are truly appreciative of their support,” says Goodridge.

KMST held five business-sponsored drawings this fall, all based on levels of investment. Jinny Kaemmerer of Cuba, Mo., won the Cyber Week drawing for a Kindle Fire, sponsored by Avalon Photography Studio of Rolla. Russ Buhite of Rolla won an Apple iPad, sponsored by Public House Brewing Co. of Rolla. Ollie Kernick of Rolla won a one-year family membership to The Centre of Rolla. Patti Fleck and Marcus Cloud of Rolla won a Bose Wave Radio, sponsored by Public House Brewing Co. of Rolla. Cheryl B. Schrader, chancellor of Missouri University of Science and Technology and her husband, Jeff, won tickets to a Three Dog Night concert and dinner at Wildwood Springs Lodge in Steelville, Mo.

In its 40th year of service, KMST is a 100,000-watt non-commercial public radio station licensed to the Curators of the University of Missouri System. The station’s funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Missouri S&T, 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.