Public radio KMST’s fall membership drive is now underway. The live portion of drive will start on Saturday, Oct. 1.

KMST staff has planned early prize drawings to help encourage new and returning members to give early in the drive.

“We have planned several nice drawings into the early portion of our fall membership drive, with everything from fine dining and theater certificates to electronic entertainment equipment,” says KMST Station Manager John Francis. “The earlier people pledge on line, the more drawings they’re included in.”

The drive began Saturday, Sept. 10, with fundraising during regular programming breaks only. The intensity of the fundraising efforts will increase each week through Friday, Sept. 30, with a live finish to the drive starting on Saturday, Oct. 1. The drive will officially conclude on Sunday Oct. 9, or when the station’s goal of $72,000 is reached.

Joel Goodridge, KMST marketing manager, says it’s important to enter early.

“When members or listeners completes the membership form on the KMST website (kmst.org) they will be entered in all gift drawings going forward from that point, so it’s advantageous to enter early,” said Goodridge.

Drawings will take place each week:

— Sept. 16 — $50 gift certificate to Sybill’s St. James and a $50 gift certificate to Leach Theatre

— Sept. 23 — $128 adult value pass to the Centre – Rolla’s Health & Recreation Complex

— Sept. 30- Kindle Fire, sponsored by Avalon Photography Studio of Rolla.

Those entering online by midnight Thursday each week will be included in all drawings from that date forward.

Starting Oct. 1, the majority of drawings will be based on levels of fundraising the station has achieved. At the $40,000 level – KMST will give away a $200 gift certificate to Kabekona Hills Retreat Center. At the $50,000 level, KMST will give away a Bose Wave Radio. At the $60,000 level, the station will give away an Apple iPad Mini (sponsored by the S&T Store). And when the $72,000 goal is met, the station will give away an Apple iPad.

KMST will also designate a special day during the live portion of drive to hold a drawing for an original oil painting titled “Blue Bird of Happiness,” donated by local artist Lorraine McFarland. Entry into KMST drawings requires no purchase.

KMST is offering new and renewing members a choice of premiums at the $70 level and above, including a classical music CD selection titled “A Harvest Home” by Cantus, a Harmonic Vibrations CD selection titled “The David Grisman Sextet” by David Grisman, a bluegrass CD titled “Bridging the Tradition by the Lonesome River Band, KMST ceramic travel coffee mug, Chico Bag and KMST T-shirt.

As part of KMST’s community outreach, the station is partnering with Phelps County Bank to raise money for the Tri-County Humane Society in St. James, Mo., as well as to the fundraising campaign to build a new animal shelter in Rolla.

The money raised from the drive will help KMST continue to offer high-quality programming, including nationally acclaimed, award-winning “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Marketplace,” “The Diane Rehm Show,” and one of its newest additions, “Here and Now.”

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, Celtic and more.

To make a pledge to KMST, visit kmst.org or call during the on-air membership drive at 573-341-4949 in the Rolla area, or toll-free at 888-776-5678.

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.