An informed community is a healthier community: The story of KXRW 99.9 FM

By Toni Woodard

Back in 2012, Vancouver native Susan Galaviz tuned into her favorite radio station only to discover her beloved source for community news and information had abruptly and unceremoniously changed to sports talk. “It was one of the few stations that had local voices on it,” laments Galaviz. “I got ticked off!”

Galaviz transformed that anger into action.

With a skill set that included marketing a local Spanish television station, organizing community-   wide fundraisers for Clark County schools, and observing her dad (Jim DeLong) emcee a weekly live radio show in the 1940s in Vancouver’s long-gone downtown Castle Theater, Galaviz seemed destined to fill the sudden gap of local voices over the airwaves.

In less than five years, Galaviz figured out how to birth a local radio station. Sound and broadcasting equipment, antennas and towers, topography studies, FCC filings, programming, engineers and producers and hosts, and funding. The creation of Vancouver-based KXRW 99.9FM quickly became a passion project for Galaviz. She gratefully received guidance and encouragement from a handful of people she met through volunteering at a Portland radio station. “I knew nothing about running a radio station. They said, ‘We’ve got your back.’ I couldn’t have done it without that kind of help,” Galaviz explains with gratitude. The station has been on the air since March 2017.

Now the President of KXRW, Galaviz, is proud to provide an independent platform for local voices. The station strives to provide information, insight, and knowledge to build an even stronger Clark County. This includes conducting interviews with local non-profits, businesses, elected officials, candidates, artists, musicians, and authors, as well as promoting local events. “An informed community is a healthier community,” Galaviz says with conviction. “I love watching people shine with purpose and joy [when they are] bringing informative programming to our listeners.”

This effort is entirely carried out by volunteers. KXRW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. No one working for the station is paid, including Galaviz. “Community radio just attracts a certain kind of person. They’re not in it for the fame or the money,” says Galaviz while sitting in the bedroom of her home, which served as the station’s first recording studio.

With over 60 volunteers, the station operates thanks to the generous hearts and hands of retirees, workers with other day jobs, and civic-minded community members. The station’s $25,000 annual budget is funded by donations, fundraisers, and occasional grants. “Any money we raise goes towards operational costs and much-needed equipment upgrades,” says Galaviz, who sheepishly admits her least favorite part of her job is fundraising. “I hate asking people for money.”

The majority of KXRW’s volunteers are show hosts. Approximately 75% of the station’s programming consists of talk, although its music offerings are also growing. With over 40 different shows and topics, there is something for everyone. “The Common Good” is the station’s most popular program, highlighting nonprofits and community members endeavoring to make a difference in Clark County.

Other popular programs are “Northwest Book Talk” featuring authors from the Pacific Northwest, “Rescue Road” offering animal-focused discussions, “Hassling the Paranormal” which digs into all things ghosts and spirits, “Keep Rolling” which explores the world of those living with disabilities, “Our Backyard” which tells the history and legends of Clark County, and “Re-Imagined Radio” which recreates stories — including nonfiction — in the style of old time radio theater.

Music-wise, “Yester Years” is a favorite featuring music, TV theme songs, commercials, and news clips from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. “City Hums” showcases local musicians and bands. “Guitar and Other Machines” celebrates experimentation in music. The “Mudd Club” uses music to tell stories, while “Blind Country” and “Salsa Rhythms” are more genre-specific.

With such an enormous variety of talk and music programs, finding listeners is surprisingly challenging for KXRW. It is all due to size and reach.

Limited by a tower emitting just 100 watts, the radio station’s signal reaches about a 15-mile radius from the tower’s location near the Andresen Road Auto Mall. It is also a Low Power FM (LPFM) antenna, which means the signal cannot  penetrate walls (listening in one’s car is much more successful than  listening in one’s home unless a transistor radio is being used). However, KXRW has a sister station – XRAY.fm in Oregon – which broadcasts some of KXRW’s programming near the Portland airport (91.1 FM), some suburbs (107.1 FM), and the Oregon Coast (Seaside, Manzanita, Rockaway, etc. at 91.7 FM). Nevertheless, given the equipment and signal limitations of KXRW, the best ways to listen to its programming require some 21st-century approaches.

The best way to listen to KXRW is by streaming it to a computer or smartphone through the station’s website (www.kxrw.fm). You can also access KXRW programming using the sister station’s mobile app for iPhone users. To find it, search for “XRAY.fm” and then select “FAMILY” within the app to locate KXRW programs. 

Galaviz admits that using the XRAY.fm app is a bit confusing for finding KXRW programs, so efforts are underway to develop a standalone KXRW app. Regardless of how the station is accessed, although there is some live programming, the majority of KXRW’s shows are recorded and archived. The archives allow listeners to enjoy KXRW’s programs on their own schedule, anytime and anywhere.

Because of these technologies – and the prohibitive expense of doing a Nielsen-like ratings survey – Galaviz regrets she does not know the precise size of her station’s audience. “We know that we have over 16,000 mobile app users. And our talk programming is heard on XRAY’s three signals. Our combined signals have the potential to reach 900,000 listeners.”

Nevertheless, one thing is certain: KXRW is growing.

New shows debut every month. Galaviz’s team is also working to get KXRW added to the TuneIn Radio app, making it easy for Alexa and Echo smart device users to listen. A mobile app for Android is also on the wish list, along with the standalone KXRW app mentioned earlier.

Opportunities for live broadcasting are growing, including open mic nights for local bands, live coverage of teams like the Vancouver Volcanoes (basketball) and the Ridgefield Raptors (baseball), and conversations with local and state politicians featuring questions from a live audience. KXRW has outgrown its single-studio office space, relying on many hosts to record shows from home studios. As a result, Galaviz is actively seeking a larger space and researching grants for equipment upgrades. Ideally, this would include paying some key volunteers a salary.

“I just really believe that media matters now more than ever. We’re trying to shed light on the truth and injustice and what the facts are,” says Galaviz as she remains committed to giving local voices a place to be shared and heard.

Website: www.kxrw.fm

Mobile App (Apple only): xray.fm

FM Radio dial: 99.9, 91.1, 107.1, 91.7

Tax-deductible Donation: www.kxrw.fm/donate

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KXRWvancouver

Toni Woodard is enthusiastic about food, fairs, llamas and writing. She is the author of “I’m Fine: A Practical Guide to Life with Chronic Pain.” Contact her at toniisfine@outlook.com.