September is Folk Alley's anniversary month!

	September is Folk Alley's anniversary month! Four years ago, Al Bartholet, our GM, pulled DJ Jim Blum into his office and proposed the plan. FolkAlley.com would offer folk music over the internet - bringing acoustic and tradition-based songs to fans new and old all around the world. Folk Alley was a dream and a big risk taken by people who are passionate and who believe that the Folk Music audience is hungry for access to this music 24 hours a day. The question by the nay-sayers was, "Okay, but will this audience support the music through voluntary contributions?" We took the challenge and said YES they will, and now we need you to show us that we were right. We have a very modest annual operating budget of $257,000 and 85% of our revenue comes directly from listener support. Please support Folk Alley during our Fall Anniversary Fund Drive. Help us reach our goal of $75,000 by September 20th by becoming a Folk Alley member today! Click here to join! Last fall, our friend and fellow folk music supporter here in northeast Ohio, Betsy Juliano, was so confident that Folk Alley listeners would rally in support of Folk Music, she generously offered to donate an additional $20,000 to Folk Alley if we reached the $75,000 mark. Well - we did it! And great news - Betsy's done it again! We have the opportunity to receive another additional gift of $20,000, if we can reach the $75,000 goal for this Fall Anniversary Fund Drive. Take the Juliano Challenge! Visit our website today to make your donation and become a Folk Alley member! Click to join! What does it mean to be a Folk Alley Member? Along with having the satisfaction of knowing that you're supporting a service that is important to you everyday, you will receive our annual Folk Alley Member Benefits. A Folk Alley Membership begins at the $60 (USD) and entitles you to the following: Exclusive Members-Only access to our Fund Drive -Free web stream - as a member you will be able to by-pass our fund drives for a year by receiving access to a special Members-Only stream; Exclusive downloadable website content including in-studio song performances, interviews and Live From Folk Alley concerts; 20% Discounts on Smithsonian Folkways recordings; Discounts on national hotels and car rentals. With a donation at the $90 level or above, you also have the choice of selecting a few new "thank you gifts" in addition to your membership! You'll have a choice of: The all new and improved Folk Alley T-shirt - an earthy chestnut brown 100% cotton shirt with the Folk Alley logo; The new heavyweight, Folk Alley ceramic campfire coffee mug; or A choice of CD including one from Eliza Gilkyson, Pete Seeger, and more! Donating is fast, simple and secure. We've made it easy by offering you the choice of a one-time payment or in monthly installments, and we accept donations via check, credit card, and PayPal. While you're visiting our donate page, be sure to enter our "pre-stream" drawing to win a Box of 25 CDs!! This is an exclusive drawing, only for those who enter before the "in-stream" fund drive begins on Friday, September 7th. Everyone who enters before 2:00 pm (EDT/-5GMT) on the 7th will have a chance to win! Plus, you will be entered into our Grand Prize Drawing to win an 80GB iPod & a $50 iTunes gift certificate! Click to join! Thank you from all of us at FolkAlley.com! Sincerely, Linda Fahey Folk Alley Programming & Marketing Director linda@folkalley.com p.s. Because Folk Alley is a 501(C) 3, non-profit organization your donation is tax-deductible (to the extent allowed by the law) if you reside in the United States, and it may be eligible for a matching gift. Check with your employer!