The director of a new community radio station compares the venture to a new car:Both are sleek, exciting and fresh yet filled with responsibility and anticipation.

Tom Egert, WDBX-FM director and 1971 SIUC alumnus, said what began as a dream four years ago is nearing fulfillment as WDBX 91.1 FM, 224 N. Washington St., began broadcasting last week.

This has been four years in the making, Egert said. Now it is kind of like when your parents bought your first car. They said, OK, here it is, now you take care of it.’ I would like to see Carbondale take care of their new radio station.

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WDBX-FM, a not-for-profit station, will play a diverse mix of music ranging from alternative to new age and from rap to old time country, as well as news, art and community announcements, Egert said.

Egert said the idea for the station came from the lack of a local station able to cater specifically to its community. Ideally, he said programming and music ideas could all be generated and run by the volunteers and people of the surrounding area.

Programs will be run by Carbondale high school students, senior citizens, the African-American community and international students. There is no limit, he said. Any group can get on the air and, within reason, cater to the voice of their interests, and, at the same time, offer exposure to different cultures.

Bob Streit, community liaison for WDBX-FM, said it is important for community members as well as students to get involved with the operation of the station.

We want to get the community excited about this, Streit said. People really need to seize the reins and go with this for it to be successful.

Michael Bulia, an employee at Rosetta News, 210 W. Freeman, said he sees the station as a welcome addition to Carbondale’s cultural scene.

The station sounds progressive, he said. We will try to support it anyway we can. This is a definite plus for Carbondale.

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Egert agreed, saying the station can offer community access and information as well as diverse cultural expression.

Carbondale is really starting to mature in a cultural sense, Egert said. The coffee houses and alternative press outlets have played a big role. With SIUC having the seventh-largest University international population in the country, there is a fantastic resource for diverse cultural programming.

Initial funding for the station has been supported by loans and personal contributions. However, it will take a Carbondale effort to keep the station running, Egert said.

We had to go to a bank outside of the state to get a loan, but it is worth it, he said. Since it will run about $5,000 a month to run the station, we will rely on donations, membership and underwriting for our survival. We just received a check for $1,000. It is that type of heart that it will take to get this going.

Dr. Paul Runge, WDBX-FM contributor, said he believes this is a great opportunity for Carbondale and is anticipating great things from the station.

Carbondale needed it something everyone can contribute to and build on, he said. This is going to offer a touch of music and dialogue that we currently do not have. The response has been fantastic.

Tuesday, information/volunteer recruitment meetings were held at the Long Branch coffee house, 100 E. Jackson, with positive results, Streit said.

There were about 40 people at the noon meeting, and we expect more later, he said. It is very encouraging. How soon the station gets going full time depends on what kind of help we receive, and right now people are not only curious, but interested in getting involved.

Volunteers do not need to have any background in radio, and will receive training on equipment use and limitations, giving them virtually full control of the station, Streit said.

In the process of being trained on how to use the equipment, we will also tell you what speech is allowable and what is out-of-bounds in accordance with the FCC, he said. This helps to keep from having far left or far right ideas from being preached. If we need to air that type of dialogue, it will be in a panel discussion so both viewpoints can be explored and debated.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the radio station can either drop by the station or call 457-3691.