Fill 'er up and let's roll

Zion Public Radio (ZPR) was conceived on a Sabbath day in late July last year. That’s when a philanthropist came to visit me in Nashville, Tennessee. She said, “I have done my due diligence and will provide the start-up funding for Zion Public Radio.”

That meant $100,000 to $250,000.

“But first,” she continued, “you need to incorporate and get official recognition from the IRS.”

I was ecstatic. We immediately incorporated. I immediately immersed myself in completion of the IRS application for official approval. My co-founder and I made immediate plans to produce pilot programs: you-are-there interviews of Israelis in their land, their nation: Israel.

Those programs were produced. And they are awesome. There is nothing else like them on the Internet, on the radio or anywhere in the world.

But hey. Listen for yourself. Those programs are right here, on this site. (Click on the links at the top of the page.)

On 27 December 2007 Zion Public Radio was added to the IRS list of recognized nonprofits.

We were ready to roll.

I called our benefactor with the wonderful news.

“Congratulations,” she began. “And yes, I know what I told you. But I have prayed about it, and G-d has told me to put my money someplace else. My decision is final. I wish you all the best. Goodbye.”

So. ZPR is like a brand new car sitting in the driveway. It’s beautiful and paid for. Donations this year have been enough to start the engine and let it idle now and then. But not enough to put it into gear and drive it toward our destination. Not yet.

Great news: we have a business plan that will produce the long-term fuel that’s needed. All that’s needed to implement that plan is one year’s tank of gasoline.

What I mean is that we have a viable strategy to generate money needed to operate and grow, to run, Zion Public Radio. But in order to make that strategy work, we need a few dollars to get it chuggin’, pumping out the fuel we know that, with G-d’s blessing, it will produce.

Help us fill the tank. Let’s get ZPR on the road, on the air, with purpose, style and pride. This is a far, far greater thing we do than almost anything we've ever done.

You are invited: become a Charter Member of Zion Public Radio.

Just click on the icon above. It will take you to
our PayPal link where you can give by bank transfer
or credit card. You do not have to have a PayPal account.

Let's fill 'er up and let's roll!

Brian

...Have a question? Shoot me an email by clicking on this line.

Death hits home again

For the rest of the story, see media links at the bottom of this post. I've also included a link to a photo album posted on Facebook. Thank you, Brian (on 2007.10.09 Tuesday)

Monday, October 1, 2007

Timothy and Joshua Schrauger, ages 14 and 17, were killed in a car accident on Saturday afternoon. Professionals at the scene believe their deaths were instantaneous.

The Detroit News has just posted an article with details: Deaths add to family's trials: Teens die in crash as GI brother heals. (Click on the title to see the online report.)

Timothy and Joshua are the youngest sons of my brother, Cliff, and his wife, Vicki. Their oldest son, David, is still fighting to recover from life-threatening wounds incurred last June. He is in the army and was serving in Iraq where a Humvee in which he was riding hit an IED.

Pictured Left to Right: Vicki and Cliff Schrauger, Kate (David's fiancé),
Joshua and Timothy Schrauger

You can read David's story in the post I wrote, Radical Islam hits home. That same post includes directions to the online blog of David's story. And now, as well, the first announcement of his youngest brothers' deaths.

David Schrauger's fiancé, Kate, greets him in the
Brook Army Medical Center near San Antonio, Texas

I am leaving Jerusalem tonight instead of this coming Saturday, arriving in Detroit, Michigan early Tuesday morning. Timothy and Joshua's combined funeral is Thursday afternoon, October 4.

I'm not certain, but I think the service will be held in their school's auditorium: Lake Orian High School near Pontiac, Michigan.

On a personal note, I cannot help but wonder: during this trip to Israel, starting our new program, death has struck my partner's family and my own. Greg's mother died about a week ago.

I know that my nephews' deaths are not about me. But I too have had a son die. No parent should have to go through this lifelong amputation of the soul.

And so I ask and wonder, "G-d, wasn't one Schrauger child enough? What is going on? And why? I know that you are good, but your goodness is to me an almost terrifying mystery. But. To whom else shall I turn? Who else can I fully trust with my messy, raw and wounded heart? Only you. Only you."

Standing with my horrified family, and together in the need of prayer,

Brian

Post Script on Tuesday, October 9, 2007:
Here are several links to media reports that tell the rest of this story.Each one is very well done. The last link is to a personal photo album.Thank you for your generous expressions of love expressed to all our family.

1. Two sons killed in traffic accident, October 2, 2007: Article and video reports
   
2. Things will never be the same, October 5, 2007: Article and photos
3. Farewell friends: 2 brothers remembered, October 5, 2007: Article and photos
4. Death of 2 sons only part of the story, October 7, 2007: Article
5. Schrauger family days: portraits of love and sorrow, a personal photo album
   

Presenting... Zion Public Radio

Friday, August 31, 2007

Can't believe it's been so long since my last post. It feels like I've been submerged in a kind of ectoplasmic Twilight Zone: yech. Now, at least for 7 days, I have surfaced to try and catch my breath. Then once again I plunge into a world far different from our Western U.S. homes.

Sound a bit abstruse? Sorry about that. Could be oxygen deprivation. Or maybe it's because I've aged another year! Okay, so here's a headline summary; maybe it'll clarify...

ZION PUBLIC RADIO, A NONPROFIT CORPORATION, LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 3RD

SEQUESTERED FOR 3½ WEEKS COMPLETING IRS FORM 1023

LEAVING SEPTEMBER 7 FOR ANOTHER MONTH IN ISRAEL

FOUR RADIO PROGRAMS PLANNED

Don't worry. As I write these words I'm battling the enemy of TMD (Too Much Detail). Oh the agony. Here then, for those of you who know me, are shockingly brief synopses:

ZION PUBLIC RADIO (ZPR) is the umbrella organization for our emerging radio-Internet-podcast program, This Week In Jerusalem. ZPR is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation. It's structured so that, as feasible, it can produce or acquire other programs down the road.

IRS FORM 1023 is the U.S. government's application for official recognition as a 501(c)(3). The law allows new nonprofits up to 2 years before filing this lovely document, but all-in-all it seemed best to do it now and get 'er done. Meanwhile ZPR is, nonetheless, a fully registered State of Texas nonprofit corporation.

And 1 week from today I leave again for Israel. It will be my third full month there this year, most of it in Jerusalem.

My cohort in this venture is Greg Cromartie. While he is in his Texas studio and I'm about 8,000 miles away, we plan to produce 4 one-hour programs.

Why are we moving so fast? 3 major holy days are happening in Israel during these four weeks:

• Rosh Hashanah: the Jewish New Year of 5768!


• Yom Kippur: the Day of Atonement; and


• Sukkot, also known as The Feast of Booths--a full week of party-hearty time in Israel

Wow, what rich opportunities to record unique Israeli sounds and intriguing interviews.

Soon, I'm sure, ZPR will be inviting Charter Members. But more about that in another post.

Meanwhile if you haven't heard the audio clips from Israel, especially our sample program, take a listen. It's in the post called On the air in Israel: hear it here!

Click on What Do You Think at the bottom of each post. And then, well, do it! Let us know what you think. Greg and I would love to hear your thoughts.

Crazy as it often feels...here we go. Oy vey. Grateful for your encouragement,

Brian

P.S. Feel a need to read ZPR's incorporation, bylaws and/or Form 1023? Click on this line to shoot me an email with your request. I'll send links to our pdf copies.