Building Bucks for Studio A

Sports Corner crew (l to r) Mike McCarthy, Don Johnson, Sports Director Rusty Silber


BUY A BRICK, BUILD A STATION!

We are a community radio station known as WRLR 98.3 FM and we are in our 15th year serving the communities of Lake County, IL. Join our volunteers to help build out our new studio and office at a former village water well pump house in Round Lake Beach.

WRLR is operated completely by volunteers who come from within Lake County and beyond. Some travel as far away as Chicago because the station is the only one around that allows novices, former college and high school radio students, and pros alike onto the public airwaves.

WRLR carries an eclectic offering of local programs produced by each presenter. It ranges the gamut, with music shows of almost every genre offered, to a variety of talk,  high school sports broadcasts, to self improvement and spiritual programs.

(above) The view looking out Studio B as a train passes by

Our radio station currently operates its Studio B out of the Metra train station in the village of Round Lake Beach (pictured above). We are the only operating radio station in a train station in the world! As unique and cozy as this is, WRLR has grown over the years and the former ticket agent's room is a tight squeeze with larger groups, like when local bands come in for interviews and to play some songs live on the air, or when we are visited by high school football and basketball teams.

Some recent and older news stories about us (some links may be behind a paywall):

https://wgntv.com/news/community-radio-station-finds-a-new-home-in-train-station/ 

https://www.robertfeder.com/2019/03/25/robservations-new-radio-studio-keeps-voice-lake-county-track/ 

https://patch.com/illinois/grayslake/classifieds/announcements/79644/the-worlds-only-radio-station-in-a-train-station 


https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190410/trains-dont-silence-voice-of-lake-county-broadcast-from-metra-station 

The funds we are seeking to raise are for a new bigger Studio A and office space inside a building formerly used as a well house more than 20 years ago. It has been abandoned since. Now it will find new purpose as home to WRLR 98.3 FM, The Voice of Lake County. Below is the building with renovations currently underway.

(above) Site of the Old Well House, future home of WRLR 98.3 FM Studio A

So far the insides has been completely stripped out to the bare brick walls and cement floor. Sewer and water service has been brought into the building. Masonry work has been completed for the door and windows, ready for the new commercial aluminum windows and door to be ordered and installed. Once we have the $8K to do so, that will be completed next. All the vendors and suppliers being used in this project are local and in Lake County.

Every dollar raised will go towards the renovation of the WRLR "Well House" Studio A. Please help us by contributing whatever you can. Donations made here on GoFundMe will count towards our upcoming "Buy A Brick, Build A Station" fundraiser this summer. For $100 a 4"x8" brick paver (see photo below) will be engraved with your personal message. For $175 a 8"x8" brick paver (perfect for corporate and organization sponsors to add their logo) will be engraved with a long lasting message.  The engraving is laser cut into the brick and will last for many, many years. The brick pavers will be set into a walk path outside the new facility.

Complete details on the "Buy A Brick, Build A Station" will be forthcoming. See sample brick below.


As we are able to raise funds and afford to move forward with the build out of Studio A we will update you on our progress, here and on our Facebook, and the WRLR website.

A small sampling of superb community broadcasting:

Reality Radio with David Rych 
 
CERT presents United Way

Ear Candy Emporium with Ronald Grace

Saturday Prayer with Katrina Monique 

The legal entity of our organization is RONDARADIO, INC. We are an IRS 501 (c)(3) recognized non-profit and donations to this fine organization are tax deductible (as permitted by law).

Check out our website for more information about WRLR and our programs: www.WRLR.fm

and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRLR983FM/