WCWP/88.1 FM HALL OF FAME

Hi,

Buckle up folks, there’s no script here and we’re going for a ride.

I know it’s been some time, so here I am. I hope all of you are well. We’ve been through some truly tough times, and for us lucky ones, it seems that it keeps going. The landscape of all the battle grounds have changed, and similar to technology, we have to change with it, or suffer the consequences. For me, the phrase ‘new normal’, continues to be nonsensical and arrogant. We are now responsible for our new future, it’s our every day choices that matter the most, and it defines who we are and who we become as individuals, and as a nation. I wish I could call Orsen Wells, because this time the world is at war. It behooves me to state the obvious of where we’ve all been, and the current state affairs in our nation and around the globe, most of you are in radio and TV, and already know it. Who would’ve thought we would be in this mess as the frustration appears to accumulate by the hour? That is why now matters, and we need to return to our internal and external communities to not only converse about how and what we are going to do moving forward, but we actually must walk the walk.

LinkedIn, a platform to recruit, to learn, to network, to know who’s stalking you where other social media fails, and much more. However, what does it truly mean to be LinkedIn? Answer; our connections, personally, professionally, academically. This is also a place where recognition of our successes, and our failures becomes available for public consumption to remind us all our individuality, and of our humanity, and a place where our namesake matters, and where we praise each other for most individuals do not receive it when they should.

Well, I could not think of a better place to share one of those successes with all of you. Plus, this humbling honor was positive enough, and encouraged me enough to say hi to all of you, for you are missed and you matter, (… and yes I miss the stage too). Next month, my former radio station WCWP/88.1 FM, Brookville, NY is inducting me into their Hall of Fame at LIU, class of 2021. I am blessed to be joined by 2 former students Jay Mirabile, and Mike Chimeri, who are still on-air there. The class of 2020 will be inducted too, including Christiana Kay from WALK/97.5 FM. To be part of this radio stations continuing legacy and sharing a wall with so many great broadcasters is an honor.

For 25 years my relationships with many of you are responsible for this accolade, for every honor one is recognized for, includes us, versus me. If you’ve ever listened to me on-air, or starred at me as I’ve engineered many years worth of your shows, or joined me, or watched from home a variety live on-line webcasts including 20 years of "Downtown Sounds", or attended "Bimmerstock", "St. Baldrick's", participated in, or attended, or judged the "MAC Awards", (by the way, after May 4th, 2022, 400 awards earned by students to date macawards.org), or lectured for "Media Talks". Maybe we worked together at WCWP, or OWWR, as you were a student, or a guest, or staffer. Perhaps you’ve attended fundraisers I hosted for Cystic Fibrosis, Toys for Tots, March of Dimes, Operation Hope, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Suicide Prevention, Relay for Life, LI Wins, or anytime a microphone was in front of my face, and good lord that’s a lot of hours live programming and interviews including, "Steele & Hammer", "Hammer Live", "The Edge", then I thank you. Maybe you just know me and heard my voice on commercial radio on your way to meet for me dinner, or watched TV at home and saw my name on a credit package, and that works too. I also thank WABC-TV/Channel 7 "Eyewitness News", Viacom/MTV Networks, News 12. I can go on but then I will have no speech to deliver.

I share this award with my family, and my closest of friends, all my students both present and past, all of you, all my mentors from Suffolk County Community College, with special attention to Emmy award winning Director Alan Bernstein, (Breeders Cup, NY Islanders, and more...), and then Chief Engineer Ron Orlando, (if not for him I would not be half the geek,… see you on the other side pal). Clearly, the CW Post Campus of Long Island University another major force and home of WCWP. From day one seeing that studio at WCWP in a college catalog, to my tour of that station, to being on-air, to directorships, to one day getting the keys to the building, that was some ride. So many amazing experiences in between that still resonate with lifelong friendships that continue to flourish. I share this award with you. I also share this with my former Chief Engineer Bob Anderson, (behind me in the picture below), who I was grateful to learn from and work with at both WCWP and OWWR, in fact OWWR might have been one of the last studio’s he built with me, (I will see you also on other side pal). To all my dear colleagues and administration at SUNY Old Westbury, both those that are here, and gone, that continue to be amazing and provide the support OWWR requires, as we prepare folks college wide for their future, I thank you.

If we are LinkedIn, then let’s link up, let’s connect, let’s hang, let’s create an amazing opportunity that will benefit the amazing students both present and past that we have at SUNY Old Westbury and at OWWR, because that is what we do. There are so many partnerships and opportunities we can forge including work-study, applied learning internships, guest lectures, graduate recruitment for your field just to name a few. Even OWWR became a haven for the developmentally disabled where individuals from YAI, Access VR, and countless high school programs learned and executed live radio shows. Let’s not do it for money, or for glory, let’s do it because people matter, and our message matters. As I always say, radio and TV must act in the interest, convenience and the necessity of the public, so let's keep demonstrating it. Let’s help future generations of learners in all disciplines, including broadcasting. Students need guidance from all of us, now more than ever so we can teach them all how to grow into ones occupation, as we aid in their life’s journey, plus I am sure we could all use some more time together. We were isolated enough.

So whether I was on-air, in the sky, on stage, rockin with Dokken, in front of the class, or behind a podium, thank you all for being there and part of this truly amazing life changing journey that I am still humbled and blessed to be part of. It is privilege, today and every day.

... as the song goes, "... I've seen a million faces..."

I have to thank LinkedIn, it appears that I need to update my profile soon to WCWP/88.1 FM Hall of Fame; Class of 2021, and because they let me share this with you.

Thanks for listening.

Best,

~ Joe Manfredi, OWWR Station Manager

PS: I dedicate this recognition to my Dad, my best friend, and my eternal mentor I'm blessed to still have, (and yes we are having dinner tonight, no really, we are).

Now follow OWWR:… no really :)

IG/SNAP/TW/TICK-TOK: @OWWRNY

FB: “OLDWESTBURY WEBRADIO” & “OWWR"

As always remember the reason why WE do it, as seen below:

I can post thousands more, but I would crash the server, and maybe embarrass some of you.

:)

Besides, you have to get back to work... see you on the radio.

Over 30 years ago, I had a dream, a vision, a plan of what I knew I wanted and needed to succeed. Over the years, I never expected it to be what it became. Today, I still have dreams and visions, and I thank all of you for allowing me to continue to dream, build, create, teach, inspire, and still be a broadcaster. I still design, we continue to expand and adapt, and with what we build and what we do as educators still changes lives.

... oddly enough I still have some of the gear above.

Best,

~ JM