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WITH THE HELP OF MANY FRIENDS, KILI RADIO SET TO CELEBRATE 36TH ANNIVERSARY




Phase 2 of installing KILI Radio’s new 20KW solar array was completed Sept. 28 and put into operation on the same day.

Phase 2 of installing KILI Radio’s new 20KW solar array was completed Sept. 28 and put into operation on the same day.

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION – Last month, KILI Radio received two checks totaling $3,000 from rotary clubs in Vermont and New Jersey, that is one example of many over the years how individuals, groups and organizations have helped KILI continue broadcasting to the communities on Pine Ridge Reservation and beyond for the past 36 years.

Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club of Brattleboro, Ver. contributed $1,000 and the Rotary Club of Mid-Bergen District 7490 in Hasbrouck Heights donated $2,000, both contributions were to assist the station in going green, they helped the radio station complete a new 20KW solar array on the side of a hill below the station.

Several years ago, KILI Radio made a commitment to go as green as possible. The station put a 2KW solar array on their south facing roof; they followed that up with a 3KW array and a 10KW wind turbine. Henry Red Cloud’s Lakota Solar assisted with the installation of all three arrays along with Richard Fox and Trees Water and People. For the recent 20KW array, Panasonic Corporation donated 80 solar panels, a grant of $24,000 from USDA’s Rural Development helped along with a recent grant of $13,300 from the SD Community Foundation. A $100,000 grant from the Department of Interior’s Native Energy Division helped the station install the 10KW wind turbine.

“Our recent renewable energy projects are an example of how KILI Radio has not only survived but prospered over the years with the help and assistance of many individuals, groups and organizations,” said Bill Means, Board Chair of the station’s board of directors, “an engineer from New York City designed the building that we’ve used since 1982, we’ve had assistance from the Bush Foundation, McArthur Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Telecommunications Facilities Program and so many individuals and groups over the years. Over 20 non-profits and businesses currently support the station each year through underwriting while the station has 107,000 friends on Facebook right now.”

The station has benefited from the services of a retired CPA, Kathy Brewer, a Rapid City engineer, Tracy Krsnak and a Rapid City Attorney, Charles Abourezk. Through a direct mail campaign that hasn’t been active for years, the station has continued to receive financial resources from estates of individuals from all over the US.

For the 36th Anniversary celebration, the weekend of Feb. 22-25, the station plans an archery tournament, a poetry slam, a hand drum competition and an open house.

Formally, KILI Radio went on the air on Feb. 25, 1983, Calvin Two Lance was the first voice heard on air, speaking in both Lakota and English. Since that day in 1983, thousands of people have been heard on KILI Radio, helping the station be the Voice of the Lakota Nation.

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