Chapter 13 Lift Off
One of the more interesting programs that Theresa came across was a locally-produced program called "Lift Off". It was a take-off of some of the Isaac Air Freight skits and drama. The person that produced it was someone who lived in the small town but didn't grow up there. He was from a larger city and involved in a church where they did drama and skits. He bought a demo tape to the radio station and gave it to someone to listen to. Some of the management didn't really care for it, but if they put it on Friday or Saturday nights it just might work. Most of the audience was older and didn't understand something like that; it definitely was a trailblazer.
Ted was given the air time, fifteen minutes for the program "Lift Off". On Fridays when the tape appeared Theresa was told to listen for content. She really didn't see anything wrong with it. It was funny and something that no one else was doing. She was a little apprehensive about it, but the station needed something different. So between Ted's original material and the other things he incorporated "Lift Off" launched. Soon Ted began to hang around the station and talking to the radio announcers there. Then he decided that maybe he might want a part time job there. He came and talked to Theresa about it. She was all for it, but the others wondered if he would work out. Ted made a demo of his work and then, he was hired part-time announcer and to help write and produce commercials.
During this time Stan had talked to the other manager into clearing time out of the morning to do a morning show. It would be like a Christian wake up show with news, information, weather and music. Stan and Theresa would co-host it. Theresa was still very timid at the time and couldn't carry it on her own yet. Stan would train her and then he would go on to his regular management duties. Programs had to be moved around, the audience didn't know what was going on and they called the radio station fussing about how they ought to leave things alone and put the programs back on the air. The step had been made, to go forward with the radio station to bring it up to date. Why should Christian listeners have to go somewhere else to get school information?
In order to get the show started, they had a contest on what to call the program. Theresa and Stan didn't want to call it their show, because things change and they wanted anyone to be able to do the program. The title, "Joy In The Morning" was settled upon. It came from the scripture "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning". There were several songs by that name and they ran a contest that every time one of the songs with "Joy in the Morning" would play, the correct caller would win a prize. Theresa was slowly coming out of her shell, she was OK as long as she had something to read in front of her, but winging it was a problem.
There was a News Year's Eve gospel sing in which Theresa and Stan went to and tried to broadcast. It didn't work out that well because of equipment problems, but they were able to get interviews which they played back on the morning show. Soon people were getting used to having a morning show, promos ran and it was going well. A change was about to occur....
The owner of the station decided that his wife should come up and see the goings on at the station. He wasn't able to, he was in poor health and he wanted his wife to take a more active role in the running of their businesses. When she came, there began a shift. The once casual atmosphere became formal, a dress code was established and certain rules were enforced.The staff began to run scared, because there was talk of layoffs. One of the staff decided to talk to a union to organize the radio station. They talked to all of the non-management employees and met with a union rep. This was a confusing for Theresa, she wanted to work, she didn't want anything to do with the whole process. She went to hear what the union rep had to say, but the people who were behind the union had questionable motives. During this time no-one got any work done. There were endless meeting with various members of the staff asking for disclosures and other things. Secret meetings were held away from work, some of the staff just wanted to work and have protection. Others wanted more.
Certain things were put in place to settle the staff's questions, a retirement plan that they could invest in, better insurance and employee of the month awards to encourage and give people that went beyond the call of duty a salute. The union was defeated. After the election a labor expert was brought in to see what happened. There were several things that caused this. Some said weak management, others said that when the owner's wife came in , changes were implemented too fast and long-term employees began to feel insecure. With employment laws there were certain things you couldn't do. The ultimate end was that Stan was let go. This was after a big weekend when Stan and Theresa had hosted an event in town and they were treated like celebrities. Theresa would have to handle all of their personal appearances and the things alone. Something had happened the night before to help her handle what would happen the next day. There were some women who had a program and Theresa was working. When the program was over, they told Theresa that they felt the need to pray for her, at that time she received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. With this came more boldness and brought her out of her shell. She became able to talk on the radio freely and do the other things she had to do in the coming days.
Ted was given the air time, fifteen minutes for the program "Lift Off". On Fridays when the tape appeared Theresa was told to listen for content. She really didn't see anything wrong with it. It was funny and something that no one else was doing. She was a little apprehensive about it, but the station needed something different. So between Ted's original material and the other things he incorporated "Lift Off" launched. Soon Ted began to hang around the station and talking to the radio announcers there. Then he decided that maybe he might want a part time job there. He came and talked to Theresa about it. She was all for it, but the others wondered if he would work out. Ted made a demo of his work and then, he was hired part-time announcer and to help write and produce commercials.
During this time Stan had talked to the other manager into clearing time out of the morning to do a morning show. It would be like a Christian wake up show with news, information, weather and music. Stan and Theresa would co-host it. Theresa was still very timid at the time and couldn't carry it on her own yet. Stan would train her and then he would go on to his regular management duties. Programs had to be moved around, the audience didn't know what was going on and they called the radio station fussing about how they ought to leave things alone and put the programs back on the air. The step had been made, to go forward with the radio station to bring it up to date. Why should Christian listeners have to go somewhere else to get school information?
In order to get the show started, they had a contest on what to call the program. Theresa and Stan didn't want to call it their show, because things change and they wanted anyone to be able to do the program. The title, "Joy In The Morning" was settled upon. It came from the scripture "weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning". There were several songs by that name and they ran a contest that every time one of the songs with "Joy in the Morning" would play, the correct caller would win a prize. Theresa was slowly coming out of her shell, she was OK as long as she had something to read in front of her, but winging it was a problem.
There was a News Year's Eve gospel sing in which Theresa and Stan went to and tried to broadcast. It didn't work out that well because of equipment problems, but they were able to get interviews which they played back on the morning show. Soon people were getting used to having a morning show, promos ran and it was going well. A change was about to occur....
The owner of the station decided that his wife should come up and see the goings on at the station. He wasn't able to, he was in poor health and he wanted his wife to take a more active role in the running of their businesses. When she came, there began a shift. The once casual atmosphere became formal, a dress code was established and certain rules were enforced.The staff began to run scared, because there was talk of layoffs. One of the staff decided to talk to a union to organize the radio station. They talked to all of the non-management employees and met with a union rep. This was a confusing for Theresa, she wanted to work, she didn't want anything to do with the whole process. She went to hear what the union rep had to say, but the people who were behind the union had questionable motives. During this time no-one got any work done. There were endless meeting with various members of the staff asking for disclosures and other things. Secret meetings were held away from work, some of the staff just wanted to work and have protection. Others wanted more.
Certain things were put in place to settle the staff's questions, a retirement plan that they could invest in, better insurance and employee of the month awards to encourage and give people that went beyond the call of duty a salute. The union was defeated. After the election a labor expert was brought in to see what happened. There were several things that caused this. Some said weak management, others said that when the owner's wife came in , changes were implemented too fast and long-term employees began to feel insecure. With employment laws there were certain things you couldn't do. The ultimate end was that Stan was let go. This was after a big weekend when Stan and Theresa had hosted an event in town and they were treated like celebrities. Theresa would have to handle all of their personal appearances and the things alone. Something had happened the night before to help her handle what would happen the next day. There were some women who had a program and Theresa was working. When the program was over, they told Theresa that they felt the need to pray for her, at that time she received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. With this came more boldness and brought her out of her shell. She became able to talk on the radio freely and do the other things she had to do in the coming days.
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