Club Radio - The History

Club Radio started with a big vision that Kurt Chaffee had to have a youth radio station.  But how is a youth pastor hockey player going to work with the FCC, obtain a radio license, build a studio, and get a radio station up and running?  Many people questioned and some laughed, but others believed.  Thankfully Kurt listened to God and was patient along the way. 

Ten years later that vision came true. Kurt had been continuously working with the FCC trying to get our license, KLBE-LP, and would have years before he would hear anything.  Then, in February 2004, we were granted a license and the station was birthed as Club Radio 100.7FM.   

Club Radio is a community station that was entirely run by youth and young adults.  The station would play the new Christian music and would be a fun, high energy, raw way for students to minister in Bismarck/Mandan.  It would be the youth radio station of Bismarck/Mandan. 

From February to August, Kurt and a group of leaders researched equipment and software and, with the help of many generous donors, purchased what was needed to launch the station. 

The first official day of full broadcast was August 15, 2004. We had previously been on the air practicing and giving students a feel for Club Radio. 

Since August 15, 2004 we have had a lot of changes. 

We moved the studio from a little sound booth to a two-room radio and production studio about four times the size of the original booth.
 
We updated our tower height from 60ft. to 100ft. 

We have narrowed our music variety, keeping the DJ creativity but having more structure.  We developed a HOT CLOCK to make DJ-ing easier, making sure we are playing the newest and hottest music. 

We have over 50 volunteers from all over the community. 

We have a radio board of leaders and other leadership teams that have specific duties within the station. 

We have designed a new logo and website. 

We will have a Club Radio van as a traveling billboard and for use at live events. 

We are in the process of building a recording studio to be able to record people and help anyone use their gifts.

We have a DJ mentorship program to grow, encourage and disciple DJs.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
We have seen people encouraged and become closer followers of Jesus Christ.

We have had students develop their God-given gifts and use them to help reach their fellow students. 

We have worked with churches and para-churches from all over the community to grow relationships and help impact more students

We have seen that denomination walls have come down and more youth groups and pastors are working to better the station. 

We feel that students (Christian and non-Christian) are connecting to the music and DJs and are shown the love of Christ.