Maureen Rossi - Making Nonprofit Radio News

Smithtown Matters Reporter Maureen Rossi made her Radio debut on Long Island’s new FM Talk Radio station 103.9 on Saturday.  Joined by Legislator Tom Cilmi and two experts from the mental health community, the show highlighted some pressing issues regarding Mental Health and the Heroin Epidemic on Long Island.  Those issues included budgetary challenges facing agencies that serve the mentally ill as well as obstacles to treatment for those trying to get clean from heroin.  

Flo Federman is host of the Saturday morning program called The Nonprofit Voice.  A consummate professional and well respected in the radio industry, she gained fame as the News Director and Morning Show Co-Host of the “Rick and Flo Show” on B-103 Radio. Tracy Carkner from the Federal of Organizations was also a guest on the 8-9 segment at the station housed in McArthur Airport.  Federal of Organizations is a multi-service, community-based social welfare agency.   They develop programs that are designed to meet the needs of special populations, such as people recovering from mental illness, the homeless, low-income seniors and at-risk children. For more than 35 years, Federation, a not-for-profit corporation, has been working to improve services to people with disabilities and their families through education, information and referral services, legislative action and program development.

Jennifer Colbert was also a guest and was representing EPIC. The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program is a New York State program for seniors administered by the Department of Health. It helps more than 270,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 and older to supplement their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug plan costs. Seniors can apply for EPIC at any time of the year and must be enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in a Medicare Part D drug plan to receive EPIC benefits and maintain coverage.  Colbert was very knowledgeable about The Affordable Care Act and how it will affect her constituents.  

Ron Gold is the producer of The Nonprofit Voice which, like the station, is in its infancy.   Gold is the President and CEO of Marketing Works.  Established in 2002, Gold brings his twenty years of marketing skills with connections to over 1,000 publications in the country.   In addition to be incredibly savvy about marketing he is also savvy about the radio business and was the General Manager at Walk FM. 

John Caracciolo is the President and CEO of JVC Media which runs the new and only Talk Radio station on LI on the FM dial.  “This station will not only serve as an information source, but will be a sounding board for issues that influence Long Island life, community and business. Nonprofit entities are a big part of that equation, so we’re very excited to have Marketing Works and ‘The Nonprofit Voice’ aboard,” he explained.

Rossi invited Cilmi to join her when two spots opened up just days before the show.  Legislator Tom Cilmi announced a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force last month during a Republican Caucus.   No stranger to the station, Cilmi has been a guest a few times for various programs including The John Gomez segment.

Gold invited Rossi to return for a 20 minute segment to discuss the non-profit Kings Park in the kNOw that she heads and the heroin epidemic on Long Island.   “Please come back on April 26^th, we’ll give you ½ the program to let our listeners know all about this epidemic,” said Gold.   Gold could be found outside the booth taking photos of the day’s guests while smiling.   Saturday’s show got a little heated during a commercial break off air when all three ladies went after Cilmi when he asked if parents were to blame for the heroin epidemic in Suffolk.  Carkner, Colbert and Rossi gave him an earful while the microphones were cold saying addiction is a mental illness and can’t be blamed on anyone.  They said there is no prototype; it can happen to anyone from any background.  The show was deemed a success by the all present; all the guest left the station with a smile and exchanged contact information.   For more information on the Nonprofit Voice check out:  www.nonprofitvoice.com  103.9 can be heard on the FM dial or from any digital device – you can listen live on their website:  www.linewsradio.com