Round Up: ”Text Me!”
“Text Me!”
October 28, 2025
“Text me!” say so many people.
I was a little late to get into the texting game myself. I’m pretty hard-core email for the most part. Sometimes I get downright confused about where I saw a message. Was it an email? Which email address? Was it in Facebook Messenger? I hope not, I rarely check those. God forbid you send me anything on Instagram. Also, I am not fond of talking on my cellphone. It’s just not the right shape and cell service is notoriously terrible at our house. Did I see it in a Zoom “chat?” Was it in response to a West Marin Commons posting?
KWMR engaged with Emily Bartlett’s Yes Collective to build the application that allows KWMR to broadcast emergency messages in Spanish & English in 2023. That has been working really well. KWMR hired Emily again to enhance the product and add the ability for KWMR to send out emergency text messages when we initially broadcast, or update our messaging from KWMR. Both of these projects were funded by grants from the West Marin Fund.
I got this idea from a listener who gave me a call after KWMR was broadcasting the same message for several hours during a storm last year. They said that they were a senior that lived alone and had things to do that kept them from being at the radio for every 30-minute announcements. They asked if we could just send text updates. A lightbulb went off and I approached Emily to see if this could be done. The answer was yes.
Over 170 people have signed up and we have a goal of at least 300 within the next two weeks. Please sign up HERE. We will only send a text if we are putting out emergency information on the airwaves. Click HERE for more information.
Message Station was created for KWMR. It is exactly what KWMR wanted! And here is the bonus. It is available for any organization that has the need to send messages to an audience that can opt in and also opt out. Please go to www.stationmessagemaker.com to learn more.
If you have any questions about how KWMR will use the product, just send me an email, or stop by the station when I am around. If you have specific product questions regarding a good fit for your organization, reach out via the Station Message Maker website.
KWMR recommends that everyone sign up for Alert Marin for Marin County updates. For more granular and localized information specific to West Marin KWMR’s updates and texts will keep you informed.
All of us here at KWMR hope this helps you get the information that you need, when you need it!
Thank you for your support!
Amanda Eichstaedt
KWMR Station Manager, Executive Director & Development
