1 of 1- RadioActive
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May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Dale Patterson created the SOWNY Board to augment his Rock Radio Scrapbook site, still going strong. But when it got to be too time consuming, he gave it up and let the late and great Craig Smith take over. He was a wonderful Admin. who really cared about the place, but his passing way too soon left the board without a leader.
Rob Edds took on the task for a while and a guy named Phil McBride briefly had his turn, too. After that one disappeared, Iain Grant, now with CFRB, brought it back from the dead one more time. A few years later, with too much work on his hands, he asked me to take the reins. And for better or worse (sometimes the latter!) I've been here ever since.
Today, May 28th, marks exactly 11 years since Iain brought SOWNY back from the dead and I, for one, remain grateful that he went to the trouble of keeping it going. So happy anniversary Iain and thanks for the memories!
From May 28, 2015, one of the first messages posted to the newly resurrected SOWNY Board:
Hello Iain - Thanks for Bringing SOWNY Back
- andysradio
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
And congratulations to you RA for a job well done.
- RadioActive
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Thanks Andy. I try not to mess it up, too often not successfully! But I appreciate the kudos.
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Thread Starter- mic'em
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Happy A day RA !
- mace
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
I am only familiar with the RA version of SOWNY. It was John Gallager who tipped me off about the site. After scanning some of the topics being discussed, I thought, being a radio geek, this site is definitely for me. So much info, I would never find elsewhere. Another thing this site has taught me. With the majority of members being in or retired from the industry, many in news, I have learned [hopefully] to express my thoughts and views in a concise manner. One other thing. How many SOWNY members are there now compared to 11 years ago?
- Shorty Wave
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Thank you RadioActive and congratulations on doing an excellent job of maintaining and moderating the SOWNY Board. I find that next to my morning coffee, it is an enjoyable and informative way to start my day, usually with great input from members, so I thank them as well.
I think we all appreciate the work RadioActive puts into SOWNY with his posts, comments and keeping it running, I would also like to send a shout out to Dale Patterson, Craig Smith, Rob Edds, Phil McBride and Iain Grant for their contributions to SOWNY, thank you gentlemen.
It was actually Mark Dailey who told me about SOWNY and for years I only looked at it and was not a member, glad he mentioned it!
- darcyh
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
It is easy to take forums like this for granted which we should not. It is also easy to forget that behind the scene someone is working hard to make it successful.
Thanks so much RA.
- paterson1
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Thanks to Dale Patterson for starting the whole thing off, and Craig Smith, Phil McBride, Iain Grant for not letting SOWNY die. And last but by all means not least, RA who keeps the boat afloat everyday with all of his hard work. We certainly have an interesting group that keeps the site lively and interesting. I go to other radio/broadcast sites and many can go days and even weeks with no posts and no comments. At SOWNY if we go for even a few hours with nothing new or no comment is quite rare...
- Scarboroughbluffsradiof99
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
I was going through the sowny archives.
More interesting content than what's on there now because back then, there was more happening in local tv and radio.
From AVR going off air to zoomer radio on 96.7 and even a post about an american specialty channel that did'nt make it called the recovery channel.
- Doug Thompson
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Dale Patterson, the late Craig Smith and Iain Grant are friends of mine. (were in the case of Craig Smith).
Never met Rob Edds or Phil McBride.
I congratulate all of them, and that of course includes RA, the current administrator for keeping this board alive, alert and a lot of fun (that's a lyric line from a very old radio station jingle).
This is an important place to come, learn, vent or just lurk to keep in touch with what's going on in the Southern Ontario/Western New York radioverse.
Congratulations all.
Last edited by Doug Thompson (Yesterday 8:07 pm)
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- Paul Jeffries
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Kudos to Iain for resurrecting the board and to you, RA, for keeping a steady hand and making sure we all "play nice in the sandbox," as Craig Smith used to say.
I'm sure sometimes it's a thankless job and there's probably been more than a few days where you've had buyer's remorse from taking on these duties, but most of us here (if not all) appreciate the hard work and patience you put into this forum. Here's to eleven more years! 
PJ
ClassicHitsOnline.com...Toronto's ORIGINAL classic hits station!
- Marsden
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Re: May 28, 2026: Resurrected SOWNY Board Marks 11th Anniversary
Been here reading since the very beginning. Thank you for keeping it all happening. It must require a lot of hours, focus and probably from time to time patience.
Thank you for each of those things and well - just for keeping it going. :-)