Quality community radio stations are few and far between. There are plenty of stations that identify as “community” across the span of the United States, but in many cases the quality is lacking. Many stations lack the enthusiasm, dedication and strong fundraising and volunteer base it takes to be successful and the end result is many community stations slowly allowing National Public Radio programming to creep in and take over the airwaves or worse yet, simply going dark.

Madison’s WORT has the benefit of being in a community that brings together all the things it takes to be a successful community radio station. With a dedicated base of volunteers and community the treasure at 89.9 FM is now celebrating birthday number 30.

It is hard to find someone in Madison that takes WORT for granted, but many may not be aware of how rare having such a resource in the community can be. In recent history, community radio has been struggling to survive under the weight of radio conglomerates and, to an extent, the desire of National Public Radio to expand.

The importance of NPR to the publicly owned airwaves of the United States should not be downplayed. Especially in Wisconsin where WPR has a solid line up of state produced programming. However, there is a growing trend for community radio stations to take the easy way out, either from lack of volunteers or lack of funding, and sign blocks of time away to nationally syndicated NPR programming. While in the short run it may seem like an easy fix, in the end it takes away from the community in community radio.

WORT stands tall alongside stations such as KBOO in Portland, Ore., WFMU in East Orange, NJ and KAOS in Olympia Wash. Those have all resisted piling the programming schedule with nationally syndicated shows and have instead chosen to make it easy for the community to become involved and keep the voices and production Madisoncentric.

While WORT isn’t void of syndicated program, it is rare for the station to carry a syndicated program on a daily basis. One of the few exceptions was when WORT recently buckled under the weight of progressive powerhouse Amy Goodman to add her nationally syndicated show Democracy Now! on a daily basis. It was controversial because while Goodman fit the WORT mold, the program is widely available on the internet. It is also broadcasted daily on community television station WYOU. Her show is also broadcasted at a prime hour of the day that could hypothetically be used for more local produced programming.

Another way WORT stands above many other community stations is the inability to decide if the public affairs programming or the music programming is the greatest asset. Put together they act as a Ying-Yang, something rare in community radio. Often stations will be mostly public affairs or mostly music, rarely do they achieve the balance that WORT maintains.

The station also benefits from sensitivity to the diversity of the community. WORT may carry one of the few, if not the only, locally produced Hmong radio programs in the country. They also serve up programming dedicated to local issues of womyn, the LGBT community and the Latino community.

The music line-up also has something for everyone. Some shows include unique takes on classical music, music from around the world, digging deep in the rock catalogue, blues and “indie” rock.

WORT celebrates 30 years on the air tonight at the High Noon Saloon. It is a celebration that may be bitter sweet as a WORT favorite, Dave Zero of the Hootenanny, recently announced his departure from the station. On his most recent program, Zero joked that he is coordinating with music director Sybil Augustine on trying to figure out how to find a replacement for his show. He said he is leaning towards a Survivor type contest because he likes the thought of people having to run coconuts between volcanoes.

Joining the birthday party tonight will be Joel Paterson’s Blues Roundup, jazz singer Jan Wheaton and Matan Rubenstein, and the Bob Corbit Trio featuring Clyde Stubblefield and Major Hamberlin.