Message from the General Manager
August 2010
 August: not only the last full month of summer, but for us here at WGBY, the end of another fiscal year. So while we hope you're enjoying time with family and friends amid the many cultural, historic and natural assets we have in our region, we’re working on closing the books on 2010 while we plan for 2011.
Next year will be special for lots of reasons. We’ll have extraordinary programming exploring our unique history as Americans with specials on everything from the contradictions of Prohibition to the extraordinary courage of those civil right heroes, The Freedom Riders. We’ll also witness the remarkable majesty and wisdom of elephants on Nature and experience a season as virtual members of the Big Apple Circus. And of course we'll provide in-depth local and national coverage of what may be one of the most interesting mid-term elections in years.
Extraordinary programming aside, 2011 is also important for your public television station, because WGBY will begin its 40th anniversary year. To make sure we enter that milestone as strong and relevant as we did in 1971, we still rely on our most vital form of support: your membership. We must finish our year in August with a strong membership base if we are going to serve you and additional viewer/members next year.
So, we're doing some innovative things this August to encourage you to increase your support. First, we’ll be challenging you to help achieve the goal of reducing on-air pledge time by half. Second, we’re offering the first-ever Murrow Society Challenge where Murrow members have pledged additional gifts that will match every new member pledge dollar for dollar. Finally, we’re calling the overall campaign: "All the dollars, Half the Pledge: It's Your Call!”
When we reach the goal, we'll stop pledging and then ALL of us can take the rest of August to enjoy this great place we call home. And hopefully we'll see you and your children or grandchildren at our Dr. Seuss event at the Springfield Museums on Friday, August 27.
A strong membership finish for 2010 means a strong foundation to have an even better 40th Anniversary in 2011. Remember, "It’s your call!" Thanks.
Cordially,
Russell J. Peotter
General Manager
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