NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 Ajit Pai visits Broadcasters Clinic CHAIR’S COLUMN FCC Commission Chair Ajit Pai ap- Continued team building critical peared at the Virtual Broadcasters Clinic on Oct. 14 to talk about during COVID-19 pandemic issues at the FCC and take ques- ….and it goes on and on. The pandemic continues tions from broadcast engineers with no end in sight. Sorry to start this column on from around the country. such a depressing note. The biggest challenge we face is how to keep morale up. The age-old traditions The three day conference of company Christmas parties or company picnics are wrapped up Oct. 15. being tabled until this COVID thing is brought under The Broadcasters Clinic Committee would like to thank the attendees, control. the speakers, and the sponsors who made the event possible. How do you maintain social interaction with your Read more on page 5. Chris Bernier staff or department? Can you accomplish it with a WBA Chair Zoom call? I will reach out to many of you to learn Dates changed for 2021 Broadcasters Clinic about team building events you have done and The dates for the 2021 Broadcasters Clinic are being moved up be- highlight them in upcoming columns. By the nature of our business cause of the scheduling of the NAB Show in October next year. we have had many of these staff activities as part of our normal cal- The 2021 Broadcasters Clinic will be held Wednesday, Sept. 8 through endar, concerts, charity fundraising events, sporting events, etc. Now Friday, Sept. 10 at the Madison Marriott West in Madison. most everything is virtual. We need to think outside the box. People need social interaction, but how do we accomplish this and stay safe? We can’t wait to see you there! Please share your successes when I call. Continued on page 3> CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Stop the Spread Coalition ............2 Planning underway for whatever Panel to discuss public officials....3 Membership renewals .................3 comes our way next year Vetterkind named WSAE Chair ....3 Like you, your WBA is working with a However, we’ve recently determined that the Stu- Prepare for holidays ....................4 lot of uncertainty these days. And, it dent Seminar will not be held in person this year. Michelle probably comes as no surprise that Your Education Committee is currently working up Broadcasters Clinic highlights .....5 Vetterkind, there’s a lot we don’t yet know about plans for an online version of the event, with details to be announced soon. Making a Difference ................ 6-7 CAE our 2021 events. That said, please know that we are making plans to hold Member News .............................8 WBA President Your WBA will offer an online EEO session and vir- all the events you’re used to, whether tual job fair. The job fair will be like the one we held Student Awards ...........................9 and CEO they’re in person or held online. It will last summer (which was very well received). And of Student Leadership Award ..........9 be more important than ever to watch course, both will fit in with your WBA’s Assistance your inboxes as I’m sure we’ll have many announce- Awards season is coming ...........10 Action Plan for EEO Compliance. Details and dates ments for you in the coming months as we are able to have not been set yet but watch your inboxes. We 2 join Young Professionals .........10 finalize plans. will spread the word once those plans are made. Names in the News ...................11 It’s hard to grow accustomed to uncertainty, but we Broadcasters Clinic goes virtual Obituaries..................................12 know you’ve all had a lot of practice this year. Stay tuned… The 64th year of the Broadcasters Clinic was unlike Stations host debates ................12 any other. The award-winning three-day event we Student Seminar, EEO, Job Fair will be online Students in broadcasting...........13 are so proud of was held as an online event Oct. 13- As you might recall from earlier this year, your WBA is 15 and featured an appearance by FCC Chairman Foundation Chair report ............14 making changes to our winter schedule, unrelated to Ajit Pai. Bob Barry podcast update .........15 the pandemic. The Winter Conference we typically hold Once again, we drew engineers from across the Give to WBA Foundation ............15 in January is no longer happening, and the EEO session country who made excellent use of the virtual for- and job fair typically held at that conference will now be mat to engage with each other and ask questions Calendar of Events .....................16 held in conjunction with the Student Seminar. We’re ex- cited about getting the students involved in the job fair. Continued on page 2> PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 of our excellent speaker. It was a success! Remember your WBA Foundation for year- Next year’s Clinic will be earlier than usual: end giving Wednesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 10. We Your WBA Foundation promotes education for picked the new dates to avoid competing with future broadcasters, public affairs activities, the NAB Show which will be held in October next and preservation of broadcasting’s rich history year. We greatly look forward to getting everyone in Wisconsin. Please consider supporting the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association back together at the Madison Marriott West in Foundation in your year-end giving. Every dollar Officers & Board of Directors 2021. supports the past and the future of broadcasting OFFICERS 2020-2021 Insight Edge to continue in 2021 in Wisconsin. You can find a donation form on the WBA Foundation website: wbafoundation. Chair of the Board Your WBA has renewed our contract with Insight Chris Bernier Radio Plus, Marinette/ org/contribute Fond du Lac Edge Weekly in order to continue to provide you, And as we wrap up this momentous year (and Vice Chair - TV, Chair Elect our valued WBA members, with this popular Don Vesely WMTV-TV, Madison service. The Insight Edge Weekly Advertiser Intel- that’s the polite term – ha), please know that Vice Chair - Radio ligence Service gives you access to the industry’s your WBA is here for you. We realize it’s been a difficult year for everyone. Your WBA is looking Lupita Montoto La Movida WLMV Radio, premier newsletter service giving you quick, use- Madison out for you, and we expect that work to accel- ful, and current highlights of 14 key advertising Treasurer erate as we head into 2021. We know you miss categories: automotive, department stores, digital Jan Wade WISN-TV, Milwaukee networking with your peers, because we miss media, dining/grocery, electronics, employment, Secretary entertainment, financial, furniture, health care, seeing you too! In the meantime, know that Michael Wright Midwest Communications, media recap, real estate/home improvement, we’re also here to listen. Don’t ever hesitate to Green Bay/Wausau telecom, and travel. call us, even if you’re just looking for someone to Immediate Past Chair chat with. Steve Lavin WBAY-TV, Green Bay If you’re not already getting these weekly Your WBA is here through thick and thin, just as emails from us, contact Kyle Geissler (kgeissler@ BOARD OF DIRECTORS wi-broadcasters.org) and he’ll be sure to add you you are for your communities. Stay strong. Stay healthy. Have a blessed holiday season. Judson Beck WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV, to the list. La Crosse/Eau Claire Brian Burns Morgan Murphy Media, Madison Paul Cameron The Family Radio Network, Broadcasters join ‘Stop the COVID Spread’ Coalition Appleton Your WBA has joined a coalition of Wisconsin groups calling on Wisconsin residents to stop the spread of Herb Cody QueenB Radio, Platteville Sean Dwyer WXOW-TV, La Crosse COVID-19 across the state. Stevens Point The “Stop the COVID Spread!” Coalition is launching its first campaign with an urgent message about the Anna Engelhart WKOW-TV, Madison crucial need for preventative measures to stop the rapid spread the virus. Aleese Fielder NRG Media-Wausau/ Stevens Point Former Wisconsin Governor, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, and current University Andy Gille Midwest Communications, of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson encourages Wisconsin residents to stay safe in the PSA, Green Bay alongside students from the University of Wisconsin System schools. The University of Wisconsin System is Dean Kallenbach Wisconsin Public Radio, one of the members of the recently launched “Stop the COVID Spread!” Coalition. Senior Regional Manager, Eau Claire Mike Smith WFRV-TV, Green Bay “We’ve faced real challenges this year, and Mark Strachota WDJT-TV/CBS & Telemundo, the virus continues to spread in our state. Milwaukee But, each of us has it in our power to turn Colleen Valkoun iHeartMedia, Milwaukee things around,” Gov. Thompson said in the Jeff Welton Nautel, Hackett’s Cove, PSA. “It’s time to mask up, buckle down, Nova Scotia Ex Officio - NAB Board wash your hands, maintain social distance. Tom Koser Koser Radio Group, Rice Lake C’mon Wisconsin, together we can do this.” The campaign includes a 30-second WBA Team video that will run as a public education President & CEO announcement on broadcast channels Michelle Vetterkind, CAE statewide, as well as a digital campaign [email protected] including video and banner ads. NCSA/PEP Coordinator Liz Boyd “As Wisconsin continues to face an uphill battle against COVID-19, it is more important now than ever that [email protected] we take precautionary measures and shoulder the responsibility of protecting one another together,” said Director of Operations and Public Eric Borgerding, Wisconsin Hospitals Association President and CEO. “The condition of our pandemic is Affairs Kyle Geissler visible in the alarming increase in COVID infections, and for the past month, daily new records in COVID [email protected] hospitalizations, breaching the 1,000 mark recently, more than tripling in the last 30 days, and so far, with no slow-down in sight.