Friday, June 24, 2022

Friday Smiles 478: Party Day

 

In looking over the comments from yesterday concerning PBS, I want to reiterate answers to a few comments I received.  

Mae wrote:

I'm very intrigued, and tried to find more info. Could you give the source of your dollar amounts for public broadcasting support? The source I read said Kansas has state funding at the level of $500,000.

Link: https://current.org/state-funding-guide/

Here was my reply:

Mae brought up a good point when she read we get $250 K a year from the state of Kansas (down from 500 K in 2021).  Here's what I learned:
The Kansas Public Broadcasting Council, which divides the amount among four public TV stations and five public radio stations following a formula similar to CPB’s. “It is also weighted to ensure that most goes to stations serving rural communities in Kansas,” said Debra Fraser, GM at KMUW in Wichita and chair of the Council.

The $250 K is spread over 4 TV and 5 radio stations.  The money must be divided among 9 entities.  I know my PBS station gets 50 K a year after everything has been divided because they tell us that every time they have a pledge drive which is four times a year.  They couldn't say it on camera if it wasn't correct! 

Kathy and Deb commented on local news.  My PBS station doesn't have local news.  They DO have BBC News Hour late at night, which is early the next morning in the UK.  But the only "local" stuff we get is when the President of the local PBS station interviews someone in the community.  That is NOT news, but an interview.  And, it is pre-recorded, I suspect. If we want "local news," we have to go to one of our local stations, which, in my area are ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.  

PBS got a new President in 2017.  The first thing he did was start a campaign to raise funds for a new building.  He thought the old building was appalling.  It had been a service station 40 years ago when KPTS purchased it.  He got a lot of heavy lifters from what I could tell when I went.  Some I know personally, too.  

Jeanie brought up a good point.  Their children's programs are above reproach.  In fact, they are so well loved, they are shown every morning on the main channel, but have their own 24 hour channel, too.  Although I didn't, I know some of you grew up watching Sesame Street.

Erika thought I was trying to compare PBS Passport to Prime.  I was NOT.  I DID, however compare it to Acorn, which, as I understand, you must be a member in good standing before you are offered a yearly rate.  At $6.99 (USD), that comes to $83.88/year as opposed to $75.00 (USD) a year for Passport.  And PBS has British dramas and mysteries too, including Doc Martin, Father Brown, Midsomer Murders, and my favorite, Death in Paradise.  However, since the rights to these British shows must be purchased separately, they are more expensive and are not included in Passport.  Fortunately, Vienna Blood, Endeavour (as I mentioned yesterday), Broadchurch, and other British shows are available through PBS Passport.  

You can tell I'm a mystery lover, so I mention  primarily mysteries.  However, there are ghost stories, scary stuff, and lots of romance, which I would never watch.  OK, I DO watch All Creatures Great and Small, but that is as mushy as I'll allow myself!

Now let me take you to the Party at PBS.  BTW, I took over 400 photos, so culling them down took awhile.

I forgot I had taken this personal invitation from my local PBS station. 

Sadly, it never closed properly again after I opened it.

As you can see, Wednesday was by invitation only.  As a member, which was yesterday, I could have gone again, but didn't need to RSVP my intentions.  It was a come and go type day, where the ribbon cutting and ceremony was a planned event for certain invited members only.

I was asked to take this photo.

Then it was time to go outside.  I chose to stay in where it was cool.  I wasn't comfortable going out in 100 F (~38 C ) heat.  The gentleman holding the door open was the President, 

https://image.pbs.org/bento3-prod/kpts-bento-live-pbs/KPTSLocalPrograms/dc445703da_OneOnOneHeader17.jpg?resize=1280x,no-scale-up  Victor Hogstrom, who is on the left in this photo I found on the KPTS website.

I shot this through the window

and this of Hogstrom starting the ceremonies.

This is the Executive Director of "PBS Kansas."  Hard to write, since I've known it as KPTS since I've lived in Wichita.
 
The man whose photo I took earlier, gave the invocation.
 


Out of over a dozen photos, I never got a good photo of the Wall of Giving.  Bleubeard and I will be on that wall soon.  I'll be notified when the plaque and others have been added to the wall.  Our names will stay on the wall for 25 years.  By that time, I'm sure Bleubeard will be in cat heaven.  Those who know me, know I never ever, ever want my last name anywhere in public.  Therefore, I will always be known as Bleubeard and Elizabeth.  Note my friend Emily Bonavia is on the wall.  More on her later.

Lots and lots of speeches later, it was finally time for the main event.  Please note that is my deformed hand showing in the glass as I took one final photo of the speeches.

Finally what everyone was waiting for.




I kept snapping away until I saw the ribbon break.  I even caught it mid air on my camera.

Next it was time to take a tour of the new facility

starting with the A & H Electric Inc. Staff Lounge.  I would have loved to have their refrigerator/freezer.  I'm always on the lookout for an affordable fridge with the freezer on the bottom.
 
This is my friend Richard Hess's office.  He is in charge of printed media.  Note his hat he has worn since I've known him.  Sorry this is so blurry.  I took several photos of his hat and something kept me from getting a good focus.

We had time to talk at the event, which was nice.  He used to be in charge of the North Riverside Newsletter, but he stepped down about the time I became less involved, too.  Management changes and cliques were why I became less active and involved.  Richard has worked for PBS for 41 years.

He is retiring in July.
 
I enjoyed peeking into the offices and how each person had decorated theirs.

These cubicles 

were left by the previous owners, Meritrust.  They are not in use at this time at PBS Kansas. 

More offices and how they were decorated. 




 
Imagine my surprise when I walked into the next room where I saw my friend Emily Bonavia's college photo on the wall.
 
I'm not surprised they gave her an office, since she gives so much.  For example, she is a Garvey, a very big name in Wichita. 
 
Of course, she is also responsible for the PBS Kansas Museum, which we will visit soon.

The photo above is the Garvey family when Emily's mother and father were still alive.  The Cochener-Garvey Children's Education and Discovery Center will be shown in a few photos from now.  Emily is second from the right behind her father.


This was the big conference room, where zoom meetings can be held.

The man who acted as our tour guide told us Meritrust donated (left behind) all the furniture because they didn't want to move it and so they could get new.
 
Some of the awards they have won.

 
 This is a smaller conference room.




This is the Bonavia Family Museum which holds more than 75 artifacts from 52 years of PBS Kansas history.



Included were three vintage studio cameras.



The final room before we went into the studio for a buffet, was the Cochener-Garvey Children's Education and Discovery Center which teaches STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math) to children 2 to 10.  I'd love to hang out in this room myself!

Now I'm kicking myself for not taking photos in the green screen studio, where the buffet was held.  The food was incredible and each food donor tried to out do the next.  They had the biggest prawns I have ever seen (no less than 5 inches long) served in a spicy sauce, roast beef (I passed), salmon on some wonderful bed of greens and grapes, several slider sandwiches including a veggie slider, spring rolls, wontons, and the most incredible dessert that was shaped like a mouse on a homemade cookie.  Someone had some incredible piping skills. Trust me, I was impressed.  These restaurants really outdid themselves and I failed to get a single photo.  Besides champagne, which I declined, they had other drinks, but I had iced tea.  I was ready for some needed caffeine.

Thanks for sticking with me.  I was pretty impressed that I culled over 400 photos down to less than 50.  Those are my smiles this weekThanks for spending a bit of time with Bleubeard and me this Friday.  Now PLEASE visit Annie and don't forget to start your weekend with a smile.


 

17 thoughtful remarks:

Elephant's Child said...

Wow - that looks like an incredible event. And congratulations for culling all those photos down - not an easy job I know.
I do hope that you will show us when your name is added to the wall of giving.

Valerie-Jael said...

Fascinating, glad you enjoyed your big event! Valerie

Mae Travels said...

It's fascinating to see the studios and offices of this institution, and your photos capture the atmosphere. PBS and public TV stations throughout the country are a great service to everyone. Sesame Street especially has been entertaining and educating the youngest among us for something like 3 generations -- over 50 years. How great that you support them.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Iris Flavia said...

Oh, such cubicles would be a horror for me as I cannot filter noise.
Otherwise it looks like a wonderful event!

Annie said...

What an amazing event...thank for sharing it all with us.
Hugs,
Annie x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Oh wow Elizabeth what a great day you must have had. Hope your weekend is just as good. Hugs, Angela xXx

CJ Kennedy said...

Looks like a wonderful event. I liked you catching the ribbon cutting in mid-air. The facility is very spacious and I enjoyed peeking in all the offices.

My name is Erika. said...

This looks like a beautiful new facility. I keep forgetting how big states are when you head west of the Appalachian Mountains and why you probably need more stations. And fun that you know someone who works there too. And I wasn't comparing Prime to PBS. They are very different. You were talking about paying the prices for watching and how it is worth supporting PBS, and I was simply mentioning that although you have to pay to watch for Prime video, you do get the free usually faster shipping because it is part of your prime membership. I have never watched Acorn, so I'm not sure what's on that station. It might be a good comparison. Anyhow, your visit looks like it was an enjoyable way to spend some time. Happy Friday! hugs-Erika

Jenn Jilks said...

What a fun celebration!
(ツ) from Cottage Country , ON, Canada!

DVArtist said...

Wow how exciting. Oh and yes, culling down the photos. Good job. Have a very nice day.

Divers and Sundry said...

What a great opportunity!

Our PBS outlet has 2 different channels: 10.1 and 10.2. and we do have local news and reporting, including a weekly show called Behind the Headlines that provides a panel discussion of some current local issue. 10.2 provides live airing of the TN legislative sessions -no commentary, just live coverage. As you say, the children's programming is wonderful, and we have had local characters that would remind you of a Southern Mr Rogers :) We still fondly remember Mister Chuck:
https://www.wknofm.org/news-and-features/2013-01-18/goodbye-mr-chuck-beloved-wkno-host-dies-at-80

And the nature and history programming and cultural offerings (adaptations of literary works, for example) and programming bought from British sources and all the rest... It can't be beat. And it's freely accessible to everybody thanks to people like you.

I don't understand people who don't understand what PBS is and does. It deserves better state and federal funding.

Divers and Sundry said...

P.S. And just because I can't say enough good about public television lol I wanted to show you what the latest local Behind the Headlines show was like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk10buxHhtc

I mean, how can anyone _oppose_ public television?!

jinxxxygirl said...

i thoroughly enjoyed the tour Elizabeth... I wonder whose brilliant idea it was to have everyone sit out in 100 degree heat.. geesh.. I would have loved to see those mouse desserts..lol Maybe that mouse was just for Bleubeard! LOL! Hugs! deb

Sharon Madson said...

Thank you for sharing , Elizabeth! I am impressed, also that you got it down to 50 photos! I intended to go go, but didn’t, so this is great! Have a great weekend! Stay cool! This heat is really hot! LOL

Jeanie said...

Is this in Kansas City? I was at a PBS meeting in KC eons ago but this doesn't look familiar to me! I love seeing other stations, their studios and interiors. Thank you so much for the tour and again for the plug for PBS. Stations face funding issues every year, especially when the economy is a challenge and donations suffer. So grateful for your support!

Lisca said...

First of all, sorry for being so late. This morning (Saturday) I thought it was Friday, only to discover I missed a day. I had written my blog ahead of time and scheduled it.
That must have been some event! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
And I’m truly impressed you got the 400 photos down to 50!
Have a lovely weekend,
Hugs,
Lisca

Lowcarb team member said...

It looks a wonderful event, great photographs.

All the best Jan