2008 Community Development Award
Presented to Barbara Roadcap,
WVPT Volunteer Manager
Friends of WVPT
Nomination submitted by Tony Macari, Chief Operations Officer, WVPT
Nomination Narrative:
PROJECT
At the 2007 Development Conference in Palm Springs, the digital challenge was presented to attendees. For WVPT, this happened at a time when decisions were made to delete auction from the station’s operating plans. This meant that we would be losing contacts with volunteers who had given over 300 years of collective service. This lay heavy on the heart of the Volunteer Coordinator and to the station. These dedicated folds still desired to be a part of the WVPT family.
Ten individuals were approached with the idea of creating a group entitled Friends of WVPT. Their mission would be to Expand, Enhance and Enable the mission of WVPT beginning with the Digital Conversion. After that time, Friends of WVPT would be engaged in other station events replacing auction. Eight accepted the challenge and in November of 07, Friends of WVPT became a reality.
These folks were then trained by our engineers. Materials, including CDs and PowerPoint presentations, were created for them and equipment was gathered. Promotion of their activities was made through email blasts and newsletters to nonprofits, services and community organizations and schools in our viewing area. The Board of Directors was informed and invited to distribute this information to their contacts.
DESIRED OBJECTIVES
The desired objectives of the Friends of WVPT included:
1. To redirect long-time volunteers and keep them actively engaged with WVPT
2. To utilize the skills of said volunteers to inform the community of the Digital Transition. We hope to reach over 10 percent of our rural small market viewing area individually – one-on-one.
3. To enable this group of volunteers to continue to be an asset to the station and, in essence, to become agents of change.
COSTS
The costs of this project included time, paper and CD’s. At this time, due to unsolicited contributions made by organizations in the community, WVPT is in the black from this endeavor. Approximately 40 hours of staff time has been involved in the creation and coordination of this project over a five-month period.
RESULTS
Beginning in March 2008 to date, members of the Friends of WVPT group have completed ten presentations in various communities of our viewing area reaching over 850 individuals, with five upcoming presentations in August and September scheduled. Two large community events (with over 4,000 in attendance) had displays with Friends talking to attendees regarding the conversion. CDs have been dispensed to Real Estate representatives and house appraisers for distribution in our area.
In comparing demographics and audiences, our response from the community has paralleled that described by PBS. Each of the presentations brings additional questions from the public. These questions guide changes and additions to our presentation assisting our audiences in understanding the Digital Transition.
The response to our presentations has been very positive, as well as regarding to the Friends personally.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Membership Department of WVPT has selected random members from the viewing area to be personally called with the objective of determining members’ level of understanding and preparedness regarding the Digital Transition. The Friends of WVPT members will make these 200 calls in September.
Everything the Friends group does to enhance community understanding of the Digital transition is over and above the stations’ plan of awareness. The timing of the Development Conference, the end of auction, and the Digital Transition all fell together. And where will Friends of WVPT of go from here?
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Award Presentation Narrative:
At the 2007 Development Conference in Palm Springs, the digital challenge was presented to attendees. For WVPT, this happened at a time when decisions were made to delete auction from the station’s operating plans. This meant losing volunteer contacts who had given over 300 years of collective service.
Ten individuals were approached with the idea of creating a group to be called Friends of WVPT. Their mission would be to Expand, Enhance and Enable the mission of WVPT beginning with the Digital Conversion. Eight individuals eagerly accepted the challenge and in November of 2007, Friends of WVPT became a reality.
Trained by WVPT engineers and armed with CDs and PowerPoint presentations, they have played a tremendous role in educating their communities regarding digital transition. The costs of this project included time – less than 40 hours staff time - paper and CD’s.
Beginning in March 2008 members of this group completed fifteen presentations in various communities of the WVPT viewing area reaching over 1400 individuals. Two large community events (with over 4,000 in attendance) had displays with Friends talking to attendees regarding the conversion.
The Membership Department of WVPT selected random members from the viewing area to be personally called with the objective of determining members’ level of understanding and preparedness regarding the Digital Transition. The Friends of WVPT members made these 200 calls in September.
Everything the Friends group has done to enhance community understanding of the Digital transition is over and above the stations’ plan of awareness.
The system’s newest “Friends” group, The Friends of WVPT, was honored with the 2008 NFPB Community Development Award.
Presented to Barbara Roadcap,
WVPT Volunteer Manager
Friends of WVPT
Nomination submitted by Tony Macari, Chief Operations Officer, WVPT
Nomination Narrative:
PROJECT
At the 2007 Development Conference in Palm Springs, the digital challenge was presented to attendees. For WVPT, this happened at a time when decisions were made to delete auction from the station’s operating plans. This meant that we would be losing contacts with volunteers who had given over 300 years of collective service. This lay heavy on the heart of the Volunteer Coordinator and to the station. These dedicated folds still desired to be a part of the WVPT family.
Ten individuals were approached with the idea of creating a group entitled Friends of WVPT. Their mission would be to Expand, Enhance and Enable the mission of WVPT beginning with the Digital Conversion. After that time, Friends of WVPT would be engaged in other station events replacing auction. Eight accepted the challenge and in November of 07, Friends of WVPT became a reality.
These folks were then trained by our engineers. Materials, including CDs and PowerPoint presentations, were created for them and equipment was gathered. Promotion of their activities was made through email blasts and newsletters to nonprofits, services and community organizations and schools in our viewing area. The Board of Directors was informed and invited to distribute this information to their contacts.
DESIRED OBJECTIVES
The desired objectives of the Friends of WVPT included:
1. To redirect long-time volunteers and keep them actively engaged with WVPT
2. To utilize the skills of said volunteers to inform the community of the Digital Transition. We hope to reach over 10 percent of our rural small market viewing area individually – one-on-one.
3. To enable this group of volunteers to continue to be an asset to the station and, in essence, to become agents of change.
COSTS
The costs of this project included time, paper and CD’s. At this time, due to unsolicited contributions made by organizations in the community, WVPT is in the black from this endeavor. Approximately 40 hours of staff time has been involved in the creation and coordination of this project over a five-month period.
RESULTS
Beginning in March 2008 to date, members of the Friends of WVPT group have completed ten presentations in various communities of our viewing area reaching over 850 individuals, with five upcoming presentations in August and September scheduled. Two large community events (with over 4,000 in attendance) had displays with Friends talking to attendees regarding the conversion. CDs have been dispensed to Real Estate representatives and house appraisers for distribution in our area.
In comparing demographics and audiences, our response from the community has paralleled that described by PBS. Each of the presentations brings additional questions from the public. These questions guide changes and additions to our presentation assisting our audiences in understanding the Digital Transition.
The response to our presentations has been very positive, as well as regarding to the Friends personally.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Membership Department of WVPT has selected random members from the viewing area to be personally called with the objective of determining members’ level of understanding and preparedness regarding the Digital Transition. The Friends of WVPT members will make these 200 calls in September.
Everything the Friends group does to enhance community understanding of the Digital transition is over and above the stations’ plan of awareness. The timing of the Development Conference, the end of auction, and the Digital Transition all fell together. And where will Friends of WVPT of go from here?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Award Presentation Narrative:
At the 2007 Development Conference in Palm Springs, the digital challenge was presented to attendees. For WVPT, this happened at a time when decisions were made to delete auction from the station’s operating plans. This meant losing volunteer contacts who had given over 300 years of collective service.
Ten individuals were approached with the idea of creating a group to be called Friends of WVPT. Their mission would be to Expand, Enhance and Enable the mission of WVPT beginning with the Digital Conversion. Eight individuals eagerly accepted the challenge and in November of 2007, Friends of WVPT became a reality.
Trained by WVPT engineers and armed with CDs and PowerPoint presentations, they have played a tremendous role in educating their communities regarding digital transition. The costs of this project included time – less than 40 hours staff time - paper and CD’s.
Beginning in March 2008 members of this group completed fifteen presentations in various communities of the WVPT viewing area reaching over 1400 individuals. Two large community events (with over 4,000 in attendance) had displays with Friends talking to attendees regarding the conversion.
The Membership Department of WVPT selected random members from the viewing area to be personally called with the objective of determining members’ level of understanding and preparedness regarding the Digital Transition. The Friends of WVPT members made these 200 calls in September.
Everything the Friends group has done to enhance community understanding of the Digital transition is over and above the stations’ plan of awareness.
The system’s newest “Friends” group, The Friends of WVPT, was honored with the 2008 NFPB Community Development Award.