GAIL MENDELSON STERMAN
Nominated by Stacey Karp, APTS Photo: Gail Sterman (left) with Dorothy Pacella, National Friends Chair Gail Mendelson Sterman is a member of the Board of Trustees of WJCT in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Association of Public Television Stations in Washington, D.C. Gail has been involved with WJCT since 2004 when she was invited to join their Community Advisory Board (CAB). She worked with fellow members of that Committee to restructure the CAB and update its policies and procedures. She was later named CAB Chair. Members of WJCT's Community Advisory Board (CAB) serve as advocates for the station to local groups, businesses and organizations. The CAB is comprised of 30 members who proportionally represent the five-county broadcast area served by WJCT -- the First Coast. These members serve as the conduit between WJCT and the community for sharing information about upcoming programs and services, keeping station management updated regarding upcoming events and programs for possible broadcast and complementary programming. The group works closely with management in discussion of topic ideas for WJCT's quarterly public affairs program. |
In 2008, Gail was named to WJCT's Board of Trustees. She currently serves on the Board's Strategic Planning Committee and Advancement Committee, helping with the station's advocacy efforts. Board members of WJCT help with the process of Advocacy by reaching out to elected officials at the local, state and federal levels, sharing with them the role WJCT plays in advancing
the well-being of the citizens of the First Coast, and thus, helping political representatives understand that WJCT is worthy of the investment of tax dollars and ongoing policy support. WJCT's does not have a Volunteer Manager, but their many volunteer efforts (i.e. WJCT Radio Reading Service and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive) are led by members of the Development staff. She has worked for over 30 years in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors in the areas of public relations, marketing and development. Gail began her career in West Virginia as host of a local television talk show and went on to become a reporter and anchor for WWVA, a 50,ooo watt radio station. Gail is also a member of the APTS Leadership Council, grasstops network comprised of community leaders and station volunteers who are committed to advancing public television's mission on Capitol Hill. As a volunteer ambassador for public broadcasting on the local and national level, Gail regularly meets with elected officials to advocate for funding for public broadcasting. Gail's passionate dedication to her local station, and the public broadcasting system as a whole have helped garner support from her Congressional delegation. View the video of the Award Presentation to THE SCHAUB FAMILY. |