FALL PREVIEW 4: CIRCUS & FRONTLINE

We’ve heard that many of you have enjoyed the series CARRIER, which looked at life aboard an air craft carrier. The creator of that series is back with CIRCUS. FRONTLINE looks at issues close to home in October.

These are just two shows we are highlighting this week. If you don’t want to miss these or other great programs on KRLN, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

CIRCUS
Wednesdays, November 3-17
Hit the road with CIRCUS and take an unforgettable trip with the legendary Big Apple Circus. From the big top to the “back lot” — where the real heart of the circus beats — explore a distinctive world with its own rules, lingo and no fixed address. Get involved with the diverse characters who make up the Big Apple family. Share their fears and frustrations, triumphs and failures and find out what it really means to live life in the ring.
Watch a preview of Circus at http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/

FRONTLINE
As PBS’ premier public affairs series, FRONTLINE’s stature is reaffirmed each week through incisive documentaries covering the scope and complexity of the human, social and political experience.
Death by Fire: October 19 | Did Texas execute an innocent man? FRONTLINE examines the conviction and 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson death of his three young children in light of new science that raises doubts about whether the fire at the center of the case was really arson.
The Spill: October 26 | Through interviews with current and former BP employees and executives, government regulators and safety experts, FRONTLINE joins with ProPublica to examine the trail that led to the disaster in the Gulf.

FALL PREVIEW 3: GOD IN AMERICA & NOVA

Continuing our look at the programs coming this fall to KLRN, today we’re highlighting a thought-provoking collaboration between FRONTLINE and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE called, GOD IN AMERICA.

GOD IN AMERICA
Monday-Wednesday, October 11-13, 9 PM
How has religious belief shaped American history? What role have religious ideas and spiritual experience played in shaping the social, political and cultural life of what has become the world's most religiously diverse nation?
For the first time on television, God in America, a presentation of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE, will explore the historical role of religion in the public life of the United States. The six-hour series, which interweaves documentary footage, historical dramatization and interviews with religious historians, will air over three consecutive nights.
Watch a preview God In America at: http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/

NOVA
Tuesdays at 8 PM
PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines.
Building the Great Cathedrals: October 19 | Carved from a hundred million pounds of stone, soaring effortlessly atop a spider web of masonry, Gothic cathedrals are marvels of human achievement and artistry. But how did medieval builders reach such spectacular heights?
Trapped in an Elevator: November 2 | Across North America, elevators move 325 million passengers every day. NOVA reveals the secret life of these ubiquitous machines and investigates personal stories of those who have been caught inside when they fail.

If you don’t want to miss these great programs, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

FALL PREVIEW 2: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN’S AMERICAN SONGBOOK & AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

This week, we’re looking at new programs coming this fall to KLRN! Yesterday, we looked at BASEBALL and Great Performances. Today, we’re continuing with a look at two music programs. First, Michael Feinstein takes on a journey through the American Songbook. We’ll then take a musical hop up I-35 and see who’s on stage at Austin City Limits.

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN’S AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Wednesdays, October 6-20
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN'S AMERICAN SONGBOOK chronicles Feinstein's ongoing quest to preserve, perpetuate and celebrate one of America's greatest treasures - the American popular songbook -created by some of the nation's finest composers and lyricists: the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
Saturdays at 10 PM
ACL continues its longstanding tradition of showcasing the best of original American music. This fall, catch the sounds of: Jimmy Cliff, 10/2; Spoon, 10/9; Patty Griffin & Friends, 10/16; and Alejandro Escovedo/Trombone Shorty, 10/23.

If you don’t want to miss these great programs, sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

FALL PREVIEW 1: THE TENTH INNING & GREAT PERFORMANCES

Vacation photos have been posted to Facebook, school buses are back in our neighborhoods and here at KLRN, we’re looking forward to some exciting programs this fall. Each day this week, we’re taking a peek at a couple of these programs. We'll kick things off by highlighting Ken Burn’s latest project, an update to his series, BASEBALL and Sir Patrick Stewart’s turn as Macbeth.

Don’t miss these great programs! Sign up for our bi-weekly program highlights email at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

THE TENTH INNING
Tuesday-Wednesday, September 28-29
Thousands of bats, three home run records and one "curse" have been broken since Ken Burns last explored the history of America's national pastime with his landmark 1994 PBS series BASEBALL. Now, Burns and co-director Lynn Novick update the series with THE TENTH INNING. Beginning with a crippling strike that alienated millions of fans and brought the game to the brink, this new film tells the tumultuous story of our national pastime up to the present. It celebrates baseball's new Golden Age - an era of unprecedented home run totals, popularity and prosperity - and sheds light on one of the game's darkest chapters - the steroid era.
Watch a preview of The Tenth Inning at http://www.pbs.org/baseball-the-tenth-inning/

GREAT PERFORMANCES
Television's longest-running performing arts anthology continues to broadcast the best in music, dance and theater.
Macbeth: Wednesday, October 6 | Director Rupert Goold adapts his gripping stage production of Macbeth - with Sir Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood reprising their Tony-nominated performances - into this edgy film adaptation, which relocates the bloody action to a nameless 20th-century netherworld.
Watch a preview of Macbeth at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/macbeth/about-the-film-and-preview/1015/

Check back tomorrow when we’ll explore music specials coming to KLRN!

At KLRN, we're all about showing you

...what you've never seen. And I went to see something last week that I'd never seen: The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg. It's been called the "most comprehensive, well-organized and informative Military Museum" by a writer from the Wall Street Journal. So, why do you want to go to a Military Museum? I can think of a million reasons, but here are a couple:

It's not just a military museum, but a museum of the sociology of the times--the 30's and 40's. Even if you've no interest in War, spend some time there and you'll get a heaping dose of what it felt like being alive, and being an American back then.

Further, it will give you a window into your parents' and grandparents' world. Everyones' lives revolved around the war, and the survival of the world as we know it was in no way guaranteed. Those of us not born 'til way after the war really can't comprehend how all-encompassing World War II was, even here in the peaceful US. Everyone paid a price, and some paid with everything they had.

So why was I at the Museum of the Pacific War? We recorded a Conversations there with its new President & CEO, Retired General Mike Hagee. He's a great guy and there was so much to see, so much to talk about, that we decided to make this Conversations an hour-long special. Calling it special is no leap, either. Host Jeff Coyle had to overcome a blown out tire, a cab ride home, then he had to borrow his wife's car just to get to Fredericksburg!

No arduous journey for you though; all you've got to do is turn on your TV to watch. It'll be on at 8PM Thursday August 19th. If you can't see it then, you can catch it on our Video Player later.

I'm sure we'll be able to show you something you hadn't seen before about our world, and even about our little slice of it here in Texas.

TWEETING THE AUCTION
By (Guest Blogger) Laura Bray
Bruce and I always look forward to June and the Blazing Gavels auction. Over the years, we’ve purchased art, wine, vacations, jewelry, and much more, all while supporting our great local television station. So I was flattered beyond measure (and ridiculously excited!) when KLRN asked me to serve as one of their “guest Tweeters” during the event!
KLRN staffer Katrina Kehoe set me up with a computer and desk, and off I went. We’ve watched the auction for years, but I’ve never been in-studio. I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly it all runs. There’s plenty of energy in the room, but no panic or any sense of frenetic activity. It runs like a well-oiled machine. You can really tell that the staff and many of the volunteers have done this for a long time.
The redesigned set occupies a much smaller space, but it didn’t appear to be crowded or cramped. The boards still rotate around all evening, and the volunteers worked well in the new space.
The “guest Tweeter” desk sits up on the top platform, just to the left of where announcer Steve Alwais sits. The spot provided me with an excellent view of all the activity below. Occasionally I would wander the studio, take photos, and talk to volunteers. This being a new activity, my desk attracted a good bit of attention from those getting ready to read the boards. Everyone kept looking over my shoulder as I typed.
The most surreal aspect of the evening: while everything looked familiar, I couldn’t hear the announcer or board readers. Monitors were scattered throughout the studio, but all were muted. It was strangely disorienting.
I kept expecting the energy level to drop as the evening progressed, but it never happened. A new shift of phone bank volunteers arrived around 10:00 pm, and they were just as enthusiastic as the first bunch.
I truly enjoyed the experience…so much so that I returned on the final night!
And let me tell you…..that zebra is totally creepy in person.

Laura Bray blogs as Alamo A La Carte (http://alamoalacarte.blogspot.com) and tweets as @laurabray

I hear some buzzing?

So fun. This year, we (KLRN) with the help of Rackspace, are taking our Blazing Gavels auction waaaay into Social Media. Rackspace loaned us their fantastic employee, Fran Stephenson, to help us, essentially, make time for Social Media in our plans for Blazing Gavels. While we as a business have done what we can to build and maintain a presence in Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, etc, the auction is a beast all it's own that takes many people and many hours. Sometimes trying to find a time to "stop" and try something different will keep you from doing what is already on your to-do list. Insert Fran and all of the sudden we have someone to be held accountable to---she kept us in check (with a good old-fashioned checklist), helped us to expand our minds and ideas, and gave us insight into what auction appears like to folks outside of our building. One of the ideas that we came up with is inviting a Social Media Reporter to come into the studio each night to "report" on what is happening. Who is in the studio? What is being auctioned off next? What is the environment like? What is different than what they expected to see? What is their "wow" moment?
It is terribly exciting for us to see what is unfolding, and most importantly it is so helpful to have someone "speaking" for us. Answering tweets and FB questions, promoting items, engaging in discussion, creating buzz, and helping us to be out there. Nora Frost was our first guest tweeter and her energy was awesome. 9pm struck and I said, "Nora, if you need to go, feel free...you have done wonderfully, but I know that you have other obligations." Her response, "Are you kicking me out? I'm having a ball and the only question I have is where can I plug in to get more power?" She made her exit after 11p. Thanks Nora.
I can't wait to engage 9 other folks from our San Antonio Social Media community into our efforts and a day later, read about their comments, experiences and insight.

It really does take a village...

As we approach the 44th Annual Blazing Gavels auction, there is a buzz in the building, on the streets, and throughout the community and we all hear over and over again... donate, donate, donate! The energy is fantastic. And while it is very easy to get lost in the donations that make the auction what it is, it is the energy that so many of us use to make it all happen that is the key. I have to stop for a moment and thank all of the restaurants who have committed hundreds of meals over the 10 days of the auction to feed our volunteers. These restaurants (some of them have even promised more than one day!) make sure that the over 1,500 volunteers that set up fort in the KLRN studio for the auction are well fed.
It does take a village, a whole village, to make this event happen. We recognize, salute and applaud everyone who is providing a lunch, dinner or snack to our amazing volunteers. If you want to get involved, please give us a ring--- 270.9000, ask for Sharon or e-mail ssutton@klrn.org ---I would be delighted to add your name to the list below.

Chipotle
Sugar Hill Bakery
Cabot Cheese
Mission Foods
Sugarbakers
Spaghetti Warehouse
Deananns Gourmet Popcorn
WD Deli
FattysBurgers
Goombas Pizza
Le Cake
Black Eyed Pea
R&S Dairy Queen
Taco Taco
Picante Grill
Cheesy Jane’s
Fourth Street Inn
Earl Abels
Burger King
Sol Y Luna
Green Restaurant
Good Time Charlies
Michelino’s
Rudy’s Deli
Domino’s Pizza
Butterfly Cake Bites

Auction Volunteers Rock

Blazing Gavels would simply not be a success without the volunteers who give of their time during the ten-day event.

Over 1,000 volunteers are involved in such things as:

• Answering calls during the event
• Calling high bidders back and confirming their bid
• Writing and tracking bids on the boards
• Staging items that we show you on-air
• Helping with the web site and social media posts
• Serving meals, generously donated by local restaurants

We can always use more help during Auction, particularly answering phones in the late night shifts. If you would like to get involved, call Sharon Sutton at 210-270-9000 or email her at ssutton@klrn.org.

'Twas the Week Before Auction

With just one week before the kick-off of KLRN’s 44th Annual Great TV Auction, we thought we share a bit of what the KLRN staff is doing.

Auction Team: The center of all of the action, this group is busily ensuring all donations are picked up from various places around region and getting them entered into databases and prepared to go on-air and online.

Social Media: We’ve gotten some great help this year from Fran Stephenson and the folk at Rackspace Hosting. We’ve created a brand new way to share news and updates throughout the Auction. Be sure to look for us at facebook.com/klrnauction or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/klrnauction.

BlazingGavels.com: If you’ve visited the site lately, you’ll see we are beginning to enter the first items. Check back each day to see what we’ve added.

Production: This team is coordinating everything you see when you watch the Auction beginning at 6 PM each night. The KLRN studios are being transformed and it’s very exciting to watch it take shape. We have a group of students from the International Academy of Design and Technology and the Blue Star MOSAIC program, who are creating and painting a new graphic look for the set. (See progress photos here.)

And how about YOU? Are you ready for the Auction? Do you have your SPEED BID NUMBER? Give us a call at 210-270-9000 today!

Don't You Believe Them

Surely you've seen the patterns in people. There are those who fast-as-lightning will tell you "No way; it can't be done."

If you believe that, you're right. It can't be.

And then there are those who look at that same equation and think "yeah, it's gonna be hard, but I think we can do it. No. I know we can do it." These folks have the can-do gene, which is one of humanity's great gifts to itself.

For our Conversations program a while back we interviewed the doctors Ruth Berggren and Tyler Curiel. They've got the odd luck to have suffered the landfall of Hurricane Katrina at ground zero, and to have gone to Haiti to help in the humanitarian efforts after their big quake. These 2 doctors have that can-do gene.


We also recently interviewed Carolyn Chipman Evans, who created the Cibolo Nature Center, and has gone on to make it one of Texas' finest Interpretive Centers. One has to wonder how many came to her and said "You wanna do what? Can't be done!" She's got the can-do gene.


Last week we interviewed Sandra Cisneros, who was raised in a situation where she was told the her career options were primarily secretarial. Turns out, she was driven not so much to type, but to write. Now she's written herself into the pantheon of great American writers. Sandra's got the can-do gene, too.


Next week we talk to Joci Straus, whose life is all about seeing the possibilities, and putting the effort towards turning those possibilities into realities. After leading the charge to save the Majestic and Empire Theaters, Ms. Straus is now focused on helping the next generation of artists and performers with scholarships that will enable them to realize their dreams. No doubt, Joci Straus has the can-do gene.

Here at KLRN, we're all about can do. We hope through programs like Conversations, that we inspire you to do all you can. Don't believe 'em when they tell you you can't. You can.

Can you imagine their excitement?

A typical "school project" is filled with stress, angst, deadlines, grades, and usually some last minute cramming. Sound about right? Well, a group of St. Mary's Hall students may have felt some or all of those feelings while working on their group project for Fresh Cut but this week they were able to feel a bit rewarded for their work. Fresh Cut is a film contest held annually by KLRN for local high schoolers. Students submit their projects which are viewed and judged by a professional panel. The top finalists make it on-air for a one-hour documentary--and it is then that the Director's Cut winner is announced. Last year we added an on-line element allowing the public to vote for their favorite (resulting in a Viewers Choice award).

When the team at PBS NewsHour learned about our project, they viewed the 2010 finalists and found that one film in particular stood out. Not long after contacting us, a PBS NewsHour Extra reporter was interviewing (via Skype) the 4 students behind the film. My, my...hasn't interviewing changed! We are terribly proud of all of the student films submitted this year and to the group from St. Mary's Hall--congrats on the interview! You've represented San Antonio very very well.

All winners will be announced on air May 20th. You bring the popcorn, students provide the entertainment.

Come Learn About Your Better Nature

Have you been to Boerne's Cibolo Nature Center? It's about 160 acres of hill country bottomland, but even with its small size, it features four completely distinct ecosystems: a marsh, a tall-grass praire, a woodlands, and the Cibolo creek, with towering Bald Cypress.

The story of how the Cibolo came about is crammed full of history, passion, and humanity. Here at KLRN we've heard about the Cibolo for years, so we finally connected with its creator and Executive Director, Carolyn Chipman Evans, and got the inside story. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies and a crew of intrepid production folks headed out to Boerne to shoot the half-hour Conversations only to be greeted with heavy rain.

Not to worry; this ain't our first rodeo. We shot on one of the Cibolo's expansive back porchs, keeping David and Carolyn high-n-dry while it rained 3 feet over their shoulders. This Thursday night at 8 the program on the Cibolo Nature Center airs. It's a fine show and I sure think you'll like it.

The Cibolo story is an important one, not just for Boerne, but for all of us. And their story reminds me of KLRN's: they do valuable work, for free, hoping that people will be touched by their efforts, and thereby decide that those efforts warrant their financial support. But enough preaching...just give the show a look-see and I think you'll see what I mean. And don't forget: if you get too busy to watch, you can also view it on KLRN's snazzy new video player.. This show will be available there, along with hundreds of others!

KLRN Celebrates Our Volunteers

Message from William G. Moll, KLRN President:

The week of April 18-24, 2010 is National Volunteer Week. This year’s theme “Celebrating People in Action” truly represents the spirit of more than 2,000 volunteers who have given their time to KLRN’s events this year. Over the course of the last year, our volunteers have helped us with Membership Drives, Early On Family Fun Fairs, Kids Club Events, San Antonio Wine Festival, Kerrville Wine Festival, Laredo Women’s Health Conference and Blazing Gavels Auction and Office Support. The successful outcome of these events wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our community volunteers.

KLRN would like to take this week to recognize the team of volunteers who make it possible to continue our mission:
…to provide quality programs and services which advance education, culture and community to enrich the lives of people throughout South Central Texas.

Below, you will find a few photos from our past events — perhaps you will see yourself, a family member or friend. Next year, we hope our photos will capture our long time volunteers and new volunteers welcomed into our KLRN family.

Thanks for all you do to support KLRN and public television!




To join our fantastic team of volunteers, contact Sharon Sutton at 210-270-9000 or email her at ssutton@klrn.org.

WARNING:

This isn't a rant against Kids these days who can't find anything to do with their time. Instead, it's a heads-up about how young folks are routing their creative energy towards something that inspired them, and may inspire you.

I'm talking about Fresh Cut, KLRN's yearly film contest for high schoolers. Working in conjuction with high school teachers, KLRN's Education Department collaborated with mysa.com to give young people a specific creative outlet, and even a broadcast for their endeavors. At 8PM on Thursday, May 20th, we'll be broadcasting Fresh Cut, but you don't have to wait 'til then to see the winning entries.

Instead, why not go here to check out the videos, one-by-one, and vote on your favorite? Voting will be open only for the next week, and the winner will get the Viewers' Choice Award during our broadcast.

Kids these days! One of 'em may just be tomorrow's Steven--or Stephanie--Spielberg.