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.

I smell cookies?

Cookies...don't they make everyone smile? The smell of them baking, the joy of dunking them in milk, and of course, eating them with the master spokesmonster, Cookie Monster...who could ask for anything more? Luckily, we at KLRN had the opportunity to provide this type of event for children and families who really do deserve a "special" night.

Earlier this week, we held the first of several events at the Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston. Families were able to make an average Wednesday an extraordinary one where everyone was able to step away from their own reality to paint and personalize an apron, play games and of course munch on freshly baked cookies with Cookie Monster himself. In essence, kids were able to be kids and parents were able to be kids...again.

It sounds so cliche to say that "it's the little things that make the biggest difference" but for these families who are coping with the stress of having a parent, spouse or loved one wounded and/or hospitalized, every bit of help matters. We already look forward to our next visit...

Yet Another San Antonio First

And KLRN is there to tell you all about it. I'm talking about the opening of Morgan's Wonderland, San Antonio's brand new theme park. Every theme park has a theme, and this one's is regardless of your disability, you're welcome here.

Its creator is former neighborhood builder Gordon Hartman. If you've watched San Antonio television you've surely seen his commercials. They virtually drip with optimism and the sense that all of us can--ought--to make this world a better place.

So when we went to do a Conversations with him I had to wonder "is this guy really that nice, that optimistic?" I can report that yes, the guy you see on those commercials is the guy who showed up to tape our show.

It's a jaded world out there and many peoples' views have a hard and nasty edge to them. Delightfully not so with Gordon Hartman. Tune in tonight (Thursday) at 8PM and you'll see what I mean. If you can't be there this evening, catch the show on KLRN's spiffy new video player where you can watch it on your own schedule. In either case, I hope you'll watch. It may be the most re-affirming half-hour you've spent in a long time.

As a non-profit, we're always looking for ways to increase our income. Goodsearch is a fun way that KLRN employees have been helping raise money for the station -- and you can help too, without donating a dime. For three days only, GoodSearch is having a $5,000 Giveaway.

GoodSearch will donate a $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded between April 6 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern and April 9 at 9:00 am Eastern. You can download the toolbar by following this link - KLRN Toolbar.

Our new KLRN toolbar is free to download and allows you to raise money for public media in South Central Texas every time you search or shop online! Once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to KLRN — at no cost to you.

The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to KLRN. So check out GoodSearch and be sure to select KLRN as your designated charity.

And of course, please pass this along to all of your friends. Last year we raised more than $74 from GoodSearch. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it's fun to raise money for the station while searching the internet for work related or home related needs. The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser does make a difference for your local PBS station.

Thank you!

It's Going Fast--n-Furious at Your Local PBS Station

I spent about half my career in commercial TV doing local TV News Promotion. That's a tough, fast-paced business, but I don't know that it was any more fast-paced than what we've been doing here at KLRN recently.

We've been in pledge drive, which means we had to design, build and light a pledge set. We've also worked every day the last couple of weeks because, well, that's the way pledge works. Been meaning to pledge, but haven't gotten around to it? I can make it real easy; just go here and see how quickly you can step through it.

We also shot an hour-long special on Water last week, and it's now edited for air at 8PM Thursday the 25th.

We're putting together a Conversations with Everyman Overachiever Nelson Wolff and SARF President Nick Hollis. We shot it down at Espada Mission, and Mr. Wolf waxes poetic about how the New Mission Reach is a labor of his love for the South Side.

Speaking of the San Antonio River, did you watch our River Walk Doc? Sorry for the inside-the-station terminology, but River Walk Doc is what we call Paseo Del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk. If you missed it, or if you want to see it again, for now at least, you can. All you've got to do is check out our spiffy new video player. You can see Conversations you may have missed, Wings Over the Alamo, World War II: In Our Words, and other important local programs.

Pledge is done on Sunday; here's to hoping we make goal, and that we earn your pledge dollar in the process by bringing you great local programming on our channel, and a lifetime of learning outside the box, out in the community.

The Challenge Was Accepted, and Met!

In response to your question: "How did The Tobin Endowment Challenge Grant do last night?" We're happy to report the successful results!

KLRN introduced The Tobin Endowment $10,000 Challenge Grant at the start of last night’s PBS NEWSHOUR, and the phones and web exploded in response! The Tobin Endowment provided a $10,000 grant — $1 for every $1 pledged in and around the PBS NEWSHOUR last night.

We received 139 pledges – from $5 to $1,000 – from callers in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Schertz, Pleasanton, Boerne, Von Ormy, Converse, Helotes, Laredo, Seguin, and Uvalde.

The total pledged was $23,900. Counting the $10,000 Tobin Endowment Challenge, the activity was a $33,900 success!

Many thanks to all of you for your support and good wishes . . . and to the Tobin Endowment for its continued participation in our Membership Campaign.

It's simple: MAKE YOUR OWN COFFEE

Some of you might think "sure, it's pledge time, and I really oughtta do my part and call in a pledge...but I'm not too sure I've got that expendable cash!"

Okay, that's good logic, but I think it falls apart if you examine it more closely. Let's say you stop in every workday at a national coffee chain...let's just call it the StellarEuro. For just a plain StellarEuro coffee you're paying...what? $1.42 with tax? And those hungry, oddly-pierced and tatoo'd baristas...don't you let them keep the change?

So that's $2 you're spending every day at the StellarEuro, which for you 5-day-a-weekers is $10. There are 4 weeks in a month, which puts you at $40 twelve times a year. Do I need to extrapolate what you spend the 52 weeks each year?

So as far as not being able to afford it...while that surely applies to some of you, I'd say most of you have the wherewithall. So I'm here to encourage you to consider a viable alternative: make your own coffee. If that seems a bit Draconian, make it every other day.

If you saved just $4 a week, $16 a month that would total out to $192 a year! And you know what? I can even let you off easy here: Membership is just $60 a year. If you just didn't get coffee 1 day--that would be $2 X 4 X 12...and even at just one day a week sacrifice, where you make your own coffee instead of that StellarEuro place...you'd have PLENTY to give.

We're here at least 5 days a week, making interesting, beautiful, important local TV. And we're bringing you all the Antiques Roadshows, Austin City Limits and Masterpiece Theaters that you can watch. So pour yourself a congratulatory cup of coffee, and then call in your pledge. Thanks!