Volunteer Opportunities: June 2015 Denver KIDS Fun Fest

Support families and children at the Annual Denver KIDS Fun Fest: Saturday, September 12, 2015 (10am-2pm)

PBS is the largest early learning classroom in the nation, providing access to outstanding educational programming for all children. The Rocky Mountain PBS Denver KIDS Fun Fest (Saturday, September 12, 2015 at the station-1089 Bannock St.) extends this educational commitment to families and children. We need your help with the largest community outreach of the year! Children and families will be hosted by favorite PBS characters, including Peg + Cat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George. Children will be encouraged to discover, learn, create and get up and go through a variety of FREE interactive activities. Stage performances will entertain as well as inform. It's the perfect outing for families in a safe and entertaining setting--the best block party FREE to all! It takes MANY, MANY volunteers to put on this wonderful, free event. Approximately 8,500 children and families attend this festival. There are many different types of jobs and different shifts. We hope you will support our families and children by volunteering for this event. Put together your own volunteer team – it's great fun to volunteer with friends, family and co-workers! OR, volunteer as an individual. We have all types of volunteer opportunities that will suit all our volunteers.

Here are the jobs that we need assistance with:

I. Pre-KIDS Fun Fest

• A. Distributing flyers in 3 block radius of station (1089 Bannock St.) Week of July 20: 4 volunteers (any day, anytime - takes about 2 hours)

• B. Distributing flyers in 3 block radius of station Week of September 1: 4 volunteers (any day, anytime - takes about 2 hours)

• C. Friday, September 11—5-6 pm! Only one hour! Help with chalk outlines for booths in street and parking lot. Need 4 volunteers

II. Day Of - Saturday, September 12, 2015

• A. Early Morning Set-Up 7-9:30 am 15 volunteers • B. Set-Up/Monitoring Continental Breakfast 6:30-8:30 am 1 volunteer • C. Vendor and Volunteer Check-In Info Booth 7am-1:30 pm 4 volunteers (lunch included) • D. Traffic Controllers (Guide vendors to set up locations) 7-10am 2 volunteers • E. Tricycle Village 8am-10am Help with set-up 4 volunteers 10am-3pm Assist with kids and take-

down 8 volunteers (lunch provided) • F. Monitor Block Island Monitor block play area from 10 am-2:00 pm –3 volunteers (lunch provided) • G. Greeters (Welcome attendees/hand-out maps) 9:30 am-noon 4 volunteers Noon-2pm 2

volunteers • H. Characters and Handlers (guide and assist PBS characters) Handlers 8am–2pm 4 volunteers

(Handlers assist characters as assigned with moving through crowds and greeting their little fans. Lunch provided.)

• I. Crowd Control 1. Bounce House/Climbing Wall 9:45am-2pm 4 volunteers (lunch included) 2. Character Booth 9:45-2 pm 4 volunteers (lunch included)

• J. Floaters (assist where needed) 9am-2pm (lunch provided) 3 volunteers • K. Lost Children Booth 10 am-2 pm (lunch provided) 3 volunteers • L. Photographers 9 am-Noon 1 volunteer Noon-2 pm 1 volunteer • M. Stage Assistants (assist stage manager) 8am – 2pm (lunch provided) 2 volunteers • N. Tear Down 2-3:30 pm 15 volunteers

To volunteer or to find out more, please email Susan Barber (susanbarber@rmpbs.org) with subject header "Sign Me Up to Volunteer!" and let her know the job and shift(s) that you would like or questions you may have.

Want to Impact Kids? Join the Volunteer Ranks for our Super School News Program (Denver) Join the volunteers for Super School News (rmpbs.org/ssn) and make a difference in a child's life. This education-based program is the oldest, continuously running production of Rocky Mountain PBS. For over 30 years, volunteers have made it possible for 5th and 6th

graders to produce 2-minute news broadcasts about their schools which appear on the air. This program introduces children to the world of broadcast news and, as a result, some of the Super School News alumni have gone on to careers in journalism and broadcast.

Volunteers will be assigned a school and work with a teacher and student team (1-2 coaching sessions at the school) to design their broadcast. Volunteer training is provided. In addition, volunteers will assist with assembling information (1 morning in August and December), orientation day (1 morning in September and January) and will attend the taping session at the Denver station.

We hope you will help sustain this legacy program. If you are interested in volunteering, please email superschoolnews@rmpbs.org.

Nationally Recognized StoryMakers Program Seeks Volunteers (Denver) StoryMakers (www.rmpbs.org/storymakers) received the 2015 award for the best community development program from the National Friends of Public Broadcasting. Our volunteers made this possible! StoryMakers is a statewide short story contest for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Students submit stories on-line and volunteers organize submissions and serve as judges. Student finalists participate in a one-day workshop and winners and finalists are recognized at an awards luncheon.

Volunteers lead this program and staff this program. StoryMakers is a fun and fulfilling experience for the RMPBS volunteer corps!

1. Office Work-Process On-Line Entries Work at the station (1089 Bannock) on your schedule printing and assembling the entries for StoryMakers. Work begins the week of September 28 - week of October 12, 2014. Volunteers may choose their day and time between the hours of 9:00 am-7:00 pm, Monday-Fridayto work 2-3 hours but will need to coordinate time with Susan Barber, volunteer coordinator. Volunteers will be trained. Interested volunteers should contact Susan at susanbarber@rmpbs.org

2. Judges Whether you are a past volunteer or a first-time judge, we are seeking your assistance with this incredibly popular Rocky Mountain PBS initiative! A rubric will be provided to help judges evaluate the stories. Judges will need to be available to read the stories at Rocky Mountain PBS, located at 1089 Bannock Street, on at least one of the following dates and 4-hour time slots: Monday, October 19 -- 12:30 until 4:30pm Tuesday, October 20 -- 5:00 until 9pm Wednesday, October 21 -- 5:00 until 9pm

Friday, October 23 -- 5:00 until 9pm Saturday, October 24 -- 9am until Noon If you would like to be a judge (sooo much fun) or have questions, please contact Lauren Simmons, StoryMakers Volunteer, at laurensimmons208@gmail.com or Susan Barber, Special Events & Volunteer Coordinator, at susanbarber@rmpbs.org and include your name, email, phone number and the date(s) you wish to volunteer. Feel free to forward this email to friends, coworkers, fellow book club members, or any other individuals that might have an interest in participating in judging these stories.

Transcribers Needed for Groundbreaking New Initiative (Denver) Calling all volunteers! We are looking for individuals interested in becoming a critical part of the new "Gaining Ground" initiative. Over the next 18 months, the I-News Team and the Production Team will be creating several documentaries with accompanying journalism reports (online, in print, on radio and TV) to inform viewers on the racial inequities that exist in Education, the Justice System, the Economy, the Foster Care and Family Structures, among others. We are conducting on camera interviews that we would like volunteers to transcribe. A transcription is simply the typed text of what the interviewee said. The transcriptions will be shared with everyone on the team, so that the reporters can read and quote the subjects in their reporting and the writer and editor can write the scripts. Volunteers can work at home on their own computer, or at the Rocky Mountain PBS station. Skills needed – typing and a positive attitude! If you are interested, please contact Julie Speer, 303-620-5728 or juliespeer@rmpbs.org. Volunteers will learn about the elements that go into a documentary production!

Tour Guides Have the Most Fun! (Denver) Do you have a few hours a month? (Most tours are scheduled during the day but there are some occasional evenings too!) Join the fun of taking small groups around the Denver station and informing folks of all ages about the wonders of Rocky Mountain PBS. It's easy – we have tour scripts and we train you. Generally, our tours last approximately an hour. You don't have to be an expert. Just bring your smile and laughter with you. Tour guides are some of the best goodwill ambassadors that we have. Rocky Mountain PBS is committed to our public and that means that we welcome the public into our station more than any other TV station in town. We need your help. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, please contact Susan Barber susanbarber@rmpbs.org and we will have some fun!

Leadership Opportunity! Seeking Volunteer Advisory Team Members (Denver) Are you a maverick? Are you a leader? Are you an innovator? If you answered yes, then we want you to have some fun with Rocky Mountain PBS! We are creating a revolutionary new volunteer leadership model and we are very excited. Come make history with us and be a part of the new Volunteer Advisory Team. Members of the Volunteer Advisory Team will work collaboratively and nimbly to strategically coordinate volunteers & staff to meet the needs of the station. It is intended that the positions on the Volunteer Advisory Team are flexible and not meeting or daytime intensive.

Specifically, we need 2 volunteers for the Team who will work as part of the whole AND focus on performing an assessment of the current volunteer database (Volgistics). Volgistics is a VERY user-friendly database and it is fun to work with! It's not complicated but requires experience working with databases and the ability to evaluate the efficacy of the database and the information we are gathering. This is work that can be done from home primarily but will also include some face-to-face time with the Team and staff members. We ask Team Members to commit to a year of service and we anticipate the "job" will take from 8-10 hours/month.

If you are interested in joining the Volunteer Advisory Team in database assessment category, please contact Susan Barber, Special Events/Volunteer Coordinator, at susanbarber@rmpbs.org as soon as possible!!!

Display Your Imaginative Side (Denver) Submitted by Laura Sampson and Betty Flaten

The Station's Archived Memories (SAM Display Committee is looking for several imaginative and friendly volunteers. Volunteers that enjoy participating in Rocky Mountain PBS special events will find this to be the perfect volunteer activity with an opportunity to attend events while also showing off the station's history. Volunteers

are asked to create colorful, interesting and appealing displays from the thousands of available historical photographs, documents and memorabilia items from the archives.

SAM provides all materials to display, and you would work with a seasoned volunteer until comfortable working alone. Training is provided for all volunteers at their convenience. The average time spent per event is approximately two hours ahead of the occasion selecting the perfect display items from the archives. An additional hour is needed to set up and take down each display on the day of the event. The really fun part begins when supervising the display and conversing with guests. Events are most often held at Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver) but are periodically held outside of the station. Individuals that are available during business hours or evenings can enjoy this volunteer position.

Does this volunteer activity sound like something you'd like to do? Please contact the SAM Office at Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver) 303-620-5734 or emailSAM@rmpbs.org for additional information.

Production Preservation Needs Volunteers! (Denver) Co-Chairs: Lloyd Anderson and Tom Muja

The Production Preservation Committee of Station's Archived Memories, co-chaired by Tom Muja and Lloyd Anderson, has openings for volunteers interested in helping to preserve local productions of Rocky Mountain PBS.

The job entails a once-a-week commitment during weekday business hours. Volunteers help with a variety of jobs including entering information into the production database or helping with the transfer of 1-inch tapes. Training is provided.

If interested in working on this committee, please contact the Station's Archived Memories (SAM) Office at Rocky Mountain PBS, 303-620-5734, or submit a request via email to: SAM@rmpbs.org. To learn more about Station's Archived Memories, visit the SAM page on the RMPBS website.

In Search of Station's Archived Memories Research Chair (Denver) Do you love learning about the past? You can contribute to preserving the important Rocky Mountain PBS archive collection. We have information that is important to preserve. With your help it can be used in a variety of ways today and in the future to promote Rocky Mountain PBS!

Are you interested in working with a group of amazing volunteers with a computerized database to identify and catalog a whole host of material? This may be the volunteer job for you!

We provide training and you can develop your skills in data base management, archiving and researching and have fun in the process.

Here are the basics:

• Location: Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver) • Time Commitment: 4 hours per week, during business hours. • Skills: Basic computer skills as well as ability and desire to communicate with RMPBS Staff to assist

with time-sensitive inquiries.

Call Station's Archived Memories (SAM) for more details- the SAM Office at RMPBS, Denver 303-620-5734 or contact us online at SAM@rmpbs.org.

Contribute to the future of RMPBS by becoming an expert on the past!

Transcribers Needed for Station's Archived Memories (Denver) Do you prefer not to drive to Rocky Mountain PBS to offer your time as a volunteer? Transcribing for Station's

Archived Memories may be the perfect volunteer job for you.

Whether from your own home desktop or a computer in the SAM office at Rocky Mountain PBS (Denver), you can support the efforts of Station's Archived Memories by serving as a volunteer transcriber of Oral History interviews. The interviews average about 55 minutes in length and can be received as an audio file directly on your home computer.

Each of the Station's Archived Memories oral history interviews is videotaped, digitally preserved and transcribed for future generations. The interviews provide insight to fascinating institutional, community and individual histories. Interviews offer an insight to memorable moments in the history of Rocky Mountain PBS as well as a look into the "everyday life" at a public broadcasting station.

Volunteer transcribers must have a current computer capable of playing electronic audio files and a Word program. A volunteer for Oral History transcribing must have strong computer skills, knowledge of how to create Word documents, the ability to receive and send emails and the skills to download/upload files. Additionally, a volunteer transcriber must have excellent listening skills including the ability to type audio files word-for-word. Schedules and time commitment will vary with the individual transcriber. Detailed training in regard to specific responsibilities and expectations are provided by fellow volunteers of Station's Archived Memories at Rocky Mountain PBS.

If you are interested in being interviewed for the position as an Oral History transcriber, please contact the SAM Office: 303-620-5734 or emailSAM@rmpbs.org. Southern Colorado Volunteers for Colorado Springs KIDS Fun Fest! (Colorado Springs) Get ready to have some fun! Southern Colorado's KIDS Fun Fest will take place on Saturday, June 6th at Acacia Park in Colorado Springs from 10am-2pm (event times), set up will probably begin around 7:30am. More information will be available as the event nears. Contact Elyse Jones at elysejones@rmpbs.org for more information. Western Colorado Multiple Volunteer Opportunities

Rocky Mountain PBS on the Western Slope (KRMJ) has tons of fun opportunities for volunteers! Contact KRMJEvents@RMPBN.onmicrosoft.com for more information on the following opportunities:

• Special Events • Community Outreach • Community Calendar

• Community Cinema • Office Assistance • Kids Fun Fest • Family Science Night

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities Volunteers play a critical role at Rocky Mountain PBS. The Rocky Mountain PBS volunteer corps donates (on average) 15,000+ hours per year. They expand the capacity of the organization in order to enhance the public outreach and sustain viewer support of the mission-- to inspire people to engage in deeper, more meaningful ways with the world around them. Volunteers enjoy the opportunity to work together supporting and leading station initiatives.

We hope that you might consider donating your time and talent to Rocky Mountain PBS. We have a variety of volunteer opportunities and new opportunities are constantly popping up. The best way to learn about these is to sign up in our database or contact volunteer coordinator, Susan Barber (susanbarber@rmpbs.org). To sign up in the database, go to www.rmpbs.org/volunteer and click on “Sign Up to Volunteer.” If you are in our database, you will receive monthly updates on volunteer news and opportunities. Below is a list of some of the many opportunities available:

Station Tours: Rocky Mountain PBS is a PUBLIC broadcasting station and we invite the public into the station at any opportunity! This is a very important piece of community outreach. We rely on our volunteer tour guides. Tours are done primarily during the day/business hours (but we also provide occasional weekday evening tours). It’s great fun and training is provided.

On-Call Volunteers: Sign up to be on our on-call list for a variety of short-notice, immediate jobs from mailings, to button making, to data input, “faux” phone banks and many more!

Community Cinema: Greet and register guests at free screenings of outstanding independent films that occur approximately once a month. You meet great folks and have the opportunity to see award winning films.

Photographers: If you enjoy taking pictures and you are pretty good, sign up to be a photographer! We take pictures of everything!!!

Pledge: Pull a team together of your friends for an evening and take over the phones! or, volunteer individually to assist with the production and logistics

Super School News: Coach a classroom in preparation for an on-air news broadcast about students’ schools. This nationally recognized program provides students with the opportunity to get a taste of broadcast journalism.

Station’s Archived Memories (SAM): Help keep the history of Rocky Mountain PBS alive. A nationally recognized volunteer-driven project, Station’s Archived memories welcomes volunteers interested in preserving photographs, memorabilia, oral histories, local productions and station documents related to Rocky Mountain PBS. Archive training provided, but computer skills mandatory. Work is done during weekday business hours at Rocky Mountain PBS. 303-620-5734 or SAM@rmpbs.org.

Storymakers: Perfect for the volunteer who has limited time! Be a reader/judge for this state-wide short story contest for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Help us judge and read over 900 stories.

Newsletters: Write articles, coordinate newsletters that include the monthly Volunteer Bulletin and the Cooks Club Newsletter.

Community Outreach: Perfect opportunity to work with friends on weekdays, weekends or evenings for screenings, staffing booths at community events (including jazz events and the like).

Volunteer Recruitment: Call your friends and build our volunteer corps by reaching out to your network – your friends and colleagues.

Volunteer Leadership: Develop and enhance your leadership skills. Opportunities abound to really make a significant impact by taking leadership roles in new and current station initiatives and on the Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer Board!

Special Events: Big and small events – many different jobs!

Online Auction: Variety of different types of jobs. Fun work in team atmosphere.

Southern Colorado Volunteer Opportunities (Colorado Springs & Pueblo) For more information, contact Keanna Smith at Keannasmith@rmpbs.org Special Events Tim Gill Center for Public Media: Office assistance, grant writing Matchwits: Statewide quiz show for Colorado High Schools Kids Fun Fest

Western Colorado Volunteer Opportunities (Grand Junction) For more information, contact Ryan Stringfellow atryanstringfellow@rmpbs.org Special Events Community Outreach Office Assistance Kids Fun Fest

Directions for Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer Database

• Sign Up to Volunteer • Go to www.rmpbs.org/volunteer • Scroll down to first item-“Sign Up to Volunteer” • Click on words in “this form” • Complete application and submit • You should then receive an email shortly with your pin#.

Volunteer News June 2015 Executive Committee Message

Submitted by Betty Flaten, President of the Volunteer Board

This month we mark the end of an era as the Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer Board begins a one year transition to become the Rocky Mountain PBN Volunteer Advisory Council. The volunteer leadership is moving away from a project based board to a function-based advisory group with prospects for including other entities of the Rocky Mountain Public Media Network. You, the volunteers will be kept apprised of changes and new leadership as we evolve.

Perks will include more opportunities for leaders to work from home, flex hours at the station, fewer meetings, more involvement between staff and volunteers, and volunteer celebrations KUVO.

That said, we sincerely thank members of the Volunteer Board who have worked with us over the past two years as we strived to move toward a model of leadership that includes more people and works for the changing face of volunteerism.

KUDOS TO:

Donna Dickinson for representing SAM as chair and past chair and continuing to be involved as we searched for a new SAM chair. Her continued dedication to SAM is an example for us all to uphold.

Pat Hoeft is our longest serving past president and has been there to offer encouragement, assistance, and humor to the board.

Laura Sampson served as past secretary and was there to pitch hit when Sandy had to be away. We also laud her articles in the Volunteer Bulletin on SAM history, updates from NFPB, and the political updates from Washington.

Leslie Smith and Janet Weisheit for serving as both chairs and past chairs of Super School News. They trained the new co-chairs and ensured the continuation of this legacy program.

Janell Hetrick and Ginger Sheehy Tatic jumped in and took over the reins of Super School News during the past year. They have prepared the volunteers to launch into a new era of technology-based information and the streamlining of program responsibilities.

Pete Schmidt continued to serve as Pledge chair while his job description changed and the need for live volunteers diminished. We appreciate all Pete's contributions to the Restructure Task Force and support of our board efforts.

Lis Lord and Nathalia Velez Ryan were a remarkable team gathering articles, editing, and putting out the Volunteer bulletin each month. Nathalia continued to serve even after she became a station employee and could no longer serve on the Board.

Marti VanWagenen and Laura Van Wagenen-Birdsill our mother and daughter special events team provided beautiful decorations and delicious food with a flair for From the Heart, volunteer receptions, and board meetings

Judy Lester-Smith, Volunteer Development Chair is our Volgistics Queen. She faithfully helps Susan with new Volunteers and runs searches and reports to help fill Volunteer needs. Additionally, she checks volunteer hours and graciously lends a hand to those tasks described as "other duties as assigned."

Our Members-at-Large preformed in several capacities:

Julie Muhovich co-chaired Kid's Fun Fest, and assisted with various volunteer celebrations. She was also a member of the first Restructure Task Force.

Jill Maxwell successfully chaired the second Restructure Task Force guiding the group to question what RMPBN and the volunteers of the future will need and helped craft a new framework to meet those needs. She also assisted with Pledge and other volunteer opportunities.

Heidi Allums represented KTSC and assisted with Super School News and fundraising activities at the Colorado Springs station. She also participated on the first Restructure Task Force and brought to the group knowledge from her involvement in other volunteer groups.

Renee Marcellis and Cathy Glick co-chaired the successful 2014 Online Auction and assisted with other volunteer responsibilities when asked.

Sandra Rolens assisted with Community Cinema and served on the first Restructure Task Force.

Other non-board chairs who gave outstanding performances and made the Board look great were:

Lauren Simmons, Lena Brennan and Sheryl Steuart signed, sealed, and delivered StoryMakers, the network's statewide short story contest. They recruited volunteer judges, planned and executed the workshop and luncheon and organized the submission process.

Heidi Miller and Nathalia Velez Ryan volunteers extraordinaire co-chaired the Denver Kid's Fun Fest, a massive project with so many moving parts. Their masterful organization ensured a successful Kid's Fun Fest. Nathalia and Heidi also led their leadership skills to the Masterpiece Ball celebrating Downton Abbey.

Teddi Weist-Kent has always been available to lend her know-how to the station's special events. And, Teddi was one of the first editors of the Volunteer Bulletin.

Thomas Vela, Willi Jost and Lou Matis were instrumental in helping with the Restructure Task Force groups.

Thank you to all the volunteers at Rocky Mountain PBS for your past service. We look forward to working with you as we move forward into our exciting new future filled with opportunities galore!

Betty Flaten, President Jeanne Sanchez, Vice President Sandy Gerulat, Secretary

Susan Barber, Staff, Volunteer/Special Events Coordinator Executive Committee of the Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer Board

Rocky Mountain PBS Journalists Bring Home Awards

Both Inside Energy and I-News have received prestigious awards in the past few weeks.

Most recently, Inside Energy was recognized with a National Headliner Award. Reporter Dan Boyce and data journalist Jordan Wirfs-Brock won second place in the "Feature and Human Interest Story" category for their story, "Who Owns Oil And Gas?".

The story came about after weeks of research and data analysis looking into the finances that support the oil and gas industry. To help everyday readers relate to this complex topic, Dan decided he would bravely dissect his own retirement account and analyze how much of that account is invested in oil and gas. The story revealed that while oil and gas make up about 9 percent of the stock market, investments in Dan's account amounted to about 6 percent. Check out the story's multimedia slideshow.

Additionally, I-News received an Edward R. Murrow award in April for a collaboration with KUSA, Channel 9. The series of stories exposed a hit-and-run epidemic in Colorado. The win is in KUSA's name, but Burt Hubbard analyzed and provided all the data used in the broadcasts. The material was also featured on Colorado State of Mind and a print version went to news partners statewide. #JustStopCo, based on the same materials, also won news documentary for KUSA, large market television.

Inside Energy also took home three Edward R. Murrow Awards, and one story even received awards in two categories:

• News Series: "Solar Challenge," Dan Boyce and Jordan Wirfs-Brock, KUNC, Inside Energy

• Investigative: "Saltwater Spills," Emily Guerin, Prairie Public, Inside Energy • Hard News: "Saltwater Spills," Emily Guerin, Prairie Public, Inside Energy

Congratulations to all our RMPBS journalists! We're excited to see what stories you break next!

Betty Flaten Honored with National Friends Award

Presented on behalf of National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) Awarded to Betty Flaten, Rocky Mountain PBS by Laura Sampson, NFPB Trustee and Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer

As a fellow volunteer at Rocky Mountain PBS and a trustee of National Friends of Public Broadcasting, it was my honor to announce Betty Flaten as one of the 2015 "Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteers" at the recent National Friends Awards Presentation during the PBS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, Betty was unable to attend the Awards Presentation but was well represented by Harris Ravine (RMPBS Executive) and Kathryn Roethel (Communications/Marketing) who accepted the award on Betty's behalf.

The Outstanding Volunteer Award is presented to an outstanding volunteer who has demonstrated leadership, effectiveness, and unselfish devotion to the cause of public broadcasting.

Betty, who retired from teaching in 1993, has volunteered at Rocky Mountain PBS for the past 30 years donating her time and talents. During those years, she has volunteered for a variety of activities including Auction, community ambassador, numerous special events, Station's Archived Memories (SAM), online auction, pledge, short-story contest judge and as a Super School News coach.

Betty has accepted several volunteer leadership roles including Chair of the online auction, Chair of the Station's Archived Memories Display Committee, and is currently serving as the President of the Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteer Board.

As President of the Volunteer Board, Betty has led the volunteers with courage, tenacity and vision. Volunteer opportunities are changing and the availability of volunteers is also changing. Betty has led the effort to restructure our volunteer leadership model in order

to meet the needs of the volunteers and the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting network.

Betty skillfully put together two task forces that grappled with the challenges of creating a model that is a staff-and-volunteer collaborative intended to create a leadership team that is "horizontal" as opposed to "hierarchical" and is based on function as opposed to project. By July 1, 2015, Betty's goal is to implement the first stages of this innovative model -- with staff and unanimous Volunteer Board support – to pave the way for new leaders to shine.

Congratulations, Betty, as the recipient of the National Friends of Public Broadcasting's 2015 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING VOLUNTEER award. The volunteers of Rocky Mountain PBS are stronger and more forward-thinking thanks to your extraordinary leadership.

You can view the video of the presentation here »

Honoring Rocky Mountain PBS Volunteers: Past & Present

By Laura Sampson, Founder/Station's Archived Memories Trustee/National Friends of Public Broadcasting

National Friends of Public Broadcasting recently bestowed two prestigious 2015 national public broadcasting awards to Rocky Mountain PBS volunteers. One esteemed award was given to Betty Flaten as a 2015 "Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer" and a second award was presented to the 2015 volunteers of Rocky Mountain PBS' StoryMakers Contest (see articles in this month's June bulletin).

Since 1986, Rocky Mountain PBS volunteers and volunteer projects have often been recognized by National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB). Our Rocky Mountain PBS volunteers have a longstanding national reputation as a group of exceptional volunteer leaders that organize and execute highly successful and noteworthy programs, projects and fundraisers.

WHAT IS NATIONAL FRIENDS? National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) is a member-supported national nonprofit organization that grew out of the need in public broadcasting for developing volunteer groups at local stations. An exploratory meeting of station managers and volunteers from eight leading public broadcasting stations was held in May 1969 which lead to the official founding National Friends of Public Broadcasting in May 1970. National Friends was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in July 1970. A membership organization, the mission of National Friends is to support volunteerism within public broadcasting through leadership, education, training, mentoring and recognition. Rocky Mountain PBS is a longtime member of National Friends. Any individual public media volunteer can join National Friends (click here).

WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL FRIENDS ANNUAL AWARDS? Annually, National Friends of Public Broadcasting welcomes nominations from all public media stations across the country in the following categories. Take a moment to read the amazing stories of the awardees. You'll be impressed with the commitment and accomplishments of honored volunteers from across the public broadcasting system:

• Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award This award is presented to an outstanding Volunteer who has demonstrated leadership, effectiveness and unselfish devotion to the cause of public broadcasting, impacting it at both the national and local levels.

• Community Development Award This award is given to the Station or Friends Group with an outstanding outreach project or campaign to raise community awareness and appreciation of the local public media station.

• Distinguished Service Award This award is given to a Volunteer who, through community service, has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the public media station in their area.

• Grassroots Advocacy Award This award is given to a Volunteer or Volunteer Coordinator who has demonstrated leadership skills in organizing, maintaining or enhancing a grassroots government advocacy program at his/her station resulting in a significant contribution to that station or to the public media system.

• Achievement Award in Volunteer Management This award is given to the Volunteer Coordinator who demonstrates outstanding administrative and people skills, and maintains an effective bridge between staff and volunteers that results in a mutually productive relationship.

• Volunteers in Fundraising Award This award is given to the Station or Friends Group that demonstrates creativity and effectiveness in the use of volunteers in fundraising.

HOW HAS ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS BEEN HONORED BY NATIONAL FRIENDS? Rocky Mountain PBS individual volunteers that have been honored by National Friends, 1986-2015:

• 1986 Molly O'Connell, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award • 1987 Cora Wall, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award • 1993 Laura Sampson, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award • 1993 Lydia Winkler, Volunteer Management Award • 1993 Don Johnson, Special Recognition Award as "Volunteer Champion" • 1994 Dick Evans, Distinguished Service Award • 2000 Diane Papedo, Grassroots Advocacy Award named in Diane's honor • 2006 Joan Johnson, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award • 2011 Donna Dickinson, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award • 2015 Betty Flaten, Outstanding Public Broadcasting Volunteer Award

Federal Funding for Public Media

Submitted by Laura Sampson APTS Leadership Council Representative

Word was received on May 7, 2015 that federal funding for public media was restored in the final Budget Resolution.

This was a major victory for public broadcasting and couldn't have happened without the help of public broadcasting supporters (like you) across the country. Thousands of congressional office phones rang and congressional inboxes were brimming with support for public radio and TV.

The final push, public media fans putting on their sweaters to honor the anniversary of Mister Rogers' historic testimony before Congress, restored and increased federal funding for public media. Thank you for telling your lawmakers that public media funding matters.

Next, Congress will begin to write their spending bills based on the final Budget Resolution. Protect My Public Media will keep an eye on the process and let us know if we need you to act to protect our station. Although funding for the CPB is safe, continued calls need to be made to Senators and members of Congress to ensure it is preserved in the entire federal budget. We are better people because of public broadcasting and we will continue to be better people should the funding continue.

Information on how you can contact your member of Congress, as well as your Senator, can be located on the House and Senate web sites.

Please sign up to join the efforts of Protect My Public Media. Thank you for preserving the public media airwaves. Your voice really does make all the difference.

The 2015 PBS Annual Meeting: A Volunteer's Perspective

by Laura Sampson, Rocky Mountain PBS volunteer

The recent 2015 PBS Annual Meeting in Austin, TX was quite inspiring. I am always proud to represent both National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB) and Rocky Mountain PBS. Over 1300 people attended the 3-day PBS conference.

My week began with an all-day volunteer leader's workshop sponsored by National Friends of Public Broadcasting. We heard from keynote speakers from PBS who explained the new "Regional Meetings" being conducted across the country. We also had the opportunity to share many ideas with fellow volunteer leaders about their community and volunteer events and learn through interactive presentations about numerous innovative ways to engage volunteers.

The PBS Annual Meeting was quite techie featuring a totally online Guidebook to download on tablets or smart phones with such features as lists of speakers and attendees, schedules, agendas, suggestions for nearby dining spots plus features allowing attendees to personalize their schedule by bookmarking specific sessions to attend.

The theme of this year's conference was "Reimagine Public Media," addressing the wonderful things that PBS is doing now with a focus on what lies in the future for public media. There was a great mix of general and concurrent sessions allowing lively conversation about key issues facing the industry.

Fascinating guest speakers included the Executive Producers of several of my favorite PBS programs such as Nova, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece, American Experience, Nature, PBS Newshour and many more. Leaders of the public media industry were also there to share insights about PBS, CPB, Programming and Development, Digital Programming, PBS Kids and more. A thrill for me was being able to sit with Rebecca Eaton (Masterpiece Executive Producer) at lunch!

Sizzle reels introduced the return of favorite programs along with some must-see NEW programs that will airing on PBS: A Few Good Pie Places/ Some Great Bakeries, I'll Have What Phil's Having, Nature Cat, Ready Jet Go, and too many more to list here.

Of course, the meeting was not "all work and no play." We were treated to a fun visit to the Austin City Limits studio, The Moody Theatre, where we enjoyed the exceptional talents of three musical groups. Other excitement included a performance by THE TENORS and the opportunity to have our photos taken with the likes of PBS Kids popular characters such as Curious George, Peg and Cat and Daniel Tiger. Who can resist that!! As a 40-year volunteer for Rocky Mountain PBS, I continue to be enlightened and inspired at the PBS Annual Meetings. I am very proud of the work done by PBS and each of its member stations.

I would encourage any volunteer that loves public media to consider attending next year's 2016 PBS Annual Meeting that will be held in Chicago, May 15-18. By becoming a member of National Friends of Public Broadcasting, you can attend the 1-day NFPB

workshop and receive a greatly reduced registration rate for the remainder of the 2016 Annual Meeting. I hope you'll consider joining me next year.

Enjoy my slideshow of photographs from my experiences at the 2015 National Friends of Public Broadcasting Workshop and the PBS Annual Meeting:

2015 National Friends of Public Broadcasting Workshop and the PBS Annual Meeting Laura Sampson

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Volunteer Voices: Shirley Belz

What motivates you to volunteer for Rocky

Mountain PBS? I recently relocated from the Western Slope to the Front Range and I was searching for ways to be involved and connected with people, community, and my interests. A friend of mine shared how much she enjoyed her volunteer opportunities at Rocky Mountain PBS. Her enthusiasm was contagious. The invitation to work with Patricia and Susan and their loyal and fun team of volunteers was warm, welcoming, and a perfect fit. Additionally, as a high school teacher for over thirty years, I consider the education of our children at all levels to be our hope and our future. I also think opportunities for lifelong learning for adults is imperative to a healthy and vibrant society. Rocky Mountain PBS is especially appealing to me as a volunteer because of their commitment to both of these goals.

How long have you been volunteering at the station? Can you share one of your favorite experiences as a Rocky Mountain PBS volunteer? I have only been volunteering for three months, primarily assisting with the enormous but important task of mass mailings. Although repetitive, it is amazing what you can learn and enjoy when your hands are busy and your mind less encumbered.

What is your favorite PBS program? "Downtown Abbey," "Call the Midwife," and "PBS NewsHour Weekend" are just a few of my favorite viewing pleasures. There are so many choices both educationally and for entertainment making it difficult to narrow it down to even three.

Do you do other volunteer work outside of RMPBS? Growing up on a ranch in Nebraska, horses have always been my passion. Besides commuting from Louisville to Denver once a week to volunteer at Rocky Mountain PBS, I drive west of Longmont twice a week to volunteer at Colorado Horse Rescue. This amazing organization is "Dedicated to saving the disadvantaged horse…One human, one rescue, one home at a time."

Volunteer Appreciation - Thank You for Your Support! Fantastic Five Points Jazz Festival Volunteers

Amidst the sunshine, rain and wind, six stalwart volunteers staffed the Rocky Mountain PBS booth on Saturday, May 16th. Volunteers laughed, talked with lots of folks about RMPBS, ate great food and listened to extraordinary

music. Fun was had by all! Thanks go toWendy Booth, Jackie McGraw, Jackie Fritz, Dana Gaffin, Betty Flaten andKim Brock.

"Faux" Phone Bank Volunteers

Our "faux" phone banks are becoming quite popular! Volunteers come in during the day for pre-tapings of pledge breaks and pretend to answer phones. It's great fun and volunteers experience the production aspects of pledge. On May 12, six volunteers including Audrey Sherrod, Heather Mackinnon, Cynthia Nagel, Renee Marcellis, Sharon Schonhaut and Jeanne Robinson graced our station with their presence. We thank them—look for them during our June pledge period.

Tour Guides put the "Public" into Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network

Tour guides make it possible for us to welcome the public into our "house." From boy scouts to seniors and everyone in between, tour guides welcome all with gracious hospitality and humor. They play a vital role in educating our public about the Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Network. Thanks go to our May tour guides including Heather Mackinnon, Donna Prince and Lyman Spaulding.

Volunteer Reminder

Volunteers: Please note that if you sign in on the computer but don't sign out, the computer only gives you credit for 3 hours. Not only do you cheat yourselves out of time, but the station also. Please send an e-mail tojudylestersmith@rmpbs.org if you need to make a correction to your hours. In the email, include the date, time, and job assignment and we will make the adjustment. Thank you!

Events / Programming

Check the Rocky Mountain PBS website for breaking information about station events atrmpbs.org/events.

• Southern Colorado KIDS Fun Fest – 10am to 2pm on June 6, Acacia Park Colorado Springs.Click here for more information.

PROGRAMMING To check out programming features and changes, go to the Rocky Mountain PBS website. Or go straight to rmpbs.org/enews where you will be able to request our automatic weekly newsletter (e-news) and monthly TV schedule (e-promo).

DID YOU KNOW? There are MANY ways to watch Rocky Mountain PBS content besides TV. You can stream our shows on the RMPBS website, on YouTube, on the KUVO app (where you can also stream KUVO radio live), or on the PBS and PBS Kids apps. You can also watch on Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV stick, XBox, Amazon Prime, Hulu, iTunes and more. Learn more atrmpbs.org/anywhere.

ARCHIVED VOLUNTEER BULLETIN

§ June 2015: Word PDF / Web PDF § May 2015: Word PDF / Web PDF § April 2015: Word PDF / Web PDF § March 2015: Word PDF / Web PDF § January 2015: Word PDF / Web PDF § December 2014: Word PDF / Web PDF § November 2014: Word PDF / Web PDF § October 2014 § August 2014 § July 2014 § May 2014 § April 2014 § March 2014 § February 2014 § January 2014 § December 2013 § November 2013 § October 2013

§ September 2013 § August 2013 § July 2013 § June 2013 § May 2013 § April 2013 § March 2013 § February 2013 § January 2013 § December 2012 § November 2012 § October 2012 § September 2012 § August 2012 § July 2012 § June 2012 § May 2012 § April 2012 § March 2012 § February 2012 § January 2012 § December 2011 § November 2011 § October 2011 § September 2011 § August 2011 § July 2011 § June 2011 § May 2011 § April 2011 § March 2011 § February 2011 § January 2011 § December 2010 § November 2010 § October 2010 § September 2010

ARCHIVED VOLUNTEER VISION

Volunteer Vision was our quarterly newsletter mailed to Rocky Mountain PBS volunteers. It featured articles on the latest news and events for our volunteer corps. Click below to read archived issues of Volunteer Vision in PDF format.

§ Spring 2010 § Winter 2010 § Summer 2009 § Winter 2009 § Summer 2008 § Spring 2008 § Winter 2008 § Winter 2007 § Fall 2006 § Summer 2006 § Spring 2006 § Winter 2006 § Fall 2005 § Summer 2005

(You will need Adobe Acrobat to view these files. If you don't have it, you can download it for free here.) Suggestions for articles, news updates or questions for Volunteer Vision can be e-mailed to the editor.