The holiday season will go quickly, which is why your WBA is already making plans for State Legislative Day in Madison on Jan. 24.
If you’re not familiar with State Legislative Day, it’s a day at the State Capitol for broadcasters from across Wisconsin to talk to your lawmakers. There are 132 lawmakers to talk to, so we’re looking for your help. If you know your local state lawmakers, it’s all the more important that you make plans to come, but even if you don’t we’d love to see you there.
This year we’re asking those making calls on lawmakers to bring a young person from your staff with you. These guests are welcome to join in the conversation, but they’re also welcome to sit back and see how it works. We’d love to get the next generation of broadcasters involved in these important conversations and building relationships for the future.
You’ve heard me say repeatedly, make sure you’re inviting your local lawmakers to your stations. Those visits are tremendously valuable, especially when it comes time to visit them at the Capitol.
New look for WBA Hall of Fame
Your WBA just completed some exciting changes at our WBA Hall of Fame at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center to raise its profile while also making space for more hall of fame inductees for many years to come. You can read about it here. Please stop in to check it out!
Thank you to the excellent crew at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center and our friends at American Awards and Promotions for making it happen, and thank you to WBA Hall of Famer Bill Hurwitz who was instrumental in bringing the WBA Hall of Fame to such a wonderful venue.
Successful Broadcasters Clinic
Thank you and congratulations to the Broadcasters Clinic Committee for another successful event drawing engineers and vendors from across the country. It’s a delight seeing the largest room at the Mariottt filled with engineers talking about the issues that help their stations to best serve their communities. Read more about the Clinic here, and note the new dates for the 2024 Clinic: Sept. 10-11.
Your WBA is most proud to partner with Wisconsin’s four regional SBE chapter to host this event.
Stay tuned for news about next year’s Broadcasters Clinic. The Clinic Committee never rests on its laurels, and you’ll see that again next year.
Big year ahead in 2024
Your WBA Board of Directors continues to work the strategic plan for your association, and you can expect to see much more about that in 2024. You can, of course, also expect many of the activities, events, and services you’ve come to expect from your WBA, yet we’re always looking to keep things fresh.
For example, our WBA Student Seminar will be at Lambeau Field on Feb. 24, a first for this event and something we hope will draw in many aspiring young broadcasters.
Our WBA Summer Conference is coming to Hotel Retlaw in Fond du Lac, a new venue for the ever-popular event. There are also changes to the WBA Hall of Fame and Local Broadcast Legends. You can read about that on the WBA website. Both will still be given out at the Summer Conference. Thanks to the WBA Hall of Fame Committee for its work on that.
We expect to host a U.S. Senate debate next fall, and as I mentioned before, changes are coming to the Broadcasters Clinic.
As we say around your WBA office, it’s never boring!
Please take time to enjoy your moments with your loved ones this upcoming holiday season, and as always, keep up the great work serving your local communities.
Michelle Vetterkind, CAE
WBA President and CEO
