Dear Member,
Once again, KRCB has been selected as one of a very small pool of stations to take part in a national project. NPR has selected 13 stations from across the country to participate in a pilot project on planned giving and gift annuities over the next year. Planned giving is emerging as a very important way in which loyal supporters of the station can have a lasting supportive influence on the success of KRCB. You may have noticed on KRCB a series of thank you spots expressing our appreciation to individuals who have made such a long term gift. There are details at krcb.org/planned-giving.

By the way, thanks to our fantastic donors, The Bay Area Wine and Epicurean Auction, exceeded our goal. Congratulations to the successful bidders and thanks to our great auction staff and volunteers.

Have a happy and safe holiday season.

Dear Member,
We are delighted to report that Robin Pressman, our KRCB FM Program Director, is a recipient of a  2011 Boho Award from the North Bay Bohemian. In announcing the award, the paper noted that Robin has “gone to extraordinary lengths to support and promote independent artists in the North Bay.”

While Robin is the first to say, “I really see this as an award for KRCB and every one who works here, including all of the many volunteers,” we all know that even great teams need a sparkplug, an inspiration, and Robin has been providing that for 16 incredibly productive years. Again, from the Boho: “Your encouragement and counsel have proven invaluable to many...” as Robin has featured and promoted hundreds of local artists in all mediums. “We are definitely giving voice to people who don’t necessarily get a voice in today’s media.”

Which, of course, is the mission of KRCB. And it is appropriate to recognize the individuals who make it happen.
Congratulations, Robin!

Dear Member,
   This month we are airing loads of great programs on the American Labor Movement (see page 7) as well as on Hispanic Heritage Month (page 9).
   One show, Harvest of Loneliness, covers both topics. Harvest of Loneliness was brought to our attention by our good friend Alicia Sanchez whose father was a bracero, as were many fathers, uncles, and grandfathers of those of us who live in the North Bay today. The film, directed by Gilbert Gonzalez, professor emeritus at UC Irvine, tells of the difficulties and injustices that the braceros experienced. The film is important Hispanic and labor history, and is also, in the context of today’s debate on immigration, a look at how one “guest worker” program worked.
   On September 14 at 10:30 pm on KRCB Television check out the KRCB Classic, Go Chanting Libre. With the support of the
National Endowment for the Arts, in 1985, KRCB produced this portrait of Latino poet, Juan Felipe Herrera. Juan Felipe was part of the great Poetry in the Schools program; remember when programs like that existed? Herrea is now one of the
nation’s most respected poets, so we are delighted to bring the film back as a part of Hispanic heritage month.

Dear Member,You have read many times in these pages about KRCB’s own Natural Heroes, about which we are very proud. We are about to launch the fifth season with high hopes of continuing to build a significant national audience. Because KRCB is so much of the North Bay and Bay Area, folks sometimes forget that Natural Heroes is, in fact, a
national series with over 50% of the American households now able to tune in thorough their local public station.

In addition to Natural Heroes, KRCB provides a wide variety of other environmental programs, some of which have also been distributed nationally, and others available to the Bay Area. You can find Climate One on both KRCB Television and Radio. This excellent speakers series from the Commonwealth Club of California brings together top thinkers and doers from business, government, academia and advocacy groups to advance the discussion about a clean energy future.

Bay Nature on the Air and Around the Bay with Will Travis feature our beautiful natural landscape and the challenges of rising sea levels. Lisa Friedenthal-Lee’s Don’t Throw That Away turns young people’s attention to trash, while KRCB and InCA Productions teamed up to produce Powering Up to feature simple changes we can make to significantly reduce our energy consumption.

All reflecting KRCB’s commitment to our community and our world.