Many of you have seen the KPTS documentary Black & Gold: Remembering the WSU Plane Crash. Last year at this time, we were on the mountain shooting interviews with survivors of the 1970 WSU plane crash. Randy Jackson, Dave Lewis, and Rick Stephens became very special to us. They were willing to expose themselves emotionally as they shared the deep wound and burden they carried with them after the crash. This week, Randy Jackson passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Randy was special. He touched the lives of students at Robinson Middle School and inspired so many youngsters in our community. He was a quiet man who chose to lead by example. Randy was willing to share his story with us. Randy cared deeply for others and did everything possible to make us better. Thank you Randy for a life well lived and an example worthy of following. We will never forget. All of us at KPTS extend our sympathy to Randy’s wife Gayle and the Jackson family.

It happened to me, again. It was another PBS program I was sure wasn’t in my area of interest. The title, Blessed is the Match, didn’t really connect with me and I had never heard of Hannah Senesh, but I watched the first few minutes and before I knew it, I had enjoyed the hour-long documentary about a World War II-era poet and resistance fighter who was eventually captured and executed by the Nazis.

It happens a lot. I get drawn in and end up being grateful that I was captivated and enlightened by another PBS show. Often it’s a documentary, but occasionally a science show or public affairs program or a music performance by a group I’ve never heard.

To me, that’s the charm of PBS and KPTS. There’s always something to attract my natural curiosity… something for me to learn… something to help me feel more deeply connected with the world.  I guess that old saying about not teaching old dogs new tricks is just that – a saying, especially if you watch KPTS.

As a kid I had a vivid imagination. A saw horse was my pony. A backyard swing set could be a ship at sea, a space ship, even a rodeo arena. Rather than play football, I would re-enact the highlights… in slow motion and dramatic play-by-play announcing. I even had an imaginary friend, Jeff, who would sometimes join us for dinner (Mom, bless her heart, would set a plate at the table for our invisible guest).

How creative and imaginative is your child? Do they enjoy making up stories? We’re kicking off our KPTS Young Authors Contest for children in grades K-2. The deadline for entries is April 16. Our Young Author entries should be original stories accompanied by original art work. Prizes for our winners include a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sedgwick County Zoo, art classes, gift cards and more. We will also showcase some of the stories on-air and online. Official rules, entry forms and information are available on our website.

Encourage the children in your life to “Be More with Words” and enter the KPTS Young Authors Contest today!

According to an old saying, the most effective advertising is word of mouth. If we’re talking about KPTS, those words will be more effective coming from your mouth rather than mine. So… what do you tell your friends about KPTS? Has one of our shows really caused you to think differently about a topic? Maybe you’ve learned something about nature or science? Maybe our children’s programming influenced you years ago or is helping to shape your child today? Do you tell your friends why you donate money to the station? Or why you volunteer to answer phones during membership drives or assist with other events? Maybe you’ve had a negative experience or you have an idea or suggestion? Click here to see what other viewers are saying about KPTS.

We are YOUR public television station. We really do want to know what you like and dislike. Just click here to send me an email with your comments or call the station, 316-838-3090. As we celebrate our 40^th Anniversary, you can help us make the station even better. I’ll be waiting to hear from YOU!

We’ve all been touched by the tragedy in Haiti. The images and stories are heartbreaking. Yet, in the middle of this despair, there are stories of hope. Yesterday a young boy was found trapped in the rubble of his home…alive! The images of orphaned children arriving in the U.S. to begin a new life is uplifting, and the outpouring of relief and donations is inspiring.

PBS and KPTS want to do our part as well. Friday night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., we will broadcast “Hope for Haiti.” This nationwide telethon will feature Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, and Sting in New York City; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift and more. All donations will go to the “Hope for Haiti Now” charities, including Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, and Yéle Haiti Foundation. (Our regular Friday night schedule will move to KPTS Explore 8.2).

We’ve created a web page full of resources related to the tragedy in Haiti. This page provides links to various relief organizations, tips for talking with your children about the tragedy, news coverage from PBS NewsHour and more. Just click here to visit the page.

We value our donors and friends and thank you for your generosity. During this time of tragedy, I hope you’ll also do what you can to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake.

The recent Christmas day underwear bomber has once again unleashed a torrent of nail biting and finger pointing (bitten nails and all) about . . . gasp . . . safety in air travel.  Now, don’t misunderstand me–I’m getting on a plane on Thursday and I’d like to feel that I’ll arrive intact and un-bombed.  But I realize there’s a (very slight) chance I may not.  I also realize that, underwear bomber or not, I run a much greater risk statistically every time I drive across town to play tennis.  And yet–to hear some people’s reaction, you’d think there was a terrorist Bogy Man at every airport terminal in the country just waiting to sit across the aisle from little old you and me.   When did we become a nation of hysterical ‘fraidy cats?

Don’t brand me as a naive Pollyanna.  Far from it.  I realize there are people out there who wish to do us harm.  There always have been.  There have always been terrorists too, we were just never as personally affected by them as we have become in the last decade.  But I think our best–and yes, the most patriotic response–is to suck it up and go on with our lives.  Without the cowering and whining.  Without blowing the odds of your likelihood of being injured way out of proportion.  Consider it paying your dues for (through sheer luck of the draw and probably no effort on your part) being lucky enough to live here.  I’m guessing most of the civilian population of Afghanistan or Rwanda would happily trade places with you any time.

This fear fetish extends beyond the airport.  It seems to me that the people who have the least probability of experiencing violent crime are those who are the most obsessed about protecting themselves.  Most people who live in gated communities are more likely to suffer assault (or worse) at the hands of a family member or friend than at the hands of a stranger.  So maybe you better run those background checks on Uncle Stan and leave him off the key-code list.  Note to suburbia:  You’re not in the drive-by-shooting target zone.  Get over it.

My son’s school district is notoriously fear-focused.  Despite the fact that the vast majority of children assaulted on school grounds in recent memory were attacked by fellow students, I have to run a gauntlet of electronic locked doors in order to enter.  When my older son chose to attend an inner-city school instead of the one in our area, the common reaction from his suburban classmates was that he would be mugged within the first week.  Somehow he made it all four years with life and limb intact.  Oh, and the doors there aren’t locked, either.  Go figure.

You may think me imprudent.  I see myself as quite realistic.  If you’re really concerned about safety and longevity, get rid of your car and use only public transportation.  That would increase your odds quite significantly.  Impractical you say?  I say it’s impractical to spend millions (soon to be millions more) on “airport security” that clearly cannot work if someone is determined to blow him or herself up.  It’s unconscionable to make our children think that they are at risk for simply walking into their schools.  And it’s just a waste of mental energy and emotional health to constantly see yourself as a potential victim of some type of crime, particularly for those of us who are quite unlikely ever to be one.

If you read about my plane going down on Thursday, I suppose you can say “I told you so”.  If it’s a choice between that and looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, in my book that’s a good trade.

The Christmas season and impending end of yet another year inevitably spur us to reflect on our achievements, disappointments, hopes, and general disposition toward the coming year.  This year is certainly no different, and given the difficult economic environment many of us find ourselves in, reflection is probably happening at a higher-than-average rate this season.  That’s certainly true for me.

The past year has in many ways been one of the most discouraging and disheartening of my life.  I’ll spare you the details–many of you already know most of them anyway.  Suffice to say that the combination of the impossible job market, and some very bad decisions and behavior on the part of more than one member of my  immediate family has pretty much knocked us out of the running for Most Idyllic Hallmark Family.   But this posting isn’t a rant about the heartbreak of family betrayal, this posting is about how friendship saved my life.  Here’s where you come in.

Although I have always counted myself fortunate to be surrounded by a large and diverse group of friends, my appreciation for just how blessed I am in that regard has been demonstrated to me repeatedly and profoundly this year.  I’m exaggerating only slightly when I give my friends credit for keeping me upright and breathing–and yes, even optimistic–through 2009.    So, here’s my Christmas shout-out.  I’m sure many of you, whether you’re in my circle of friends or not, will see yourself.  If you do, know that your kind act of friendship was life-altering for someone.  Know that you were a blessing for someone who desperately needed just that.  So, forgive me if I write just a bit more personally than usual.  Though my gratitude is specifically targeted, the message it carries about friendship is universal.

To my tennis team and the Tuesday night tennis crowd:  I’ve never been much of a “team” player.  I never played team sports in high school or college, and frankly thought the whole concept was a little silly.  I don’t think that anymore.  The sense of belonging and support that comes from working toward a common goal is powerful.  It’s therapeutic to be able to lose yourself in it if you need to–and so much more constructive than many of the alternatives.  And, let’s not lose sight of the fact that you all are just a whole lot of fun to be with.  Wine on Tuesday nights doesn’t hurt, either.

To my church friends:  You win the prize for grace-under-awkward-conditions!  Where you could show impatience, you have shown forbearance.  Though I have created some distance, you continue to be warm, welcoming and understanding.  I have always been a fiercely independent person.  To be vulnerable or needy has always equated to weakness and failure in my book.  If I had to have my invulnerability stripped away–I’m glad it was in your company and addressed with your integrity.

To the rest of you who defy categorization or description:  Thank you for checking in with me under the guise of thousands of excuses.  Thank you for your courage to ask, and the patience to listen.  Thank you for the myriad social events in which you’ve included me.  Thank you for continuing normalcy, when there was no normalcy.

Though this Christmas is in some ways melancholy, I’m profoundly grateful for the thousand acts of kindness, craziness, and closeness my friends have bestowed on me.  I’m closing out a chapter of my life and facing the blank page of the next.  I’m so glad you will all be there to help me write it.  It’s going to be good.

I’ve been enjoying the series on Father Kapaun in the Wichita Eagle this week. It’s an amazing story of commitment, compassion and friendship. It’s the story of a man, who faced hardship and persecution, yet maintained an unwavering faith. I wish I had more of the personal characteristics and devotion exhibited by Father Kapaun. If you’ve missed the series, you can find it here.
Travis Heying and Roy Wenzl have also produced a companion documentary film. KPTS has provided technical assistance on this project. We’re very pleased that we will be able to share this film with you several times over the next several weeks. The premiere broadcast will be December 22 at 7:00 p.m. followed by a repeat broadcast December 27 at 9:00 p.m. Click here to watch a trailer.
We are committed to broadcasting stories of locally significant people and events. The story of Father Kapaun is a fascinating and compelling story.  Many people are unaware of the story or the depth of details revealed in the documentary. It fits perfectly with our mission and goals and we’re grateful to the Wichita Eagle for sharing this film with KPTS and our viewers.

Our KPTS membership drive is in full swing. Many of you have called with your pledge of support and we thank you. You can click here to look at the full schedule of special programs. For those of you who prefer the regular programs, they’re available on KPTS Explore 8.2
We are also gearing up for our 40th Anniversary Celebration. Jan. 10th from 1-4 p.m., we will have a community celebration at the Wichita Ice Center. Your donation of a new children’s book will get you free skating and skate rental. We will also have cake, costumed characters, balloons, and many other activities for kids of all ages. We also need a few volunteers to help with this event. Volunteers will help collect book donations at the door, serve refreshments, and assist with the kids activities. If you’re interested in being a volunteer or in wearing one of the costume characters, please call 316-838-3090.
We’re also excited to tell you we will be broadcasting the new documentary, “The Miracle of Father Kapaun.”  This is the video companion to the series that begins in the Wichita Eagle on December 6th. The documentary premieres on KPTS December 22 at 7 p.m. Click here to see a trailer.
Also in this newsletter is information about a new way to support KPTS with every online search. Plus, if you shop online, you can get great savings and support KPTS with every purchase using goodshop.com.
Things are happening at KPTS. Join the excitement!

My parents taught me to say “Please” and “Thank you,” but it wasn’t until I was older that I really understood gratitude-to truly understand the value of a gift. I’m grateful that my folks taught me how to make good decisions and impressed upon me the importance of choosing good friends. I’m grateful for mentors along the way who took an interest in me and offered valuable advice and guidance. I’m grateful for each of the stops along my career journey and for the lessons learned in each of those unique situations.
I’m especially grateful to be at KPTS. I’m surrounded by outstanding people who share our mission to educate, engage, entertain and enrich our community. I’m fortunate that I have a job I love to do and I work for an organization I wholeheartedly believe in. I’m doing this wonderful job in a community that supports our efforts and sees value in what we offer.
Regardless of whether you contribute $10 or $1,000, whether you volunteer at the station or just tell others at the office about a program you watched on KPTS, YOU are part of our success, and I’m thankful for each of you.

Happy Thanksgiving.