In every episode, veterans’ accounts of battle are interwoven with the poignant recollections of their loved ones back home, who, for four long years, carried on with their lives, contributed to the war effort, and lived in constant fear of telegrams containing news to terrible to bear.
The War, War, a seven-part series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, tells the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four American towns: Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota. The series explores the most intimate human dimensions of the greatest cataclysm in history – a worldwide catastrophe that touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America – and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.
Donna Wittmann Major Giving Manager dwittmann@wmfe.org 407-273-2300, extension 117
Catherine McManus Vice President for Membership cmcmanus@wmfe.org 407-273-2300, extension 154
The Society is published by WMFE – non-profit, member-supported, community-based public broadcasting since 1965
11510 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32817-4699 407/273-2300 www.wmfe.org
Membership in the McKean Society begins with an annual contribution of $10,000 or more and includes the following benefits: An invitation to attend the annual recognition dinner and private reception with public broadcasting celebrity and fellow donors Exclusive seating at the annual recognition dinner with public broadcasting celebrity and/or executive and fellow donors Priority seating at WMFE events Choice of four complimentary WMFE on-air thank you gifts Special “on air” and “in print”recognition, if desired, on WMFE-TV, 90.7 WMFE-FM and in WMFE publications Exclusive invitations to selected live broadcasts, tapings or other studio events Private lunch or dinner with WMFE’s CEO and a public broadcasting celebrity for you and three guests (at mutually agreed upon time) Private Tour of WMFE Public Broadcasting Center Annual subscription to The Society newsletter Annual subscription to FMO FMO, WMFE’s monthly program guide
Cornerstone
*Ticketed thank you gifts are excluded from this offer
$5,000 to $9,999 and includes all Cornerstone benefits plus: Private reception with public broadcasting celebrity and fellow donors Private Tour of WMFE Public Broadcasting Center Choice of two complimentary WMFE on-air thank you gifts* Special “on–air” recognition, if desired, on WMFE-TV and 90.7 WMFE-FM
Keystone
$1,000 to $4,999 and includes: An invitation for you and one guest to attend the annual recognition dinner and reception with a public broadcasting celebrity and fellow donors Special discount on WMFE thank you gifts Special “in print” recognition, if desired, in special WMFE publications Annual subscription to The Society newsletter Annual subscription to FMO FMO, WMFE’s monthly program guide
Cornerstone Society members were recently sent information regarding WMFE’s new vision for our major giving program, which introduced the McKean Society level of giving. Listed below are the benefits associated with our new giving levels. If there are any questions regarding these new levels, please call Donna Wittmann, Major Giving Manager, at 407-273-2300, extension 117.
Vol. 8 • Issue 1 Summer 2007
Throughout the series, the indelible experience of combat is brought vividly to life as veterans describe what it was like to fight and kill and see men die at places like Monte Cassino and Anzio and Omaha Beach; the Hürtgen Forest and the Vosges Mountains and the Ardennes; and on the other side of the world at Guadalcanal and Tarawa and Saipan; Peleliu and the Philippine Sea and Okinawa. In all of the battle scenes, dramatic historical footage and photographs are combined with extraordinarily realistic sound effects to give the film a terrifying, visceral immediacy.
wmfe.org/ cornerstone
In his next project for PBS, acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns explores America’s experience of the greatest cataclysm in human history, the Second World War.
An Update for the WMFE Cornerstone Society
In extraordinary times … there are no ordinary lives.
The film honors the bravery, endurance and sacrifice of Americans who lived through what will always be known simply as The War.
Interviewing the Interviewer
She’s one of public radio’s most revered hosts, an intelligent, gentle, and provocative voice that more than 4 million people count on each week.
Terry Gross, host of Fresh Air, Air, has conducted nearly 5,000 interviews during the program’s national run. A variety of top publications count Terry among the country’s leading interviewers. She asks probing questions while taking great care to create an atmosphere in which guests feel comfortable and thus volunteer rather than surrender the answers. Recently, Terry took the time to answer a few questions.
Q: How do you think you’ve evolved as a host over the years? A: When I started to do interviews in Buffalo at WBFO, I was only 23 years old. I think many of my questions were asked out of pure curiosity. Now that I’m older, and I’ve read a lot more, I think my questions come more out of experience and a kind of depth of knowledge than they could have when I was younger.
Q: After doing thousands of interviews, how are you still curious? A: I’ll never get tired of music and movies and books. If you’re talking about things that you love, you’re going to be curious about it. And likewise about the world. When we have soldiers in Iraq, how can you not care about that? How can you not care about our health insurance policies? That’s the greatest blessing of the work: it encompasses the most interesting things in the world. Q: Given all the people you have met and interviewed, how can you describe yourself as shy? A: As a professional interviewer, I’m not shy – I can ask anything. But when I’m on my own, no microphone, out in the world, that’s where I’m much more shy and self-conscious and basically uncomfortable. And in terms of courage to ask questions, that’s the only place that I’m really courageous. You’ll never see me spending my vacation climbing a mountain or doing an adventurous hike. Those men and women who are war correspondents, those are some of my heroes. And I can’t imagine having to do that – I lack those genes completely. Listen to Terry on Fresh Air, weekdays at 3 p.m. on 90.7 FM. Better yet, see her live in Orlando on March 2, 2008, at The Plaza Theatre and learn more about how she developed and honed her interview style as she shares audio clips from her program. Order your tickets now by calling 1-800-785-2020 or visit wmfe.org.
At the Start
Steve is married to Desta L. Horner, a former teacher at Winter Springs High School in Seminole County. They have three adult children and five grandchildren.
Last month, at age 63, Steve attained a 10-year goal: starting in and finishing a marathon (a 26.2 mile foot race) in every state in the US (and the District of Columbia) and in all 7 continents (yes, including Antarctica)!
Major accomplishments during his tenure include moving WMFE’s physical plant to a multi-million dollar broadcast center in East Orlando, the activation of public radio station 90.7 WMFE-FM, expanding both station’s programming to a full 24-hour per day schedule, overseeing a program schedule which is viewed each week by more than 485,000 households in Central Florida, and a radio schedule listened to each week by more than 194,000 Central Florida residents. Steck has concluded a $4 million expansion of the Public Broadcasting Center in 1992, a $2 million re-expansion in 2003, and a $10 million Campaign for Program Excellence in 2002 generating funds directed to local programming connecting the community in a manner not duplicated by local electronic media. He has recently concluded WMFE’s $7 million Campaign for Digital Television that activated WMFEDT/Channel 23 in 2003, and he has launched the creation of a new $2.4 million dollar program vision for the stations. A transition to digital radio broadcasting rests in the short-term future. Under his leadership, WMFE’s budget has grown from $250,000 to more than $8 million annually.
At the Finish
Along the Run
A native Orlandoan, Steve began his career in 1959 at WFTV (then WLOF) as a TV director and later as senior producer/director for news and public affairs programs. He started a 40-year run at WMFE in 1967 as production manager. He was appointed operations manager in 1970 and was elected President in 1972.
Earlier this year Steve passed the CEO-torch to José A. Fajardo, concluding a multi-year plan of succession endorsed by the WMFE Board to assure a successful transition of executive leadership.
On May 5, 2007, attendees at the 14th Annual Cornerstone Society Reception and Dinner celebrated a lifetime in broadcasting – Steve’s career: 48-years to be exact! His tenure in the local electronic media, coupled with his 34-consecutive years as CEO of WMFE, rank him as the most tenured broadcasting executive in Central Florida and, we are told, probably the most tenured consistently serving CEO in public broadcasting today!
Stephen McKenney Steck ...W hat a R un !
Don’t miss this powerful documentary coming to WMFE-TV in September.