Television industry professionals who comprise the Board of Governors of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences do more than just attend monthly board meetings.

      Governors get to customize their contributions to NATAS, whether it's helping to create an Emmy show or various other events, giving out scholarships, fundraising, increasing membership, assisting with Chapter publicity, working on webcasts, writing articles for the monthly Off Camera newsletter, contributing to the Chapter website, www.emmysf.tv, or many other activities.

      Additionally, Governors network with great colleagues and get to know media professionals in all regions of our large, ever-encompassing Chapter, which not only covers the San Francisco Bay Area, but all of northern California from Visalia to the Oregon border, Reno, Hawaii and Guam.  

     Being a Governor is a volunteer position. You must be a professional member of NATAS, which means that you are actively engaged in television or make direct contributions to the industry.

     If you fit these requirements and are interested in joining the Board of Governors, there is good news. Half of our Governors are elected each year and the next election is in June. If you are interested in serving a two-year term as Governor, send a short biography and a headshot photograph to Richard Harmelink, Governors Nominating Committee chairperson, at [email protected].

     Deadline is April 30.

     If you want to do more than just attend meetings, and if you are qualified to run for a seat, we'd like to hear from you. There are no limits on what you can do as a NATAS Governor in helping your colleagues and giving back your industry. 

    Keith Sanders has been Chapter President of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences since 2012. 

       Dean Edell never imagined that he would be a doctor someday, let alone be a doctor on television.

       Originally, he wanted to be an artist, or an architect. In fact, by the time he went to college, he was studying to become an aeronautical engineer.

Dr. Dean Edell, a hippie?

       He also wanted to be a hippie. Which, more or less, he was, but more on that shortly.

       It would take a chance encounter with a customer inside an antique shop that he owned that would lead him on the path to becoming a well-known TV doctor in the Bay Area, California and throughout the country.

       Call it fate, or serendipity, for the man who would one day become a household name in San Francisco and be inducted, in 2009, into the Silver Circle of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his more than 25 years of contributions to the Bay Area and northern California television industry.

        In the 1960s, Edell had an inkling that he might want to be a doctor someday. As an undergraduate at Cornell University, he went to Cornell medical school in Manhattan.

        "But, I was beginning to sense change in my soul, so I came to California for my internship with a bunch of friends from Cornell," Edell recalls. "We were really easygoing about it. We were just coming out for one year. We went to San Diego. I never saw palm trees and grass before."

        Edell went to the University of California, San Diego. That was 1967.

        That was also the Summer of Love.

         "And then I saw hippies. I'd never seen hippies before," Edell says, laughing.

        And then, be became one.

        This was also around the time of the draft.

The "hippie bus"   Edell still proudly owns this throwback gem.

        "If you didn't go to graduate school, you went to war," he adds. "So, I applied, and I got in."

        Edell admits he did not enjoy the experience of medical school. He left sometime around 1973, then practiced eye surgery for a year, then quit.

        Finally, he hit the road. He decided he'd move into a Greyhound-type bus that looked much like a "hippie bus". He had a son by then, too.

        Edell traveled around in that bus for a couple of years, taking on odd jobs, and eventually, owned an antique store in Sacramento.

        And that's where fate came walking in the door, in the form of a nurse.

        "She'd just gotten off a bus, and she walked into my shop. We got to talking," Edell explains. "And she tells me that she's a nurse down at the drunk tank. I told her I had a background in medicine, so she told me that they were always having a hell of a time getting doctors to check out the drunks.

       For $50 a day, Edell took on that task.

       One thing led to another, and eventually, Edell became friends with someone who had a friend who owned a radio station, KRAK in Sacramento.

       "I was told I didn't talk like a doctor, I talked like everyone else," he says. "That people would be able to relate to what I had to say."

       Edell went on the air at KRAK, a country radio station.

Early days at KGO Radio

       "I still remember the very first show. I was scared to death," he recalls. "We were live, and we took listener calls. Mind you, I had been away from medicine for a few years by then, but I did it."

        The year was 1978.

        That same friend who got him the job at KRAK also knew Mickey Luckoff, of KGO Radio in San Francisco.

        Edell sent some demo tapes to KGO. For months, he didn't hear anything from Luckoff or KGO Radio.

        It was around that time that Edell was planning to move to Mendocino County.

        "Then, one day, I get a call from KGO. They tell me to come down to talk about a show idea, so I drove down from Mendocino," he says.

        Sold on the idea of a radio show centered around medicine, KGO Radio hired Edell in 1979.

         Eventually, Edell moved from northern California to Fairfax, in Marin County. And, for his job on the radio, he could talk about anything. He was well-versed in medical knowledge.

        "I was a major reader of medical journals," he says. "I'd have a stack of medical journals, and I'd pore through each one. I got pretty intense with it."

       Then, an opportunity to try television came along for Edell.

        Paul Jeschke, KGO-TV's longtime producer and reporter, was producing the news at that time. He contacted Edell to ask if he would appear on Channel 7's newscast with anchor Van Amburg to discuss toxic shock syndrome.

       That segment went very well, and Edell began appearing more on KGO-TV's newscasts while still talking on KGO radio, after Channel 7 found out that crosstown rival KRON-TV was interested in him.

        "I was working seven days a week," Edell explains. He was on TV during the week and on the radio on weekends. Eventually, KGO radio moved him to weekdays, which fit in nicely with his TV work.

First radio, then TV Edell, on set, illustrating his explanation to a viewer question

       At the start, KGO-TV introduced him as a reporter focusing on medical stories. For some in the newsroom at that time, the notion of Edell as one of them did not sit well.

        "There were some people who resented me. I was coming from the outside. I didn't pay my dues," Edell says. "I just kind of waltzed in with no on-air experience. But, I think I had a knack for it, and we started doing medical stories."

       Edell and KGO-TV ended up finding themselves "way ahead of the curve."

       "The stories were very unique, and they became very popular with the viewers," he says. "Medical news and health news was becoming very important to people, and alternative medicine was just beginning. People were beginning to realize they needed to take things into their own hands and take care of themselves."

Show and tell Edell, at his best -- in ways that viewers understood

       Edell was on a serious roll. And, by then, he had two or three full-time writers and producers working with him on his segments. And, KGO-TV veteran photographer, Lorne Morrison, was assigned to work with Edell.

      As the Emmy Award-winning Edell's popularity soared, and as viewers' demand for medical and health news grew, it was a perfect time to pitch an idea: House Calls.

      "I pitched the bosses with an idea," Edell says. "They ended up giving me six or seven minutes on the 5 p.m. show and we called it House Calls. We had a quiz in the beginning, and the anchors would get involved. It was good human interaction. And, we'd take some calls from viewers. And to help me explain my answers, I'd draw. I've always been an artist, and since I knew how to draw, the whole thing was made for me. It was a lot of fun."

      KABC-TV in Los Angeles got wind of what was happening at KGO-TV, and called Edell to ask him to do the same for them on their newscasts. Eventually, Edell was given permission by KGO-TV to syndicate his stories around the country. It evolved into Dr. Edell's Medical Journal. The station launched the first health newsmagazine show, with a live audience, in the late 1980s.

       "We were on the air Saturday nights, and we were beating Wheel of Fortune," Edell says. The show eventually aired in other major markets around the nation.

       Then, in 1991, an interesting offer came from NBC in the form of a daily national program. KGO-TV - an ABC station - produced the show. It never aired on KRON - then an NBC station. But, KGO-TV aired it, only in a late-night time slot. In all, 125 shows were produced. Edell was the first doctor to ever get a program like that.

      Edell's popularity soaring to incredible heights, the good doctor eventually formed a business partnership with Ed McLaughlin, the former general manager of KGO radio, to create the first nationally syndicated radio talk show. The show aired in more than 400 markets around the country.

Life is good With wife, Sharon, at home in Mendocino County (that's a treehouse built for the grandkids)

       Soon, Edell would also strike a deal with an eyeglass company, helping them to develop a new product line - with his name on it. You've likely seen the eyeglasses with his name on it in your favorite pharmacy or drug store.

       After the new century began, Edell started winding things down, eventually retiring in 2010.

       "I am blessed to have had my media career," he says. "I am still adjusting to retirement."

       Edell has plenty of room to adjust - he now lives on 160 acres in Mendocino County. He lives at the end of a miles-long dirt road. He and his wife, Sharon, built their own home on the land. It's plenty of room for their eight children (from previous marriages, between them; Sharon's son from a previous marriage is Whit Johnson, an anchor at KNBC in Los Angeles) and

All in the family Family weekends are always fun at the Edell house

10 grandchildren, too, when they come to visit. Each room in the house has a theme to it. For example, there is a "hippie room", a "Redwood room", and a "studio room", which is where Edell's home office and recording studio were once located. The big satellite dish, once necessary for his broadcasts for KGO-TV in later years, is now no longer needed, but it remains on the property, serving as a reminder of what Edell's life was once like for many years.

     Also parked on the land is that old hippie bus that Edell bought when he was a hippie.

      When both aren't working on house projects ("there is always something to do around here," Edell says), they enjoy the small town that is nearby.

      "We have friends who are professors who live around here, and we have ex-hippie dropouts. And if we ever want to venture into the big city, we know that San Francisco is just three hours away."

     These days, the Edells are enjoying retirement. They enjoy collecting antiques and art, hiking, reading, traveling and listening to music.

     And, when they don't want to do anything at all, they're content with one thing.

     "We will just stare out the window and have coffee," Edell says, with a laugh.

     Kevin Wing is a San Francisco-based producer for ABC News' "Good Morning America". He is also regional vice president, representing San Francisco, on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and serves as editor of "Off Camera". Tweet Kevin @KevinWingABC

       New "Off Camera" series: This is the first in a recurring "Off Camera" series we call "Day in the Life". We hope you will enjoy this new series. From time to time, we will introduce you to someone within our Chapter with the hope of giving you an intriguing glimpse at what an average day is like for them. It could be a news producer, a photographer, a news director, or a reporter. Or, even a news anchor, such as who we are featuring this month in KTVU's Frank Somerville. He's been with the Oakland FOX O&O since 1992. His first 16 years at the station revolved around an early morning schedule, when he co-anchored "Mornings On 2". Somerville eventually worked a split schedule so that he could anchor the morning show, then return in the afternoon to anchor the station's 5 p.m. newscast. Since 2008, he has been anchoring KTVU's 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts as well as its flagship 10 p.m. show. Gone are the days of waking up at 3 a.m. to work the dawn patrol.

Story and Photographs

By Kevin Wing

Chapter Vice President, San Francisco

       KTVU's ever-popular Frank Somerville, who anchors the station's 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts, will be the first to tell you that he leads a rather ordinary life. He says there's really nothing special about it.

       What? Is he kidding?

Frank Somerville KTVU FOX 2

       Actually, he's not. One of the most modest, most humble human beings I know, Somerville is dead serious. He has been this way for these 23 years that I've known him as a good friend and colleague. Nothing has changed. He is still the same as he was back in 1992, when we first met at KTVU.

       He's a truly nice guy.

       But, beyond being the Oakland station's No. 1 anchorman, a lot of people would beg to differ with him that his life is anything but ordinary.

       The man is popular. Without a doubt. And, whether viewers see him as one of their favorite Bay Area television news personalities, or as an everyman who is approachable, friendly and quite down-to-earth if they ever spotted him in the grocery store or at the gym working out, Somerville takes it all in with a genuine modesty that is second to none. He says who he says he is. He's the

Berkeley's favorite son

genuine article. It could be, too, that people like, and admire the fact, that Somerville, who will soon be celebrating his 57th birthday, has strong Bay Area roots. He's a proud Bay Area native. He grew up in Berkeley, graduated from San Francisco State University and lives in Oakland, not far from where he grew up. And, just as he is proud to be from here, the Bay Area is proud to call him its favorite son.

      So, what's an average day like for the multi-Emmy Award-winning Somerville?

      8:30 a.m.

      "I usually get up around 8:30 or 9 a.m.," he says. Even before he wakes up, Somerville's beautiful, spacious Oakland home has already been buzzing with activity. His wife of 22 years, Donna, is already out the door by 7 a.m. to take Sydney, their 15-year-old daughter, to school.

      Callie, their 10-year-old daughter, is up and getting ready to leave for school by the time her Dad wakes up. She's usually out the door by 8:30 a.m.

Catching up on the morning news with man's best friend, Louis

     What's for breakfast?

      For Somerville, here's his formula to get the day going.

      "For breakfast? Honestly, I have a Rockstar over ice. That's my caffeine," he admits. "I sit down and start reading the papers. Sometimes, I'll have a bowl or cereal, or toast with peanut butter."

     He'll read the San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune. He also has his iPad to turn to, which has apps for the New York Times, Washington Post and San Jose Mercury News. 

     "I am constantly looking online to see what's going on in the world," Somerville says. "My morning consists of being aware of what's going on. I watch our noon news every day so that I know what stories we're covering. My whole objective is to know what's going on and being up to speed.

     What's more, Somerville also stays informed as best as he can. He says it also helps him to come up with ideas for social media. He is on Twitter. And Facebook, too, where he has more than 24,000 followers. Somerville has more Facebook followers than some television stations.

Working out at God's Gym

     "The station wanted us to be on Facebook, so I am always looking for ideas to write about," he says. "I am very particular about what I post. I have to care about it. If I don't care about it, what am I posting it for?"

     And, practically all of the time, he is writing about something engaging and certainly interesting, as opposed to, say, taking a snapshot of his breakfast or lunch, or posting selfies.

     "I am not interested in wasting people's time," Somerville explains. "I have to care about something to write about it. You can't fake caring. You either care or you don't. I am just being real, and what I write about is real stuff that involves real feelings. Getting people to feel."

     Somerville is certainly right about that.

     "People get to see me for who I am and what I'm all about. Facebook is like a window in to who I am. I am authentic, and people see that in me," he adds.

     10:30 a.m.

     On this particular morning, Somerville wraps up reading the papers and

Together time With wife,  Donna, and personal trainer,  Gary Shields

posting on Facebook and heads to God's Gym, where he works out three times a week with a few others (myself included) and with a personal trainer, Gary Shields. Shields owns God's Gym and is a certified personal trainer and sports nutritionist. The man knows his stuff. And, for 30 minutes, he puts Somerville and the others through a rapid-fire mix of various strength conditioning workouts. There is no time for chit chat. Ever.

     "This is always going to be a hard workout," Somerville says. "But, once you get here, it's all good. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm 56, and the older you get, the more important it is that you do something like this. It's so easy to sit at home, do nothing, and not do any exercise. But, after a workout, I feel great."

     Going to the gym also means some "together time" for Somerville and his wife. She works out, too. Actually, it's Mrs. Somerville who got her husband interested in going to the gym. She's been going to the gym for 15 years. Her husband got started about 10 years ago.

     "It's one of our times together during the course of the day," Somerville says. "Donna and I encourage each other at the gym, to keep pushing."

      Noon

      On this particular day, Somerville went from the gym to working out again, this time across town, at a krav maga studio.

At a krav maga studio

      He had always wanted to learn some form of martial arts when he was younger. But, when Somerville turned 50, he made a point to learn.     

      "That's when I decided I was either going to learn it, or I wasn't," he says. "So, I trained in aikido. That's what Steven Seagal does. So, I did that for three years. And then, I checked our krav and found out how much more practical it is. It's always very aggressive, and it's what krav maga prides itself on being."

      It's all about self-defense, Somerville says. "I wanted something that could teach me what to do if I was ever in a situation. In krav, they tell you to go to a very dark place from within, and that you would say to someone, 'you are not going to hurt me'. And that I'm going to do all I can do to defend myself and not be a victim."

     1:30 p.m.

Picking up daughter, Callie, from school

     Somerville picks up daughter Callie from school, and they drive home. That's when it's time for Somerville to get cleaned up and ready for work. He makes a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to take to work.       

     3 p.m.

     Somerville arrives at the station's Jack London Square studios. From 3 to his first newscast at 5 p.m., he's going over scripts.

     5 p.m.

     His first newscast of the evening. He'll do it again at 6 p.m.

     6:30 p.m.

     With two newscasts wrapped up, Somerville has time for dinner. Remember those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? He's been a staunch vegetarian since he was a kid. But, sometimes, instead of having dinner, Somerville will go back to the krav studio. He says it really helps him to clear his mind.

     8 p.m.

     By this time, Somerville is showered, dressed for work again and back at his desk. He says he's never involved in meetings.

     "I strictly go over the scripts, and I will make suggestions," he says. "I am also looking for story ideas when I'm at my desk. I keep my eye on different websites

     9:50 p.m.

     By this time, he's finished proofing scripts and has some time to answer

What's for dinner, Frank?

emails. Then, with less than 10 minutes to air time, Somerville leaves his desk and heads into the studio.

     11 p.m.

     With the show over, Somerville heads back to his desk. He's ready to go home, but first, he'll take a few minutes to finish answering a few emails. He also takes time to read some of the comments and replies to his popular Facebook posts.

      "My feeling is it's important to have interaction," he says. "I learn by reading the comments. I am interested in that. "I am not doing it just for the fun of it. I do it because I care. And, if I put something out there that asks people to respond, why would I not read what they wrote to me? That would be disingenuous."

      Finally, it's time for Somerville to head home, in his 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo.

      "I love driving," he says. "But, because I live so close to work, I will take city streets home just to stretch out the drive. I love feeling the acceleration. And the sound of the engine. I love seeing it, and hearing it."

      Kevin Wing is a San Francisco-based producer for ABC News' "Good Morning America". He is also regional vice president, representing San Francisco, on the Board of Governors of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and serves as editor of "Off Camera". Tweet Kevin @KevinWingABC