September 29, 2023

Dear SCBA Members,

Watching the Harvest Moon last evening, I was reminded of the meaning of this time of year. A time to harvest, reaping what we have sown. My wish for each of you is that you have laid the groundwork for a rewarding fourth quarter and an abundant 2024!

It has been a busy time for your association as well. Maya and I were immersed in making sure our August 12th STAR Awards were exciting and fun and I believe we delivered! I appreciate all who came in your cowboy/cowgirl garb and your ‘wild, wild west’ spirit. Congratulations to ALL the winners, be they Merit or STAR, because being the top two selected in any category in our competition says you shine!

Here is a link to the complete list of winners/merit award winners and a link to our STAR Awards pictures if you haven’t seen them.

We continue to build our relationship with the NAB and our lobbying efforts on behalf of our members. We currently have seven of our 8 representatives on board for the AM in the Dashboard initiative and we continue to request a refresh of the 2014 bill regarding streaming and retransmission fees.

In September, I was fortunate to attend the Southern National Alliance of State Broadcast Associations, learning from the regional directors who shared their expertise with me. They are a great group of leaders and I am sure to continue to learn from them. As a lifelong student, I am grateful.

We are currently taking nominations for our Awards of Distinction and will do so until October 27, 2023. Please think about who you know or work with that deserves this statewide recognition; it might be a dynamic leader in your company, the outstanding on-air work of a colleague, or the service of someone who supports the broadcast industry. We depend on you to tell us their story.

The following links will take you to our letter detailing the steps as well as the forms needed:

Our industry has seen a number of people retire this year and as of today, we see one more. Dawndy Mercer Plank retires from WIS-TV after 35 years. I was fortunate to work with Dawndy too long ago to talk about, but when I visited WIS a few months ago, she was as warm and inclusive as if those years had never passed. I know she will be missed in the homes of the WIS viewers and we wish her the harvest she so richly deserves.

Until next time, all the best.

Dody M. Yarborough

SCBA | 803-732-1186 | www.scba.net

Stay connected with us!