by Diane Kniowski, Chairman, Michigan Association of Broadcasters and President/General Manager, WOOD-TV/WOTV-TV, Grand Rapids.

We just finished the 2008 Annual Meeting and Leadership Retreat at Crystal Mountain Resort. It was a great success!

At that event, I became your new Chairman. It is a privilege to serve with this team. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters is viewed as one of the strongest Broadcast associations in the country. In addition, Karole White and her entire team are capable, credible and great at execution. This group gets it done!
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Are You Indispensible?
This August Kennen Williams will be touring Michigan to teach you "A Strategic Approach To Becoming The Resource Your Customers Cannot Live Without." In the current economic climate, broadcast sales professionals need to stir it up, expand their skill sets and learn new methods to help customers reach their goals.
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Team Visits Lansing Public Library
The MAB's DTV Team has continued its trek around the State of Michigan with presentations to community groups and interested citizens on the DTV transition. On June 23, the team visited the Lansing Public Library with an overview on why television is transitioning to digital, who is affected and what it means to them.
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Sessions Offered Timely Advice
Staying ahead of the rest…

Creative NTR…

The State of Broadcasting as a Whole…

All of this and much, much more was discussed during the 2008 Annual Meeting and Management Retreat at Crystal Mountain Resort.
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MAB Elects 2008-2009 Officers
The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) elected officers for 2008-2009 at its Annual Meeting & Leadership retreat held July 14-16 at the Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville.
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WWJ-TV Hires National Sales Manager
Mike Montano has been named national sales manager for WWJ, the CBS O&O in Detroit, effective June 30. He will report directly to Jennifer Purtan, vice president and director of sales, WWJ and co-owned WKBD, who made the announcement.
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WLUN hires sales director
Lance LeFevre has been hired to serve as the director of sales for ESPN 100.9-FM/WLUN (Pinconning). In this role, LeFevre is in charge of all radio sponsorship sales and maintaining relationships with the station's partners. LeFevre previously worked with the Great Lakes Loons as a corporate account executive.
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WXMI's Doty earns award for hockey coverage.
The American Hockey League has selected WXMI-TV/Grand Rapids sports anchor Tom Doty as this year's recipient of the James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding television coverage.
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WZZM-TV/Grand Rapids Adds Two Multimedia Reporters
WZZM 13 News welcomes two new additions to its staff: Steve Patterson and Angela Cunningham.
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Court Sets Limits on FOIA
The Michigan Supreme Court placed news limits on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), giving public entities more freedom to limit information. The new restriction came as result of a pair of rulings released today involving Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
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Amendment Targets Legislative Pay, Term Limits
Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) recently introduced a constitutional amendment that would scale back pay for legislators, deduct from their salary for absences, and would completely abolish term limits. The resolution represent yet another in a long line of proposal to counter the controversial Reform Michigan Government Now! ballot initiative.
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FCC Steps Up DTV Enforcement
The FCC’s recent DTV enforcement actions made one thing clear – the Commission is being vigilant in the enforcement of its digital television (or “DTV”) regulations.
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WYCD Saves Animals With 'Pet-A-Palooza'
CBS Radio Country WYCD/Detroit is showing its love for cats and dogs as it gets ready to present "2008 Pet-A-Palooza" at Freedom Hill County Park in Detroit on June 28th and 29th. The event is designed to find happy homes for dogs and cats from nearby shelters.
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WRSR/Flint Holds Buick Open"Birdies For Charities" Event
On Wednesday, June 25 the crew from WRSR/The Fox broadcast live 6am to 8pm from Al Serra Chevrolet asking for donations benefitting the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint.
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The MAPB honored recipients with the Pioneer awards at the Chairman’s Banquet held on July 15, 2008. Honored with the Volunteer Pioneer award is the WGVU Telephone Pioneers. The Professional Pioneer award recipient is Ken Kolbe. Pictured (l-r) are Michael Walenta, General Manager, WGVU-AM/FM/TV (Grand Rapids) accepting on behalf of the Telephone Pioneers; Karole White, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters; and Ken Kolbe, Assistant General Manager/Technology Manager, WGVU-AM/FM/TV.

Michigan Radio Wins National Edward R. Murrow Award
Michigan Radio, the public radio service of the University of Michigan, has been recognized for excellence in broadcast journalism by the Radio-Television News Directors Association.
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Golfers s’Par’ on Betsie Valley Golf Course during the Foundation Golf Scramble Fundraiser
Crystal Mountain’s Betsie Valley Golf Course welcomed 27 of MAB’s finest golfers during the MAB Foundation Golf Scramble Fundraiser on Tuesday, July 15. Proceeds went to future MAB Foundation programs, scholarships and internships.
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Wine Tasting Tour Offered Elegant Fun
Participants in the first ever MAB Foundation Wine Tasting Tour of Leelanau Peninsula fundraiser enjoyed beautiful scenes, insightful tours and delicious wines from Michigan’s leading wineries.
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Raffle Sees Record Amount!
The 2008 MAB Foundation raffle saw a record amount of income at more than $4,000!
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Voter registrations accepted all Michigan Department of Human Services county offices
Michigan residents can add any Department of Human Services location across the state as places there they can register to vote. Individuals seeing caseworkers, conducting supervised visitations or visiting the offices for any reason can complete and submit voter registration materials.
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