An open letter to you, our loyal viewer

The fall season begins when… summer vacations end; kids go back to school; baseball season starts; leaves start to change color; and many political debates and elections are held.

WGVU’s award winning news team will keep you updated on debates, elections and results during this current election year. Watch 2010GREAT DEBATE Friday nights on WGVU.

WGVU’s mission is to educate, inform and entertain the west and southwest areas of Michigan. Often it befits others outside of our area too. Each year the U.S. State Department invites various organizations from around the world to come to West Michigan to be educated and informed in all aspects of broadcasting. Last month in Kalamazoo, I had the pleasure of speaking to 10 broadcast journalists, professors and media owners from the Ukraine about the benefits of public broadcasting to our community and shared ideas they may wish to recreate in their area.

WGVU is your public broadcasting station. And members like Barbara McLain Behnke remind us of that. Ms. Behnke passed away and designated a percentage of her estate be transferred to Public Broadcasting WGVU/WGVK TV. Ms. Behnke was a strong supporter and believer of the value of education. Because of her caring nature and passion for education, she has made a very generous contribution to the WGVU Program Endowment Fund. Her legacy will live on through her contribution to WGVU and the continuing education of our youth.

Did you know...? The results of a recent Nielsen Media Research survey revealed that PBS/public television is #1 in public trust followed by courts of law; commercial broadcast television networks; newspaper publishing companies; Federal government; cable television networks and Congress.

Check this issue of Showplace and visit our website wgvu.org for more information on what is happening in and around your west and southwest Michigan neighborhoods.

Or, follow WGVU Connect on LinkedIn; “Like” WGVU on Facebook or tweet us on Twitter. WGVU Public TV and Radio is your connection to the world.

Michael T. Walenta, General Manager, WGVU