Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania, Inc. 2014 ...WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania 2014/2015 Annual Report 5 Ken Burns’s epic film The Roosevelts: An

Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania, Inc. 2014/2015 Annual Report

WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania 2014/2015 Annual Report 1

WQLN Public MediaPublic Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania, Inc.

8425 Peach Street • Erie, PA 16509

Offices: 814-864-3001 • Toll Free: 800-727-8854 • Fax: 814-864-4077

www.wqln.org

Inside:Overview......................2

Television.....................4

Radio............................8

Education.....................11

In the Community......14

WQLN Team................15

Support Lists.............16

Financial Reports.....20

The mission of WQLN is to stimulate, enrich, educate, and entertain the public through communications.

WQLN Public Media envisions a community engaged in meaningful dialogue that enriches our understanding of the world around us. This dialogue will find its inspiration in content gathered by WQLN and its community members and delivered through traditional and new media platforms. While focusing on our home community, WQLN seeks to include anyone in a respectful exchange of ideas.

WQLN will be recognized as a critical resource to our community, based on excellence in content aggregation, loyalty to the community, and commitment to providing programs and services that are educational, respectful, engaging, and inspiring.

WQLN Public MediaOur Mission

Our Vision


WQLN Public MediaOverview

Thank you for taking the time to review the 2014-2015 Annual Report of WQLN Public Media, your public broadcasting station for 48 years! When WQLN first went on the air back in 1967, we ran an ad in the Erie newspaper which showed people how to use the UHF dial on their television sets. Almost five decades later WQLN is on satellite, cable, smart phones, online, and (most important) in the community. As times and technology change, WQLN is a continual work in progress.

Most recently we’ve reinvested in our infrastructure. Some paint and tar, a few electronics, and a lot of elbow grease have made our old building feel new. We’ve reinvested in programming, too. Programs like Masterpiece, the PBS Arts Fall Festival, the Stories of Service initiative, and local productions Erie Now, Perspective, and the Our Town series and more are some of the best things on TV, proving that television can do more than just entertain; it can engage and educate its audience.

I could go on at great length about the strength of our mission and activities here in the Lake Erie region, but that’s all included in the pages that follow. What I really want to share is what you have to say . . .

. . . on Driveway Moments:

Last week you played a piece of classical narration . . . of The Snow Queen . . . . My 4 year old daughter was entranced and we had a “driveway moment” . . . her first but certainly not her last. Thank you! – Kate F.

. . . on Lifelong Learning:

As a lifelong learner, PBS fills my need for input and reflection on health, science, news, music and the arts, history, travel, gardening, nature, and biographical insights about people and their civilizations. – Janet M.

I’ve used some of the science clips from from ATC (All Things Considered) and Morning Edition in my biology classes. Joe Palca’s reporting is wonderful. His clips are a great way to introduce students to new breakthroughs in science, before we explore the information in more depth. – Dr. Kelly G.

. . . [I]t seems like everything I watch or record is mostly on WQLN. I went [on a WQLN Road Trip] to Fallingwater, and I enjoyed it very much. It made me realize that WQLN has so much to offer, and I want to support your programming and all of your community-based activities. – Madeline T.

. . . on a Gem in the [Not So] Rough:

We have a home north of Pittsburgh. We spend three months each year in Florida, and we have traveled across the country. We seek out the public television channels wherever we go. We are summer residents in Erie from May to October. WQLN has the best programming we have seen in public television groups of channels . . . Thank you for your excellent channels. – Marily K.

Thank you for your wonderful programs. You teach in an entertaining way. We so very much enjoy your PBS programs. Thank you for all your effort in bringing us here in Erie the very best TV ever! – Betty M.


. . . on Help in Hard Times:

I am new to Erie and often listen to WQLN during my morning drive. There are several things on the [WQLN Radio Culture Calendar] that I want to look in to . . . My 15 year old daughter and I lost my wife in August and I have been struggling to find cultural things for us to do instead of just “guy” things. The ballet at Mercyhurst and things at the [Erie] Playhouse sound like sure bets for us. Thank you again. – Matt [last name withheld]

I tuned in to 91.3 and smiled from ear to ear. Thank you! . . . . All of the programing is awesome. My grandmother would listen exclusively to WQLN Radio and finish the night with The Lawrence Welk Show, and now I listen and it makes me feel closer to her memory. – Christopher C.

WQLN has sustained me in my recent move – taking the same familiar classics with me. Joy, peace—from the old, to my new retirement life. Thank you! Scotia, my cat, says ‘thanks’, too. – Dianne W.

. . . on the Pure Beauty of It:

Today [Brian Hannah] played J.S. Bach’s Air on a G String with a female vocal soloist who sang like an instrument, and whose voice timbre was exceptionally pure and beautiful. – Bruce C.

. . . on Missing Us:

I’m starving in my car [during a WQLN Radio signal outage]; no other radio is adequate anymore. I’m hooked on quality. Hope we can get up and running this weekend—or sooner. – Rev. John J.

. . . on Family Feuds:

I want you to know how very pleased we are with all the interesting learning programs and entertainment shows on WQLN. Personally—I could do away with cable except for sports my husband watches! What would Saturday night be without Lawrence Welk during dinner? Then, As Time Goes By. For whatever reason, I’ve gotten addicted to Doc Martin. The actors are excellent—every one of them. All the BBC shows are, too. Keep up the good work. – Ruth D.

. . . on Pushing the Envelope:

I really think what . . . WQLN delivered here, [The Nance with Nathan Lane], goes beyond the boundaries of taste or edgy. It was a remarkable commitment to the arts in general. To be honest, I can’t wait to watch it again from start to finish. So MANY (OK MOST) broadcasters would have NEVER touched such provocative material. You keep up this good work, I’ll have to become a member! – William W.

Well, Mr. W., I hope we’ve convinced you—and I’m so glad we’ve given all of you something remarkable, provocative, and boundary-breaking.

Tom New President/CEO


On May 4, 2015, the Create channel (WQLN-TV 54.2) and the World channel (WQLN-TV 54.3) switched from a traditional 4x3 aspect ratio to 16x9 widescreen aspect ratio format. What does this mean? The images that home viewers receive are now better fitted to contemporary high-definition, widescreen TVs – that is, most of the TVs manufactured since 2005. The updated aspect ratio avoids the anamorphism—or “squashing” of images—and the “postage stamp” images surrounded by black on the top & bottom or the sides in TV frame sizes that do not match the size of the original image.

On June 1, 2015, our TV license was renewed.

And in June 2015 we installed the new 24TB NAS server – a critical update for reliable storage of our in-house, WQLN TV Original Productions.

New TV programs sizzled on WQLN this year, with series premieres of programs on topics from history’s great mysteries to racial politics to humankind’s affair with wild animals – plus issues near and dear to our own community.

The new series Time Scanners uncovered the engineering mysteries of the ancient world. History Detectives: Special Investigations probed the “cold cases” of America’s past. POV: Getting Back to Abnormal served up a mix of race, corruption, and New Orleans politics.

In its 35th year A Capitol Fourth celebrated our country with an all-star salute, featuring Frankie Valli, Patti Labelle, and many others, plus John Williams’ debut of a special arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Agatha Christie’s Belgian super-sleuth returned to Masterpiece on Poirot: Season 12, with two all-new mysteries.

Great Performances gave viewers front-row seats for performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic with pianist Lang Lang in the gardens of Austria’s Schönbrunn Palace, and L’Allegro with the Mark Morris Dance Company – the work that the New York Times called “one of those rare, euphoric dances that make life worth living.”

Time Team America’s new season attempted to solve riddles of the past by exploring an 1830s slave plantation, the remains of Camp Lawton in Georgia, and a 1,200 year old village near Mesa Verde, Colorado.

Masterpiece got risqué in the premiere of Breathless, centered on the sexual revolution of 1961 London.

American Masters profiled photographer Dorothea Lange, known for her powerful documentary photography that witnessed the Great Depression, mass migration, urbanization, and war on the home front.

WQLN TVCritical Updates

Quality Programming


Ken Burns’s epic film The Roosevelts: An Intimate History premiered in September, kicking off the fall season during which all of PBS’s fall premieres aired as scheduled, part of our ongoing plan to give you more of what you love on WQLN TV by reducing our televised fundraising days from 84 to only 54 days each year.

Kristin Chenoweth hosted the 4th annual PBS Arts Fall Festival, with performances of Sweeney Todd, Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years, The Nance Live from Lincoln Center, starring Nathan Lane, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess from San Francisco Opera (“Summertime” was not to be missed!), In Performance at the White House: A Salute to the Troops, Great Performances: Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek LIVE!, Michael Feinstein live from the Rainbow Room, and A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen, featuring an all-star lineup performing the Boss’s biggest hits.

On Finding Your Roots with historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., genealogists uncovered the origins of a diverse group of 30 guests.

A new season of Makers featured women who built America.

Starting October 15, we learned How We Got to Now with author Steven Johnson, who investigated the unexpected, interconnected origins of the mundane-seeming stuff that populates our lives.

And for drama-philes Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries joined our Saturday night lineup of British drama, mystery and comedy, with glamorous private detective Phryne Fisher fighting for justice in swinging 1920s Melbourne.

Penn Station, our Thursday night feature of Pennsylvania programs, premiered stories by Pennsylvanians, for Pennsylvanians, about Pennsylvania.

On September 27 WQLN TV joined other stations across the country for the American Graduate Day marathon, focusing on solutions to the nation’s high school dropout crisis. With support from WNET New York, WQLN produced an original series of “Stories of Champions” TV and Radio shorts featuring local champions of children Daria Devlin, Dr. Jay Badams, and Dr. Jennifer Ritter.

Downton Abbey season 5 premiered January 4, 2015, with a new season of intimately interlaced stories of the English country estate.

Part of PBS’s Stories of Service initiative, Craft in America: Service featured the handmade creations of veteran-artisans. On Veterans Day, Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story revealed how the U.S. Navy SEALs became the world’s most admired commandos. Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler: Lourdes followed active duty and retired U.S. military traveling to the Catholic shrine of Lourdes in search of healing. Last Days in Vietnam: American Experience, from filmmaker Rory Kennedy, chronicled the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War in a stunning, visceral way never seen before. And Homefront shared the culture of the military community from the perspective of its families. Stories of Service will continue in the coming months and years.

As your “home for the holidays”, WQLN warmed up the holiday season with the Call the Midwife Holiday Special, Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Christmas in Norway with the St. Olaf Choir, and Live from Lincoln Center: The New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve Gershwin Celebration.


Season two of Shakespeare Uncovered shared six new films that reveal the extraordinary world and works of William Shakespeare and their still-potent impact. With support from WNET New York, and in partnership with Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre and the Erie Playhouse, WQLN produced the original series of TV and Radio shorts “Behind the Bard”, featuring local actors sharing their personal Shakespear-iences.

EARTH A New Wild visited the world’s wildest natural places and fascinating creatures.

The triumphs and struggles of Italian Americans were revealed on The Italian Americans.

Independent Lens: Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People told the story of pioneering African-American photographers.

Women with Cancer introduced five remarkable women living with cancer. And the epic documentary Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies from award-winning director Barak Goodman and Executive Producer Ken Burns documented cancer from its first appearances thousands of years ago, through the 20th century battle for a cure.

A new season of Call the Midwife began in March, followed by the premiere of Season 2 of the popular period drama Mr. Selfridge.

Thomas Cromwell (Mark Rylance) and King Henry VIII (Damian Lewis) came to WQLN TV on Masterpiece: Wolf Hall, an adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize-winning novels.

In the battle for the title “America’s Best”, America’s Ballroom Challenge featured 25 professional couples competing for ballroom glory.

The Day the 60s Died traveled back to the turbulent spring of May 1970 when four students were shot down at Kent State, and Dick Cavett’s Vietnam recounted the war as seen through historic interviews and material from the National Archives.

Chautauqua Institution and nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake showed off their special events seasons on Chautauqua 2015 Season Preview followed by The Shaw Festival 2015 Season Preview.

For fans of Poldark from the 1970s – and for the rest of us, too! – the return of Captain Ross Poldark in a new adaptation of the hit Masterpiece series was big news.

Love returned on the new season of Last Tango in Halifax, with Sir Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as an older couple navigating a second chance at love – 50 years after they first met.

On Erie Now, WQLN’s informative, fast-paced community forum, local journalists and topical experts discussed a variety of “Erie” issues, including Pre K-12 Education (July 31), Regional Cooperation (August 24), Community and Civic Engagement (October 23), Cultural Vitality (November 27), and The Economy (February 19).

Viewers got a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a series of award-winning television commercials on the WQLN Original Production Perspective: 30 Seconds of Magic.

And on December 18, 2014, perhaps the biggest event of the WQLN year occurred when we premiered the very first installment in our new Our Town television series: Our Town: Stories from Meadville! Local folks came together with WQLN producers to share their hometown pride with memories, stories, photographs, and footage of historic Meadville, PA. The success of Our Town: Stories from Meadville allowed us to forge ahead with Our Town: Stories from Oil City, with plans to feature Corry, North East, and other local communities in future Our Town special productions.


There was something odd in WQLN Kids programming, but it could be considered something even, too, with the premiere of Odd Squad, a live-action series for kids ages 4-8, which follows the adventures of two young, math-savvy government agents, Olive and Otto, whose mission is to investigate weird and unusual phenomena and use math to save the day.

Research shows that math and problem-solving skills are a strong predictor of a student’s overall success, but many children struggle with math, and many parents aren’t confident in their own ability to help their children in this fundamental area. Programs like Odd Squad are partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Ready to Learn initiative, but most significantly, they’re funded by our viewers.


On August 1, 2014, our FM license was renewed, along with all five translators: Chautauqua 90.1FM, Meadville 106.1FM, Oil City 91.9FM, Titusville 91.5FM, and Warren 98.9FM.

A crew completed the replacement of our FM transmission line on January 22, 2015, allowing us to return to full signal strength.

Also in January, we completed the installation of a new digital console in FM Master Control, along with the renovation of the Master Control area, including new furniture and a fresh coat of paint.

Finally, we were pleased to participate in the NPR 2015 Spark campaign, helping to drive listener engagement with NPR News’s multi-award winning programs Morning Edition and All Things Considered on WQLN Radio.

For over 10 years, Kim Young hosted and produced WQLN Radio’s weekly public affairs program Weekend All Things Erie. Since she debuted the program on June 5, 2004, Kim featured local leaders, movers, and shakers in informative interviews about a variety of local issues and concerns—to the pleasure of her loyal listeners. She interviewed local leaders of organizations such as Stairways Behavioral Health, Habitat for Humanity, Erie Catholic Charities, and countless others about issues of mental health, housing for the underserved, adoption, and much more—all with a local angle.

Kim accepted a teaching position which took her out of the Lake Erie region. After 10 years of our wonderful association, all of us here at WQLN Radio wish her well in her new position. Kim’s final broadcast as host of Weekend All Things Erie was on June 28, 2014. The program lives on with its new volunteer host, Ben Speggen, who builds on the tradition of the exceptionally good show that started with Kim.

WQLN Radio welcomed three new volunteer hosts. Ben Speggen took over the local community affairs program Weekend All Things Erie (7am Saturdays) from longtime host Kim Young in July 2014. In July 2014 Chris Hilbert, a veteran of WQLN Radio, began bringing hand-picked contemporary and classic folk to Sunday afternoons on Homespun Trails (1pm Sundays). And in April 2015 Marcus Atkinson launched our newest community affairs program NEXT (4pm on the fourth Sunday of each month), with a view toward engaging Erie’s next generation of leaders in a discussion of issues that affect Erie’s minority communities. NEXT opens the conversation to allow a new level of understanding of the issues affecting inner-city Erie, from the perspective of its next generation of voices.

WQLN Radio

Farewell and Best Wishes!

New Folks and New Folk

Critical Updates


News, classics, jazz, and more.

Here at WQLN Radio we select, produce, and personally tailor over 60 weekly original hours of music, news, and arts & cultural programs, designed to suit the tastes—and meet the needs—of our local audience. And we bring you the best of NPR programming, from essential news programs like Morning Edition to cultural curiosities like those found on Fresh Air.

We look for every opportunity to expose you, the listener, to the best live classical music our region has to offer, including featuring live performances from local, regional, and international artists who regularly appear on the Get Your Phil at Noon summer series and the WQLN Radio Live from Studio Q series.

Gary Finney, host of The Third Set (11pm Monday-Friday) found himself with a new gig hosting Sounds Around Town, the revamp of a WQLN TV series from the 1980s and 90s, now produced as free live concerts and broadcasts for WQLN TV and Radio. Sounds Around Town 2014 featured Eric Brewer & Friends, The Heliotropes, and up-and-comers Bronsen Euard & The Essentials.

WQLN Radio broadcasts—live—the free outdoor performances by Erie Philharmonic musicians called Get Your Phil at Noon concerts. This year’s concerts again each attracted an audience of hundreds, some seeing the Erie Phil for the first time. Performances on the third Wednesday of June, July, and August featured Erie Philharmonic strings, brass, and woodwinds ensembles on the Erie Art Museum patio. Each concert was broadcast live during Classics with Brian Hannah!

How close have you ever been to a rock star, your favorite performer, or even your favorite athlete? Well, if you’re anything like most of us, you may have been in the front row, or if lucky, even received an autograph! For years we have been bringing you lobby performances featuring the best local classical musicians as well as national guest artists who are passing through town for performances with the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, and other local ensembles. In May 2015 WQLN Radio took a big step forward with our live performance broadcasts. We moved the venue from our little lobby here at the WQLN Studios, to the large, bright, and acoustically superior WQLN Learning Center! It’s a beautiful venue better suited to classical music performances, and it can accommodate more than 100 guests! Second, we changed the name from Lobby Performances and Radio Recitals to Live from Studio Q, to include the Master Series of professional musicians and the Young Artist Series featuring students and up-and-coming performers. Visiting performers included the Erie Playhouse for its annual season preview, violinist Elena Urioste, concert pianist Simone Dinnerstein, Van Cliburn Silver Medalist pianist Joyce Yang, 14-year-old pianist Deven Shah, and the Lake Effect Theatre Company.

WQLN Radio welcomed General McLane students for an in-depth tour of our studios in April, 2015.

On March 7, 2015, we brought you Governor Tom Wolf’s Budget Address.

Quality Programming


And man-about-town Brian Hannah brought his musical insights to the Torch Club (August) for a special guest appearance. He also continued to offer pre-concert discussions we call “Classics in the Evening” in the First Niagara Room inside the Warner Theatre before each Erie Philharmonic Symphonic Series performance. These discussions afford ticketholders the opportunity to learn a little about the composers, the music, the history of the Erie Phil and sometimes, if we are lucky, to meet the musicians and soloists while enhancing the concert experience with a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this wonderful orchestra tick!

On May 31, 2015, the WQLN original occasional series On Film featured a discussion about Paul Festa’s film Tie It into My Hand, about the life of an artist learning to play the violin, according to Margaret Cho, Harold Bloom, Alan Cumming, Peter Coyote, Mink Stole, Penny Arcade, Robert Pinsky, Gary Graffman, Barbara Hammer, and Cameron Carpenter.

On September 20 WQLN Radio’s Vivaldi in the Vineyard celebrated the change of seasons with Vivaldi selections performed by an Erie Philharmonic string quartet and an Erie Chamber Orchestra woodwind ensemble, with hospitality by 1201 Kitchen, Summer House Cafe, Pineapple Eddie, and Brazill’s on Main, at Mazza’s Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing in nearby Westfield, NY.


WQLN Education is committed to improving the lives of children in our community by intersecting media and learning, providing teachers and parents the tools to encourage learning in the classroom and home, and strengthening community partnerships that foster early childhood education. WQLN Families Turn on to Literacy combines PBS Kids programming, quality books, and hands-on activities, giving parents the resources they need to increase their child’s educational success. This program educates families in four categories of literacy: Traditional, Social & Emotional, Nutritional, and Financial.

• The Traditional Literacy series covers the learning process and foundational reading skills, vocabulary development and comprehension, reading/writing connection, and developing fluency and high order thinking. PBS Kids programs included in the curriculum are Between the Lions, Super Why, and Martha Speaks.

• The topic areas covered in the Social & Emotional Literacy (SEL) series are self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills and relationships, and social awareness—showing empathy and perspective taking. Included in the SEL curriculum are PBS Kids programs like Clifford the Big Red Dog and Arthur.

• The Nutritional Literacy workshop introduces families to healthy eating habits, the importance of exercise, ways to stay healthy with proper hand-washing and germ control, and suggestions for increased physical activity. Families learn to identify popular advertising techniques used to sell food. Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Arthur, and Berenstain Bears are the PBS Kids programs included in the curriculum.

• Financial Literacy offers a basis for the responsible use of money and credit. Participants learn to make informed financial decisions that can affect their families and their future. In addition, parents learn about media literacy and how it affects their child’s health. PBS Kids programs included in the curriculum are Cyberchase, Arthur, and Berenstain Bears.

Since the inception of WQLN Families Turn on to Literacy, WQLN Education has directly impacted the lives of over 2,973 individuals. The program is available to 17 local school districts and has also taken place in childcare facilities and learning centers. This year the program served 11 local schools. While all families benefit from our literacy programs, WQLN Education targets at-risk families, specifically parents and their K-2 students from inner-city schools.

To encourage participation, families who complete a four-week workshop series are rewarded with great children’s books and a free one-year membership in the WQLN Kids Club along with other great benefits.

WQLN Education credits the strong partnerships with our local businesses that share the same passion and vision by supporting innovative programs like WQLN Families Turn on to Literacy through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Because of the generosity of our EITC Partners, we are able to offer the Families program to local school districts as a benefit at no cost, and our EITC Partners can receive up to a 90% tax credit.

WQLN EducationWQLN Families Turn on to Literacy™


The second annual JUMP! Back to School Expo, on August 10, 2014, saw attendance of over 1,100 at the Bayfront Convention Center. Parents and students, from kindergarteners to seniors in high school, got a one-stop experience of the latest products, services, and resources to help bolster children’s academic success. Families were able to meet admission reps from many educational institutions. Students enjoyed engineering and science with interactive exhibits from Penn State Behrend, Erie’s Public Schools Science Center, and PMI-Precision Manufacturing Institute. Teens used a simulator, courtesy of the Northwest Regional Highway Safety Network, to pick up a lesson on the consequences of distracted driving. Blasco Library signed children up for library cards, and the expERIEnce Children’s Museum offered interactive exhibits. Ethan Mattocks, National 1st Place Winner of the PBS Kids Young Writers Contest, held story time in the Q-Kids Readers Corner and signed autographs of his winning book “Once Upon a Pencil”. WQLN gave away a senior scholarship, and to spark younger imaginations, the WQLN Student Activity Center featured fascinating (and cute!) small animal exhibits courtesy of the Erie Zoo, while PBS characters Curious George, Cat in the Hat, and Clifford the Big Red Dog greeted their fans. JUMP! again offered free haircuts by the Cleckley Barbershop, free school supplies, and performances throughout the day by the Erie Jr. Phil, Erie Playhouse Youtheatre, Erie Bayfront Dance, Erie All City Marching Band, and Flippin’ Fitness.

The PBS Kids local-national young writers contest celebrated its 21st year in 2015! Few things capture a child’s imagination like a good book. The Contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on active learning. WQLN Education, in partnership with the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit, sponsored this event, which encourages children in grades K-3 to write and illustrate their very own stories. Each year, nearly 300 entries are submitted to the local contest, and 12 local winners are recognized for their accomplishments at the annual Winners Party. The local first place winning stories are entered in the national contest with a chance to win great prizes.

WQLN Education congratulated our first place local winner, second-grader Sammy Heim, whose story “If Only I Lived on Jupiter” was selected as a finalist at the national PBS Kids Writers Contest, held at WNED in Buffalo. Videos featuring local winning stories are archived at WQLN.org.

JUMP! Back to School Expo

PBS KIDS Writers Contest


Q-Kids Readers Book Club, a free book club for pre-school to elementary students in the WQLN listening/viewing area, encourages independent reading and encourages parents to take an active role in developing their child’s independent reading skills. Book Club members read nearly 800 books in fiscal year 2015!

WQLN Education, in partnership with Blasco Library, launched a new educational outreach event for all area elementary schools: the Q-Kids Readers Elementary School Reading Competition! This fun way to encourage students to read took place from September 1, 2014, to November 30, 2014. The winning school, Robison Elementary, tallied 7,000 books and was presented with a trophy and a cash prize for its library. The winning classroom, Mrs. Hanas’ 5th grade class (Robison Elementary) received a pizza party and a visit from our station mascot, Quiggley. The winning student, 5th grader Ava Fuller, received a Nook and gift card. And our TV crew was on site to capture the excitement at Robison!

Congratulations to our other Top Readers!

And finally, we launched the new Q-Kids Readers Summer Reading Race, which continues to grow!

Morgan Ann Duncan 1st Grader from Jefferson Elementary Read 525 books

Gabriella Piccirillith 5th Grader from St. Peters Cathedral Read 167 books

Caleb Post Kindergartener from Wattsburg Area Elementary Read 175 books

Amia Sherrod 6th Grader from Holy Family Read 92 books

Q-Kids Readers


WQLN hosted three Downton Abbey preview screenings for a kick-off to Season 5 of the incredibly popular Masterpiece drama. Audiences at The Movies at Cranberry, the Vukovich Center at Allegheny College, and Mercyhurst University’s Taylor Little Theatre got first peek at the new season.

Capitalizing on a short, sweet Erie summer, we brought back an old WQLN TV series from the 1980s and 90s. Sounds Around Town was reborn as free live concerts, recorded for WQLN TV and Radio. Local bands Eric Brewer & Friends, The Heliotropes, and Bronsen Euard & The Essentials took advantage of the picturesque pond-side WQLN pavilion, upgraded with 100 amp electrical service, for this series of picnic-style concerts, complete with hospitality courtesy of Erie Beer Company and McCormick Coffee.

Community EventsStimulate, Enrich, Educate, and Entertain


Martin Haft, ChairRochelle Krowinski, Vice ChairJohn F. Kearns, FCII Secretary/TreasurerMark Amendola

Patricia CavanaughLisa ChinskyJennifer GornallC. Bruce Kern II

Matt MillerBarbara PollockScott K. Wright

Phil Fatica, ChairAlyson Amendola

Dan DesrochersMatt Lebowitz

Mike SmileyJune M. Smith

Halle Kostansek, Staff Liaison

Tom New, President/CEOCindy Spizarny, Vice President/General Manager

AdministrationTenae GageSue DiPlacidoHalle Kostansek

DevelopmentLisa Counasse, ManagerBecky AndersonGwen CampbellBarbara DanielsShannon FerrareDeb MercerPatti PellaMindy SchrubbJocelyn Taylor

Corporate SupportKathleen BowdenJennifer Hoffman

Maintenance and OperationsAaron Coseo, Chief EngineerMike CareyPaul Stone

EducationKathy Carducci, ManagerBridget AllburnBonnie GoringMary HammerIngrid HolmesAnna LandersSandra Miller

RadioSue Allen, ManagerBrian HannahDan SullivanVolunteer Hosts:

Marcus AtkinsonPhil AtteberryKathy CarducciAubrey DillonGary FinneyPauline GarvinJason GibbsChris HilbertPeter van den HonertRob HoffAl LubiejewskiThomas J. PyszBen Speggen

TV Programming and ProductionDaWayne Cleckley, ManagerCurtis EmpsonNatalia GarciaWilliam MoonLarry Wheaton

All names current as of June 30, 2015

WQLN Public Media is fueled by an accomplished and dedicated team of employees. At its core, WQLN is not a “what,” but a “who” composed of driven hard workers committed to ensuring that WQLN remains both vibrant and relevant so that it may continue to enrich, educate, and entertain the Lake Erie region.

Thomas J. Pysz, Director of Corporate and Foundation SupportLisa Counasse, Director of Development

Meet the TeamWQLN is a Who

WQLN Board of Directors

WQLN Community Advisory Board

WQLN Senior Leadership Team

WQLN Staff


$2,500+Mrs. Mary L. KookogeyMrs. Marnie KirkpatrickMr. Richard MerwinMr. Edward H. LambHoward & Mary LincolnMr. & Mrs. W. P. DelaneyMr. Thomas B HagenMr. Thomas YoungMr. & Mrs. Terrence CavanaughMr. & Mrs. Thomas A HanesMrs. Gay ClaridgeBarb FynanCarla Wright Picardo & Scott Kelso WrightMrs. Barbara PollockMrs. Christine LangBritton Family FoundationLarry & Gloria NewThomas HanesMr. David StrongMs. Emily BoughtonMr. Joseph HilbertDr. & Mrs. Kenneth ChinskyLinesville VFWMr. Andrew ConnerMr. Patrick SheridanMr. Raymond MorrisonPolish National Alliance #2031

$1,000+Dr. & Mrs. Scott HenryMr. & Mrs. Tom New & GibbyPeter & Katherine NelsonMr. & Mrs. Scott LasherMr. & Mrs. Myron JonesMrs. Jean Belle MertensWesleyville American Legion

Carl Neff Post 571Attorney James R. Walczak, Esq.Douglas & Deborah MurphyMary Ellen Dahlkemper & Ed LesserMr. John KearnsMs. Joanne C. DarlingMs. Mary C ImbodenMr. & Mrs. Hillert VittJennifer & Thomas PersonMr. & Mrs. Robert SmithMs. Linda Y GreggMs. Kathleen M AlessiMr. Robert StelmackMr. Michael RichardsonMr. Richard BentleyMs. Mary B. Cermak-BellMs. Minda Rae AmiranDr. Michael Bucell & Dr. Cynthia Legin-BucellMs.Elizabeth M. Miller

William & Carol SchaalAtty & Mrs. Harvey McClureDr. & Mrs. Peter ScibettaMr. & Mrs. John CliffordMr. Mike HallMrs. Barbara FynanMr. Mike VadzemnieksMs. Lawrie McCarthyDr. & Mrs. Charles Hora Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Chris ThomasMr. Gary DouganMark & Joyce Ravnikar KulykMrs. Marilyn McRobertsMrs. Sue AllenMr. & Mrs. Chris F FetteMr. & Mrs. Henry Suhr, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Peter BenekosPhil & Kathleen FaticaMr. Thomas PyszDr. & Mrs. William MakarowskiDr. Susan H PackardAl & Peggy RichardsonCyrus & Susan WellmanMs. Blossom McBrierRaymond WeiserDr. Len PicheMr. & Mrs. Steve SchellRobert & Marion GallivanMs. Karen SkarupskiMary NelsonMs. Christine RiehlBecky & Lee PomeroyMr. & Mrs. Robert HodderMr. & Mrs. Wally FaasMr. John HoustonSusan & Steven KemenyffyMs. Elvera PayneMr. & Mrs. Brian McKayJoe & Mary HohmanAttorney Ted WattsAtty & Mrs. Robert G. DwyerDr. & Mrs. Josephy NedreskyJames Bulman & Beth WatkinsMichael & Mary Ann WolkomirMr. & Mrs. Bruce Kern IIMr. & Mrs. Carl R. MeinstereifelMr. & Mrs. James BaldaufMr. & Mrs. Martin HaftMr. & Mrs. Robert ParisiMr. Daniel J. CashMr. Joel DeutermanMr. Michael Haupt & Dr. Daniele HauptMr. Robert F. WoolerMr. Thomas W. Kennedy Jr.Mr. Tom HagenMs. Aundra Zack

Ms. Jean StateMs. Louise Morrison RaffaMs. Mary Kay Reber

$500+Mr. Peter Tibbetts & Mrs. Christine HilbertMr. Steve S. CockramLaura E. RutlandStefanie AmbroMr. Jerome M Wilson, Jr.Sheryl RuckerNancy HanksMarie StroblBarbara Anne Nodes-NakoskiMr. Shane T WohlrabeMrs. Michelle MorganRandy & Jen DemersRon Cole & Nancy FrambesDr. Daniel Frankforter & Ms. Karen KeeneMrs. Lisa CounasseMr. & Mrs. John SperryCharles & Susan RoehrlMs. Lisa UnicoLawrence & Victoria SerafinDr. Dennis Borczon & Dr. Mary Ann AlbaughMs. Elizabeth KlawonMs. Kathy HathewayHelen LazaraSusan MiddletonMs. Lucy ShafferMr. & Mrs. James L Johnson, IIIMr. Ernest J. DisantisMr. Charles D CorritoreFMC TechnologiesOlaf HendersonTerry & Cheryl MooreMs. Linda JohnsonKirk & Jill PattenWalter EhretAndrew & Judith RothDelores & Joao TavaresErica & Terry KrasovicMr. & Mrs. Michael MeadMs. Carol A. RiperWarren BernharttDr. Kathleen SullivanSam & Janet TrychinAtty & Mrs. Emil SpadaforeDuncan & Minnie LawrieJohn BauerMr. & Mrs. Kelly GoodselMr. Ralph LovejoyMs. Nancy SennettSteve Weiser

WQLN Donors and Sponsors Fiscal Year 2014-2015WQLN Partner’s Circle


$350-$499 Arthur F. SchultzBel-Air Clarion Hotel &

Conference CenterBest Western - EdenCanada Foods, EhCanfield RadiatorCapt. Thomson’s ResortCorry Contract Council OptometricCountry FairCustom KitchensDelta SonicDetail ConceptsDunn TireEmergycare Inc.Emerson Resort and SpaEmsco GroupEnjoy the City North Inc.Erie County VocationalSchoolFairmont PittburghFaith Haven StablesFinish ThompsonFrontier Lumber CompanyGlenwood Beer DistributorMoore SanitationOmni William PennPJ’s AutosoundPepsi Bottling GroupPerf-A-LawnPlantation on Crystal RiverProudland, the Pet PlacePufferbelly RestaurantRiver ExpeditionsRondel Village Scott EnterprisesTanglez Hair and Nail SalonU-Frame ItVirginia Beach Resort Hotel &

Conference CenterVelocity NetworkWelch House Inn (NSA)Whole Foods Coop

$500-$999A Friend of WQLNBaumann Bros. CarpetowneBayfront Kitchens and BathsBecky and Paul AndersonCabot CreameryCelebration JewelersChannellock, Inc.Chapman Transport, Inc.

Diana BooneErie Health SpaErie PhilharmonicGateway LodgeGlenwood Pet Hospital

$500-$999Good Ideas, Inc.Henry Fox Pest ControlHigbee’s Campground &

Cottage RentalKrahe PlasteringJohnston’s NurseryLa Grande Elite LimoLake Erie Region

ConservancyLake Shore Country ClubMatta DMcDonald’sNational FuelNorth East Volunteer

Fire DepartmentOur Own Candle CompanyPanera BreadPera’s Summer ResortPlymouth County CBPotratz Floral Shop andGreeneryQuality Suites- Royal

Parc Suites Save-A-LotSparrow Pond Family

CampgroundSparta’s Mini SpaSimonton Court House

Boutique Hotel The BrewerieThe Patio ShopTinseltown TheatreTrade Wind Island ResortTwilight Mississippi

River CruiseWalt Disney WorldWelch’s FoodsWendy’s

$1000-$1999 Beacon Hotel and

Corporate QuartersBear Run CampgroundsBertrand’s BistroBrett Maloney Landscape Coventina Day SpaCJ’sAuto Transport

Daniel ToneyEdinboro Beverage

DistributorErie Times News Fabin’s Trailer SalesFrenchman’s Reef &

Morning Star Marriott Greater Fort Lauderdale CVBGlass by James MichaelH & L EnterprisesHammill’s Gun ShopJensen’s Target CollisionJJ Wurst Landscape

ContractorsLake County BikeLECOM Medical Fitness

and Wellness CenterMason FarmsMercyhurst Institute for

Arts and CultureMUNIO Impact Martial

Arts AllianceMud Puppies Self Service

Dog WashNorth Coast Cultured

ProductsReed Manufacturing $1000-$1999Ridg-U-Rak, Inc.Roseto-Suter Overhead

Door, Inc.Sand Castle on the BeachSky Sail BalloonsSt. Gregory Luxury Hotel

& SuitesThe Inn at Glenora

Wine CellarsThe Inn at Starlight LakeThe Spencer HotelSunset Drive in TheatreTraditionsVisit Pittsburgh CVBWhite Tulip ConsignmentWorld Famous Pizzi CaféWrights CarpetsYMCA of Greater Erie $2000-$4999Chautauqua InstitutionFairview Evergreen NurseryFast SignsGerlach’s Garden and Power

Equipment Center

Innovative Advertising and Vending Services

JR’s Last Laugh Comedy ClubRussell’s of WaterfordSmith Provision CompanyWaldameer Park and

Water World WineriesUp to $499 21 Brix WineryArundel Cellars Blue Iris WineryCambridge Cellars WineryLakeview Wine CellarsLiberty VineyardsQuincy CellarsSensory Winery

$500-$2000 Arrowhead Wine CellarsConneaut CellarsCourtyard WineriesFive & 20 Spirits and BrewingGlenora Wine CellarsHeritage Wine CellarsJohnson Estate WineryMarkko Vineyards $500-$2000 Mazza Chautauqua WineryMazza Vineyard – North EastPresque Isle Wine CellarsSouth Shore Wine CompanyTarsitano Winery

WQLN Auction and Special Events Donors ($350+)


PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Donors CA CurtzeErie InsuranceHighmark Keystone Health Plan WestLord CorporationNorthwest Savings BankPNCScott EnterprisesWaste Management

General Education SponsorshipsCountry FairErie Community Credit UnionGirl Scouts of Western PALilly Broadcasting, AmeriHealth Caritas.Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School PA Cyber Charter SchoolUPMC for KidsUPMC for YouSarris Candies St. Boniface SchoolWidget Financial

WQLN Education Financial Donors

Ainsworth Pet NutritionAllegheny CollegeAnonymousMeadville Medical CenterArmstrong CableCrawford Heritage Community

FoundationGlenn Przyborski

Hagan Business Machines of Meadville, Inc.

WesburyMoonlight PackagingGates & Burns RealtyVenango College of

Clarion UniversityDays Inn Oil City

The Suhr FamilyArt InsideH&R BlockIn Memory of Cranberry MallOil City Civic CenterMartin J. Farrell

Chiyo AziarzPolly & Lee Forker

Kenneth J. JohnstonBarbara Langley

Francis MarchalElvera Payne

WQLN Community Outreach Funding Partners

A special thank you goes out to the dozens of individuals who donated their car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or other vehicle as part of our Vehicle Donation program during this fiscal year!

WQLN received donations this year to honor the memory of the following individuals:


A. Caplan CompanyAffiliated Grounds Maintenance

Group, Inc.Allburn FloristsAnderson Coach and TravelArt In The WildsAnderson Coach and TravelArt In The WildsArthur Phillips Charitable TrustAustin & Taylor Home Furnishings, Inc.Bonded Services CorporationBrevillier Village Housing and HealthcareBrocton Agency, Inc.Burger KingBurton Funeral Homes and

Crematory, Inc.Chautauqua County Visitor’s BureauCommunity Blood BankConnoisseur MediaCrafts AllianceCuyahoga Community CollegeE E Austin & Son, Inc.EhrlichEmergycare, Inc.Emil M Spadafore Jr EsqErie Audiology, Inc.Erie BankErie Business CenterErie Cemetery AssociationErie Community FoundationErie Federal Credit UnionErie Homes for Children and AdultsErie Insurance GroupErie Opera TheatreErie PhilharmonicErie Philharmonic

Erie Times NewsFriends of the Erie County LibraryGreat Blue Heron Music FestivalHighmark Blue ShieldInfinity Resources IncJ.J. Wurst Landscaping and

Garden CenterJames A. Harris Funeral HomeJefferson Educational SocietyJewish Community Council of Erie, PAJohn V. Schultz Furniture & MattressKnox McLaughlin Gornall Sennett PCLake Shore Country ClubLECOMLillis, McKibben, Bongiovanni, & CoLoesel-Schaaf Insurance AgencyLondon Gold BuyerLord CorporationMacDonald, Illig, Jones, & BrittonMarquette Savings BankMartin FarrellMcCormick Coffee CompanyMercyhurst UniversityMercyhurst UniversityMiracle Mountain RanchNash Chiropractic Health CareNational Fuel GasNon-Profit PartnershipNorthwest Savings Bank - CorporatePA Cyber Charter SchoolParkside Senior Living CommunitiesPenn State EriePerseus HousePlyler Overhead Door CompanyPresque Isle PartnershipPulakos Chocolates

Ralph Miller JewelersRAYN Business DevelopmentRees FoundationReg Lenna Center for the ArtsRetirement Services of Erie LLCRick Weaver Buick, GMCRobert S.Morrison FoundationRockford ServicesRupert’s Honey Glass StudioSaint Vincent Health SystemSteadman Law OfficeStrategy Solutions IncSummer House CafeThe Achievement CenterThe Catholic FoundationThe Family InstituteThe PufferbellyThe Regional Cancer CenterThiel CollegeToday’s InteriorsTransportation Equipment Supply CoU Frame ItUnited Refining CompanyUnited Way of Erie CountyUPMC Health PlanVisit Buffalo NiagaraVisiting Nurse Association of Erie CountyWaldameer Park & Water WorldWelders Supply CompanyWesburyWestern Pennsylvania ConservancyWhole Foods CooperativeWidget FinancialWoodland Cemetery and Crematorium

WQLN Corporate Sponsors


Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania, Inc.Statements of Financial Position and Activities

Years Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014

Statement of Financial Position

Assets

Current Assets

Property and Equipment, net of depreciation

Long-Term Assets

Investments

Liabilities

Accounts Payable

Current Liabilities

Long-Term Liabilities

Net Assets

Statement of Activities

Operating Activities

Revenue

Expense

Net Operating Income

Non-Operating Activities

Revenue

Expense

Change in Net Assets

June 30, 2015

$ 418,275

2,349,951

1,205,568

$ 3,973,794

$ 46,203

496,669

170,071

712,943

3,260,851

$ 3,973,794

$ 2,902,119

2,918,306

$ (16,187)

$ 2,300

339,776

(337,476)

$ (353,663)

June 30, 2014

$ 438,874

2,590,703

1,283,230

$ 4,312,807

$ 36,194

411,928

250,171

698,293

3,614,514

$ 4,312,807

$ 2,993,454

2,829,945

$ 163,509

$ 1,600

279,598

(277,998)

$ (114,489)


WQLN Total Expenses

WQLN Revenue Sources

WQLN Operating Revenue vs. Operating Expense

$6,000,000

$5,000,000

$4,000,000

$3,000,000

$2,000,000

$1,000,000

$0FY14FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY13FY12 FY15

$2,000,000

$1,600,000

$1,200,000

$800,000

$400,000

$0

Federal Grants State Grants Local Fundraising

FY14FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY13FY12 FY15

Operating Revenue Operating Expense

$4,000,000

$3,500,000

$3,000,000

$2,500,000

$2,000,000FY15FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY13FY12 FY14


Become a Member Today!

WQLN Public Media’s mission is supported in large part by individual donors—listeners and viewers just like you!

To donate in support of your favorite programs, become a WQLN member by calling (814) 866-5454 or toll free 1-888-541-9601, or visit www.WQLN.org/Support.

A great membership option for families with little ones is the WQLN Kids Club. Kids Club members up to age 12 enjoy free admission to a variety of events, including our Kids Club Nights with the Erie Otters hockey team, Erie BayHawks basketball team, Erie SeaWolves baseball team, and Sunview Golf and Kids Club Day at Waldameer Park. Kids Club members also receive the latest WQLN Kids Club tee shirt, discounts to several family-friendly local destinations, and a special Happy Birthday announcement on WQLN TV during the week of their birthday. To join the Kids Club, visit www.WQLN.org/KidsClub or contact Shannon at (814) 217-6040.

Volunteer!

WQLN has a proud tradition of volunteerism. From answering phones during the hustle and bustle of our two annual auctions to helping in the Holiday Craft Show kitchen to running cameras for a television production, and much more, our crew of volunteers has many talents—and they always welcome new recruits!

Interested in volunteering? Contact Shannon at (814) 217-6040 or [email protected].

Support Our MissionHow can you help?

Documents

Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania, Inc. 2014 ...WQLN Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania 2014/2015 Annual Report 5 Ken Burns’s epic film The Roosevelts: An