The humble honeybee

When I was a kid and invited new friends to visit, I’d tell them that we had 25 beehives in our backyard. (They’d usually tell me that it might be better if I came to visit them instead!) The cover of this month’s MPT guide features a beautiful photo of a honeybee working on a lavender flower. I was thrilled to see that photo because I’ve always thought that we don’t recognize the importance of pollinators. My father was a beekeeper, and he taught me about the complex life of the simple honeybee.

This Sunday at 7 p.m., MPT will air Nature: Silence of the Bees. The program addresses the massive honeybee die-offs happening all over the world. The phenomenon— first reported in November 2006 and called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)—is now the subject of international emergency research as scientists race to discover the cause of this ecological disaster.

Because I grew up around honeybees, I was always surprised when friends told me how scared they were of them. Mostly they were just scared of getting stung, but it always seemed to me that they just didn’t understand that honeybees were busy collecting nectar to make honey and really weren’t interested in stinging anyone. In spite of the thousands of bees that lived in my backyard, the only sting I ever got was from a hornet and not my father’s beloved honeybees.

Dad felt that each of his 25 beehives had a different personality and that some of the hives were more aggressive and “touchy” than others. When it was honey harvest time, he would use a device called a smoker to calm the bees down. The smoker had a narcotic effect on the bees and anesthetized them for a short time. He would tell me that the more aggressive hives required more smoke than others.

My dad loved beekeeping and always seemed to find some new thing to tell me about his bees. He could talk for hours about so many aspects of beekeeping: swarms (“A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon, a swarm in July is not worth a fly,” he’d say), how to raise queen bees, how to determine what kind of honey the bees produced, how to prevent disease….the list goes on.

My dad passed away in 1983 and left behind a legacy of stories about his many interests (bees were just one of them). I’ll always be thankful for the respect he instilled in me for the humble honeybee.

Gladys M. Kaplan
Managing Director, Facilities and Human Resources

Sam Miller (Gladys' father & honeybee enthusiast)

Dark Side of the Moon...

When I was 10 years old, I found a record jacket in my parents’ antique record cabinet. At the time, I didn’t know the name of the band, and I certainly was not familiar with their music—but I knew that the album cover was a work of art.

While my brother turned the record cabinet into a fortress for his G.I. Joes, I played with the album cover. That cover was everything from a decorative floor in Barbie’s house to a picture hanging on my bedroom wall. The album was Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, and it was released three years before I was born.

With the birth of MTV in the 1980s, my fickle adolescence surrendered to every trendy genre of the times: 80s pop, rap, hip-hop, heavy metal, alternative, grunge…but there was a lingering curiosity about a familiar album called Dark Side of the Moon and a band named Pink Floyd. My parents—whose taste and style I respect immensely—spoke about this band and would occasionally watch Pink Floyd concerts on Maryland Public Television. Every time they did, a passion for the band’s music was reignited in my father.

MPT recently aired Australian Pink Floyd: Live at the Royal Albert Hall and, of course, I called my father and told him. (I also told him about the Australian Pink Floyd show MPT is bringing to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre November 4th.) That night—August 31, the eve of my wedding—I sat in my parents’ living room on the comfortable couch I had spent so many warm evenings talking, laughing and watching television with my family. My father said, “Listen to this…” and put Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon in the stereo.

As we listened there in the living room, I remembered playing with that album so many years ago, and thought about how the constant things in life bring great comfort. I am thankful that MPT showcases bands like Pink Floyd so that my parents and I can keep on listening…

Kristin Cook
Audience/Viewer Services Representative

An unforgettable character

I've met many interesting people in my career. One of the most interesting was recently introduced to the rest of the world on Ken Burns' new documentary The War (re-airing on MPT Wednesdays through Nov. 7th at 9 p.m.).

Burns' mutlipart series follows the movements of a young ambulance driver in the American Field Service during World War II. This driver was Ward Chamberlin. I had the privilege to meet and work with Ward about six years ago. He was 80 at the time, and I was impressed with his energy and dynamic thought process. I knew very little about Ward’s background at that time. At 80 years old, he was a full-time employee of WNET, and I knew that he had been with WETA at some time in the past.

As I worked with Ward and got to know him better, I was awed by his ability to set a pace that would kill many younger men. I also began to learn a little about his background. Ward was the very first employee of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , became president of WETA and was instrumental in bringing Ken Burns to public television. After WETA, he joined WNET and worked with them until 2002.

As described in The War, Ward was a Princeton student when WWII started. He attempted to enlist in the U.S. military, but was turned down due to an eye problem from a childhood disease. He then joined the American Field Service and became an ambulance driver serving in North Africa and Europe. The documentary depicts some of his experiences in Italy.

Ward is a warm, energetic, creative and caring person. I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to know him. He is still working in the public television industry. If you have a chance to speak with him, by all means do so. Now's the perfect time to watch the Burns film again and look closely at this man who has given so much to his country and public television.

Larry Unger

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Our mysterious hearts

As a mom, I’m required to set a good example for my kids and help them make good decisions on their own. So when they were recently diagnosed with high cholesterol, I knew I was in for a challenge.

I confess: I’m a self-indulgent foodie. I have high blood cholesterol. I enjoy eating flavorful, well-prepared food. And I love to cook, too, so that presents other challenges. To me, “low fat” or “low cal” means low taste and no flavor. Let’s face it: fat and empty white carbs just taste so good. There’s nothing like mashed potatoes made with full-fat cream and butter, or a nice pan-seared foie gras served with freshly baked white, crusty bread. Yum.

I have a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease, so I do what I can to satisfy my non-diet diet and keep my LDLs down. I work out often enough to compensate for the occasional cheeseburger, and eat enough whole grains, fruits and veggies to periodically allow some trans fat-free fried chicken into my life. I’m even taking a plant sterol/omega-3 supplement to even the odds.

But I can’t expect my teenage son and 8-year-old daughter to take supplements. I can, however, teach them to read nutritional labels on foods and make good choices at the school cafeteria. They now know the basic differences between “growing food” and “treats” (and in what proportion each should appear on their plates). They also know that while Cocoa Puffs are now made with whole grains, they may not be the healthiest cereal they can eat (they learned that one the hard way). They’re also aware that they have to get some quality exercise in several times a week. And, perhaps the most important portion control lesson of all: one should never eat a funnel cake alone.

I can also help them understand why it’s important to look for bread with at least three grams of dietary fiber per serving. It’s not just about learning how to balance your diet; it’s also important to keep your body healthy and strong to resist disease and illness. We have enough immediate family members with medical conditions for them to understand that what you put into your mouth can directly affect how you recover from sickness and keep it at bay.

I’m also going to have them watch The Mysterious Human Heart on MPT Monday, October 15 and Monday, October 22 at 9 p.m. There are some eye-popping computer-generated animations that recreate how the heart works (and when it fails), what healthy and non-healthy arteries look like and what can happen to kids and adults when they don’t nurture that one vital organ. The three-part documentary has really cool visuals and interesting stories that I know will give them some food for thought. And besides, it makes a much better argument to eat well and exercise than “because I’m the Mom, and I say so.”

Faith Michel
Director of Community Outreach Initiatives

Grillmaster!

MPT has changed my life. Thanks to MPT—in particular, the two Stevens (Steven Schupak, MPT’s VP of Content Enterprises, and Steven Raichlen, grilling guru and star of PBS hit series Barbecue University)—I have become a grilling aficionado.

When I came to MPT three years ago to serve as general counsel, my grilling experience was limited to the occasional hamburger or hot dog on the backyard gas grill. Anything beyond the basics was out of my league. Then I had a fateful lunch with Steven Schupak. He told me mouth-watering stories of chicken, steaks and ribs, charcoal, smoke and fire. But most of all, he told me about Steven Raichlen.

My knowledge of television, let alone public television, was pretty limited. I started watching MPT, and quickly became a fan of Frontline and State Circle. But I didn't know about Barbecue University, starring Steven Raichlen and presented to public television stations around the country by MPT. Raichlen is the undisputed master of the grill, and his how-to television shows and books on grilling are, in my opinion, the very best.

I began watching Barbecue U. and reading Raichlen’s masterpiece, How to Grill. I followed the two Stevens advice and bought a charcoal grill, which makes all the difference. There were lots of trials and errors along the way, including what my wife likes to call the “trash-can chicken” episode when I was making Raichlen’s beer can chicken and mistakenly dumped the half-cooked chicken on the ground—and then into the trash. Hey, it happens. Now I can grill with the best of them. Seafood, chicken, beef, pork, vegetables—bring it on. Ribs at Thanksgiving? Why not.

I usually follow Raichlen’s recipes—I have three of his books—and I have to give Steven Schupak credit for his tenderloin recipe, but I’ve branched out on my own. My fajitas, for instance, are awesome. Sure, I probably like my own grilling more than anyone else does (when my wife doesn’t like one of my dishes, I tell her that she may be my “girl” friend, but she’s not my “grill” friend) and I’m probably a little too into it (as if you couldn’t tell), but I’m having fun, learning new stuff and I have MPT to thank for that.

Andrew Levine

General Counsel

"Thank You for Your Support" (a.k.a. "The Life and Times of a Pledge Producer")

My job as an associate producer for on-air development is a 24/7 responsibility. As a writer and producer of MPT’s pledge breaks, I am subject to eye rolls and deflated sighs from MPT viewers. No matter where I am or what hour of the day, it happens to me.

As soon as I explain that I have anything to do with the (seemingly) constant and (seemingly) incessant interruptions during MPT programs, many people (dare I say “most”) immediately share how irritated they get whenever my work gets on the air. It’s a hard thing to accept. I’ve never met anyone who actually enjoys viewing my programming. Not my boss, not my mom, and…really… not even myself. I sincerely try to make the best pledge break programming the world has ever seen! But that’s like saying “I’m trying to make the most delicious chewable vitamin the world has ever tasted!” For some reason, people don’t seem to appreciate it.

However, people do respond to it. Viewer support is the basic foundation of public television. Pledge breaks exist to remind people of that. Just like people sometimes need to be reminded to take their vitamins, people sometimes need to be reminded why they must support public television like MPT. (At least when you support us you sometimes get a tote bag out of the whole deal.)

I never worked in fundraising prior to joining MPT as an employee last year. I had produced programs for public television before, but I never had to worry about how those shows were funded. I just took it for granted that people would always support quality programming. Now after seeing what it costs to create and support good programming, I realize that my faith in the support of the viewing public is not an absolute truth. Universal support and huge amounts of advertising dollars usually result in big, bland programming. Programming that’s specific and challenging often only appeals to a certain portion of the viewing audience. But it’s programming like that that needs the most support by individuals.

When a person responds to one type of program in particular, the executives at MPT and in the PBS system really do take note. I can guarantee you of this. So when you like a program or an institution like MPT, please help support it. It’s a vote and a statement that you enjoy programming that isn’t about just base commercial appeal or a visual spectacle. It shows that quality and depth matter to you. At least, that’s what I think. I tend to take this stuff very seriously.

In conclusion, thank you for your past support and future support of MPT. I apologize if our pledge breaks drive you completely nuts. Sometimes, they do that to me, too. However, just know that it takes money to even keep them on the air. So call or visit us online now. You may even get a nice tote bag—perfect for carrying vitamins!


Peter Shea
Associate Producer for On-Air Fundraising

Local girl goes global

Who would have ever thought that this homebody from Highlandtown (who had never been any farther than Ocean City) would be able to say that she has been able to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, swim in the Red Sea, walk on the Great Wall of China and even ride on a camel in the desert to dine and dance with a Bedouin tribe? Sometimes I can’t believe it, and I know folks that have traveled with MPT feel the same way.

Our viewers watch so many interesting shows about interesting places on MPT, many of which they could only dream about visiting until we began our trips. It’s a delight for me to talk to our viewers as they anticipate the trips we offer. I love to watch their expressions as they experience the trips for themselves. When they return, they have not only seen the wonders of the world, they have made lasting friendships along the way. And MPT has played a vital role in making this happen.

MPT is currently planning another wonderful tour in 2008 to the European battlefields of World War II. For those who were there during WWII, it’s a chance to revisit some of the places of their youth; for their families, it’s a time to realize the sacrifices made by their parents and grandparents; and for educators and history buffs, it’s a time to touch the places they have only read about or seen on television. This is a trip for everyone regardless of age.

One thing I can’t stress enough to people when I talk with them is they should not wait for tomorrow to travel—they should do it now. There is so much of the world out there to see and experience. And MPT has done its part in making it affordable for them and as safe as possible. As a result, our travelers are guaranteed to capture a lifetime of memories.



Annette Lange
Mid Level and Affinity Clubs Administrator,
Major & Planned Giving