SLIDE 1 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
1 GOOD AFTERNOON SENATOR VIALET, CHAIRMAN OF THE LEGISLATURE’S COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 33RD LEGISLATURE. I AM TANYA-MARIE SINGH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING
- SYSTEM. I AM HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR
SUPPORT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM’S 2020 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,030,123. TODAY, I HAVE WITH ME, NEDRA THOMAS, THE SYSTEM’S CFO, MARIE WHITE, SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND CHRISTOPHER BENTON, OUR DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING. IN THE AUDIENCE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF RADIO OPERATIONS, DOUG HARRIS, OUR ST. CROIX PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR, FRANCIS GUSTAVE, AND OUR ST. CROIX FACILITIES COORDINATOR, ATO HODGE, WHO IS A YEAR OLDER TODAY; HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATO. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE THE PBS (PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE) MEMBER STATION IN THE TERRITORY. WE ARE ALSO THE NPR (NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO) MEMBER STATION SERVING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. PBS PROVIDES ITS MEMBER STATIONS WITH PROGRAMMING IN ARTS, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC AREAS, IN CHILDREN’S FARE, AND IN NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. IT ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO ITS MEMBER STATIONS TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS, STARTING FROM PRE-
- SCHOOL. NPR OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF HIGH-QUALITY NEWS AND
INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO RADIO STATIONS THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS: MORNING EDITION, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, FRESH AIR, 1A, AND LATINO USA TO NAME A FEW. IN SHORT, WTJX IS
SLIDE 2
Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
2 PART OF TWO NATIONWIDE SYSTEMS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND TRANSFORM LIVES TO GIVE EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR YOUR ECONOMIC MEANS, ACCESS TO A WORLD OF IDEAS. IN 1972 THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC BROADCASTING SYSTEM BEGAN TO TRANSMIT, AND FOR 47 YEARS THIS MONTH, WTJX-TV HAS PROVIDED NON-COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING, ALONG WITH INFORMATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. WTJX-FM HAS BEEN ON THE AIR FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THE ORGANIC COVERAGE OF THE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATION EXTENDS BEYOND OUR BORDERS TO THE BVI, VIEQUES, CULEBRA, AND THE EASTERNMOST AREAS OF PUERTO RICO. THE SYSTEM RECEIVES OVERSIGHT BY AN 11-MEMBER BOARD. PRESENTLY, WE HAVE NINE BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO VACANCIES. SENATORS, THE STATION IS STILL IN THICK OF ITS RECOVERY. SINCE THE LAST TIME I APPEARED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, WE HAVE 17 PROJECT WORKSHEETS (PW) IN THE FEMA GRANTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH ONLY THREE MINOR PROJECTS OBLIGATED. WHILE WE HAVE ADDRESSED A FEW ITEMS, THERE IS MUCH WORK BEFORE US. OUTSTANDING PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH FEMA’S SYSTEM ARE TIED TO THE FOLLOWING DAMAGES: OUR MAIN OFFICE AND STUDIO AT HAYPIECE HILL WAS DESTROYED – PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR VIDEO MEDIA LIBRARY WAS HOUSED THERE AND WE ARE WORKING TO RESCUE, RESTORE, AND DIGITIZE OUR ARCHIVES, AT OUR TRANSMITTER SITE AT MOUNTAIN TOP WE SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO OUR PERIMETER FENCING, THE ROOF OF THE MAIN BUILDING WAS COMPROMISED AND THE INTERIOR NEEDS
SLIDE 3 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
3 REPAIRING, OUR PBS DISH IS CRIPPLED AND NOT OPERATING AT CAPACITY, THE ROOF CAME OFF THE BUILDING WHICH HOUSES THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING’S OFFICE AND THE SITE’S STORAGE AREA, THE GENERATOR AT THE FACILITY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THE HVAC SYSTEM HAS TO BE REDONE. THE STAFF AT HAYPIECE WHO WERE DISPLACED ARE NOW WORKING FROM A FACILITY THAT WE ARE RENTING AT AL COHEN’S MALL. WE ARE STILL AWAITING PW’S TO BE OBLIGATED FOR THE BUILD OUT OF THAT FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT
- PURCHASES. ON ST. CROIX, WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OUTSTANDING
PROJECTS, THE MAJOR ONE BEING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STUDIO TRANSMITTER LINK POLE. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WORKING ON SUBMITTING SEVERAL MITIGATION PROJECTS FOR ALL OF THE SITES WE OWN AND WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH ERNST & YOUNG AND WITT O’BRIEN’S TO PREPARE APPROPRIATE RFP’S FOR EACH PROJECT, CHIEF ON THAT LIST IS THE A&E RFP FOR OUR HAYPIECE FACILITY. WE ARE ALSO STILL WORKING ON GETTING OUR UNDERGROUNDING NEEDS FOR POWER AND FIBER SATISFIED. WE ARE PUSHING TO GET ON WAPA’S AND VINGN’S PW’S TO PROVIDE UNDERGROUND SERVICE TO ALL THREE OF OUR FACILITIES. AS IT RELATES TO CDBG-DR, THE HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY’S STAFF HAVE ADVISED US THAT THEY ARE SCHEDULING US FOR AUGUST FOR CAPACITY ASSESSMENT. WE ARE HOPING THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE THE 10% MATCHING FUND NEEDED FOR OUR FEMA PROJECTS. ON A HAPPY NOTE, I RECEIVED GOOD NEWS IN MAY FROM FEMA. IN A LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY (ODR), FEMA GAVE NOTIFICATION THAT OUR HAYPIECE FACILITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR REBUILD. CURRENTLY, ODR IS WAITING TO SETTLE WITH FEMA ON THE COST ESCALATION FACTOR FOR BUILDING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. WE HOPE TO BE POISED TO MOVE FORWARD ONCE THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN
- SETTLED. ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS WE ARE ASKED RELATES TO
SLIDE 4 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
4 THE COST OF THE REBUILD FOR OUR HAYPIECE FACILITY. WE DON’T KNOW YET. OUR WITT O’BRIEN’S ENGINEER ESTIMATES A COST OF $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR DEMOLITION ALONE. THE SYSTEM HAS OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS BEING WORKED ON IN TANDEM WITH THE RECOVERY PROJECTS, TO WIT: THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR 100-FOOT TOWER THAT FELL DURING HURRICANE IRMA AND THE RESTRESSING OF OUR 250-FOOT TOWER. THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE FCC. ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT IS THE REMEDIATION OF THE ROOF ON ST. CROIX. WE JUST SELECTED A CONTRACTOR FOR THIS PROJECT WHICH IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. WE ARE ALSO IN THE FINAL STEPS OF SELECTING A COMPANY TO PROVIDE A MOBILE PRODUCTION UNIT FOR THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FUNDING FOR THIS UNIT FROM AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE 32ND
- LEGISLATURE. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE
WORKING ON CONCURRENTLY AS WELL: FIXING AND PAINTING THE PARKING LOT ON ST. CROIX, WHEN THE ROOF FOR THE ESTATE RICHMOND FACILITY IS DONE WE WILL PAINT THE BUILDING AND REVISE THE SIGN TO OUR CURRENT NAME, WE ARE REPLACING THE FLOORING ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE ESTATE RICHMOND FACILITY WHICH HAS BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO A NON HURRICANE RELATED INCIDENT, WE ARE SEEKING TO REPLACE OUR FIELD CAMERAS ON ST. CROIX AND ARE LOOKING TO DONATE THEM ALONG WITH OUR OLD EDITING COMPUTERS TO A SCHOOL, WE ARE PURCHASING A NEW COMMERCIAL GRADE UPS FOR MOUNTAIN TOP AND WE’RE CHECKING TO SEE IF MOUNTAIN TOP’S EXISTING UPS CAN FIT THE NEEDS OF THE ST. CROIX OPERATIONS, WE’RE CONTRACTING A COMPANY TO HAUL AWAY TWO TRAILERS AT THE MOUNTAIN TOP FACILITY WHICH HAVE BEEN ABANDONED – WE’RE WAITING ON A FINAL EVICTION PROCEDURE TO
SLIDE 5
Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
5 START THIS PROJECT. WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND PLANNING FUNDRAISING EVENTS, TO INCLUDE OUR POPULAR TASTE OF TWO ISLANDS WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 21. AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SYSTEM’S EMPLOYEES, WE SIGNED A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (CBA) WITH THE UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA IN DECEMBER 2018. THE AGREEMENT SPANS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2015 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 WITH A WAGE REOPENER IN FY 2019. THE SYSTEM IS CURRENT WITH THE FISCAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT AND WE PROJECT THAT WE WILL MEET SOON WITH THE UNION REGARDING THE WAGE REOPENER. AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR STAFFING LEVEL, WE HAVE SEVEN VACANCIES. WE ARE CHIPPING AWAY AT FILLING THEM. WE’RE CURRENTLY ONBOARDING OUR I.T. ADMINISTRATOR, ACTIVELY CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS FOR TWO OTHER POSITIONS, AND INTENTLY SEARCHING TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR THE BALANCE. NOT LISTED IN OUR SUBMISSION TO YOU IS A NEW POSITION FUNDED BY FEMA, A DISASTER RECOVERY SPECIALIST. WE WILL BE ADVERTISING FOR THAT POSITION BEGINNING NEXT WEEK. THE SYSTEM IS WORKING HARD IN HELPING ITSELF FINANCIALLY AS WE GET KNEE DEEP IN OUR RECOVERY. BEFORE I DETAIL HOW, I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO ADVISE THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE RECEIVED OUR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN APRIL, AND NOT ONLY IS OUR AUDIT UNQUALIFIED, THERE WERE NO AUDIT FINDINGS. AS A PRACTICE, WE CONTRACT AUDITORS FOR THREE YEAR PERIODS. WE HAVE CURRENTLY ISSUED AN RFP FOR A NEW AUDITOR AS THE
SLIDE 6 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
6 PREVIOUS AUDITING CONTRACT HAS RAN ITS COURSE. SINCE FY ’14 TO FY ‘18, THE SYSTEM HAS SAVED $2.4 MILLION BY BEING PRUDENT IN OUR SPENDING, VACANCY SAVINGS, AND OF COURSE, IN FY ’18 OUR SPENDING LEVELS WERE REDUCED AS WE OPERATED OUT OF OUR ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AT NO COST AND STAFFING LEVELS WERE LOW. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF $792,461 IN INSURANCE AWARD FROM THE VI GOVERNMENT AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TAPPING INTO $282,337 OF THAT AWARD AT THIS TIME, WE RECEIVED $200,000 FROM A CELL PHONE COMPANY OUT OF PUERTO RICO AS INCENTIVE TO REPACK OUR FREQUENCY FROM 44 TO 36 EARLIER THAN THE FCC MANDATE. THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE I ADVISED YOU THAT PBS FORGAVE OUR FY ’18 DUES OF $738,276 AS PER MY REQUEST. I AGAIN REQUESTED DUES FORGIVENESS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO FOR FY 2020 AND PBS GRACIOUSLY CONSENTED. AS SUCH, THE STATION GETS TO KEEP AN ADDITIONAL $700,000. WE BELIEVE THIS CASH WILL BE CRUCIAL AS WE NEED CASH UPFRONT TO FUND THESE LARGE PROJECTS AND PLACE THINGS IN THE REBUILD THAT MAY NOT BE APPROVED BY FEMA BUT MAY BE OF BENEFIT TO THE STATION AND THE
- COMMUNITY. WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE AND THE MONEY IS
REFUNDED TO US, WE PLAN TO UPGRADE THE ST. CROIX AND MOUNTAIN TOP FACILITIES BY INTEGRATING THE SAME AND COMPATIBLE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE PLAN TO INCLUDE IN THE HAYPIECE REBUILD. THE FUTURE OF THE SYSTEM IS BRIGHT. SPEAKING OF BRIGHT FUTURES, THE SYSTEM IS DAYS AWAY FROM ACHIEVING A LONG-ANTICIPATED GOAL. ON JULY 19, THE DISH NETWORK NOTIFIED ME THAT THEY ARE FINALLY RECEIVING OUR
- SIGNAL. THEY ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING OUR SIGNAL FOR
QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY AND IF ALL GOES WELL, WTJX-TV WILL BE ON CHANNEL 12 ON THE DISH NETWORK ON AUGUST 7. WHEN THIS
SLIDE 7 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
7 TRANSITION OCCURS, WTJX WILL BE THE ONLY LOCAL TELEVISION STATION IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT CAN BE SEEN OVER THE AIR WITH AN ANTENNA, ON CABLE, AND ON DISH. ADDITIONALLY, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE BEGAN TO MAKE OUR LOCAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PBS APP AVAILABLE ON MEDIA STREAMING DEVICES SUCH AS ROKU, AMAZON FIRE, APPLE TV, ETC. OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE TO STREAM OUR TELEVISION PROGRAMS ON LIVESTREAM AND ON FACEBOOK LIVE AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVELY STREAMING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS AND SESSIONS. ON THE RADIO SIDE OF THE HOUSE, WE BEGAN STREAMING OUR STATION ON OUR WEBSITE AND ON THREE POPULAR FREE APPS: NEXTRADIO, TUNEIN RADIO, AND MYTUNER RADIO. WTJX IS LIGHTING UP EVERY SCREEN, SHOWING UP WHERE OUR AUDIENCES ARE. TO MATCH OUR REACH, IN THE COMING MONTHS WE PLAN TO FOCUS ON BEEFING UP OUR LOCAL
- PROGRAMMING. AS A FOOTNOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VINGN FOR
TAKING THE TECHNICAL LEAD TO GET US ON THE DISH NETWORK. IT WAS A LONG, PAINSTAKING PROCESS AND I THANK THEM FOR THEIR RESOLVE IN SEEING THIS PROJECT THROUGH. OUR AUDIENCES KNOW THEY CAN LOOK TO US FOR MEANINGFUL CONTENT, VIEWING US AS AN HONEST BROKER OF INFORMATION. EVEN IN OUR CHALLENGED STATE, WE PRODUCED AND AIRED THE FOLLOWING LOCAL PROGRAMS, SINCE OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING: THE LIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FORUM, LIVE PRIMARY NIGHT COVERAGE, MEET THE CANDIDATES WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE 2018 GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S DEBATE, LIVE GENERAL ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, AND LIVE RUN OFF ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE. WE HOSTED AND CARRIED THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE OF THEN GOVERNOR ELECT
SLIDE 8 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
8 AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ELECT AS WELL AS THE PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE INCOMING ORGANIZING MAJORITY OF THE 33RD
- LEGISLATURE. WE CARRIED LIVE THE INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR
BRYAN AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROACH, AS WELL AS PROVIDED LIVE COVERAGE OF THE SWEARING IN OF THE 33RD LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, TO INCLUDE ITS ORGANIZING SESSION. WE AIRED LIVE, GOVERNOR BRYAN’S FIRST STATE OF THE TERRITORY ADDRESS. WE PROVIDED LIVE COVERAGE OF THE TERRITORY’S CARNIVAL AND FESTIVAL PARADES. WE ALSO BROUGHT THE PUBLIC REAPPORTIONMENT: PREPARING FOR THE VOTE WHICH WE HOPED EDUCATED THE ELECTORATE ON THEIR CHOICES FOR THE SPECIAL
- ELECTION. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUE TO AIR THE WASHINGTON
REPORT WITH STACEY PLASKETT. WE ALSO AIRED PROUDLY WE SERVED: VIRGIN ISLANDS VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR, A FILM PRODUCED BY ST. CROIX RESIDENT, JOAN KEENAN. IT IS NO WONDER THAT WE WERE CHOSEN ONCE AGAIN AS THE BEST LOCAL TELEVISION STATION IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BY READERS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DAILY NEWS. ON THE NATIONAL FRONT, AMID A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET, PBS PUNCHED WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT: MAINTAINING ITS POSITION AS THE 6TH MOST-WATCHED NETWORK, REACHING AUDIENCES EACH MONTH WITH MORE THAN 250 MILLION VIEWS ACROSS DIGITAL PLATFORMS. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, IN ADDITION TO THE USUAL RANGE OF OUTSTANDING SERIES WE PRESENT, WTJX ALSO AIRED SPECIAL PROGRAMS LIKE: TELL THEM WE ARE RISING: THE STORY OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WHICH EXPLORES THE POWERFUL STORY OF THE RISE, INFLUENCE, AND EVOLUTION OF HBCU’S. WE AIRED REDEEMING UNCLE TOM: THE JOSIAH HENSON STORY WHICH DEPICTS JOSIAH HENSON, A DYNAMIC MAN WITH
SLIDE 9 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
9 UNYIELDING PRINCIPLES, WHO OVERCAME INCREDIBLE ODDS TO ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. WE BROADCASTED TRAPPED WHICH GOES TO THE FRONTLINES OF THE CONTROVERSIAL BATTLE CURRENTLY BEING WAGED OVER SO CALLED TRAP LAWS – TARGETED REGULATION OF ABORTION PROVIDERS. WE ALSO AIRED THE FOLLOWING NOTEWORTHY PROGRAMMING: AMERICAN MASTERS: HOLLY NEAR WHICH TELLS THE STORY OF THE FEMINIST SINGER AND ACTIVIST, WHO FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS HAS WORKED ON GLOBAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COALITION-BUILDING IN THE WOMEN’S AND LESBIAN MOVEMENTS; NOVA: ADDICTION PROBES THE MYSTERIES OF ADDICTION. SCIENTISTS ARE DISCOVERING THAT ADDICTION IS NOT SIMPLY A LACK OF WILLPOWER, DRUG ABUSE PRODUCES SIGNIFICANT CHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE BRAIN; MAYO CLINIC: FAITH—HOPE—SCIENCE TELLS THE STORY OF WILLIAM WORRALL MAYO, AN ENGLISH IMMIGRANT WHO BEGAN PRACTICING MEDICINE WITH HIS SONS WILL AND CHARLIE IN ROCHESTER,
- MINNESOTA. WHEN A DEADLY TORNADO TORE THROUGH THEIR SMALL
COMMUNITY IN 1883, THE MAYOS TOOK CHARGE OF RECOVERY EFFORTS, ENLISTING THE NEARBY SISTERS OF SAINT FRANCIS TO CARE FOR PATIENTS. AFTERWARDS, MOTHER ALFRED MOES, THE LEADER OF THE CONVENT, TOLD DR. MAYO SHE HAD A VISION FROM GOD THAT INSTRUCTED HER TO BUILD A HOSPITAL, WITH HIM AS ITS DIRECTOR; RECONSTRUCTION: AMERICA AFTER THE CIVIL WAR PRESENTED BY PROFESSOR LOUIS GATES, JR., TELLS THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD CHAPTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY—THE TRANSFORMATIVE YEARS FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, WHEN THE NATION STRUGGLED TO REBUILD ITSELF IN THE FACE OF PROFOUND LOSS, MASSIVE DESTRUCTION, AND REVOLUTIONARY SOCIAL CHANGE; WE ALSO AIRED NATIVE AMERICA, A
SLIDE 10 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
10 FOUR PART SERIES WHICH WEAVES HISTORY AND SCIENCE WITH LIVING INDIGENOUS TRADITIONS. BROADCASTERS HAVE A DISTINCT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH THEY SERVE, AND WE NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH OUR MEDIA, WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN NON-BROADCAST
- ACTIVITIES. THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WE PARTNERED WITH THE VIRGIN
ISLANDS CONSORTIUM TO PRODUCE A CONCERT AIMED AT INCREASING THE VOTING REGISTRATION OF YOUNGER, ELIGIBLE CITIZENS ON ST. CROIX. THE ELECTION SYSTEM PRESENTED THE STATION WITH A PLAQUE FOR ITS EFFORTS. BY VIRTUE OF WTJX’S NPR MEMBERSHIP, VIRGIN ISLANDERS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TINY DESK CONTEST WITH THE WINNER PLAYING A TINY DESK
- CONCERT. NPR’S TINY DESK CONCERT IS RENOWNED FOR FEATURING
MAJOR ARTISTS SUCH AS ADELLE, YO YO MA, LIZZO, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH STANLEY & THE TEN SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS, SPONSORING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE VI/PR PARADE, CO-SPONSORING THEIR EMANCIPATION DAY TRAMP, AND, OF COURSE, PARTNERING TO PRESENT THE CHRISTMAS FOREDAY SERENADE. ALSO, WE CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TRANSITION CONFERENCE IN ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN, THE WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD EVENTS IN THE TERRITORY, AND THE TEACH CONFERENCES SPONSORED BY THE AFT. AS WE LEAN IN TO THE NEXT YEAR, IN ADDITION TO MAKING SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS IN OUR RECOVERY, BEEFING UP LOCAL PROGRAMMING AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AND COMPLETING THE PROJECTS MENTIONED IN MY TESTIMONY, WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA TO INCLUDE, CEMENTING OUR 5 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN,
SLIDE 11 Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
11 INSTALLING OUR NEW AUTOMATION SYSTEM, DEVELOPING AND EXECUTING A MARKETING PLAN FOR THE STATION, DEVELOPING AN APP FOR THE STATION, DIGITIZING OUR ARCHIVES, COMMENCING LOCAL NEWS UPDATES ON RADIO, AND CONVERTING TO HD RADIO WHICH WOULD PROVIDE US WITH AN ADDITIONAL RADIO STATION. ALL THE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE OUTLINED THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION WILL STRETCH THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE
- SYSTEM. OUR SENSIBLE SPENDING ALONG WITH PBS AND THE
LEGISLATURE’S SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS, HAVE PROVIDED US WITH THE SEED MONEY TO FUND THESE PROJECTS. AND, IF FEMA ALLOWS US TO REBUILD OUR FACILITY TO THE NEW FCC STANDARDS (ATSC 3.0) PASSED IN NOVEMBER 2017, THE SYSTEM WILL BE ON EQUAL OR BETTER FOOTING WITH ANY TELEVISION AND RADIO STATION
- ANYWHERE. I RESPECTFULLY IMPLORE YOU TO APPROVE OUR
FUNDING LEVEL SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE FISCAL DEMANDS OF OUR REALITY. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK MY STAFF, WHO CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND INVENT WITH EACH CHALLENGE. I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU. ADDITIONALLY, I’D LIKE TO THANK THE OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS STATION VIABLE: OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DONORS, MEMBERS, UNDERWRITERS, AND PARTNERS WHO GIVE SO GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME, ENERGY, AND
- CONTRIBUTIONS. IT IS THROUGH THEIR SUPPORT, ALONG WITH THE
FUNDING SUBMISSION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE APPROVAL OF YOU, THE LEGISLATURE, THAT OUR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS ALLOW US THE HONOR OF BEING WELCOMED INTO THEIR HOMES, RIDE ALONG IN THEIR VEHICLES, AND THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THEIR SMART DEVICES.
SLIDE 12
Virgin Islands Public Broadcasting System
FY 2020 BUDGET HEARING PRESENTATION
Submitted by: Tanya-Marie Singh, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer
July 30, 2019
12 SENATORS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE STATIONS’ ACTIVITIES TO YOU TODAY. MY TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDRESSING YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
