Monday, November 26, 2012

Friends of VPR Recognized for Philanthropy & Community Support

November is most thought of as a month of thanksgiving.

It was fitting then, that on November 15, hundreds of people gathered to give thanks to the 2012 recipients of the Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year Awards.

The annual awards recognize those in the community who stand up for important causes and serve as generous benefactors to nonprofit organizations in the region and are sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northern New England (AFP-NNE) Conference.

When the call for award nominations went out, members of the VPR staff immediately thought of Bill and Jane Stetson of Norwich, and People’s United Bank, both of whom have made a significant impact in Vermont (and beyond) and are longtime supporters of VPR as well.

On the day of the awards ceremony, more than 200 people assembled at a special luncheon held at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe. Those in attendance included individuals who had written letters of support for the Stetsons nomination, Dr. William and Susan Boyle, Toni LaMonica, David and Nancy Grant, as well as Jack Byrne. Also on hand to accept the corporate award and represent People’s United Bank were CEO Michael Seaver, Director of Marketing Kathy Schirling, Marilyn Hardacre, and Jill Jaret-Rossi.

The award winners were also cheered on by VPR staff as well as members of the VPR Board of Directors in attendance including, Marsha Fonteyn, Doug Griswold and his spouse Lori Rowe, and Board Chair Perez Ehrich.

Serving as emcees of the event were Deb and Wayne Granquist, winners of the 2011 Outstanding Philanthropists of the Year Award. Deb recently stepped down from the VPR Board of Directors after a successful tenure, serving as chair of several committees and a chair of the full board. She and Wayne have been generous supporters of VPR for many years.

From l. to r., VPR President & CEO Robin Turnau, Deb Granquist, Bill Stetson,
Wayne Granquist, and Jane Stetson.
As the Stetsons were called to the podium to accept their award, a list of accolades was read about the many causes and organizations they have helped. Both are longtime and staunch supporters of VPR. Bill has been involved with VPR almost since the year of its inception in 1977 and today serves as a member of its Board of Directors. In recognition of their dedication and support, VPR named its Norwich studio in honor of the Stetsons in 2011.

In the early days of VPR, Bill even hosted (albeit briefly) his own show. Bill was always up for whatever challenge came up, including answering phones in VPR’s original studio in Windsor, hosting Switchboard, and appearing as a guest on Peter Fox Smith’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera.

From VPR’s first campaign for a new headquarters in Colchester, to offering generous challenges during membership drives, and leading the charge in building an endowment for VPR through its Creating A Sound Future campaign, Bill and Jane’s financial support has been instrumental in making VPR the strong institution that it is today.

From l. to r., Christine Baskett, President of the AFP-NNE, Tere Gade, Chair of the AFP-NNE Awards Committee, Wayne & Deb Grandquist, People's United Bank CEO Mike Seaver.
(Photo courtesy of Steve Mease.)
CEO Mike Seaver came forward to accept the award for People’s United Bank. He spoke highly of the dedicated employees who are involved in the community through volunteer efforts as well as offering financial support to important causes.

A part of the Vermont landscape since1904, People’s United Bank’s philanthropy has had a significant impact on our state. In the past three years alone, they have contributed more than $2,750,000 to Vermont non-profits and approved nearly $50 million in equity investments in Vermont affordable housing projects, representing more than 900 units of housing.

People’s has been a long-time and generous supporter of VPR, providing funding as an underwriter for programming like the global economic news program, Marketplace. Thanks in part to this support VPR is able to deliver on its mission of public service, providing its listeners with a vital connection to their community and the world. In fact, no company provides more support to public media in Vermont than People’s United Bank.

Also recognized at the event for Outstanding Foundation of the Year, was the Stiller Family Foundation. Based in Charlotte, the Foundation was noted for its work to support education and community development through organizations including Champlain College, the King Street Center, Burlington City Arts and Rebuilding Waterbury. The Stillers have also been generous supporters of VPR.

In this season of thanks, VPR wishes to extend its appreciation for the incredible support we receive from the Stetsons and People’s United Bank. We are reminded every day that what we do is only possible because so many in the community believe in our mission, value the service we provide, and support us with their time, talent, and treasure.

Click here for the full details of the event and all of the award winners.

Travel The World With VPR In 2013


2013 is going to be an exciting year for lovers of gardening, food, nature, and folk music! Join VPR for one of our three Citizens of the World Tours next year:

Exploring the Gardens of Italy

with Charlie Nardozzi
May 21- 31, 2013

Join VPR gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi as we explore the north and south of Italy visiting formal, opulent gardens and informal hidden garden gems. Along the way we'll uncover citrus groves, vineyards, and organic vegetable farms. Of course, a journey of exploration involving food wouldn't be complete without cooking classes and wine tastings at area vineyards. We'll visit out-of-the-way places including  a buffalo mozzarella farm, a limoncello liqueur-making operation, and Herculaneum, a lesser- known sister town to Pompeii with more intact ruins. We'll explore beautiful gardens, cook, eat, and laugh our way from Tuscany to Capri.

Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands
with Jane Lindholm
June 5- 13, 2013

For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity join Vermont Edition host, world traveler and published travel author Jane Lindholm on a tour to the true equator and explore the history, culture, music, and food that makes Ecuador so special. We’ll sail the Galápapos Islands on a small, private ship and encounter the magic of the wildlife close up, an extraordinary experience for any generation.  Ecuador is the most bio-diverse country on the planet, and a journey not to be missed!




The Maritimes and Celtic Colours Festival

with Robert Resnik
October 9 -18, 2013

Join All the Traditions host  Robert Resnik on a tour for lovers of folk music, fabulous scenery, and extraordinary food: a musical journey to the Canadian Maritimes!  We’ll arrive in Cape Breton just in time to see all the highlights of Celtic Colours 2013, one of the world’s most celebrated Celtic music festivals.  In addition to enjoying concerts by folk music legends from all over, we will tour the Cabot Trail, eastern Canada’s scenic jewel, and will take a sea journey to beautiful Prince Edward Island, one of the shellfish capitals of North America!  Guests will have the option of taking an overnight train to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia, a treat for lovers of leisurely travel.  A beautiful and gloriously musical time is guaranteed for all!

Travel is a transformational experience. VPR's Citizens of the World Tours visit some of the most exotic locations on earth with expert hosts who give you insight into the landscape and culture you won't get with any other tour company. Plus, you'll always be traveling with friends because our tours attract people like you - public radio listeners.

Detailed itineraries and pricing will be posted very soon at VPR.net/tours. For more information, contact Ty Robertson at 802-654-4309 or trobertson@vpr.net to be placed on the mailing list.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Let's Talk Car Talk

"Will we still hear Car Talk on Saturday morning?"

"Why are you airing Car Talk re-runs?"

These are the questions listeners are asking as Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka 'Click and Clack', are no longer recording new shows.

VPR will continue to bring you Car Talk Saturday mornings at 10 for the foreseeable future.

Car Talk is one of VPR's most popular programs. Thousands of you count on Tom and Ray for a laugh on Saturday morning. We've also heard from many of you about how much your kids love Car Talk and that it's appointment listening for your family.

It's important to clarify that the programs you're hearing are not 're-runs' of shows you've heard before. The producers of Car Talk are putting together new shows built from the best of the program's 25 years of material. That means you'll hear a new program each week produced from the very best of the 12,500 calls in the archives. The producers say the show will be "better, stronger and funnier" because they have 25 years of experience learning what makes the show work.

We want to hear how you feel about Car Talk. Over the coming months, we'll be listening to the program and your comments.

By the way, the Magliozzi brothers are still writing their twice-weekly Dear Tom and Ray column, and putting their feet in their mouths in surprising new ways on the web and Facebook.

P.S. Speaking of weekends - stay tuned for new programs in 2013, including The TED Radio Hour and The Moth Radio Hour.

Friday, November 16, 2012

BackStory With The American History Guys

VPR is adding a new program to its weekly line-up and we hope you'll give it a listen!

Listen Sunday morning and Tuesday night for public radio's only call-in history show, BackStory, a program from the Virginia Foundation For The Humanities and the University of Virginia.

BackStory brings historical perspective to the events happening around us today. On each show, renowned U.S. historians Ed Ayers, Peter Onuf, and Brian Balogh tear a topic from the headlines and plumb its historical depths.

Past episodes have explored women's history, Abraham Lincoln, the American identity and African American history.

Ayers, Onuf, and Balogh drill down to colonial times and earlier, revealing the connections - and disconnections - between past and present. With its passionate, intelligent, and irreverent approach, BackStory is fun and essential listening.

Hear BackStory beginning this Sunday morning at 6 and Tuesday night at 10 and let us know what you think.

BackStory replaces The State We're In, which has been discontinued.  Radio Netherlands has eliminated all English lanugage programming due to reductions in their government funding.

You'll find VPR's complete broadcast schedule here.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Moth Returns!

The signature stories of The Moth Radio Hour return to Saturdays this week on VPR. For the next five weeks, enjoy true stories told live on stage. As usual, all the storytellers will share their powerful stories without notes or props. Instead, they will rely on their words and their voices to make their stories come alive!

In this new series, we'll hear a variety of stories. Author JT Leroy, whose real name is Laura Albert, shares her story of what it's like to be on the losing end of a literary scandal. A nerdy family thwarts petty larceny in suburban Chicago. A boy's Bar Mitvah becomes a family battleground. Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch meets a debonair man at a cocktail party and dares to think he might be Mr. Right. And so much more!

Listen to VPR Saturdays at 4 for The Moth Radio Hour!

Friday, November 9, 2012

VPR Expands Service In Brattleboro & Southern Vermont

88.9 Coverage Map

We are thrilled to announce that Vermont Public Radio has expanded its service in Brattleboro and southern Vermont!

You can now listen to VPR News on a new full-power station at 88.9 FM. 88.9 can be heard from Bellows Falls in the north to Greenfield, Mass., in the south, and from Marlboro in the west to Keene, NH in the east; covering a total population of about 145,000.

Next week, Brattleboro's former translator station in Brattleboro at 94.5 FM will move to 94.3 FM, increase power from 10 to 190 watts, and begin broadcasting VPR Classical throughout Brattleboro and surrounding towns, including Vernon and Guilford.* About 22,000 people will be able to hear that station.

VPR Classical is also available on 88.9-HD 2 with an HD radio.

94.3 Coverage Map
The addition of 88.9 drastically improves reception in Brattleboro and Windham County. It’s an area of Vermont that has never been able to receive VPR well, and this new station fulfills VPR’s long-time goal of serving the Brattleboro area with a stronger broadcast signal. The station also provides “first service” to more than 18,000 people who do not have reliable access to public radio at all. The addition of VPR Classical at 94.3 brings VPR’s 24-hour classical music network to the Brattleboro area for the first time.

We hope you will try out the new stations and let us know how they are sounding in your area!

*Update 11/12/12: VPR Classical is on on the air at 94.3 in Brattleboro as of this morning!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Live Election Coverage On November 6


Election Day is almost here and you can count on VPR for the essential information you need on Tuesday evening, beginning at 7 p.m.

Hosted by VPR’s Jane Lindholm with Robert Siegel and Melissa Block from NPR, you’ll hear results, updates, interviews, analysis and reaction from reporters stationed around the state and country.

Bob Kinzel and John Dillon will cover Vermont’s statewide campaigns, with analysis from Ross Sneyd. Kirk Carapezza will coordinate VPR’s digital coverage. At VPR.net and on mobile platforms, you’ll find up-to-the-minute vote totals and news updates from around the state and country. Conversations will also be taking place on VPR’s Facebook page and on Twitter (@vprnet) and via the hashtag #VTPoli.

At the national level, NPR Washington Desk editor Ron Elving, political correspondent Mara Liasson and political editor Ken Rudin in Washington, D.C. will offer analysis throughout the evening. They’ll be joined by partisan analysts E.J. Dionne, Washington Post columnist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Matt Continetti of The Washington Free Beacon.

Andrew Kohut and Michael Dimock of the Pew Research Center will provide analysis as exit polls become available. NPR correspondents, including Nina Totenberg, Julie Rovner and Pam Fessler, will report on key state races around the station.


The day after the election, listen to Morning Edition beginning at 6 a.m. for post-election news and analysis from VPR and NPR. And tune in to Vermont Edition at noon for a full election roundup.

From the primaries to the conventions and now to Election Day, thank you for making VPR your source for comprehensive election coverage.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Responding to Sandy: What You Can Do To Help

                                                                                  AP/Jim Cole
The pictures seem familiar, the stories reminiscent, but this time, the damage and devastation are hundreds of miles away.

Just 14 months after Tropical Storm Irene pummeled the Green Mountain State, Hurricane Sandy barreled up the east coast and we braced for the worst.

But this time, the mid-Atlantic states bore the brunt of the storm. Vermont wasn't immune to Sandy's impact; while many lost power, the state emerged from the storm mostly unscathed.

But many in our region have friends and family in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and other affected areas, who are without power, have relocated to emergency shelters, or in some cases are bravely trying to hold on with dwindling food supplies.

Many resources have popped up in the last few days to provide information about volunteering, donating supplies, or making financial contributions to aid recovery. The Vermont Community Foundation has setup a page on their website with key information, and #VTResponse, a website that served as a hub of information during and after Tropical Storm Irene, also provides state-by-state information about how you can help.

As we know all too well from Tropical Storm Irene, the response to Sandy is just the beginning of a significant recovery effort that will take months - if not years - to address. Even though some in our region are still feeling the impact of Irene, Vermonters are responding to help those who are suffering in the wake of this latest storm.

The American Red Cross has been actively involved in preparing for and responding to Sandy. One of the ways you can help right now is to make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross to help with immediate, short-term response and recovery efforts.

Key Resources: