Reunited!

The room was filled with voices quite familiar to me. I was invited for the second time to the Binghamton Broadcaster's Reunion that was held this past Saturday. The most honored and respected man int the room was Bill Parker, who has been a fixture of the Binghamton broadcasting world for 65+ years.  He was recently inducted into the New York State Broadcaster Hall of Fame with the likes of Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Regis Philbin and Al Roker (who started his broadcasting career in Syracuse in the early 1970's).  When I was growing up, Bill was on the air in the mid morning hours.

Most of the people attending the reunion I did not know personally, but there were a few that have meant the world to me.

When I was about 13, I decided I wanted to pursue a Broadcasting career.  I know it was because in my formative years (6-9) my Dad was a radio announcer at our local public radio station.  I mentioned that to a few people at the reunion.  There was one lady who worked with my Dad.  She did news.  She and Dad were featured in the station's program guide at one time.

Through my high school and college years I had many opportunities to get experience in many aspects of Broadcasting. There were people from many of those experiences in attendance at the reunion.  

Tom, my Explorer advisor was there.  We had the chance to talk quite a bit.  I realized during our conversation that I was in his group at the same age as my oldest son is now.  That was nearly 29 years ago!!!  I bet I made him feel old :)

Bob was a talk show host at WENE when I was there.  He also had a video production company.  I edited my church's 50th anniversary video there.  Bob hired me for some of his productions after that.

I had the opportunity to intern twice at WBNG TV.  The first time was when I was a junior in high school through a county program called Teen Link to Careers.  I was in the production department.  It opened my eyes to areas of TV I hadn't considered before.  I also met some friends during that time and got to know people I had met before this time.  Some of those people were at the reunion.  Jim was the anchor at the time.  Mitch was the sportscaster.  I was totally surprised that Mitch remembered me so well after all these years.  He left the TV staion in 1987.  Kerry Donovan, the former news director and Candace Chapman the current anchor and news director were there also.  I didn't know them too well.  Candace and I took pictures for each other after the ceremony.

I visited the station so much after the internship that I was invited back to work in the news department while a student at Broome Community College.  I got to know Greg Catlin better during this time around.  He was the noon anchor for most of the time I was there.  He has worked himself up to General Manager.

Also during my time at BCC, I was able to do a news internship at WINR radio.  During that time I met Mary Roper. She was the morning DJ. She got to air my writing on the morning news!  It was great to see her and her husband Wally on Saturday.  She asked me how my husband Tim was doing.  She had been following his headache struggles on my Facebook page.

I also saw the man responsible for arranging my 2 BCC internships (and the possibility of another one). He also taught me most of what I learned the details of TV and radio.  He was one of the communication professors. 

Darcy was the news director at the ABC station in Binghamton when I was in college. She offered me the opportunity to intern for her, but it didn't work out.  She later moved to WICZ and WBNG.  She invited me to join the WBNG group picture after the ceremony.  I told  her I was honored!  I never got paid to work there, but everyone made me feel so welcome.  

As it turns out I only officially got paid to work in the TV business for a few months here in Elmira, but these people I saw Saturday and many more made my journey so meaningful and fun.  They were very supportive of that journey. I totally appreciate their friendship, especially after not seeing some of them for over 25 years (Jim and Mitch and John). It was like yesterday. 

It wasn't all happiness however, sadly one of my biggest supporters, Tom Martin, died on September 10. He was honored during the ceremony.  He was a videographer at WBNG. We met about a year before my first internshiip. Next month it will be 30 years since we met.  During the next few years, he was always encouraging me to follow my dreams.  He had a lot of advice and was patient in listening and watching various projects I worked on.  I'm grateful for his friendship.

It was an awesome experience Saturday night.  I'm looking forward to the next reunion in 2 years.