Every Ending is just a New Beginning

In less than a week I am going to retire. WOW – how the heck did I get here? Honestly, it seems like yesterday that I accepted my first job at a grocery story in Downers Grove, Illinois. But here it is 52 years later and I am leaving WXXI. WXXI is a PBS and NPR station in Rochester, NY. It has been my work home for the last 22 years. And what a time it has been.

It was not a very auspicious start when I began my career at WXXI on March 1. 1999. To begin with, the person who was supposed to train me was stuck in Las Vegas because of a blizzard. I was on my own with a staff who wanted to know what I was going to cook for dinner during “pledge drive”. (Cook?? I never cook) Pledge Drive? I had no idea what that meant. On Wednesday, March 3rd the “pledge drive” started. It meant doing live breaks on TV from 6:00 AM until 11:00 PM. (Hence the need for food! I ordered Pizza)) I had no idea what I was doing but, at least I had a Pledge Producer who knew what to do. Thursday, the snow started and didn’t stop. Friday, my pledge producer was called up by the National Guard to remove snow. Saturday I learned how to “pitch” on live TV, lock down a camera and answer phones all during the same break. There was so much snow that I did not think I would make it home, so I stayed overnight at the station because I had to be there early Sunday morning. I am guessing that I was not the first person to so this as there are numerous showers at the station – thank God! Well for the first two weeks I worked more that 80 hours a week. Each time I passed the CEO in the hall, he told me it would get better. Fortunately he was right.

News, music, education, entertainment, WXXI provides it all. Programming, producing, promoting, and communicating the WXXI staff are an amazing, passionate group of people working job to improve the Rochester community. It’s hard work, keeping 5 TV stations and 6 radio stations, up and running with great programming 24/7 – 365 days of the year. But these folks do it. And we have fun doing it!

then I have honed my fund raising and friend raising skills. I have has the opportunity to be a radio and TV “star”. I have spoken to thousands of people who either love or hate what we are doing. I have met lots of PBS stars. I have travelled the world with the WXXI Travel club. Every time I thought I was ready to leave. Our CEO came up with a new challenges for me. I took over the management of the receptionists, volunteers, events and auction. Then we did a capital campaign, then another campaign, finally the acquisition of The Little Theatre and City. It was fun and exciting, not only because of my amazing colleagues but because of our volunteers and donors.

Now I am ready to move on. I will miss the challenges and the opportunities that WXXI has presented. I will miss the people. But I have lots of things I want to do. Travel, read, write, take classes, see my grandchildren more, get more physically fit and who knows what else. I can hardly wait to see what the future brings!