WASHINGTON — February 25, 2013 — The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented Ruby Calvert, general manager of Wyoming PBS, with the 2013 National Advocacy Award for her exceptional efforts in furthering public television’s legislative goals.
“Ruby Calvert brings tremendous personal and professional credibility to her efforts to maintain a stable federal investment in public service media,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS. “Ruby has earned the respect of the Wyoming congressional delegation through her own extraordinary contributions to the people of Wyoming in her many years at Wyoming PBS, and she tells the story of public broadcasting’s commitment to education and trusted information in her rural State with plain-spoken eloquence, passion and common sense.”
In addition to her service as general manager of Wyoming PBS, Calvert is president of the Wyoming PBS Foundation, which manages all fundraising for the statewide network. She has been at the station since its founding in 1983, and she recently announced her intention to retire in June 2013.
Before becoming general manager, Calvert served as director of programming for 23 years, and supervised production, promotion and education services at various times during her tenure. Calvert is a former member and board chair of the Wyoming State Board of Education (2000 – 2006), and also a former member and board chair of the Riverton Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees (1999-2004).
Calvert currently serves on the PBS Board. She served one year on the NETA Education Council, and two years on the Teacherline Station Advisory Council. Calvert was selected to participate in “Leadership Wyoming” in 2005, is currently on the Community Resource Board for the Wyoming Job Corps, co-chair for the Wyoming PBS Advisory Council, secretary for both Riverton Rotary and Riverton Rotary Foundation.
Calvert also serves on Sen. Mike Enzi’s Academy Appointment Committee for Wyoming and the State of Wyoming Boy Scout Council, and she was recently appointed to serve on the Advisory Board of the Wyoming Land Trust.
“It is an honor to accept this advocacy award from APTS, but with the recognition that all of us in public media stand on the shoulders of giants – those who had the dream of public television and radio, and the many who have crafted it, supported it and made it the cultural and educational resource we have today,” said Ruby Calvert. “General managers like myself, who find themselves on the fiscal frontlines of national and local funding challenges, have a difficult responsibility, but we need public media more than ever, and we must keep advocating, educating and communicating this message to national and local leaders. Finally, from my perspective, it would be nearly impossible to do this advocacy work without the knowledge, support and leadership from APTS, and every station should belong, ultimately making all of us stronger in our efforts.”
Butler concluded: “We are eternally grateful for Ruby’s dedication to public broadcasting, nationwide and to Wyoming PBS for over 30 years. Her leadership will be sorely missed by the entire system. We are honored to present her with The National Advocacy Award she so richly deserves.”
The National Advocacy Award was presented to Ruby Calvert during The APTS Public Media Summit on Monday, February 25.
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. Through its affiliate APTS Action, APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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