Click the links to view Conference photos:

• INAUGURAL BROADCASTERS CUP
• MONDAY BOARD MEETING & EVENTS
• MONDAY NIGHT RAIL PARK & AMBASSADOR CEREMONY
• TUESDAY EVENTS & AWARDS CEREMONY

MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT OFFICIAL
President Donald Trump has signed into law the Music Modernization Act, a comprehensive bill that aims to reform our outdated music licensing system and give music creators an opportunity to obtain compensation that more accurately reflects the value of music.

BROADCASTERS CUP
Congratulations to Ambassador Mike Feldhaus, Joey Stratton, Roth Stratton and Bill Sanders on becoming the first ever to claim the Broadcasters Cup at the inaugural scramble held on Sunday at Crosswinds Golf Course. Special thanks to Kentucky 811 for their sponsorship of the event.

BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
KBA’s Board of Directors unanimously voted on Monday to contribute $10,000 to the Broadcasters Foundation of America. The Foundation supports broadcasters across the Country who have fallen on hard times and need financial assistance. Presently there are two Kentuckians who receive benefits from the BFOA.

AMBASSADORS INDUCTED
Chris Winkle, KBA President & CEO, introduced the 2018 class of KBA Ambassadors at the opening reception on Monday evening at the historic Rail Park. The inaugural class includes: Barb Smith, Chris Aldridge, Mike Feldhaus, Jim Moore & Carl Nathe. Congratulations Ambassadors!

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…
Congratulations to the following individuals who were honored at KBA’s Awards Banquet on Tuesday evening:
J.T. Whitlock Life Service Award – Danny Weddle
KY Mic/Hall of Fame Award –
Chris Aldridge
David Brinkley
Bill Lamb
Elmer Sulzer (Accepting was Elmer’s daughter Marjorie Collier)

ODIL VOTED CHAIRMAN ELECT
At the annual membership meeting on Tuesday night, Brad Odil from WBKO-TV was unanimously voted as Chairman-Elect for 2019. Odil presently serves on the Board of Directors as the Television Director in markets outside of Lexington & Louisville.

ROBINSON PASSES AWAY
Ken Robinson, an employee at WSIP-Paintsville, KY for over 40 years, recently passed away at the age of 74. Ken was a very popular on-air personality in the 1960’s, 70’s and the early 80’s. He was multi-talented and had a great passion for local radio. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, one son and one sister.

BAKER REMEMBERED
Shea Baker, longtime Lexington DJ, passed away on Monday at the age of 44. Baker, whose on air name was Shea Maddox, had previously worked middays for 92.1. She was remembered for her wit and humor along with her unusual Etch-A-Sketch portraits.

BELTERRA IN 2019
The KBA has announced that the 2019 Annual Conference will be held October 14-15 at Belterra Casino Resort. Mark your calendars!

It is with great sadness that the family of Bob Spradlin announces his death on Monday, Sept 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. Bob was in Houston receiving a genetically engineered immunotherapy cancer treatment called CAR-T cell infusion for treatment of Lymphoma.

Bob grew up in Prestonsburg, KY, and was a graduate of University of Kentucky, Broadcasting and Journalism major. He started his career in radio broadcasting in Hopkinsville and subsequently took a position at WEKY in Richmond. After getting married they moved their young family to Mt Sterling in 1965 where he became General Manager at WMST.

He served the community for 30+ years calling high school sports games, reporting weather emergencies and doing programming such as the Man on the Street programs. He later purchased his own stations in Berea and Richmond where he was owner-operator until he sold them and retired in 2002. He was an avid golfer and an Elder at the First Christian church and a member of the Mt Sterling Kiwanis club for years.

He was proceeded in death by his son Steve Spradlin and is survived by his wife Peggy, daughter Leslie Barrilleaux, 3 grandchildren, Jordan, Bailee and Garrett Barrilleaux, a brother Bill Charles Spradlin of Clearwater FL, and several dearly loved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 4 PM, Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Taul Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Scott Holley and Tim Holley, burial will follow at St. Thomas Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 PM, Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Taul Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the First Christian Church Community Outreach, 222 W. Main Street, Mt Sterling, KY 40353.

        

Along with new additions this year, like the Broadcasters Cup golf scramble, we have planned a fun conference jam-packed with intensive training sessions for MANAGERS, MARKETING REPS, ENGINEERS and PROGRAMMERS, lots of great food, live entertainment, honored awards and numerous special guests. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there!

As a friendly reminder, if you registered but decided that you need to cancel; you have 72 hours prior to your check-in date to cancel without penalty. Just email kba@kba.org to cancel your reservation.

Over the past week the KBA hosted two Active Shooter trainings for our members, and district congressional meetings with Congressman Hal Rogers and Congressman James Comer.

Bob Thorton speaks to KBA members during the Active Shooter training in Owensboro.		Bob Thorton Training KBA Members in Frankfort.		Active Shooter training at the KBA Headquarters in Frankfort.
KBA Members meeting with Congressman Hal Rogers.			KBA Members meeting with Congressman James Comer.

Wish your station could offer paid engineering/media technology internship but don’t have the budget for it?

PILOT, in partnership with the NAB Educational Foundations (NABEF), will award a limited number of NAB member stations a Technology Internship Grant to provide paid engineering or media technology internships to undergraduate students interested in pursuing tech careers in our industry. The goal is to attract, train and retain tech talent in the broadcast industry, while helping stations create a sustainable internship program.

Interested stations must complete an online application for a part-time Summer 2019 internship to be considered. (Interns need not be selected by the station prior to application, but the internship’s duties will need to be described.)

The application window for Spring 2019 internships is open now, and closes August 15, 2018.

APPLY NOW

Deadline is Thursday, September 6, 2018!

Nominations are now open for six (6) seats on the KBA Board of Directors beginning January 1, 2019. All district directors are elected to serve a two-year term. According to KBA bylaws, no director may serve more than two consecutive terms. KBA directors must be from the ownership or managerial level of a station(s) located in the district. Self-nominations are acceptable. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, September 6, 2018.

If you have never served as a District Director, KBA President/CEO, Chris Winkle, would like to encourage you to submit a self-nomination. Should you have any questions about the duties and responsibilities of a District Director, please call or email Chris.

A stipend and travel expenses are offered for board members that attend in person KBA Board Meetings. Meetings are held quarterly.

Following the deadline of nominations, weighted links to ballots will be sent to management emails for stations in districts where there is a contested race.

The following districts are up for election this year. If you are unsure of your district, please click here. Four radio director members are up for election or re-election in the districts listed below, along with the positions of Lexington Market Television Director, Other Market Television Director, Public Television Director and Associate Member Director.

District 2 – Ed Henson, Henson Media, Inc., Henderson, KY (eligible for re-election)
District 4 – Mark Buckles, Heritage Media of Kentucky, Leitchfield, KY (eligible for re-election)
District 6 – Mike Tarter, Forcht Broadcasting, Somerset, KY (eligible for re-election)
District 8 – Randy Thompson, WKCB FM & AM, Hindman, KY (eligible for re-election)
Louisville Market Television Director – Ken Selvaggi, WAVE News, Louisville, KY (eligible for re-election)
Public Radio Director – Chad Lampe, Murray State University, Murray, KY (eligible for re-election)

Links to nomination ballots were distributed to stations via listed management emails at noon on August 17, 2018. If your management/company has not received the link to your nomination ballots and you are a member of one of the above districts or would like to make a nomination, please contact Liza Livers at kba@kba.org or (502) 848-0426. Nominations must be received by close of business on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

Districts with more than one candidate will be sent an election ballot on Monday, September 10, 2018. Only one vote per station is permitted.

Congratulations to our 2019 Kentucky Broadcasters Association Board Members!

In Radio District 2, Ed Henson of Henson Media, Inc. was nominated unopposed and will begin serving his second term.

In Radio District 4, Mark Buckles of Heritage Media Of Kentucky was nominated unopposed and will begin serving his second term.

In Radio District 6, Mike Tarter of Forcht Broadcasting was elected and will begin serving his 2nd term.

In Radio District 8, Randy Thompson of WKCB AM & FM was nominated unopposed and will begin serving his second term.

Public Radio Director, election winner Chad Lampe of WKMS / Murray State University will begin serving his 2nd term.

Additionally, Ken Selvaggi of WAVE News was unopposed and will serve another term as Television Director – Louisville Market.