The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
Foundation contribution to broadcasting in Wisconsin
encompasses a strategic, long term vision for enhancing,
promoting and supporting the broadcast industry by
encouraging the preservation of broadcast history,
participating in public affairs activities in the State
of Wisconsin and providing educational opportunities for
professional broadcasters and those who seek future
careers in the broadcast industry.
BROADCASTERS HALL OF FAME
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
Foundation Hall of Fame Committee is currently
scheduling the 2013 elections to the Wisconsin
Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Therefore, the Hall
of Fame nomination process is open effective
immediately and will run through
Friday, February 15,
2013. Submissions should be made on
the official nomination form and sent to the WBA
Foundation office. Honorees selected will be
inducted during the WBA’s Summer Conference,
which will be held June 19 & 20, 2013 at the
Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake.
Please Note: As a reminder, per the change in
2010 to the WBA Bylaws - which was voted on by
the General Membership - the Hall of Fame
Committee is now under the auspices of the WBA
Foundation. The thought process behind the bylaw
change was that the mission of the WBA
Foundation in relation to historic preservation
would better allow for a more in-depth review of
the history of broadcasting in Wisconsin when
looking at potential Hall of Fame inductees. In
addition, the Foundation funds the Hall of Fame.
Prior to this bylaw change, the Committee itself
was the only item remaining under the auspices
of the Association.
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was
established in 1989 and formally dedicated by
then FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes. Its purpose is
to honor those individuals who have dedicated
their professional lives to the advancement of
broadcasting in Wisconsin. Since then, 117
broadcasters have been inducted.
The criteria for consideration for induction
into the WBA Foundation Hall of Fame have been
established by the WBA Hall of Fame Committee
and at least for now, will remain the same under
the WBA Foundation. The criteria include a
requirement that a broadcaster have a minimum of
15 years of broadcast experience, at least ten
of which were in Wisconsin. The criteria also
include consideration of an individual’s
contributions to broadcasting as well as their
history of community and statewide service.
Individuals may be cited posthumously.
Nominations received in 2011 and 2012 will be
included in the committee’s deliberations for
2013 selections, under a provision of the
committee rules whereby nominations are active
for three years. Anyone wishing to check whether
an individual has been nominated may inquire at
the WBA Foundation office at (800) 236-1WBA or
mvetterkind@wi-broadcasters.org.
In addition to those broadcasters already
nominated (in the previous two years), the
committee invites all WBA members to submit any
new nominations to the WBA Hall of Fame
Committee no later than February 15.
The Hall of Fame committee will meet after
February 15 to consider nominations, and the WBA
Foundation will act on the nominations in March.