PBS Fundraising

It is that time of year, faithful viewers, fund raising on your local PBS http://www.pbs.org/ station. My local station is KTTZ http://kttz.org/channel-5. It is affiliated with Texas Tech University http://www.ttu.edu/, after a brief and, and in my opinion, stupid dissociation. 

Tonight is music night:  we saw big band programming, and now we are getting "malt shop" music programming. Sometimes I call in to make a pledge, to get a promotional gift, since I know I am going to probably spend the money, anyway.  But mostly, I just watch the show.

I send a monthly donation to both PBS and NPR http://www.npr.org/. I do not usually pledge.  For a couple of reasons.  I work for Texas Tech, and once a year, my employment "contract" from Tech indicates it is not a guarantee of employment, should funding become unavailable.  So, I figure why should I make a commitment to Texas Tech when they cannot make a commitment to me?  The other reason I do not pledge is because I am going to send money, anyway, so I do not need them sending me paperwork to remind me.

A few years, after the fundraising period, I would get a pledge notice, even though I did not pledge.  I would return it to them and tell them I send a donation regularly, but if they do not leave me alone, I will stop sending a donation. It feels like they are being greedy by sending me a pledge notice when I do not pledge.  I think that is poor customer service. 

The thing about pledge week is that the programming excitement and quality is at a higher level than most other weeks of the year  But, over the :years, I have found myself watching more and more PBS programming.  I admit it, I am hooked on "Downton Abbey" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/ or http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2720864/It-s-Downton-confidential-Fresh-scandals-new-secrets-s-sneaky-peek-Series-5.html.  I like Doc Martin  http://www.pbs.org/programs/doc-martin/, also.

Years ago, I become hooked on Masterpiece Mystery http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/mystery/index.html , especially "Hercules Poirot" and "Miss Marple."  Some of the others did not do much for me. But I did like Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/primesuspect6/. 

I am not so enamored of no commercial interruptions:  some times I need the break.  But, I have the TVs set so I can move around the house and keep up with what is happening.

So, the point of this is to also encourage you to donate to PBS if you watch their programming.