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Central Minnesota Chapter 17
Society of Broadcast Engineers
​Photo atop the IDS Building in downtown Minneapolis, 792 feet above street level.  
We are a non-profit professional organization of radio and television engineers who build, repair and update radio and television broadcast facilities.  All broadcast engineers are welcome to join our group.  ​Chapter 17 has 83 members, of which 27 are SBE certified.  Most live and work in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  We meet monthly to exchange ideas and increase skill level.  There is also an annual summer picnic and holiday party in December.  Many meetings are being held online during COVID.
There are no strangers, only engineers you haven't met.
​Engineer is spoken here
​Think Positive  and  Test negative
The annual SBE Chapter 17 election of officers will be held at the November 2023 membership meeting. Any Chapter 17 member in good standing is elegible to run for office. That includes Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Certification Chair, Program Chairman and Webmaster. Current officers are listed here:  https://www.sbe17.org/about.html 

To apply, contact Jon Blomstrand at blomstrand@amerytel.net 
Looking for new photos, to refresh this website. We're particularly after Shoreview climbers in action looking towards the city skylines. In particular, pictures happen to include the other area tower(s), or any other notable landmarks off to the side.

If you have anything at all, regardless of where they are from, please send the highest-grade resolution available to Mark Persons, teki@mwpersons.com.
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Taylor Robert Barker
September 26, 2023 at 11:30 am: We will get together at iHeartMedia, 1600 Utica Avenue South, Suite 500. You may recall that LumenServe https://www.lumenserve.com/ was our last intended presenter in the "before Zoom" times, and one of the first guinea pigs we had for our virtual experiments. Now, they're back in-person, and the topic is, "Bringing To Light: The Changes In The Tower Lighting World."
​Let me know if you are planning on attending in person or via zoom by September 25th.
Program Chairman Taylor Robert Barker ​tbarker@sbe.org ​
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Taylor Robert Barker
October 5, 2023, 11 am: We will hear from Eddy Vanderkerken of Sourcerer https://www.sourcerer.biz. The topic will be topic will be the, "Newest developments in test and measurement tools for the broadcaster, including NextGenTV."
For a limited time only, we're going back to where it all began, the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting 
https://www.pavekmuseum.org/ 3517 Raleigh Avenue in Saint Louis Park. A lot has changed over there, so don't miss this rare chance to see the new renovations up close. Lunch will be provided, a door prize will be up for grabs, and he'll be bringing along some toys to play with. The doors open at 11:00 am that day, and we've got a hard stop, so please be on-time. We will have a Zoom option available, as well.

​Let me know if you want to attend by October 4th. Program Chairman Taylor Robert Barker ​tbarker@sbe.org 
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Taylor Robert Barker
November 16, 2023, 11:30 am: We will hear from Ricki Lee of Aiir https://aiir.com/, a California-based company specializing in audio playout and planning tools. That one will happen at Town Square Television, 5845 Blaine Avenue East, Inver Grove Heights

Each of these events will include a virtual option, as well as lunch. Let's aim for RSVPs to arrive by the day before, in each case.
Chapter voting is approaching. Some of our current elected representatives are term-limited, and there's always interest in refreshing the ranks. If you would like to serve in one of those roles. To apply, contact Jon Blomstrand at blomstrand@amerytel.net and have a discussion. The aim is to make that a part of the November meeting.

​Let me know if you want to attend by November 15th. Program Chairman Taylor Robert Barker ​tbarker@sbe.org 
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Minneapolis, Minnesota, skyline.
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St. Paul, Minnesota skyline.
News:
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August 2023:
Minnesota
State Fair
Broadcasting
July 14, 2023: Jim Wychor, age 91, of Worthington, MN, died.  Wychor was KWOA AM/FM's co-owner, vice president and general manager for 26 years, according to his biography in the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He served as president and CEO of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association from 1989 to 1997 and served in leadership roles in many other industry groups. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, July 21, with the funeral at 3 p.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1 Shephard Court in Circle Pines.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/twincities/name/james-wychor-obituary?id=52492494

https://news.yahoo.com/jim-wychor-remembered-great-gobbler-141700558.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

https://www.dglobe.com/news/local/jim-wychor-remembered-for-great-gobbler-gallop-a-life-in-radio-and-his-abiding-love-of-worthington
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December 2, 2022:
Joe Conlon
Recognized
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June 15, 2022:
Mike Davison
Engineer of
the Year
Job Openings:
September 13, 2023: From Michael Simonds: Job Listing for an audiovisual and television engineer at the Minnesota House of Representatives. https://www.house.mn.gov/has/posting.asp?postingid=564
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An LPTV station with a transmitter on the IDS is looking for options for a LPTV contract engineer.  If you have any suggestions, please contact  Joe Conlon, Engineering Manager, Townsquare TV.  651-352-6112.
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Twin Cities PBS is looking for people.  If interested, please apply by visiting our Career Center at http://www.tpt.org/careers/job-openings/
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K-LOVE and Air 1 Radio Networks are looking for people.  See: https://careers-kloveair1.icims.com/jobs/search?hashed=-435656068

​SBE is an organization with 114 chapters and 4500 members world-wide.