NBC Transmitter (Jan-Nov 1945)

October 1945 SAFETY AND SOUND WTIC Proves Valuable Role Radio Can Play in Promoting Safety in Farmers' Daily Tasks tf TIC SAFETY BROADCAST— George Bowe, of ff TIC, describes a grass fire staged by the Glastonbury, Connecticut, Volunteer Fire Department— one of the features in the Hartford stations promotion of National Farm Safety W eek. The purpose of the fire was to demonstrate how a lighted cigarette thrown from a passing automobile into a field of newly mowed hay could start a conflagration which might endanger any community. The simulated fire aided by a high wind turned out to be a real blaze and became a far better demonstration than originally intended. The picture shows members of the department fighting the fire u’hich Boive described as type costing farmers $90,000,000 a year. HARTFORD, CONN. Station WTIC has been awarded first prize in the 50. ()()()watt broadcasting division for distinguished services rendered during the first National Farm Safety Radio Content conducted from July 22 to July 20 by the National Safety Council according to notification received by Paul W. Morency, general manager of WTIC. The Connecticut Highway Safety Commission which coordinated its efforts with the Connecticut Farm Safety Committee for the observance of Farm Safety Week is arranging to make an official presentation of the award to WTIC. One of the outstanding features of WTIC’s presentation in the Farm Safety Radio Contest was its broadcast of preliminary information on the Connecticut Farm Forum program of July 28. In addition, special programs devoted to farm safety were carried on sustaining and commercial time. In one “on the scene” broadcast the Glastonbury Fire Department cooperated by setting a demonstration blaze bringing out the fire apparatus and putting down the flames for the benefit of radio listeners. In another, the State Police emergency car with full disaster equipment and police personnel was out to demonstrate the handling of a highway accident. Personal accidents and how they could have been prevented were also included in WTIC’s programs. Throughout National Farm Safety Week WTIC devoted a total of approximately eight hours to the promotion of farm safety. The opportunity to lend support to a campaign that would reduce the suffering and economic loss from accidents on farms was heartily welcomed by the Hartford station. General Manager Paul W. Morency saw an opportunity for added public service in tying-in with the campaign. On April 19, almost five weeks prior to President Truman’s proclamation for the observance of National Farm Safetv Week, he issued a memorandum to Program Manager Leonard J. Patricelli, which alerted the entire station staff. While preliminary plans were being made at the station, the State Farm Safety Committee was being organized with Dean W. B. Young of the College of Agriculture at the University of Connecticut as chairman, the group functioning as a sub-committee of the Connecticut Highway Safety Commission, which in turn was the voice of the National Safety Council in the farm safety drive. Liaison was quickly established between tbe station and the state committee. On June 18, at the invitation of Morency, an informal meeting was held at the studio to discuss the station's plans and fit them to the program of the official farm safety organization. The 4-H Club and Boy Scout leaders agreed enthusiastically to help in spreading word of the essay contest, and the same cooperation was later secured from the director of vocational agriculture. State Department of Education, from the Girl Scouts and from the state farm labor supervisor wbo is in charge of summer work camps for 1.500 boys and girls employed in harvesting farm crops. With the advice of the educators, it was decided to offer a large number of essay prizes rather than one or two large prizes, to give wide latitude in choice of a subject and to stipulate that the essays should be short. Final rules of the contest were drawn up by General Manager Morency and this part of the campaign was launched at once. Thirty prizes were offered, divided into two identical groups, one for elementary school pupils and one for high school contestants. Top prize in each group was a $.50 Victory Bond. President Albert N. Jorgensen of the University of Connecticut was invited to serve as chairman of a board of judges, with Justice Arthur F. Ells of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, chairman of the Connecticut Highway Safety Commission. and Erank H. Peet. State Commissioner of Agriculture. Lelia Thompson, secretary of the Highway Safety Commission and head of the legal department at the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, later substituted for Justice Ells, who was out of the state on vacation when the essays were judged.