New general manager has big plans for WOSU

By Randy Gammage, onCAMPUS staff

After experiencing the wave of excitement surrounding national championships in football, first at the University of Alabama and then at Ohio State, Tom Rieland is devising a game plan to take the WOSU stations on a championship run of their own.

Rieland became general manager of WOSU on Nov. 12, replacing the retiring Dale Ouzts, after serving as director and general manager for the Center for Public Television and Radio at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 1989.

General manager Tom Rieland is poised to lead WOSU into the digital age.   By Kevin Fitzsimons

It was exciting arriving at Ohio State in the midst of this year's title run by the Buckeyes, a team much like Alabama's tough and gritty 1992 championship team, Rieland said. But it was the national reputation that Ohio State and WOSU have earned off the field that lured him away from Alabama.

"I look at it as a great opportunity to get back to the Midwest, where I grew up, and to take on a challenging position during a time of enormous change," Rieland said.

He said the opportunities are enormous as WOSU flexes its resources to meet a Federal Communications Commission mandate for public stations to offer digital television signals.

WOSU-TV will be transmitting in digital sometime in 2003, providing as many as four digital channels and high definition programming.

"What we're going to have is a digital wireless information delivery system reaching about 1.8 million people in 31 counties in central and southern Ohio, but we must find the resources to build our local digital infrastructure and program the stations locally," Rieland said.

WOSU also plans to be involved in early digital experimentation for radio, which will result in better clarity of signal and will impact all six public radio stations at WOSU.

"I've found our listeners to be incredibly committed to both our AM and FM service, and digital could make our local programming commitment even deeper," Rieland said.

He is impressed with the breadth and depth of academic programs at Ohio State.

"What a real gold mine for a public broadcast studio like ours to have the opportunity to collaborate with some of these excellent programs," Rieland said.

While he moved to the Columbus area in November, his wife and two daughters, ages nine and 12, made the journey in January. After spending the last 20 years in the south, the Wisconsin native admitted the brisk winter weather required a major adjustment. Otherwise, he has received a warm welcome.

"Everybody has really gone out of their way to help us adjust and we already feel like we're a part of Ohio State and Columbus," Rieland said.

Upon arrival, he wasted no time familiarizing himself with the University and Columbus-area communities by meeting with deans and other campus and community leaders to discuss the station's direction and future alliances.

"We're more than just a TV and radio station," Rieland said. "We have a lot of talent that can be used in many ways."

The challenge is to harness the technology and staff talent to meet University and community needs, and to build collaborations with organizations that -- like WOSU -- also are focused on education, public service and civic awareness.

"Public broadcasting can be a catalyst," Rieland said. "We'll be building relationships to use this powerful digital firepower in the public interest."

At the same time, WOSU is seeking community support as it launches a capital campaign to raise funds to assist both the radio and television operations in the transition to digital. The goal is $7 million.

"We're convinced others will see the incredible benefit of contributing to our efforts to help build Ohio's future through substantial expansion of broadcast, online and outreach services to our community," Rieland said.

In step with the digital transition, WOSU will be undergoing an intensive period of self-evaluation and strategic planning in the coming year to help determine its future direction. The process will involve the Ohio State and Columbus communities, as well as nationally known experts in the implementation of digital television and radio.

As the role of WOSU expands, an emphasis also will be placed on increasing student participation in a variety of ways.

"What a wealth of opportunity to be able to tap into a student base of 50,000 and find the ones who really have the drive and desire to learn about producing, program development and working with our technology," Rieland said.

For more information about WOSU stations, digital television or its current capital campaign, call 292-9678, visit their Web site at www.WOSU.org/home/home.html, or contact Rieland at gm@wosu.org.

Lake Erie impact

Meaghan Johnson displays a Lake Erie steelhead trout she managed to reel in. Anglers are traveling from all over the United States to take advantage of the fishing in Lake Erie.   By Nancy Cruickshank

Ohio Sea Grant is using science as bait to maintain momentum of vital fishing industry

By Randy Gammage, onCAMPUS staff

Despite environmental concerns in Lake Erie, ranging from invasive species to a so-called "dead zone," scientific experts say the fishing is excellent.

"No place in the continental United States can beat what we have on Lake Erie for walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and steelhead trout," said Dave Kelch, associate professor and district extension specialist with the Ohio Sea Grant College Program at Ohio State.

Anglers travel from all over the United States to take advantage of the fishing in Lake Erie, resulting in a huge economic boost to the area benefiting everything from charter boat services and bait shops to restaurants and hotels. Lake Erie fishing has contributed more than $500 million annually to Ohio's economy, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources report. Lake Erie has the largest licensed charter boat industry in the country, Kelch said, with more than half of the $1.3 billion boating-related spending in Ohio connected to Lake Erie fishing.

But Kelch said angling interest has started to decline nationwide.

To maintain the eco-tourism impact angling tends to create, Kelch and other Ohio Sea Grant extension specialists have been conducting fishing programs throughout the state. By increasing the knowledge of fishing and how science affects fishing patterns, they hope to increase the number of anglers throughout the country and generate an interest among youth.

Sea Grant will hold its first central Ohio program, "Lake Erie Sport Fishing with Some Science," from 7-9:30 p.m. March 4 at the Fawcett Center. It is free and open to the public. Experts will discuss how, when and where to fish on Lake Erie and the educational opportunities and the science that goes on behind the scenes with Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory. Jeff Reutter, director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory, will present "The Lake Erie Ecosystem, the Dead Zone and Invasive Species." Other presenters are Kelch, "Central Basin Angling: Steelhead and More," and Fred Snyder, Ohio Sea Grant Extension specialist, "2003 Fishing Outlook and Smart Fishing Tactics."

This is the fifth annual winter lecture hosted by Friends of Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant, and includes a silent auction and refreshments (see info box below). Located on Gibraltar Island in Put-in-Bay Harbor, Stone Laboratory is the oldest freshwater biological field station in the country and Ohio State's island campus.

Participants in the State Legislature/Congressional Day, sponsored each year by Ohio Sea Grant, enjoy an afternoon of fishing last summer at Lake Erie.   By Jeff Frischkorn

Lake Erie is the southern-most, shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes. The lake also receives more nutrients than the other Great Lakes from the farmland that dominates its watershed, making it very productive, Reutter said.

"Lake Erie produces more fish for human consumption than the other Great Lakes combined, and it looks like next year will be another great year," Reutter said, referring to the 2003 season that starts in March.

The lake is in much better shape than it was in the 1970s, he said, when pollution was a major concern. However, since 1995 there have been concerns that the ecosystem is slowly declining, evidenced by rising concentrations of phosphorus, dropping water levels, warmer water temperatures and the return of the dead zone -- an area where a loss of oxygen in cold bottom water kills organisms that can't swim away.

Despite the environmental concerns, Reutter said Lake Erie is still a very productive and safe fishery. In fact, many of the fish species that anglers target in the lake are very lean fish, such as walleye and yellow perch, and are not likely to have high contaminant levels. However, successful anglers will have to familiarize themselves with the lake, as water levels are expected to be the lowest in 30 years this year, Reutter said.

Ohio Sea Grant continues to support research projects that maximize the value of Lake Erie, improve understanding of lake processes to allow more informed resource management, and develop new technologies to clean up the environmental problems of the past.

"We will continue to focus on education, the environment and the economy, through a combination of research, education and outreach in collaboration with the government, academia and the private sector. Our strategy is to focus University expertise on real-world problems," Reutter said.

For further information on Ohio Sea Grant or Stone Laboratory, visit the Web at www.sg.ohio-state.edu.

Alumni advocate

Under Dan Heinlen's leadership, the Alumni Association moved into the new Longaberger Alumni House three years ago.   Courtesy of the Alumni Association

Dan Heinlen retires after 38 years of service to Ohio

By Amy Murray, Media Relations

Dan Heinlen, who helped the Ohio State Alumni Association grow into one of the nation's strongest and largest alumni organizations, will retire in December after three decades as its leader.

"This has been a wonderful opportunity to serve a great university and an extraordinary group of alumni who are an important force in Ohio State's future," said Heinlen, 65, in a message that revealed his plans to retire on Dec. 31, 2003. Heinlen has spent 38 years with the Alumni Association, all but eight at its helm.

"I couldn't feel more at ease with my decision to retire," he said. "The Alumni Association is strong, relationships on campus are excellent and we have a first-rate staff and an outstanding board of directors. I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family and serving Ohio State and our community in less structured ways."

The Alumni Association is a dues-supported organization of graduates, former students and friends of Ohio State, with more than 123,000 members.

Heinlen was named director of alumni affairs in 1973, a title that later evolved to president/CEO. The organization has more than doubled its membership during his tenure, growing from 60,000 dues-paying members in 1973 to 123,195 today.

Under Heinlen, the Alumni Association has had a steady influence on Ohio State -- from facilitating student scholarships through its many clubs and societies to providing service and leadership to all areas of the University.

"Dan Heinlen is known and admired nationwide for his excellence in working with alumni," President Karen Holbrook said. "He is someone I had heard about long before coming to Ohio State.

"Dan brought to the Alumni Association a combination of organizational leadership and passion for The Ohio State University. As I meet our enthusiastic Buckeye alumni from across the state and around the world, I continue to see Dan's great influence in their close connection to the University. Dan's exceptional efforts will benefit Ohio State for years to come."

Heinlen ushered the Alumni Association into exciting new territory three years ago when the organization moved into its current home, Longaberger Alumni House. The $10-million, state-of-the-art facility serves as the headquarters for an international network of graduates, former students and friends of the University.

"Dan will leave behind a tremendous legacy," said Dan D. Sandman, chair of the Alumni Association's board of directors. "His enthusiasm and hard work all these years have made the University stronger in innumerable ways. He has been a leading advocate for alumni work everywhere."

Heinlen, who earned a bachelor's degree in social welfare from Ohio State in 1960, began his Alumni Association career in 1965 as field director for alumni clubs and societies. He spent five years as the associate director of alumni affairs before his appointment as director in December 1973.

The Alumni Association will start an immediate nationwide search for Heinlen's replacement. Plans are to have his successor on board before the end of the year so the new president/CEO can take advantage of Heinlen's presence before entering the office.

The search committee is comprised of Thomas J. Moyer, chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court; Thomas A. Waltermire, chairman and CEO of PolyOne Corp. in Avon Lake; former state Sen. Ben E. Espy, a private practice attorney in Columbus; Elaine H. Hairston, chancellor emerita of the Ohio Board of Regents and senior consultant of Academic Search Consultation Service in Washington, D.C.; James F. Patterson, chair of the University's Board of Trustees; and Sandman, vice chairman and chief legal and administrative officer of U.S. Steel Corp. in Pittsburgh.

Search firm Spencer Stuart has been engaged by the Alumni Association's board of directors to conduct the search. All interested applicants are encouraged to contact Jed Hughes at Spencer Stuart either in writing at 525 Market St., Suite 3700, San Francisco, Calif. 94105, or at www.spencerstuart.com.

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