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AllBrands Named LPB Underwriter of the Year 2013


From left to right:
Barbara Chatelain, AllBrands Product Development Mgr
Blaine Austin, AllBrands CEO
Jeanne Smith, Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Beth Courtney, Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Dean Shulman, Vice President of Brother International, sponsor of It's Sew Easy
John Douthat, Allbrands.com Founder and Owner



September 12, 2013UNDERWRITER OF THE YEAR 2013 OPENING SPEECH
When I began working at LPB in 2007, I attempted to connect with former underwriters whose support had lapsed over the years. Some were unwilling to help (they have all been beaten into submission by Beth and I), and some were enthusiastically ready to get going once again. Our 2013 LPB Underwriter of the year is, fortunately, one of those enthusiastic public television supporters, whose love affair with LPB stretches all the way back to Ken Burns' The Civil War. This business is an all-American success story that began in 1976 as a humble Stretch & Sew fabric store, and has since grown into an internet conglomerate that sells and ships "all brands" of sewing machines, vacuums, and appliances around the world. They are also the largest distributor of Brother sewing machines in the country. This company bases their business on superior customer service and support, according to their website—and I can only speak from experience when I say that every part of their organization is committed to this ideal. Their long-time support for LPB helps us to continue our mission of life-long learning by keeping programs like Sewing with Nancy and Martha's Sewing Room on the air, and encouraging us to bring new programs like It's Sew Easy to our viewers. I speak, of course, of John and Annette Douthat, and their amazing team at AllBrands.com—and they are our 2013 LPB Underwriter of the Year.
Kate Bradshaw
Special Events Coordinator September 12, 2013 THREE HONORED AT FRIENDS OF LPB ANNUAL MEETING
 Louisiana Public Broadcasting and Friends of LPB honored two individuals and one company for their support of public broadcasting on Thursday, September 5 at the Friends of LPB Annual Meeting. Mary Frances White received the Friends of LPB Volunteer of the Year Award for her continued time and dedication to many projects. LPB President, Beth Courtney presented the President’s Award to Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Robert Barham for his support for Alive! In America’s Delta, a six-part series featuring the beauty and necessity of Louisiana’s wildlife, natural ecosystem and wetlands. AllBrands.com received the Underwriters Award for their enthusiastic support of Sewing with Nancy, and It’s Sew Easy, seen on LPB. AllBrands.com CEO John Douthat accepted the award for his company. Also at the meeting, Phillip Juban of Baton Rouge was elected as the new Chairperson for the Friends of LPB Board. Other officers include Vice Chair Robyn Merrick of Baton Rouge, Treasurer Dan Hare of Lafayette, Secretary Carole Martin Baxter of Alexandria and Immediate Past Chairperson Patti Harper of Shreveport. Friends of LPB’s mission is to raise funds to provide programming that is intelligent, informative, educational and entertaining and to connect the state by creating content that showcases Louisiana’s unique history, people, places and events.