CBC CEO & Board Chair Jim Goodmon hosted a group of local business and civic leaders from different companies for an Expanding Exploring event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. He shared about Explorer Post 5 and 50 and how these leaders could do something similar in their companies.
The event took place in the CBC Suite during the game between the Bulls and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Attendees got a behind the scenes VIP tour of the Bulls broadcast by Explorer Post 50.
The Explorer Post 50 students are responsible for the live television broadcasts of all home Durham Bulls baseball games, as well as providing highlights for FOX 50 and WRAL news program. Students ages 14-20 can apply to participate in the annual program where they get an invaluable opportunity to explore a career in television, gain hands-on experience, develop leadership skills, learn to work under pressure and much more.
Twenty-five people attended the event, representing 19 organizations, and they learned how the Explorer Post Program could benefit their organization and provide positive and meaningful real-world career experiences and leadership development opportunities for young people, in their chosen field of interest.
A large number of the attendees have already requested a follow-up meeting to learn more about how to get started and involved.
Ken Bland, Advisor for WRAL Explorer Post 5 and Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50, took part in the Expanding Exploring event. He has been a part of advising Post 50 for 24 years, since the program began.
“More programs like WRAL Explorer Post 5 and Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 are needed to help today’s youth explore potential careers of interest,” said Bland. “There’s a lot of work to be done, and we know that we will reach our goal of starting ten new Exploring programs in the next 12 months.”
Both Explorer Post 5 and 50 are under the umbrella of the Occoneechee Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Goodmon attended the event alongside Bland and WRAL-TV Maintenance Engineer II Chris Cormier, who also volunteers his time as an advisor for Post 50.
“More programs like WRAL Explorer Post 5 and Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 are needed to help today’s youth explore potential careers of interest.”
— Ken Bland, Advisor, WRAL Explorer Post 5 & Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50
CBC has hired a number of Explorer Post alumni over the years who have gone on to have long careers at WRAL-TV, several of whom are still on staff. A number of those employees volunteer their time with the current student sin the program.
“I am grateful for the support I receive from the Durham Bulls, CBC and Jim Goodmon,” said Bland. “I am passionate about community service and volunteer work. I want to ‘make a difference’ and WRAL Explorer Post 5 and The Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 are great ways for me to give back and hopefully have a positive impact on our youth.”
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Thanks to Ken Bland for these Capcom photos.