Dear Editor:

This weekend they will be filming the TV show, “Getting Away Together” featuring the Boothbay region (even though we are still $14,000 shy of the $55,000 needed to fully fund our share of the production cost). The producer and I believe that people will continue to step forward and help us finish the project by October 15.

I am writing this letter because I have heard that some people are confused about who is making this show. This show is not made by PBS. It is made by an Emmy award-winning production company, PineRidge. It is offered, at little or no cost, to member stations of PBS across the United States.

Up to 80 percent of all shows on PBS are made by other companies and distributed to PBS member stations, each of which operates independently. Julia Child is an example. Her show was not made by PBS. But you watched it only on PBS. 

In 2012, the Getting Away Together TV series was available to over 47 million PBS viewers. We have this opportunity because Cottage Connection, which is owned by my husband, Jeff, and me, has been a member of the professional organization, VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Association) for 17 years. The VRMA is the main sponsor of this show.

Even so, the Getting Away Together series is about vacation destinations, not vacation rentals and no specific vacation rental company will ever be shown on this show. PineRidge is completely responsible for the content of the show.

Our goal has been to raise the funds needed to take care of expenses that are not covered by the production company. Our part is about one-third of what it costs to produce and distribute the show nationally and internationally.

As Doug Gimbel’s and Ryan Leighton’s music video says, “all ships rise with the tide.” That has been our whole motivation for this effort.  So far, almost 100 businesses and over 250 people have participated in this great economic opportunity to spark new interest in the Boothbay region. They agree that it is worth the investment as a tourism promotion that can be on the air for the next 5-7 years. Please call me if you have questions. 

Audrey Leeds Miller
Cottage Connection