‘If Phyllis contributes to other organizations like she does with ours, she must have exceptional time-management skills,’ says Jane Logan.

Logan, founding president and ceo of the sptv, says, ‘Phyllis has been on our board from the start – she is the secretary on our executive committee – and has made a very strong contribution. She immediately volunteered to chair our regulatory committee. She has a whole lot of energy and a great sense of humor. It’s been a real pleasure working with someone who is such a strong contributor. Any association startup relies heavily on not just goodwill, but actual elbow grease, and Phyllis has certainly made a huge contribution.’

Since their first meeting three years ago, Logan’s regard for this ‘highly principled business woman’ has not waned, and Yaffe’s involvement hasn’t tapered off: ‘She’s been our representative on the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, she was our first rep on the Canadian Television Fund, and I know that she’s on the board of Canadian Women in Communications.

‘Phyllis has brought her energy to our industry’s profile, which is important, because as the industry evolves we take great pleasure in seeing its leaders gain higher profiles. Representing us on the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Television Fund was great for sptv, and we were delighted when she was voted [cwc’s] woman of the year [in 1998].’ MMS