Friday, December 22, 2006
Happy Holidays from WCTV
From this evening through January 1, enjoy more than 20 hours of local holiday programming provided by area churches, schools, and our Channel 21 producers. It is our way of saying thanks for a great year. We return to regular programming on January 2, and hope you will join us for all that’s to come in 2007.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Board Minutes November 2006
Call to Order - 11:05 a.m. by Vice-President Mark Linderman.
Present: Willard Brown, Dave Burns, Daryl Greene, Ed Hoffman, Mark Linderman, Jerome Mahaffey, Eric Marsh, Barb Mayberry, Sharon Palmer, Ken Paust, Jeff Plasterer and Stephanie Strait. Staff: John Dalton, John Schuerman, Stephanie Frame and Diane Lucas.
Approval of Minutes
Dave Burns moved, with Ken Paust giving the second, that the Board unanimously accepts the minutes of the October 10, 2006. Minutes unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Jeff Plasterer reviewed the Treasurer’s Report.
John Dalton submitted the first draft of the 2007 budget to the finance committee for review.
John Dalton answered questions about state and federal Telecom legislation as it stands today, as well as updated information on the station’s relationships with Insight, the City of Richmond, Wayne County, and IU East. Dalton reported that the Telecommunications Council has more or less disbanded. Dalton stated he was invited to go with the Chairman of the Indiana chapter of the Alliance for Community Media to speak with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, at the IURC’s request, about Telecom legislation after Thanksgiving.
Jeff Plasterer moved to accept, with Dave Burns giving the second, and the report was accepted.
Director’s Report
WCTV will produce a live broadcast the Salvation Army’s Christmas program on December 7th and has an underwriter for the event.
The Extended Learning classes have been successful and brought in approximately $600. We have been asked to offer them again next spring.
WCTV will have an intern from Ball State in the spring who will work 20 hours a week.
The Music Library license expired, and WCTV purchased a very nice close-out music library with no additional licensing fees.
Plans are continuing for the Auction, which takes place on December 8th. There are already 20 items donated for auction. The production design is being revamped, including using a phone bank in the studio.
Stephanie Frame is leaving WCTV to return to WIWU-TV in Marion, IN. Stephanie’s position is currently being advertised. Jim Russell has agreed to help out with the programming in the interim.
Dalton discussed developing a revenue stream through corporate production. There was discussion regarding the need for a task force to evaluate the corporate production situation.
Old Business
Mark Lindermann indicated that at the next meeting there will be a vote called on the controversial programming issue and the lottery issue.
New Business
Dave Burns discussed potential loopholes in the Tuesday-Thursday open time slots for specialty programming on Channel 21, which was sent to the executive committee for further discussion.
Good of the Order
John Dalton thanked Stephanie Frame for her work and wished her well.
Adjournment - 12:20 p.m.
Present: Willard Brown, Dave Burns, Daryl Greene, Ed Hoffman, Mark Linderman, Jerome Mahaffey, Eric Marsh, Barb Mayberry, Sharon Palmer, Ken Paust, Jeff Plasterer and Stephanie Strait. Staff: John Dalton, John Schuerman, Stephanie Frame and Diane Lucas.
Approval of Minutes
Dave Burns moved, with Ken Paust giving the second, that the Board unanimously accepts the minutes of the October 10, 2006. Minutes unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Jeff Plasterer reviewed the Treasurer’s Report.
John Dalton submitted the first draft of the 2007 budget to the finance committee for review.
John Dalton answered questions about state and federal Telecom legislation as it stands today, as well as updated information on the station’s relationships with Insight, the City of Richmond, Wayne County, and IU East. Dalton reported that the Telecommunications Council has more or less disbanded. Dalton stated he was invited to go with the Chairman of the Indiana chapter of the Alliance for Community Media to speak with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, at the IURC’s request, about Telecom legislation after Thanksgiving.
Jeff Plasterer moved to accept, with Dave Burns giving the second, and the report was accepted.
Director’s Report
WCTV will produce a live broadcast the Salvation Army’s Christmas program on December 7th and has an underwriter for the event.
The Extended Learning classes have been successful and brought in approximately $600. We have been asked to offer them again next spring.
WCTV will have an intern from Ball State in the spring who will work 20 hours a week.
The Music Library license expired, and WCTV purchased a very nice close-out music library with no additional licensing fees.
Plans are continuing for the Auction, which takes place on December 8th. There are already 20 items donated for auction. The production design is being revamped, including using a phone bank in the studio.
Stephanie Frame is leaving WCTV to return to WIWU-TV in Marion, IN. Stephanie’s position is currently being advertised. Jim Russell has agreed to help out with the programming in the interim.
Dalton discussed developing a revenue stream through corporate production. There was discussion regarding the need for a task force to evaluate the corporate production situation.
Old Business
Mark Lindermann indicated that at the next meeting there will be a vote called on the controversial programming issue and the lottery issue.
New Business
Dave Burns discussed potential loopholes in the Tuesday-Thursday open time slots for specialty programming on Channel 21, which was sent to the executive committee for further discussion.
Good of the Order
John Dalton thanked Stephanie Frame for her work and wished her well.
Adjournment - 12:20 p.m.
Friday, December 01, 2006
WCTV: 365 Days Later
It is a busy time at WCTV. Tuesday night I was teaching kids at Wernle about videography, and working with them to produce a DVD project. On Wednesday I was in Indianapolis, with a few other access center leaders, meeting with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to discuss the new Telecom Bill that was passed this year impacting local franchises, including ours. Next Thursday we are broadcasting the Salvation Army Christmas program for the first time, which has always been a traditional favorite on the radio and hopefully in the future on television. And Friday night we are having our second live television auction, with lots of items from local merchants to bid on and win.
So I almost forgot that it was one year ago today that I joined WCTV.
A lot has happened in that year. I was told upon arrival that local news and sports were important to our viewers. So we partnered with Kicks-96/WHON to bring you a nightly newscast, and we provided the first professionally-produced high school sports broadcasts this fall, teaming up with high school A/V classes to provide students learning experiences alongside WCTV staff.
We are currently programming more than 16 hours a day across three channels, averaging between 75-85 programs a week, locally produced or of local interest. We have close to fifty local producers generating content for Channel 21. We expanded from six to seven nights of programming, offering a Friday night Reading Service for the elderly and the visually impaired as well as a “By Request” time slot where viewers can ask to see their favorite WCTV programs. We also expanded our election coverage and broadcast our first live parade.
Our local producers have access to more equipment than before; we have added new cameras, and will be adding more edit bays soon. For the first time we have offered noncredit training classes through the Continuing Education Center at IU East, and will repeat those courses in the spring. Our members asked for more events, and we provided them, including a premiere party, a holiday open house, and a summer cookout. We have offered longer hours, including some weekend hours, for those wanting more access to our facility. For producers who need help with their programs, we now offer “House Calls,” where trained volunteers and professional staff come to your location and give advice on how to produce the best program for your viewers.
Equipment upgrades in our headend have improved our signal quality, and we have institutionalized procedures for troubleshooting problems with playback of our programming.
Our Board of Directors is filled out to fifteen members, and worked on developing a new Lottery system that is fair to everyone, as well as looking at other ongoing policies and procedures.
For those who asked for more information on what’s going on at WCTV, we updated the website, added a blog, and developed comprehensive email and traditional mail mailing lists. If you have yet to receive a copy of our new brochure, or would be interested in seeing our corporate media sampler DVD, please let me know.
I have always believed in grassroots and independent media, so it has been very rewarding for me to do professionally the things that I have always believed in and supported personally. The great staff and Board of Directors here have made this a good year for me.
But there are some storm clouds on the horizon. Public access television is facing great challenges on a statewide and national level. Now, more than ever, we need our friends and supporters to be with us. The longstanding motto of WCTV has been “Bringing the Community to the Community,” and I think we show that every day. I hope you will come with us as we continue to take that message forward. We are just getting started on where we are going, and I am excited for what’s to come in 2007.
So I almost forgot that it was one year ago today that I joined WCTV.
A lot has happened in that year. I was told upon arrival that local news and sports were important to our viewers. So we partnered with Kicks-96/WHON to bring you a nightly newscast, and we provided the first professionally-produced high school sports broadcasts this fall, teaming up with high school A/V classes to provide students learning experiences alongside WCTV staff.
We are currently programming more than 16 hours a day across three channels, averaging between 75-85 programs a week, locally produced or of local interest. We have close to fifty local producers generating content for Channel 21. We expanded from six to seven nights of programming, offering a Friday night Reading Service for the elderly and the visually impaired as well as a “By Request” time slot where viewers can ask to see their favorite WCTV programs. We also expanded our election coverage and broadcast our first live parade.
Our local producers have access to more equipment than before; we have added new cameras, and will be adding more edit bays soon. For the first time we have offered noncredit training classes through the Continuing Education Center at IU East, and will repeat those courses in the spring. Our members asked for more events, and we provided them, including a premiere party, a holiday open house, and a summer cookout. We have offered longer hours, including some weekend hours, for those wanting more access to our facility. For producers who need help with their programs, we now offer “House Calls,” where trained volunteers and professional staff come to your location and give advice on how to produce the best program for your viewers.
Equipment upgrades in our headend have improved our signal quality, and we have institutionalized procedures for troubleshooting problems with playback of our programming.
Our Board of Directors is filled out to fifteen members, and worked on developing a new Lottery system that is fair to everyone, as well as looking at other ongoing policies and procedures.
For those who asked for more information on what’s going on at WCTV, we updated the website, added a blog, and developed comprehensive email and traditional mail mailing lists. If you have yet to receive a copy of our new brochure, or would be interested in seeing our corporate media sampler DVD, please let me know.
I have always believed in grassroots and independent media, so it has been very rewarding for me to do professionally the things that I have always believed in and supported personally. The great staff and Board of Directors here have made this a good year for me.
But there are some storm clouds on the horizon. Public access television is facing great challenges on a statewide and national level. Now, more than ever, we need our friends and supporters to be with us. The longstanding motto of WCTV has been “Bringing the Community to the Community,” and I think we show that every day. I hope you will come with us as we continue to take that message forward. We are just getting started on where we are going, and I am excited for what’s to come in 2007.
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