Good Enough To Share: Active Viewers

Good Enough To Share is probably one of the most valuable local programs because our viewership, your neighbors ask us to share content they think is important to know or experience. This weekend we will be blessed by the efforts of Brattleboro Community TV who had captured the 13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert held Feb 6 featuring the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Tufts Amalgamates, Dartmouth Aires, Skidmore Dynamics, Castleton Vocal Unrest and Tufts Beelzebubs.

13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert held Feb 6 featuring the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Tufts Amalgamates, Dartmouth Aires, Skidmore Dynamics, Castleton Vocal Unrest and Tufts Beelzebubs.
13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert held Feb 6 featuring the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, Tufts Amalgamates, Dartmouth Aires, Skidmore Dynamics, Castleton Vocal Unrest and Tufts Beelzebubs .

This program 13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert is scheduled as TV for Friday, Feb 19th beginning at 8:30 PM and the 20th at 9 PM. The duration is 2 hours 15 minutes.  Enjoy.

Three neighbors got the following Thanks from WPAA-TV. Irma Zola, David Burghardt, Lisa Catherine.

Thanks for your interest in the Guarantor Program Good Enough to Share at WPAA-TV.

Guarantor affiliation is handled via electronic correspondence. A reply to this email with your name replacing the text shown below in red is the process by which this content becomes Good Enough to Share. This guarantor language identifies the program, its source, any Web presence if known, and acknowledges your willingness to be publicly affiliated as the local representative of the content on WPAA-TV.

As Guarantor of “13th Annual Collegiate A Capella Concert ” I, “insert Guarantor Name here” accept responsibility to be the local representative of media created by Brattleboro Community TV for re-distribution by Wallingford Public Access Association Inc. (WPAATV).  I agree to have my name publicly affiliated with the appearance of this program on WPAATV.   I understand this program is noncommercial. I understand the content is in compliance with the policy because it was produced at the Community Access Station serving Brattleboro VT which maintains comparable creation & distribution policies.

I understand that WPAA-TV is relying upon this Agreement and its representations for the legal distribution of the named media under its Guarantor Program.

More About the Good Enough To Share Program:  A Guarantor is someone 1) eligible as a registered WPAA-TV User, 2) passionate about the subject matter, or free speech, who by publicly being affiliated with the content will 3) take responsibility, for any local interest and feedback; sharing the schedule with the community via social media or word-of-mouth methods. The Guarantor’s name is added to WPAA-TV website as the individual(s) helping to bring content to Wallingford. This individual will also be identified in program promotion-related Social Media.

There are two ways to participate:  1) WPAA-TV can suggest video programs that are already in compliance with local non-commercial policy and have copyright clearance for redistribution as local TV to individuals interested in supporting the local play of informing content. All programs are of good technical quality and can be acquired at no cost to individual or WPAA-TV or 2) residents can identify content developed elsewhere and secure permissions to re-Distribute. In this instance, the User takes responsibility for compliance with all content issues including copyright.

Permit, broadcast, educational value and separate

The corporate purpose of those forced to organize as a separate ‘public’ access channel in 1993 which became the nonprofit Wallingford Public Access Association, Inc. was clearly not in accordance with the intent of enabling free speech of citizens to speak to their community with resources established via the Cable Act and other statutes and regulations.

1993
To provide the opportunity and equipment to permit residents of the Town of Wallingford to produce and broadcast television programs of educational value over a separate television channel.
2016

All manner of support for the creation and distribution of noncommercial community media and fulfillment of responsibilities within related designations associated with managing sufficient resources inclusive of cable access channel(s) to facilitate meaningful community access within the community of Wallingford, CT.

WHEREAS, Public, Education and Government (PEG) access is excluded from broadcast regulations as an alternative to broadcast known as narrowcast but is designated for distribution by the Cable Act as within the basic cable service tier as the transmission of broadcast signals; and

WHEREAS, the criteria of value and editorial control is the purview of the local individual or entity, i.e., Access User, producing non-commercial content as further established in CT Public Act 95-150 regarding reasonable needs of the community; and

WHEREAS pursuant to a separation agreement initiated out of the Office of Mayor, Town of Wallingford refers to “separate from town operated cable access channels” among the three town specific channels designated to Wallingford by franchise area agreements established in accordance with provisions of the 1984 Cable Act; and

WHEREAS, although within the past decade multiple proposals to re-integrate PEG services and channels to improve overall resource management to positively impact tax-payer contributions in fulfillment of the community’s reasonable needs for PEG have been put forth by WPAA after two decades channel management remains disbursed between Office of Mayor, Board of Education and WPAA; and

WHEREAS, in Docket #08-04-09 the franchising authority re-affirmed WPAA as the entity responsible for providing Community Access in Wallingford with designation as “Cable Access Provider” (CAP) [Conn. Agencies Regs. §§ 16-331a-1 to -13. Community Access Support – Definitions]; and

WHEREAS, as the CAP the scope of WPAA includes provisions of TV production resources, a studio, technical assistance, training and outreach in a fair and equitable manner for prospective PEG Access Users.

Is a really good picture, enough?

On Dec 15th I mused: Does taking an occasional nice photograph or lots and lots of photos make you a photographer? If you have no understanding of color, color with light, framing or shutter-speed is it audacity or just ignorance to think yourself a photographer. Then yesterday I saw this post. Shoot something. Put your name on it. Now you are a Director. I am all for experiential learning but fail to open a manual, spend time with experts, or read is certainly not a sign of wisdom.

My heart sores every-time I see a young person take the time to research a tool before jumping in with both feet.

Oh, What a Nite! Destination Station

Performance Speech The Richest Kind
Performance Speech The Richest Kind

Trying something new with a new team, new technology and the same old lack of community engagement (not for lack of trying) can be a bumpy road. All the newness and bumps can also provide insight:

  • Your supporters may someday grow in number but these few early adopters will be forever gold. Hugs to Ed McCarver, Lisa Catherine, Russ Martin, Jayson Romano and those that watched the stream including Tom Dacey
  • Weeks that start with a Monday Holiday throws off many internal clocks.
  • Adding lights alone does not make you see better; adjustments are needed.
  • What others are failing to observe but you hoped they knew by now confirms we all see the world with different lenses.
  • Leaving room for creativity always has two results, yours and theirs. While you may wish you were more corporate and had “specified” the result you wanted; the decision not to makes the team feel empowered.
  • Mistakes can yield generosity as exemplified by the pizza supplier. Thanks Wallingford Pizza House
  • Lots of laughter can make a challenging experience seem sorta okay after all !

The Inaugural Destination Station show was O U T S T A N D I N G. To quote a new member of #TeamHercules the evening was the best pizza party ever!

A HUGE thanks for the talent brought to downtown Wallingford Jan 19, 2016, by WPAA.TV Event Produce Gina F. Lombardo and guest host and funny-man Brian Beaudoin. The comedy of Alan Moreau, Jay Mayo, Eric Barakat, Ryan Brauth, the black “Ben Smith” and Rui Montilla was sometimes full of shit, mom love, man-bromance, and sports innuendo. These laughter making men were inducted as members of #PowerfulWildFree4Arts #TeamHercules. 

The plan is for more Destination Station: One Tuesday a month (usually the last) of free to the public entertainment to capture the spirit of performance speech ~ the richest kind.  Hope to see you in February, March, April and…

2015 Goals Report; Or last Year’s Resolutions and Outcomes: B I N G O

Expand youth program to all year with community service, interns, media clubs and more.
Expand use of facility for non-television uses including arts programs: Support up to four organizations or events
Expand part-time employment opportunities to individuals between age 16 and 35
Improve quality of content produced locally with producer engagement in media as well as technology training

  • Outcomes Goal 1 
    Received CFGNH Lisa Karen Street Grant to support expansion of Youth Program: Summer employment for five special youth through collaboration with Youth Services and WorkFare. Continued part-time employment for two participants in the Fall.
  • Summer Project for youth affiliated with neighborhood school: PSA On Internet Dangers Produced Hired
  • Supervised two college interns: UNH and Middlesex Community College
    Outcomes Goal 2
  • Community Room: Enhance to be Gallery; Features ongoing exhibits
  • Initiative: #PowerfulWildFree4Arts Can art be functional?
    Public Art activities: The last phase of our building renovation was to clean, repair and cover a full side of building with photorealistic mural by local graffiti artist: ARCY. Added exterior lights.
  • Complimented Mural with ongoing exhibit of recycled metal sculptures: by recently deceased local artist Ryk Wilkinson.
  • Held #PowerfulWildFree4Arts Event concurrent with annual town-wide Celebrate Wallingford Celebration. During event a second mural was done as a live performance by #ARCY, local artists displayed Seven Deadly Sins pieces and Nelson Ford’s Awakening Series an interpretation of Evolution was displayed.
    Outcomes Goal 3
  • Hired three individuals part-time to support citizen production.
  • Developed project-based hiring plan for 2016.
    Outcomes Goal 4
  • Awarded PEGPETIA $226,000 Grant for technology upgrades
  • Hosted media training on “Being a Host”, ‘PSA Development’ and ‘Storytelling’.

Can or should Community Access Television as we know it, be sustained?

Congress attempted to review what stays, goes or may be modified in the Telecom Act of 1996. In an Internet connected world, can or should Community Access Television as we know it, be sustained?  As with so many things before Congress there was inaction.

Yes and No.What matters in this ever changing landscape

Everything this experiment in democracy has at its core: building community through the production of ideas, opinions, stories, news, information and/or performance as local television while valuing free speech, individual expression and diversity remains a vital part of sustaining democratic communities. There is no comparable network of organizations dedicated to being of, by and for the voice of the people.
As an experiment, it has a range of successes and models of implementation that represents the diversity of America. As a network, it has shared principles, values and support that keep it from being rudderless among the many opportunities for voices to be enabled by worldwide connectivity.

If the Internet is ubiquitous and free to all in the near future, will the following personal aspects of local television still be desirable?

  • Comfortable watching of content from a living room recliner;
  • Same viewing experience shared by neighbors;
  • Community projects bringing folks together to tell community stories;
  • Commercial‐free viewing;
  • Local media that is not controlled by media corporations, self‐appointed power brokers or self‐interested corporations

Community Access is the delivery system for hyperlocal content: content important to the shut‐in who cannot attend church, commuter who cannot attend a public meeting, a child proud of their report shared with everyone in town, immigrants learning a new language, new homeowner learning about his/her community. It is people agreeing and disagreeing about what makes a difference to them locally where they still have the potential to influence outcomes.

Yes, the Internet should change Community Access TV by being another tool for delivery. What it cannot be or replace is the potential to gather, teach, discuss and share what is local based on the reasonable needs and qualities of a community. Hundreds of volunteers and organizations are connected through a viable Community Media System. Youth can discover, learn and experiment; and elders can stay connected in what would hopefully be a community hub that is more vital today because what can be created as TV can be shared as Social Media and distributed additionally via the Internet. Locally WPAA-TV and Community Media Center is prepared to be that hub.

Inaugural Episode: CommUnity Conversations

WPAA-TV does not produced TV; rather we provided resources,training and technical support to citizen producers. The show Community Conversations has a new twist on the concept of production support. Each show is a collaborative production facilitated by wpaa.tv. Similar to productions historically done by trained citizen producers it is designed to represent the participants views and interests in a noncommercial and informing manner. Unlike citizen productions for this collaborative programming WPAA staff and production volunteers take an active role in soliciting Contributors from within the community. WPAA provide extensive technical production support in a manner that still leaves content decisions with the Contributors. Collaborative production helps you make TV ! How much you participate like what you say is up to you.

cUc
Click image to watch Episode 1: Planning for Aging
Community Conversations
Conversations in the public interest. Make TV.

 

 

At a recent Alliance For Community Media Conference many future of Community TV discussions center around purpose, sustainability, embodying the mission, being hyper-local and a valued go-to resource. Several stations shared that they had begun weekly or monthly news magazines shows using staff as both the talent and production team. With this in mind and the goal of creating a sustainable model for hyper-local programs that can better enable and expand community engagement the concept of CommUnity Conversations was given the development nod. Staff remains behind the scenes but takes on a larger supportive role in managing the program evolution. The initiative is seen as a collaboration; connecting local stakeholders and their constituencies within the community through ‘informing’ conversation.

Topics: child care, literacy, reading, social needs and services, epidemics & wellness, transparency, networking & service; essentially, any topic with two or more people committed to exploring available local resources, concern or opportunities can be an episode. Do you have a topic? Let us know at wpaa at gmail dot com

Open Letter to Producers

Thank you for your commitment to community media; we look forward to supporting your citizen media productions going forward.

We are you. Producers are at the core of what we do.
We are you. Producers are at the core of what we do.

Hours of Operation for studioW use:
We close at 9 PM. Studio reservation times are evenings from 5 to 7 and 7 to 9 PM. If you need to arrive earlier we will try to accommodate you. The 1st and last 1/2 hour is for set-up and breakdown of the studio space. Producers should arrive before guests and are responsible for preparing the set for their shows.
Reservations in the 7-9 timeline must complete recording by 8:30 PM in order to complete all procedures to package the video for future timely scheduling and VOD. If an extension is desired please see if staffing can be worked out or volunteers made available to support a later closing time. You may be asked to donate $25 to WPAA-TV for late closing support.

When you come in to make TV, the Set-Up:

  • Please provide the names and titles of your guests in writing. Verify names entered into the system before recording.
  • If using video or images that need to be loaded to the system before recording, please arrive during designated set-up time to load and test these elements in a timely manner.
  • If you are planning a moderate change to your program such as extra guests please make your studio support person aware of this change ASAP. An advance email notice to the office would be appreciated. A major change from talk show to performance event requires 1 weeks’ notice and may not be possible in the originally reserved time because support staff and access to the building differ.
  • The audience area is for seating only not tables or displays of any kind. Chairs need to be set out to allow for clear access to all doors.
  • Be aware of your countdown time; all programs are to close with a disclaimer and produced at WPAA-TV trailer elements in addition to program-specific credits.
  • Aisle and Fire exits: Take care not to put set items in front of the Fire Door.

Noncommercial, nonprofit/Merchandising:
Our Bulletin Boards are not to be used to promote your business, your guest business, or your or ministry. Allowed: Producers can post their business cards/contact information. WPAA Staff can post notices related to WPAA-TV.

Solicitation of monetary donations or contributions is allowed for nonprofits: charitable appeals for funds are within the protection of the First Amendment. Viewers must be able to validate the nonprofit based on information provided in credits.

Producers who engage in merchandising or ticket sales to underwriting their productions are expected to maintain financial records establishing that the proceeds are used for valid program production expenses. Merchandising can, with advance notice, be set-up downstairs to be managed by a production team member during attendees sign-in or after the program. If attendee accessibility is a concern, the green room area can have designated areas created. Guests with intent to merchandize: WPAA-TV resources are provided at no charge on a 1st come, 1st serve basis. The use of community resources for personal gain is not allowed as part of the stewardship of these resources. Sales of books, CDs, fan art or other paraphernalia is not to be done in the TV studio. If a guest will be incurring costs to participate in the TV Production experience, the Producer will need to document expenses and sales income to validate sales off-set actual expenses.

Refreshments:

  • No food in the studio. Water cups or bottled water for you and your guests are permissible. (Staff should adhere to this as well whenever possible).
  • Serving & sharing food will be limited to the 2nd-floor green room or 1st floor. The large TV in the green room can be ON to watch the show from there while eating.
  • Please clean up before leaving. If you have refreshments please have volunteers responsible for cleanup.
  • WPAA-TV does not underwrite refreshments for guests. WPAA-TV keeps Triple Spring Water available for everyone’s use. If you use other items like paper products or coffee some reciprocity is expected. Dishware is taken off-site for cleaning/sanitizing after use.

Communication to staff: Please make all requests for support changes to Susan in person or via email to wpaatv at gmail dot com. Please do not contact staff via Facebook, personal emails or personal phone unless it is an emergency and reaching out through the main office has been unsuccessful. Our schedule is published to staff on Sunday by 3 PM so arrangements need to be made by noon the Sunday before the desired change.

‘Tis always the season to welcome

Dec 4th was the 7th Annual Holiday Stroll hosted by Wallingford Center Inc. As a participating business in this community event, WPAA-TV had an open House with TV station tours. a Make TV Magic  Holiday Message activity concurrent with covering the event itself with a ‘Live’ programming for 4 hours. Roaming reporters brought back clips from activities along the stroll route on Main and Center St. Click the images below to watch video stories.

Click image to see video
Click image to see 13-minute remix video – do you see anyone you know?

 

Click this image below to view a 2015 Make TV Magic video:Kettlecorn

In 2010, WPAA-TV relocated to So Orchard St. making it 100 feet off the main road. Being downtown but not on Center St. has created some challenges in getting community participation in WPAA-TV activities during the WCI celebratory events; however, anyone who decided to go out of there way to find us was not disappointed. One new visitor found everything in studioW to be exceedingly beyond expectations. Another couple had a very fun time as seen on Facebook here.

WPAA-TV Tours always include stories about the volunteers that renovated the 1924 barn currently transformed into a TV Station/Media Center and the organization’s history which now spans more than two decades. Ten years ago the Make TV Magic – Holiday Greetings was done for the 1st time during Celebrate Wallingford: Volunteers invited individuals passing by the former 128 Center St. location to come inside and make TV. You can view some short videos from past years Make TV Magic here.

Let me remind you that in my first encounter with Community TV in Wallingford I heard the volunteer leadership expressed fear of success. The consensus was: “What if they come, could we be ready for their expectations?”  This What IF? yielded to cautious plans about public participation.

A few things have changed. In addition to where WPAA-TV is located, there is also an attitude change. The volunteers keeping the doors open at WPAA-TV encourage public participation that can be expressed as What if they come? Please do!

#W06492 is the hashtag for Wallingford, CT.

Susan Huizenga Volunteer Executive Director