The following blog entry into On the Parade Ground was in 2009 when WPAA volunteers had lost a two-year effort to acquire a property on The Parade Ground. They also had no idea they would find an in-town property or keep their doors open daily. Much has changed, but what remains a challenge is the development of an on-call crew and ‘sunshine’ programming.
A Civic Conversation Program – A Gap Exists (12.6.2009)
Community Access TV is called vanity TV by some, the electronic soapbox by others, and sometimes the ‘church channel’ given the predominance of religion oriented programming. I like the change Wallingford’s Public Access Channel is trying to make to become WPAA Community Building TV.The Community Building theme evolved when the organization sought to find and own an in-town building to control long-term expenses. The first location that volunteers attempted to purchase was on The Parade Ground and was the inspiration for this program’s concept: a regular program about bringing sunshine to local topics of interest.
Thus far, absent from locally produced programs is one that features facilitated civic conversation related to Wallingford’s specific issues … I remind anyone who sees this blog that this kind of program needs a host and crew that can put the community before their personal interests. It is a show that needs a team of people that can see the potential of building community.Anyone out there interested in being part of such a team can reach us at …
OtPG Host
On The Parade Ground remains an idea about citizens coming together in the town’s common area to discover and share stories that inform opinion, provide useful information, and entertain. There is a growing number of users, and maybe someday a crew of volunteers will discover themselves and their community as they explore the tools & stage of #WPAATV.