announcements past and present

_____________

**current**
 

Correction: The annual meeting is set to be October 24th. _________________

The tech committee meeting is october 4th Friday at noon. see the developments in plans. _________________

from actvamherst.com:

Tuesday October 8th

7:00p.m. - Public Board Meeting

to vote on member-proposed ACTV By-Laws change.

Proposed By-Law change is on reserve.

Thursday, October 24

6:00 - 9:00p.m.- ACTV Annual Meeting

Vote in new board members!

Meet with other members and the board!

**We are seeking nominations for member-elected board members. Any ACTV member is eligible to be a board member! Nomination forms are available at the station and must be completed by October 3rd.

_________________

Correction The annual meeting is set to be October 24th. Nominations for board members should be made as soon as possible by filling out a form at ACTV.

The openings are a result of terms expiring and several resignations over the past year.

There are three board positions and a number of committee positions open.

-ben 9/20/02

_____________

Last week, the board met publicly for the first time since June. During the unusual board meeting, the agenda was pushed aside in favor of a discussion of people's concerns. I will be posting scans of the documents produced during the meeting including the administrative position proposed by Greg Bascomb and the board's response to questions of the past few months, along with a listing of committees for which the board is seeking members. In addition to the committees listed on the board's proposal, ACTV Tech Committee is also looking for a new member or two.

- ben 9/20/02

_____________

Through negotiations this past week, Peter Marvin has returned on a trial basis to the position of production manager, while the board has appointed a replacement station head, with fewer duties, (under the title of 'administrative liaison'). Alice Swift, acting head of the board of directors, says the board will not be appointing members to head station operations for the interim.

- ben 9/20/02

_____________

Julie Shively has been named 'administrative liaison', in charge of organizing the search for a new station manager. Alice Swift, an acting executive to the board of directors, says the station manager will be a simpler version of the job held by former executive director, Michael Billingsley.

- ben 9/20/02

_____________

_____________

**past**

-july 30, 2002 tech committee meeting agenda. email. author: leslie mason.

-july 20, 2002 ad hoc committee invitation to july 24 bangs center meeting. letter. author: ad hoc committee.

-july 10, 2002 board restructures, eliminates ED. handout. author: board of directors.

_____________

Agenda for next tech meeting scheduled Tuesday the 30th of July (unconfirmed)

Highlights will revolve around the themes:

Where do we stand currently regarding the state of ACTV's equipment and facilities

Given the budget constraints, how can we use the
technology we have at the station most effectively

How do we fine-tune the process we began of tracking
equipment use and needs at ACTV with the goal of improving what we offer to members

Please send me your thoughts and ideas.

Thanks,
Leslie

_________________

July 20, 2002

To the ACTV Board of Directors at a June 26th meeting voted to eliminate the position of Executive Director, and thereby ending their employment of Michael Billingsley. His last days of employment at ACTV are over this coming week. This move was part of a general move toward a complete restructuring of ACTV.

In response, many of the members of ACTV have been alarmed. Several meetings have taken place, both with Board members and with general membership. We now feel the immediate need to call for a meeting of both sides and we urge your participation. These decisions on restructuring will have an effect on you. Your future use of facilities and continued level of technical access are in jeopardy.

We've invited the Board and you to discuss the future of ACTV. The meeting will be held at the Bangs Center, The Pole Room, Amherst Center at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, July 24th. Your participation in this even is crucial. We hope to see you there. Your voice is needed in helping to keep ACTV a democratically run community station.

If needed, call these members for further information;

Chris Lamb Toubeau 549-6139

Peter Morales 210-6390

Pilar Schiavo 584-4783

Please attend the meeting.

Sincerely yours;

An Adhoc committee of Concerned ACTV members.

______________

Handout from Board at the Meeting on Tuesday, July 10, 2002

"Greeting, Members of ACTV (Amherst Community Television)

   We the ACTV Board of Directors are writing to you at this time to bring you information on the many changes at the station.

   Due to budget constraints we are reorganizing the station and in so doing have eliminated the position of Executive Director.  We look forward to keeping our remaining staff levels as the budget permits and welcome members to work with us as this restructuring occurs.

   As members we look to you to continue to volunteer with a renewed enthusiasm: to continue creating community programming and to offer your assistance in the coming months to ensure us all that ACTV will continue to be a vital Community Resource.

   We will keep membership as up-dated as possible as events unfold and welcome you to all the meetings of the ACTV Board of Directors and various committees as we move forward.  All of the meetings will soon be listed on the ACTV WEb Site as well as posted to you all in the coming newsletter.

   Thank you for your participation and we all look forward to working together with you all to continue the traditions of Community Access Television.

______________

critiques, opinions and open questions

______________

**help wanted**

______________

**program schedule**

______________

suggestions, general and specific

______________

**general suggestions**

-July 30, 2002. (Board-associated) Membership Committee letter to the membership. email. Author: James Jemison and Elizabeth Burbank

-July 4, 2002. ACTV Community Member Notes. webpage. Author: John Strickland.

_________________

To the Editors of The Newsletter:

I am forwarding the letter that was sent to all

ACTV Board Members and as many ACTV Members as possible. (perhaps 20 or less) You may "excerpt from but not re-phrase" the letter. And /or you may print it in its' entirety.

Thank you for creating this on-line option to submitt to the ACTV Members Newsletter.

Eliz. Burbank

 To All ACTV Board Members and ACTV Members,

I was unable to attend last Nights meeting (16 July 02) as I was taping the Charter Commission at Town Hall. ( E.B.)

My understanding of the meeting is that communication and information are paramount to all of us going forward to maintain a Community Access Television Station that can live up to our collective expectations and the expectations as clearly defined by the Laws that govern Access Programming.

This "vision " for Public Community Access and commitment of all ACTV members "together" can only make us a stronger, more informed and a ready resource to and for each other. This vision should include input by members and be shared by all members as well as members on the Board: The vision cannot "belong" to anyone of us individually but should belong to us all. We all must look at the long history of and the future to which we create this shared vision for ACTV-Community Access Television.

There will be disagreements, misunderstandings and certainly mistakes will be made. Attacking each other, making demands or threats are non-productive options for a group of people who want to work together to reach a common goal.

These times are "muddled" by an even greater picture and immediate issues that include Greater Laws, which exclude personality clashes and being directed by ones emotions. Access itself is being threatened by the corporate world. Which is it?  1.) Throw the ACTV station itself off to the ATT COM/CAS 's of the world or 2.) Sit down and get informed about the present state of and future for all Community Access Stations and work together respectfully to maintain and promote ACTV and the affiliates through out the United States, I personally prefer the latter.

I would like to hear from members and viewers what their vision of and for a "Community Access Television Station" is and about their willingness to work together to incorporate these ideas and suggestions as we proceed as a Board to move forward with restructuring the station.

Any and all responses received to this question will be printed and copies distributed at the next Board meeting.

This eMail includes a "surpressed list" which is being sent to as many members as possible.

Thank you for taking time to consider this request,

Eliz.Burbank and James Jemison,

Co-chairs of the Membership Committee

______________

ACTV COMMUNITY NOTES:4 July 2002

-John Strickland

________________

**specific suggestions**

-July 24, 2002. ad hoc committee's call to board. email. author: ad hoc committee.

-June 2002. some hypertext proposals. webpage. author: John Strickland.

________________

A VISION FOR ACTV

Ad Hoc Committee of Concerned ACTV Members
                                                  
Presented July 24, 2002

We call on the Board of Directors to comply with the
following proposals:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     Provide written response to the following requests by the August Board meeting:

               reconsider all votes related to the restructuring of ACTV, with input from members

               respond to 7/9/2002 petition for by-law changes and submitted written questions

               authorize current staff to manage daily operations of ACTV during transition

     Establish and maintain open process

               post notice of all Board meetings and cancellations in public locations

               file copy of minutes of all Board meetings and Executive Board meetings at ACTV

               affirm open attendance policy at all Board meetings

Furthermore, we call on our ELECTED representatives to the Board of Directors to comply with the following directives:

DIRECTORS ELECTED BY MEMBERS

     Inform members of all actions under consideration by the Board (cc: minutes, etc)

     Solicit input of members on actions under consideration by the Board

     Convey concerns and requests of members to the Board

 

Lastly, we welcome an expansion of the Board to include more member-elected positions. We are eager to support the Board once they comply with the above proposals.

________________

SOME HYPERTEXT PROPOSALS

FOR THE FUTURE OF ACTV

by

JOHN STRICKLAND

I. That the Web Site be re-designed to be part of an integrated system of public access media expression, linked with our public access channels, with pages for Board minutes & information, Staff notes & general ACTV newsletter online (also available for mailing), and pages for each of the three channels with useful links for members. That streaming video be used to announce video productions and events at the station.  Other web sites for other public access stations can be examined to select design ideas. That members be encouraged to supply hypertext multimedia essays for review for possible publication on our web site as well.

II. That staff members and general members be encouraged to videotape all classes and presentations at ACTV for a library of resources.  This is not to replace classes but to allow members to review the class by coming in and looking at a video of a particular class. Possibly copies of such instructional videos could be made and sold to members (and possible the general public, especially local schools interested in video) for a nominal fee to help with the costs of producing them.  This would certainly be a community benefit and might help to solidify and reinforce skills needed by the independent producers trained at ACTV. (Rules and procedures for the use of equipment-and their rationale-could be included in such instructional videos.)

III. That a Media Resource Library be set up in the studio, set up by volunteer members with books and other materials donated by members and friends, including an informal conversation area for informal meetings of members to discuss books, videos, films, production projects-something like set-up at Barnes and Noble. Movable partitions covered with carpeting hung vertically can be very effective for keeping sound muted along with rules posted and formulated by all members for its use. I will be the first to contribute some important reference books. Check out could be as simple as leaving a card at the front desk except where there is only one copy-in which case it would go on "closed reserve" to be read 'in house.'

IV. That a logbook be kept of all volunteer work at the studio so that grants can be applied for which typically ask for such information & so we can be given credit for our volunteer work as crew members above and beyond what is required for certification for a particular course. (Are there similar procedures at other public access stations?)

V.  That members be encouraged to give talks or offers courses or discussion seminars for other interested members to attend.  If a sufficient number of interested persons sign up, then the event could be scheduled and announced. An upper limit could be suggested just to comply with building codes, etc. for numbers of persons in a particular room. (If a large number signed up, perhaps a school space could be secured for the meeting.)

VI. That regular meetings with the membership of other public access stations be arranged for sharing information, points of view, and experience in production.

VII. That the copyright issue be clarified so that a video produced even by "independent producers" using ACTV equipment clearly belongs to the producer-a standard practice for all photographs now. Why not the 'moving photographs' of video production?  The current statement about "shared copyright" is not satisfactory.  Any author-whether writer, photographer or videographer-has the right to his or her own labor.  Non-commercial videos meeting the requirements for public access television might sometime be valuable at a later date-a value created by the hard work of the producer.  Doubtless, all the independent producers trained at ACTV will wish to "repay" ACTV for the help with equipment, editing, etc. but not to the extent of forfeiting the copyright to the work.  A clear contact can be drawn up to give ACTV  "first use" and ongoing rights to air the work, but all other rights should be retained by the producer except by explicit agreement.  Saying that the producer may not receive any money for such a video until ACTV has been paid back for rental fees at professional rates is just plain nonsense. No records are kept and the whole issue becomes "open-ended" in the worst possible way.  Better to give some monetary value at the outset for each 'rental' etc. by a producer so that a producer can see what 'value' he or she is getting for free.  Should the video later make money, then there is some finite and foreseeable end to the amount that must be paid to ACTV before the producer is able to earn any money from the same 'windfall.'  (See the American Society of Media Photographers for guidelines-ASMP.)  If you want an abundance of possible productions to air on public access, you have to be fair to your producers with respect to copyright.  "Shared copyright" is not clear or equitable as currently stated.

________________

meeting info, all board and other meeting minutes available

________________

**meeting minutes**

-July 30, 2002. Tech Committee Meeting Notes. Author: Leslie Mason.

-coming soon: board minutes from June and July

____________________

Tech Com Mtg notes of 7/30/02


Present:
Leslie Mason
Jeremiah Burbank
Elizabeth Burbank
Jim Jemison

Steve Svoboda

1. Update on where we stand currently regarding the state of ACTV's equipment and facilities

Corner editing suite is not in use. Michael donated his speakers, so room could be set up for editing if computer with Final Cut Pro was available.

2.  Given the budget constraints, how can we use the technology we have at the station most effectively to serve the greatest number and diversity of members?

Discussed current use of rooms, including new suites. Various changes suggested for maximizing the equipment we have, including using an Imac from the classroom in the transfer suite and using the new computer in the transfer suite as a second computer for Final Cut Pro. We currently have 2 FCP licenses, one in the Producers Suite, one in the staff suite. 

The conference room/Imac room is also studio ready in terms of connections.  Would it be a good trade-off to use at least part of it as a daylight studio? The shape is long and narrow, so doesn't lend itself to bigger productions. Windows also bring in street noise, as do bathrooms on other side. 

Trade-off discussed regarding having all Imacs in one room for teaching purposes versus spreading the Imacs out so that some left in Imac room, some - maybe 3 - put in what is now Producer suite to give more privacy for editing.

Carols or dividers for Imacs for greater privacy?

Reviewed what classes are being taught for the summer and how many people have signed up for each. Discussed where the biggest demand is - Studio Camera and Imovie.  Talked about why the current FCP course isn't full - it has one sign up so far.  Is it the $50 dollar fee? The pre-requisites? The summer?

Suggestion for tech members to submit proposals for room use to Leslie for compilation as a working document for later review by staff and input from membership.  Idea is to dovetail these proposals with restructuring in general as over-arching goals for the station are defined.

Suggestion of easing up process of learning equipment by having new members join an on -going production.  This would give a more hands-on, immediate "come join us, it's easy" feeling to ACTV.  Mentors and/or interns could be used as guides for new members to learn equipment in addition to more formal courses.

Leslie will clarify how capital budget vs. operating budget has been used for new purchases and repair.  How do we best gauge how much we'll need for maintenance and repair, and how much we'll have for new equipment purchases.   Goal is take the longer view of where we want to go from here with technology.

3.  How do we fine-tune the process we began of tracking equipment use and needs at ACTV with the goal of improving what we offer to members?

Current sign up sheets for equipment seem to be being thrown out.  Steve will make sure records are kept so that we can track usage. 

Elizabeth will continue process she began of tracking equipment use by category.

____________________

**meeting descriptions**

-July 18, 2002. Station officials stay firm (Daily Hampshire Gazette). Author Tom Ollila.

-July 13, 2002. ACTV cuts director, stirs protest (Daily Hampshire Gazette). Author Tom Ollila.

____________________

Leslie,

Thank you for speaking up on this issue. I want to tell you my concerns about what is going on. Perhaps this

will assist the tech committee in some way.

1st. I think the motion to redefine the role of the tech committee with respect to it's members does not take into account which of its proposed members would actually be interested. To clarify: you told me James Jameson didn't seem to have time to go to the meetings, and I too have observed his frequent absence; also, it's unclear that Peter or Bob has an interest in joining the committee to say nothing of their potential interest in chairing; third, to set such numbers: 3 members from the board, 3 from staff, and 3 from other membership seems arbitrary and potentially damaging due to the fact that anyone assigned that tech committee slot would eliminate the possibility of someone more interested in the committee from joining.

2nd. The board motion ignores our current mandate to hold an influencial (but not decisive) role with regard to tech decisions. Having a merely research and advisory role makes it unlikely that we will be regarded with much respect, should the committee views be even partially contrary to those in 1. the executive committee, 2. any station manager. Because an executive committee and a station manager would procede from a widely acknowledged role of decisive influence, in order to have some reason to council the tech committee must hold some degree of influence, if non-decisive.

3rd. This motion is to eliminate decision making power, which, as you point out, Leslie, the tech committee does not have. Because of the fact that the decision was to eliminate something that doesn't exist, the decision may be interpretted as eliminating what does exist: our current influencial role.

Let me make clear that I hope the tech committee meetings will continue to be open to all membership, staff and board members. This numerical equality designed to even out the biases the tech committee may have is likely to have the reverse effect, largely eliminating any influence that may be had by non board, non staff membership.

I appreciate being brought into this discussion, Leslie.

Ben

--- Leslie Mason Tech Committee,

Next meeting will be Friday Oct. 4th at noon, at ACTV. I hope everyone can make it. Please let me know if you can, and also items you want included in the agenda.

Below is an email I have not yet sent to Alice, regarding the motion that was passed on the tech committee (motion is quoted below in Alice's email)

I would like your opinions on this before I send it.

Thanks very much,

Leslie

Alice,

Thanks for the clarification below; I'll remain as chair for the time being, although I think the motion which was passed is potentially problematic.

The tech committee never did have formal decision-making power, so why would a motion have been passed that suggested that? At present, the tech committee votes and that vote goes to the board.

To shift the balance of purchasing power back to the staff, particularly when we have no station manager, is to me dangerous and not in the best interests of the station. It risks having the problems we did before.

However, to have equal representation on the tech committee by staff is a welcome development. I have invited the staff to participate in the committee before and it didn't happen, perhaps because the committee was seen as working against the interests of the staff.

But the reason we changed the hierarchy of purchasing decisions from the staff to the board, through recommendations from the committee, was to specifically avoid having partisan interests dominate decisions which should be made for the good of all members. Also to make sure the board, as the responsible fiscal and governing entity of the station, be always on top of our finances, and never be in the position of playing catch-up ball. The process of going through the board can be efficient and pro-forma, leaving the checks and balances in their proper places.

As we experienced with Michael, it is just too easy, and human nature, to allow personal interests to dominate to the detriment of the station. Same with the other members of the staff who can be swayed by a domineering person who is their boss. Therefore I do not recommend that the station manager, by him/herself, have the final say on equipment purchases or major tech changes at the station. Passing the vote from a well-balanced tech committee to the board allows for the station to be guided by the widest representation of views.

I suggest the following guidelines, to be voted as motions, if necessary, at the next board meeting:

The tech committee is comprised of equal numbers of staff, board members, and general members. It is an advisory committee to both the station manager and the board.

Chairperson of the committee is either a general member or a board member, selected by the full board, and serves as chair for no more than 2 years in a row.

The committee votes on recommendations for equipment purchases from the capital fund and on any other technological matter that substantially changes the operation of the station.

The results of the tech vote are passed along to the Exec. Committee. The Exec. committee reviews the recommendations and presents them to the full board at the next meeting for a vote.

If Peter and Bob join the committee (until, I presume, a station manager or the equivalent is hired) the configuration of the committee will be as follows:

Members:

Leslie Mason, chair

Ben Niccotera

Bruce Arbor

Staff: Peter Marvin

Bob Caselton

Jeremiah Burbank (Intern)

Board:

Elizabeth Burbank

Steve Svoboda

James Jemison

Total Members: 9

Thanks for reviewing this Alice,

Leslie

Leslie,

I'm sorry I haven't responded sooner. I'll try to explain what I think

happened at the Board meeting. First, we did approve the motion as

presented:

Motion: That the Board redefine the Technology Committee authority to

become advisory to the Station manager rather than have formal

decision-making power and that the Board allow for staff representation

on committees.

We talked for quite a while, going around and around. We agreed that the

Board approves policy and the amount of money that can be spent. We

agreed that the Tech committee does not make decisions but is advisory.

We want to have roughly equal representation from board, staff, and

membership on the committee. (2 + 2 +2 was the suggestion that didn't

get into the motion.) I think we agreed that the station manager should

be able to make the final decision about exactly which piece of equipment

is bought if it is within the cost approved and the policy approved. But

the Tech committee would help get the information and discuss how they

feel about different models etc. I hear what you are saying Bruce, but it might be different under a different person at the top. I do think

that if you hire someone to do a job, you have to let them. Making the

ultimate decision is part of that job, I think. If you don't like the

decisions the person makes then you deal with him through the evaluation

process. We didn't do a good job of that, I'm afraid.

The question of who can chair the meeting -- I don't think it has to be a

board member. Leslie, I'm delighted that you want to stay on the

Committee. I appreciate your commitment. I guess I think the Committee

should choose its chair, either a member or a Board member. I think

there should be two staff - Peter and Bob seem like the appropriate

choices to me. Peter is not acting station manager. The closest thing

to that is Julie, the Administrative Liaison. I don't know whether

you'll be recommending spending money now, but she can deal with that.

Alice

Leslie Mason wrote:

Alice and Mary Jane,

The next tech committee is scheduled for Friday Oct. 4th at noon at ACTV. I have asked Peter and another staff member (I suggested Bob) to join us, according to the motion number 12, passed by the board, which allows for staff representation on committees.

The motion also redefines the tech committee to be advisory to the station manager. Could you clarify for me what this means in practical terms?

Our present procedure is to vote on a recommendation that then goes to the board, whether it be an equipment purchase from the capital account, or a tech decision that marks a change in direction for the station, or anything else of note.

Is the tech committee no longer advisory to the board, but to the station manager? Can the station manager then either take the advice, or act on his/her own, including capital purchases?

Who is the link with the board? How will the board now control the equipment purchases and tech directions the station manager takes?

If Peter, as acting station manager is on the tech committee, does he then vote with the rest of the group to advise himself, as station manager?

Does the chair of the tech committee have to be on the board? I presumed I had to step down from the chair because I'm no longer on the board, but need clarification on this from the exec committee.

Thanks very much,

Leslie

--

Alice C. Swift [email protected]

Amherst, Massachusetts

-Ad Hoc Member Committee Contacts

-Board of Directors Contacts

-Board-formed Committee Chair Contacts

-Webmaster

__________________

Ad Hoc Member Committee Contacts

Chris Lamb Toubeau 549-6139

Peter Morales 210-6390

Pilar Schiavo 584-4783

__________________

Contact The Board:

By Telephone: Leave Messages with Front Desk at (413) 256-1010

By Fax: Send to (413) 256-0038 Attn. Board Member

By Postal Letter: To... (Board Member), 246 College St. Amherst, MA 01002

By Email: [email protected]

_____________

Committee Chairs

Tech committee: Leslie Mason email: [email protected]

____________

Webmaster: [email protected] (all submissions, suggestions accepted, subject to priority restraints)

(No claims are made as to the accuracy of any of this information. Please use independent verification before taking action.)