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ACM WESTERN STATES REGION
Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico
The Western Region Board of Directors regularly meets via telephone
conference calls on the fourth Friday of each month. This report
details some of the key issues and decisions addressed by the Board
during the months of July 2005 through October 2006. Submitted by
J Robertson, Region Chair.
TREASURERS REPORT
The region continues to operate in a sound fiscal manner. The current
report submitted September 30, 2006 shows a balance of $25,350.15
in the interest bearing checking account. The balance of the “basic
checking” account was $1,000.52. The total fund balance was
reported as $26,350.67. All invoices and bills have been paid
It is expected that the Regional Conference and the WAVE awards
in October 2006 will provide larger revenues versus expenses. Registration
and vendor sponsorships have generated a positive cash flow for
the Region. The Conference and WAVE awards are the primary annual
fundraising events for the Region. It is anticipated that there
may be as much as $5,000 in conference expenses yet to be invoiced.
GRASSROOTS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS 2006
National Conference – The ad hoc committee reviewed
a number of applications and awarded $500 and conference registration
to: MICHAEL TRUJILLO, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO and JENNINE LANOUETTE,
PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA. Two travel scholarships of $250 were awarded
to JOHN PATTERSON, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA and SAPNA SHAHANI, BERKELEY,
CALIFORNIA. A special $500 travel award was presented to the MEDIA
ALLIANCE to support their attendance and participation at the Boston
National Conference. In return, Media Alliance has agreed to help
promote and facilitate the San Jose Regional Conference.
REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The Community Media Access Partnership of Gilroy, California (CMAP)
hosted the 2006 West Regional Conference “Community Media
- This Way Forward” in San Jose, California. The two-day event
focused on emerging media and technology as an application of the
Community Media Center. The Regional Conference was in association
with the Media Alliance based in San Francisco, California. The
conference featured the WAVE awards coordinated by the Community
Media Center of Santa Rosa, California. The WAVE awards held at
the brand new Glass Rotunda the San Jose City Hall was hosted in
party by the San Benito Valley Winegrowers Association. The Conference
Keynote speaker was Norm Solomon noted author and media critic.
At the WAVE event, the 2006 Brian Wilson Memorial Mentorship Awards
were presented to: Beth Anderson, The Santa Barbara Channels (nominated
by Hap Freund) Ken Faulkner, El Rancho Adult School (nominated by
Jacqueline Taylor) Mark Halfmoon, Community Television of Santa
Cruz, Ca. (nominated by Ariana Gossfeld) 2 Information on the conference
is available by visiting the region website: www.acmwest.org.
REGIONAL GRASSROOTS SCHOLARSHIPS
At the time of decision making there were limited funds available
for Grassroots Scholarships for the Regional Conference. The Board
decided to omit the scholarship program for 2006 and instead provide
stipends to presenters for travel support to the Conference. Applications
are available at the conference with the awards made following the
event.
PUBLIC POLICY
With the assistance and dedication of Steve Ranieri, Clay Leander,
Sean McLaughlin, and Sam Behrend the region remained vigilant in
both national and local public policy issues. The Board was kept
apprised on the Ensign-McCain senate bill, the COPE act, and the
Stevens Bill. Each potentially having tremendous ramifications on
the future of PEG access. Access Tucson provided leadership in fighting
the Telco bill in Arizona.
The California legislature actively amended AB 2987 sponsored by
Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez. The original bill, essentially
language supplied by AT&T and Verizon, passed on a vote of 77-0
out of the Assembly. However, the CA Senate, responding to many
PEG advocates in two public hearings and via letters and e--mails,
modified the language to "grandfather" current language
protecting PEG funding "as is". The rest of the cable
franchise contracts with local governments were "abrogated"
or voided. It is expected that local government will go to the Courts
to litigate this abrogation of cable franchise agreements in early
2007.
AB 2987 as passed and signed by the Governor, provides a statewide
franchise managed by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that
includes 5% of the local franchise fees paid directly to local government
plus a dedicated + 1% franchise fee dedicated to PEG. The bill will
eliminate local franchising authority.
However, due to statewide lobbying efforts from many PEG supporters
led by Annie Folger, Ron Cooper, Suzanne St. John-Crane, the Buske
Group, Bill Lowery and others, amended wording was circulated to
key Senators and a pledge to make sure current PEG franchise agreements
will be protected as long as the total value of these agreements
do not exceed 3% of gross revenues. The "Save Access Now!"
coalition provided significant recommendations, Bill rewrites and
counsel to the legislature in successfully amending the language
and impact of the bill to PEG operations statewide. Many legislators
were involved but Senator Joe Semitian was exceptional in his leadership
protecting PEG resources.
During the early days of the legislative process, The California
Cable Television Association was in support of the region's position
and helped distribute a thirty-second PSA opposing the anti-PEG
elements of AB 2987 to cable systems statewide. The TV spot (in
English and Spanish) was co-produced by CMAP and Access Sacramento.
The California legislature is actively amending AB 2987 sponsored
by Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez. Proposing a 5% + 1% franchise
fee and dedicated support for PEG, the bill would devastate local
franchising authority and many PEG operations. However, due to statewide
lobbying efforts from many PEG supporters and led by Annie Folger,
Ron Cooper, Suzanne St. John-Crane, the Buske Group and others,
amended wording is being circulated to key Senators and a pledge
to make sure PEG will be protected has been made by Nunez and 3
other leaders. The Access Group continued to provide significant
recommendations and counsel to the legislature in amending the language
and impact of the bill. It remains under consideration.
The California Cable Television Association in support of the region
distributed a thirty second PSA opposing the anti-PEG elements of
AB 2987 to cable systems statewide. The TV spot (in English and
Spanish) was co-produced by CMAP and Access Sacramento.
COMMUNICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP
Jan Janes (CMAP) accepted the challenge of a wholesale renovation
of the regional website. The most significant advancement was gaining
the acmwest.org domain name. A new and vastly improved www.acmwest.org
was launched in June 2006. Parrotworks did its primary design and
creation without charge to region in return for a booth at future
regional conferences. Special features, an Action Alert, were added
to the web site that permitted PEG supporters to directly e-mail
their legislators as AB 2987 moved through the political process.
This feature increased the visibility of PEG activist voices in
Sacramento.
In support of our legislative efforts, The California Cable Television
Association donated $1,500 to the region in support of the Action
Alert link on the website. The link facilitated instant communication
with elected officials regarding pending legislation in the region.
www.acmwest.org allows for the broad promotion of all access centers
within the region. The page incorporates modern web technology with
links to each State in the region and eventually each center in
each State. The site now provides comprehensive information on events
and activities and serves as a focal point in promoting the annual
Fall conference and WAVE Awards. The site will provide specific
information on the Access Center of the Week in a highlighted fashion.
This information plus meeting minutes, awards, and other important
region history will be archived for long-term use by the members.
Content and information is welcome from any Western Region access
center. For information please contact Jan Janes at CMAP in Gilroy,
California.
2006 National Board Elections – During the
2006 National Board elections six individuals were selected to serve
from the Western Region. Steve Ranieri (NM) served on the Executive
Committee as well as the Chair of Regional Chairs. Joining him on
the National Board are Sue Buske (CA), Jesika Maria Ross (CA), Suzanne
St. John-Crane (CA), and Kealii Lopez (HI). Serving as the National
Public Policy Chair is Sean McLaughlin (HI).
The region continues to support the efforts of members serving
on the national board by helping to underwrite some of their expenses.
A policy was adopted in 2005 to provide financial aid of up to $1,000
per year to each of the ACM West national board members for travel
expense reimbursement. A total of $5,000 was allocated for support.
Finally, we thank the following individuals and their organizations
for their leadership in the Western Region.
2006 ACM WESTERN REGION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(Two-year terms for elected members, one-year term for appointed
members)
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J Robertson (2005-2006), Chair
Ho’ike: Kauai Community Television
4211 Rice Street, #103
Lihue, Hawaii, 96766
(808) 246-1556
(808) 246-3832 (fax)
www.hoike.org
jrobertson@hoike.org
Steve Ranieri (2005-2006), Vice-Chair, National Board Representative
National Chair of Regional Chairs, ACM Executive Committee
Quote…UnQuote
P.O. Box 26206
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87125
(505) 243-0027
(505) 346-1635 (fax)
ccc27@nmia.com
Jean Gindreau (2006-2007), Secretary
PAC 8, Executive Director
P.O. Box 840
475 20th Street
Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87544
(505) 662-7228
(505) 662-5603 (fax)
www.vla.com/pac8
pac8@vla.com
Tim Keeler, Treasurer
Community Access Television
16433 Wedgeworth Drive
Hacienda Heights, California, 91745
(626) 333-2427
Jan Janes, (2006-2007), Communications
CMAP
Santa Theresa Boulevard, L-135
Gilroy, California, 95020
(408) 846-4983 xt. 5
janjanes@mycmap.org
Paul Congo (2005-2006)
Access Monterey Peninsula, Executive Director
2200 Garden Road
Monterey, California, 93940
(831) 333-1267
(831) 333-0386 (fax)
congo@ampmedia.org
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Greg Hyland, CPM (2006-2007)
City of Yuma, Communications Manager
One City Plaza – P.O. Box 13014
Yuma, Arizona, 85366-3014
(928) 373-5023
(928) 373-5025 (fax)
Miles Everett (2006-2007)
Mendocino Coast Community Educational Television
P.O. Box 1672
Fort Bragg, California, 95437
(707) 961-1127
everett@mcn.net
Ron Cooper, (2005-2006)
Executive Director
Access Sacramento
4623 T Street, suite A
Sacramento, California, 95819
(916) 456-8600 xt. 112
(916) 451-9601 (fax)
www.accesssacramento.org
rcooper444@aol.com
Clayton Leander (2006-2007)
Executive Director
Vallejo Community Access Television
Vallejo, California
(707) 642-8228
cjleander@vcat27.org
Laurie Cirivello (2005-2006)**
Community Media Center of Santa Rosa
1075 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, California, 95401
(707) 569-8785
(707) 569-8786 (fax)
APPOINTED MEMBERS (5) (through February 2007)
Lisa Horner (2003 original appointment)
Access Tucson
Training Manager
124 E. Broadway
Tucson, Arizona, 85701
(520) 624-9833
(520) 792-2565 (fax)
www.accesstucson.org
lisa@accesstucson.org
Jim Thomas (2003 original appointment)
Access Tucson
Production Manager
124 E. Broadway
Tucson, Arizona, 85701
(520) 624-9833
(520) 792-2565 (fax)
www.accesstucson.org
jthomas@accesstucson.org
Shane Rodriguez (2006 original appointment)
University of LaVerne, Communications Department
Operations Manager
2230 1st Street
La Verne, California, 91750
(909) 593-3511 xt. 4515
srodrigu@ulv.edu
Chris Hall (2006 original appointment)
Executive Director
Durango Community Television
Durango, Colorado
The officers for the 2006 Board are: Chair, J Robertson, Vice-Chair
and National Board
Representative, Steve Ranieri, Secretary, Jean Gindreau, Treasurer,
Tim Keeler and CFO,
Randy Van Dalsen. |
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