A civic conversation program - a gap exists

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 1st location sought was literally OnTheParadeGround and is the inspiration for this program's concept: a regular program about bringing sunshine to local topics of interest. .

Absent from locally produced programs has been one that features facilitated civic conversation related to Wallingford specific issues. My original post in March 2008 was too optimistic because the community does not understand why they have a community TV station.

So I remind anyone that makes a connection with this blog that this the 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 community building.

Anyone out there interested in being part of such a team can be connected through wpaa@7towntv.org

I am looking forward to being a guest on this show when I return home.

While I am away---open invitation to guest host

So do you have a passion for the 1st Amendment, live or play in Wallingford and want to help build the free speech community here, if so send a note to wpaa@7TownTV.org and maybe you can guest host this show while I am in on a far away Island.

I also want to share that I am on this Island with a very welcome map I have due to the generosity of Comcast. C0mcast distributed world maps to local education representatives at Advisory Councils over a year ago. Last month, I was able to secure the last one provided to CACSCC. It will be starting class with me at Manu'a High School on Ta’u Island. The yellow arrows on the map point to Wallingford, CT and Ta'u and Comcast. A World Map was on the wish list for from one of last years' teacher volunteers.

Community Producing - cablecasting July & August

I collaborated with CACSCC (Cable Advisory Council), hosting their Annual Education Event on July 9th. I spoke with three local Community Access Producers about Content, Style and how to get involved. I learned a few things ... I hope you get to check it out. At this link you will find a PowerPoint with of the information we discussed.

July - Global Volunteers from Wallingford

Between my 9 month volunteer teaching experience in Cape Town, So. Africa and Pago Pago, Samoa for 1 year beginning this July, I have joined the theater collective Royal Pyngwyn as resident playwright/artistic director. It has been a busy two months culminating in the world premiere of my play

Cracked Upon a Time.

Click here for more: http://www.royalpyngwyn.com/

One of the themes explored in that play is ... the nature of time’s passing and the certain inevitability of conclusion.

As part of my transition from this theater project and my next placement, I hope to talk with a few volunteers from Wallingford about global volunteering. To chat about how we can make our experience live beyond their conclusions. I think some of our stories may be of interest to others so I would like to roll tape - so to speak - while we chat for the this program.

Can you join me? Contact me at WPAA@7towntv.org. I will try to coordinate the particulars after the 30th.

Xploring Community from Behind the Lens-July 9th 2009

Three different methods -- Three different memory collectors