I'm back

I'm back from a nice vacation to the Eastern part of Mass.. We spent a day on Cape Cod, Salem, Plymouth, Lexington, Concord, and Boston. It was a very nice historical vacation. I would say DO NOT rent a car. Bostonians do not pay attention to lanes. And they have a lot of rotary's which take a bit to get use to. Other than that, nice scenery and a wonderful time.

Couple of house cleaning issues I wanted to touch on. Remember the importance of bringing back equipment on time. This includes any gear, mics, cameras, light kits. Failure to do so will result in fines and eventually suspension.

We also will be enforcing the studio strike rule. We have had issues with things not being returned to the Access desk and the prop/set storage area looking like a tornado hit it. Failure to return all items to the access desk by fifteen minutes before the end of your reservation and being ready for the walk through at that time, will result in a fine and loss of studio privileges. We work hard to ensure that everyone has a positive experience in the studio we ask that you help us too.

Also if you use the lounge area it is expected that you clean this area up, do the dishes and put them away. You can not just leave them in the dish drain. I am not your housekeeper. Failure to do so will result in fines. As the producer this is your responsibility.

ACM Conference

Hey I am at the ACM conference right now. ACM is the Alliance for Community Media. This year the annual conference is in Boston. Mark you calendars next year it is in Minneapolis. It will be more towards the middle of July around the 17th I think. It has been great meeting access professionals and producers from all around the country. We had a session talking about the Legislation that has been going through both the House and the Senate. It seems that the Net Neutrality issue will be the downfall of the Senate bill. The Senate majority leader doesn’t want to risk a filibuster so he won’t bring it up in the Senate unless assured that the sixty votes are there. Right now that doesn’t look likely. We should still be talking with our Senators and Congress people to make sure they understand the funding Community Television is important.

Other sessions I have sat in include a way to transcode programs into MPEG 2 then onto formats that would make it possible to either have it vodcast or podcast. Some interesting stuff out their right now. It seems to be the issues bandwidth and storage space. It looks like all kinds of things are possible.

Boston has been a great city to visit. I have never been here before. There is lots of history. I walked part of the freedom trail, Rode the “T”, walked around Boston Common- which is one of the oldest public parks est. in 1644 I believe. My husband is flying in on Saturday and we are going to Salem, Concord and Lexington and down to Cape Cod. I am looking forward to that.

That is all I have time for right now, hope to update letter on this week.

The Great MN Get Together

Hey all, The summer is going by fast and soon it will be time for that event that draws people from all over MN to one place. It is 12 days of food, rides, and grandstand events and once again this year Minnesota Community Television will be involved.

For our second year at the fair a little has changed. We are no longer in the Technology building and are instead in the Education building. This year at the top, bottom and quarter hours we will be taping mini shows. If you are a non-profit please sign up for a time to tape your "show". The shows will be five minute interviews.

At the booth we will also be handing out flyers from stations around MN, information on legislation that is currently in the United States Congress, and helping fair goers find out what IS communty TV.

If you are a member or volunteer at a MN Communtiy Access Center talk to your center about volunteering for this event. Admission to the fair will be provided. If you are a member or volunteer at SPNN let me know if you are interested in giving up an afternoon or evening or two to help us out. Those that helped last year know that it was a good time.

volunteering at SPNN

Do you believe in the mission of SPNN to give a voice to the communtiy. Do you belive in this mission but have no technical skills? You can still volunteer with SPNN. We are interested having community members who believe in what we do help with outreach projects, archieving tapes, help on the fundraising committee, work on the newsletter among other opportunites.

Of course for those of you with technical skills, but don't want to produce your own program you can help our production staff or our members with theirs. This is a great learning experience, a great way to build your skills and to give back to the St. Paul Communtiy.

Contact Maria Tototzintle if you are interested in any of these activities. Her email is tototzintle@spnn.org or call her at 651-298-8910.

Volunteering with SPNN is a great way to give back to the community.

Learning the PD 170

At SPNN we have three of Sony's PD 170. It is available for checkout once per month over for four days. It is also available additional checkouts Tuesday through Thursdays. This is a great 3 chip camera. it is small a portable. Take a look at the video made by training coordinator Ed Sanders on how to use the PD 170. It will show you how to adjust the aduio manual and put it into the manual mode.

Take a Tour of SPNN

Click on the video to see a tour of the SPNN facilities. We have a studio, three imovie and Final Cut Express edit suites, 11 digital cameras and a portable switcher.

Update on Legislation

Dear saveaccess.org supporter,

First we want to thank you! Thousands of letters were sent to Senators
last week as a result of your efforts. We applaud you for taking the
time to make your voice heard and sending a strong message in support of
PEG community media, net neutrality and the need for stronger red-lining
provisions. The mark-up hearing on Senate Bill S.2686 resumes tomorrow,
Tues. June 27th at 10:00. Very little progress was made in the first day
of the mark-up last week (a rundown is at:
http://saveaccess.org/node/322).
Please continue to email your Senators if you haven't already at
http://saveaccess.org/takeaction!

We want to take a moment to inform you of other issues that have arisen
in the mark-up proceedings, some good, some bad. If you have Senators on
the Commerce Committee (list below), this would be a good day to call
them!

S.2686 Amendments and What You Can Do:
Over 200 amendments are to be discussed for possible inclusion in
S.2686, including one on broadcast flag with onerous copy protection
that impacts on 'fair use' issues. Another amendment would expand local
radio licenses - a good addition.

1) Broadcast Flag - This is a copy protection scheme that would make it
virtually impossible for broadcast media to be reused under current
'fair use' practices. To counter the broadcast flag amendment there is
an another amendment to strike it. Public Knowledge calls on people with
Senators on the Commerce Committee (see list below) to:
Call your Senator today with this simple message: "Support the Sununu
Amendment to strike the broadcast and radio flags."
Learn more Public Knowledge: http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/479.

2) Expand Local Radio - Sen. McCain has offered an amendment that would
expand Low Power Radio licenses. This could result in hundreds of new
local radio stations serving local communities. Our friends at
Prometheus Radio are asking people to call on their Senators to support
TITLE XI: LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT by calling and saying:
I support, and my community supports, the language in Senate Bill 2686
that would expand low power FM across our state and across this country.
In an era of natural disasters, and few opportunities for churches,
schools, and community groups to make their voices heard, we need more
local radio stations in our cities and towns. Please support low power
FM in Senate Bill 2686."
Learn more at:
http://www.prometheusradio.org/take_action/emergency_alert:__take_action
_to_expand_low_power/

3) Protect PEG Provisions - The Alliance for Community Media is asking
supporters to support the gains made including PEG provisions in S.2686
by:
- Calling or faxing your Senators again.
- Send a copy Senators Inouye and Stevens.
- The message is simple:
"We ask that you prevent any amendments to S2686 that attack PEG
funding, franchise fees or municipal authority. Thank you."
These phone calls/faxes are especially important if your Senator is on
the Commerce Committee (see the list below). And please continue to send
your emails via our site which also seeks to protect PEG provisions.

Senate Commerce Committee Members
Republicans:

Ted Stevens - Alaska - Chairman
Hart 522 202-224-3004
http://stevens.senate.gov/
Fax (202) 224-2354

John McCain - Arizona
Russell 241 202-224-2235
http://mccain.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Conrad Burns - Montana
Dirksen 187 202-224-2644
http://burns.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-8594

Trent Lott - Mississippi
Russell 487 202-224-6253
http://lott.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-2262

Kay Bailey Hutchison - Texas
Russell 284 202-224-5922
http://hutchison.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-0776

Olympia Snowe - Maine
Russell 154 202-224-5344
http://snowe.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-1946

Gordon Smith - Oregon
Russell 404 202-224-3753
http://gsmith.senate.gov/
Fax: 202.228.3997

John Ensign - Nevada
Russell 364 202-224-6244
http://ensign.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-2193

George Allen - Virginia
Russell 204 202-224-4024
http://allen.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-5432

John Sununu - New Hampshire
Russell 111 202-224-2841
http://sununu.senate.gov/
FAX (202) 228-4131

Jim DeMint - South Carolina
Russell 340202-224-6121
http://demint.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-5143

David Vitter - Louisiana
Hart 516202-224-4623
http://vitter.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-5061

Democrats

Daniel K. Inouye - Hawaii - Co-Chairman
Hart 722 202-224-3934
http://inouye.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-6747

John D. Rockefeller IV - West Virginia
Hart 531 202-224-6472
Fax (202) 224-7665 Fax
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/

John F. Kerry - Massachussetts
Russell 304 202-224-2742
http://kerry.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 224-8525

Byron L. Dorgan - North Dakota
Hart 322 202-224-2551
http://dorgan.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-224-1193

Barbara Boxer - California
Hart 112 202-224-3553
http://boxer.senate.gov/
Fax: none listed

Bill Nelson - Florida
Hart 716 202-224-5274
http://billnelson.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-2183

Maria Cantwell - Washington
Hart 717 202-224-3441
http://cantwell.senate.gov/
Fax: 202-228-0514

Frank Lautenberg - New Jersey
Hart 324 202-224-3224
http://lautenberg.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-4054

E. Benjamin Nelson - Nebraska
Hart 720202-224-6551
http://bennelson.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0012

Mark Pryor - Arkansas
Russell 217202-224-2353
http://pryor.senate.gov/
Fax: (202) 228-0908

Submitting your program to SPNN

How to Get Your Program To Air On SPNN

1. Become a member of SPNN. Membership for St. Paul Residents is $25, MN Residents is $50, non MN residents is $100. Organizations can have up to five of their staff/volunteers become members for $100. SPNN also offers limited income, student and senior memberships at $15.

2. You can submit your program on any one of the following formats: VHS, SVHS, DVCAM, mini DV. If you submit on mini DV you need to use Sony tapes. At this time SPNN does not accept programs on DVD. If you submit on SVHS or VHS SPNN needs to put a control track on the right channel of audio. This will create a “buzz” on the right audio channel. Please make sure you don’t turn in your master and that the audio on both the left and right audio channels is the same. You can record over this tape, but you will not be able to play it on other machines.

3. At the start of the tape you need to have 30 seconds of black or preferably color bars and tone. Then a slate which should include your name, total run time, and run dates of the program. After the slate should be a count down. Then the start of your program. If your program does not start 30 seconds into the tape the first 30 seconds of your program will be cut off.

4. At the end of the tape please put 30 seconds of “black”.

5. Once you have your program in hand, you need to fill out a Program Release Form. You can download the form here or you can pick one up from SPNN. Please fill out the form completely.

6. All programs must be turned in by the Wednesday of the week before it airs.

7. Once your program has aired on SPNN you must pick your tape back up again. If you would like a series program on SPNN please contact SPNN Access Manager Bonnie Schumacher at schumacher@spnn.org or by phone at 651-298-8904.

Interesting Video

Free speech TV has a half hour video that can be downloaded. It is with the Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Media Tony Riddle. He and other panelists talk about drive behind the new legislation regarding community media. http://www.freespeech.org/fscm2/contentviewer.php?content_id=1269

The House already passed their bill, but the Senate bill is in the conference committee. If you live in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Mississippi, Texas, Maine, Oregon, Nevada, Virginia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Louisiana, Hawaii, West Virginia, Massachusetts, North Dakota, California, Florida, Washington, New Jersey, Nebraska, or Arkansas please contact your senators. You can go to this link to find out which of your senators is on the committee and how to contact them. http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

Senate Bill 2686 is currently in the Commerce Committee. This bill threatens to severely limit money that Access Centers around the country receive from the cable companies. This action threatens the existence of many centers. The US House companion bill passes last week. If this bill makes it out of committee and passes the US senate there will be conference committee. I am urging the blog world and the access world supporters to send a letter to members of the commerce committee and voice your opposition to this bill. Bloggers are looking for freedom to express ideas much as access producers are looking to share their ideas with their local communities. Please help save access.

Below you will find a sample letter please change and modify to fit your style. I received this letter from the Alliance for Community Media.

ACTION ALERT
S.2686 -The Communications, Consumers' Choice
& Broadband Deployment Act of 2006
______________
MESSAGE OF THE DAY – Friday June 16, 2006

PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS TODAY
TO SAVE COMMUNITY MEDIA


For All (Center Staff, Board Members, Access Users & Supporters):
· Fax Senator Ted Stevens, Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee a letter. Fax 202-224-2354
· Fax Senator Daniel Inouye, ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee a letter. Fax 202-224-6747

Message: (PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN TEXT OVER AREAS IN Bold. FEEL FREE TO STATE OUR MESSAGE IN YOUR OWN WORDS AS YOU SEE FIT)

Introduce yourself and where you are from.

Tell them why PEG Access and/or Community Media is important to you.
Thank you including the discussion language in the draft S2686 on Page 63, line 16 through Page 64, line 4. This language is critical to the survival of PEG Access Television and Community Media across our country. Without this language many centers will be forced to close their doors.

There is one problem with this well-intentioned effort. If the last phrase, “but excluding one-time or lump-sum payments” is included, this will have a devastating affect on some Access Centers’ ability to serve their community by cutting needed money for equipment and facilities. Please support replacing this with language whic

From the Access Desk

Legislation
There is legislation that is threatening to change the funding for access centers and change the ability for community representation. The HR5252 passed in the house. A similar bill is going through the committees in the US Senate right now. We would appreciate if you talk to your Senators about the importance of funding for Public Access/Community TV.

The effects of the new funding levels would be devastating for much of the MN metro centers as well as around the country. Here are some websites to look at for more details. http://www.cctv.org/ or our website has links and information as well, www.spnn.org .

Volunteerism
If you believe in SPNN and its mission and want to help contribute to the success of SPNN we NEED you. Whether your passion is production, advocacy, outreach, mentoring youth, fundraising, or working at the State Fair we need you to become a SPNN volunteer. We decided to start a formal volunteer program at SPNN that recognizes the contributions that members and non members have been making to our success. You can choose what area you would like to volunteer in and when you want to volunteer. All we ask is that you sign a contract promising 12 hours over the course of the next 12 months. They can be all at one time or one hour a month, you decide. Come to our class on becoming a SPNN volunteer on July 17. You will receive a t-shirt just for joining our volunteer program. There are other incentives along the way.

Also if you would like to utilize SPNN’s list of volunteers you need to attend the Volunteer Management course. In this course we will talk the etiquette of utilizing volunteers, the way to track their hours, how to give them rewards and incentives, equity of privacy of volunteers and answer your questions. The class is one hour and you will gain access to volunteers who have decided to volunteer on productions. The program should give you confidence that a volunteer is responsible and adequately trained. If you do not attend this class volunteers will not receive credit for working on your production.

If you are interested please let me or Maria know. Maria’s number is 651- 298-8910 or tototzintle@spnn.org


Looking ahead to July Classes:
Our regular class schedule on Tuesdays has changed due to the Fourth of July. The intro class will be July 11, iMovie will be on July 18th and Basic Camera will be on July 25. All classes start at 6:30pm.

In July we will also be offering an Advanced Photoshop class. This will be hands on workshop for refreshing advanced PS skills. Previous PS experience required. The class will be July 15 at 1pm. Cost of the class will be $10 for members $30 for non members. Please let me know if you are interested. You can learn how to gain a wider audience for your program by attending our classes on putting your program on the web July 22nd at 1pm and vlogging July 29th at 1pm.

Is iMovie not doing what you want it to do? Would like to learn how to manipulate the audio more? Take our Final Cut Express class Monday July 24 and Wednesday July 26. Cost for the class is $40. You must attend both days. Previous experience with iMovie or anther non-linear editing system is required. Please let me know if you are interested in attending this class.


That’s it from the Access desk.

Bonnie

Sharing Your Views

It is important for our society to continue to speak up and share our opinions. One can think they are in the minority because they don't share their opinion, but in reality they can be the silent majority.

Community Television was created to make sure all of us have a voice, whether in the majority or the minority. Community used to mean the people physically near us. With the advent of the Internet and blogging community can mean anyone who shares a similar interest.

Community TV can still be a way to communicate with our peers. Not everyone has access to the Internet but may be able to watch cable television. At access centers like SPNN we help you get your message out on both cable TV and the Internet.

If you are attending an event that you later want to post about on your own blog, you could add video to make your blog pop. If you belonged to an access center, became certified on the equipment, you could check out cameras cover the event, and edit the footage to put both on the web and on TV. What better way to share information about our community?

SPNN not only offers classes on using video gear, we also teach members how to compress their video to put it on the web. If you are worried about bandwidth to store the video there are places that will host for free. OurMedia.org is a great place to be able see what others have and store your own videos.

For a complete look at SPNN's class schedule check us out at www.spnn.org.

Who Am I?

I am going to try to keep a regular blog. It will mostly be on things happening at SPNN, impending legislation, and other interests I have.

SPNN stands for St. Paul Neighborhood Network. We are a Community Access Television station. We are based in St. Paul MN. We broadcast on five channels within the city limits of St. Paul.

We have a Youth Education Department whose mission is to empower youth through media. Our Community Productions department works with Non-Profit organizations to create a message that then broadcasts on our channels.

Our Access Department works with members of the community to produce video. We teach members how to use our 14 3 chip digital cameras, edit on iMovie and Final Cut Express, use our portable switcher, studios, compress video to put on the web (like in a blog), and tell compelling stories. We have workshops that teach grant writing, ask the lawyer, lighting techniques, how to utilize the green screen, field video techniques and the like.

Members can come into SPNN to create any kind of show they want. We have new immigrants that come in and produce a program in their native language, shows on hobbies, religious shows, shows with commentary on current politics for example. There isn't much you can't put on community access. If you would like more information about SPNN visit our website at www.spnn.org. There are also lots of community access or public access stations around MN and the nation. If you want help to find one near you email me and I will help out if I can.

My first Blog

This is my first blog. We are teaching a vlogging class at SPNN and we will be having our members post their blogs and add video.