Dear Access Tucson Members,

This is the most challenging time that Access Tucson has experienced in its 26 year history of serving this community.

Since January -

- Access Tucson has received no City funding.
- The operating budget has been slashed by 60%.
- Half of the staff has been laid off.
- City inspections have led to on-going, mandatory building improvements and      repairs costing thousands of dollars.

Any one of these issues is overwhelming, but all together...well; you can see the obstacles to the process of reopening.

In spite of ALL of that-I have been amazed by the responses to Board Chair, Bob Kovitz's letter to the membership in the last eNewsletter. I have also had many conversations with producers and organizational representatives. These letters and conversations are full of ideas, hope and the absolute conviction that it is important and necessary to maintain this vital community resource. I have also received numerous and generous offers for volunteer assistance.

Access Tucson WILL reopen and I WILL call in all those generous offers. It just can't be right now.

First, Access Tucson must get its feet on the ground financially through obtaining funding from the City of Tucson (we will receive the reduced budget amount this year) and through the contributions of our generous donors. The remaining issues with building improvements must also be addressed. For these reasons we can not reopen as intended in July and can not, at this time, specify a date for reopening. The staff will remain on furlough.

We do hope to be able to accept new programming later in July or beginning of August and hold Summer Session youth classes. We may be able to do even more. This will be a slower reopening and reawakening that any of us would like, but ultimately I believe this will lead to a stronger and revitalized organization.

I want you to be able to participate in this process. I want the Access Tucson staff and Board to be able to participate in this process. I want to listen to viewers, community organizations and entrepreneurs. I want to hear the practical and the wild ideas. I see good things down the road and intend to get there by conserving our energy and resources now.

We may be slowly finding our voice again-but as we do-it's gonna get LOUD!

Please stay tuned for updates regarding services and fundraising events. Now is the time to contribute financially (any amount!) if you possibly can. Click here to make a donation.


Thank you for helping to create, support and cultivate your community media center.

Very sincerely,
Lisa Horner
Acting Executive Director
email: lhorner@accesstucson.org

With an easy to use animation program, imagination and a soundtrack, students can make their own cartoons. This one week class lets students learn about art, computers and storytelling.

Access Tucson will offer this Animation Summer Session class beginning next week.


Animation
July 19-23
M-F
9:30am - 12:00pm
for ages 9 -14
$180

The Digital Field Production Summer Session class will also begin next week.

This two week class provides instruction for shooting video on location to make your own film. Camera technique, lighting, audio, scripting and computer-based editing are all covered in this class.

Digital Field Production
July 19-30
M-F
9:00am - 12:00pm
for ages 9 & Up
$250


Please call Lisa Horner at 275-0864 to register for either class.

Celebrating 26 years, Access Tucson strives to provide the highest level of public media access service to the community. We facilitate the expression of ideas, opinions, and perspectives through electronic media. By tuning in to public access, viewers are discovering their own communities, alternative news and information not influenced by corporate or government interests.

All Tucson public access channels are operated and controlled by Access Tucson.  Access Tucson is an independent, nonprofit corporation and is not an agent or affiliate of Cox Communications, Comcast or the City of Tucson. 

Cox Communications, Comcast, the City of Tucson and Access Tucson are prohibited by law from controlling the content of programs on public access channels.  They are not responsible in any way for the content of public access programs, and are not liable for any material cablecast on pubic access channels.  Public access users and producers are solely responsible for and have complete control of the content of their programs. 

You can produce your own program and use this channel to share your message with the community.  Go to accesstucson.org or call (520) 624-9833 to find out how.