Dear Members and Friends,
I hope that the New Year is bringing you good fortune. We here at Access Tucson are hoping for similar luck, but we're also trying to ensure success through hard work.
As you may know, the co-location of Tucson 12 at 124 E. Broadway is in progress. Your Board of Directors approved an amendment to our agreement with the City of Tucson that will finalize this co-location. The City Council is scheduled to discuss this (and other budget issues) at their Regular Session at 5:30 p.m. on February 23rd. You may want to plan to attend that meeting. We believe that the addition of Tucson 12 to our facility will result in synergy that will create valuable community programming. We hope that you'll join us in welcoming the staff of Tucson 12 to our building.
The Board is also taking a closer look at the organization's mission and how it may be interpreted to support the concept of AT becoming a community media center. We believe that our long-term survival depends on strategic alliances with other media outlets--enhancing both their products and ours in order to reach wider audiences. This is an exciting possibility that could open many new doors.
We are also discussing other ways to make Access Tucson financially sustainable. As of today, the City's 2012-13 budget is expected to show $0 for Access Tucson. So, in addition to organizational fees that were implemented a few months ago, we are examining very modest producer and associate member dues. By doing so, we follow the model of most public access stations in the country.
And, speaking of other models, we are also looking at our own production values and how we can present the best possible product to our viewing audience. Among other topics that we've discussed is the development of dedicated blocks of programming so that the public would know--for example only--that Friday night contained 3 hours of civic programming, Saturday night contained 3 hours of arts programming, and Sunday night contained 3 hours of community events programming, etc. One of the issues raised consistently by our audience is the fact that our schedule is unpredictable right now. We can overcome this by creating these broadcast blocks, and we can improve our productions so that they meet the highest criteria.
Finally, the upcoming Board elections are an opportunity for you to select leaders who will dedicate themselves to helping to make Access Tucson financially sustainable. I strongly encourage you to choose candidates who have experience and commitment to fundraising and related activities. This is an essential part of being a Board member, and if you wish to be a candidate, you need to let the voting members know that you will actively participate in activities that will generate revenue.
As you can see, there's a lot to be done in the near future. All of our Board and committee meetings are open to anyone to attend (see our home page for agendas), and you are welcome to add your voice to the mix. In the mean time, we deeply appreciate your support for the Board and for the difficult decisions that must be made.
Till next time....
Bob Kovitz
President, Board of Directors
Call for Board Candidates
Five elected positions are open on the Access Tucson Board of Directors, three for a three-year term and two for a one-year term. Any active member 18 years or older can run for the Board. Candidacy applications are due by 5pm on Saturday, March 5, 2011. You can download the application
here.
In particular, we're looking for Board members who have familiarity with Access Tucson, may have particular expertise in fundraising / legal / accounting, and who represent a broad diversity of people in our community.
Activate Your Membership
Call 520-624-9833 or email
nroberts@accesstucson.org to confirm that your membership is currently active. You must be active by 5pm on March 5th in order to be eligible to vote in the Board of Director elections.
Please note that your receipt of this eNewsletter does not necessarily mean that your membership is active. It is best to call or email us to confirm. Thanks.
