NOB - North of Boston Access Center Gatherings

Upcoming Gatherings
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Host: Wakefield Community Access Television

10:30 am - What is the direction of access?
Come with ideas to collaborate, combine and share assets and resources; share your successes for survival.

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 pm - Streaming and VOD; is it for everyone?
Will this technology complicate future franchise negotiations?

Directions to WCAT are available at www.wakefieldnation.com/wcatwakefield - click on "About".

RSVP, questions and comments - please contact Tom Stapleton at tom.stapleton@wcat.tv

History
A few years ago, staff from access centers north of Boston used to meet on a somewhat regular basis to informally discuss issues common to media centers. Different media centers hosted the meetings once a month (or maybe once every two months). Typically, executive directors would attend and often, additional staff would attend depending upon the topic of discussion. At any rate, lunch, casual conversation, camaraderie, and simple networking occurred and most participants found the gatherings valuable.

Late in 2007, an inquiry was made to see if there might be interest in once again initiating the informal meetings. It was suggested to those individuals who responded, to consider occasionally hosting a meeting; hosting would include providing a simple lunch or snacks and meeting space. It was also suggested that hosting organizations set an agenda for each meeting, purely to maintain some order and purpose. And so it began…

Past Meeting Dates and Host Sites
12/14/07 Billerica Access Television - www.batvinc.org
04/04/08 Methuen Community Television - www.methuentv.org
06/06/08 Wakefield Community Access Television - www.wcat.tv
02/02/09 Bedford Community Access Television - www.bedford.tv
03/26/09 Malden Access Television - www.matv.org
12/11/09 Billerica Access Television - www.batvinc.org
04/02/10 Winchester Community Access & Media – www.wincam.org

Looking Ahead
There’s been great attendance and participation at the North of Boston (NOB) Access Center gatherings. The informal gatherings offer opportunities for individuals to share knowledge, find solutions to common challenges and shape relationships. To preserve these gatherings and discussions, please consider hosting a gathering (or consider teaming with another center to host a gathering).

Recommendations for hosting a gathering:
1. Provide a facility for a gathering.
2. Determine exact date & time for gathering.
3. Set an agenda with topic(s) for discussion.
4. Announce the gathering via email, U.S. Postal Service, etc.
5. Facilitate the discussion.
6. Provide food, snacks, drinks, etc. as needed.

If you would like to host a NOB gathering at your facility, please
Contact Sam at sam.batv@comcast.net and provide a location, specific date, time and topic(s)for discussion / agenda. Consequently, this site will be updated and an initial email will be sent to past NOB gathering attendees announcing your commitment. Following meeting reminders will be sent from host organizations.

For those individuals / centers that may not want to host a gathering, but have topics they would like to have discussed, please contact Karen at khayden@methuentv.org for assistance in teaming with a host organization.

Please take an active role in sustaining local discussion about access issues.