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A Look Back at 2023...

Sun, 12/31/2023 - 19:44 -- Patrick

 

To end 2023 on a positive note, here's a cause for celebration as we look back at some of the "wins" for the year:

  • In FY2023 (fiscal year-ending June 30, 2023), we saw a 30% increase in the volume of local shows over the previous year!
  • During FY2023, there was a total of 1,221 new original shows! 943 of them were produced right here in our local area- the vast majority of this programming was created using our services!! That’s more than 18 LOCAL shows per week!!!
  • The new (free to download) Okemo Valley TV app was launched across all of the most popular streaming platforms (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Google Play, & iOS), making our live TV channels and video-on-demand even more available. SEE the “Ways to Watch” graphic below for more info!
  • Thanks to Will Harris, who retired from his position in December- he had been scheduling the TV channels for the past 2 years.
  • In 2023, we provided “gavel-to-gavel” coverage of more than 200 local government meetings- including Selectboards, Planning Commissions, & school boards!
  • We assisted the Towns of Plymouth & Mount Holly with the installation of new AV systems in their Town Offices to support the recording, live streaming, & broadcasting of hybrid meetings.
  • We further developed the partnership with our neighboring colleagues at SAPA-TV (Springfield Area Public Access), aka our "sister station".
  • Thank you to all who have supported our efforts, including our individual members, and our local business underwriters: HWC Financial, VT Properties / William Raevis Real Estate, Open Door Vacation Rentals,  Mountain View Law (formerly Marylou Scofield, Esq.), & VTel.
  • Thank you to the Towns of Ludlow, Cavendish, Plymouth, Mount Holly, & Andover for supporting Okemo Valley TV through annual appropriations. 
  • Thanks also to Governor Scott's Administration and to the State legislature for supporting community access media through the $1m statewide appropriation made to Vermont Access Network (our membership organization, through which all 24 of us community TV stations in VT are affiliated).

    We look forward of what's to come in 2024!
  • Want Community Radio? We Need to Hear from You!

    Wed, 11/15/2023 - 17:28 -- Patrick

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be accepting applications for new Low Power FM community radio licenses from non profit organizations between Dec. 6-13, 2023. As an established non profit media organization already serving the community,  Okemo Valley TV is willing to submit an application, if there is enough local interest. The application itself would be non-binding; there is no obligation nor commitment required at this stage. If an application was approved, we would have time to work everything out. A committee of interested committee members would be formed, and that committee, with guidance from us & others, would make the key decisions and help shape the radio station's future. That is how we got things started with community TV, 23 years ago. It's a formula that worked then, and could work now, with radio. This is just a small first step - right now, we just need to gauge the interest level in the community  before proceeding.

    If you live in the area, please take the survey below.

    Create your own user feedback survey

    We're Hiring

    Wed, 09/20/2023 - 12:16 -- Patrick


    We are looking to fill an immediate need for someone to take over the day-to-day scheduling of programming (on our 2 TV channels and streaming platforms) and to also fill-in as a back-up Field Producer. Between these two roles, the position would average approximately 20-25 hours per week. (10-15 of it to be program scheduling). There is opportunity for growth for the right person. Candidates should have a strong technical background with computers and web-based applications, some experience with AV production, excellent communication & critical thinking skills, and access to reliable transportation. Above all else, we are looking for an energetic and dedicated person who is interesting in joining our small team and to help independent community media thrive!

    See more and learn how to apply here.


    Photo of the Week

    Wed, 09/20/2023 - 11:53 -- Patrick

    We've rebooted our "Photo of the Week" submissions. Do you have any photos showing off local places & scenery? Send them to us, and we will use them in community videos. And each week, we will select one to feature in our e-newsletter and social media feeds. Credits will always be provided. Send your photos to us by email.

    Photo credit this week goes to Cara Philbin. Thanks, Cara, for sharing this Fall image!

    Community Project

    Fri, 08/04/2023 - 18:49 -- Patrick

    The community’s strength and recovery has been documented by nearly everyone, and now we are asking you to share that with us! Send us your flood recovery photos and videos by clicking HERE. We're looking for Town, State, and Federal officials doing their jobs, or volunteers helping to clean up, pick up, muck out, etc. , as well as before & after images showing damage and the repair work. Selections of the images we receive will be shown in various future media projects (short video segments, documentaries, etc.). We want to once again show off the strength and resilience of this community. Thank you in advance!

    Program Scheduler & Field Producer

    Tue, 08/01/2023 - 18:43 -- Patrick

     

    We are looking to expand our team by adding a part-time Program Scheduler & Field Producer, to cover municipal meetings & community events around the local area.

    Job Description Summary:

     Reporting to the Operations Coordinator, this position shall be responsible for the following:

    1.  Schedule daily programming on our two television and streaming channels, using web-based software;

    2.  Plan out program scheduling for coming weeks and months in coordination with other staff;

    3. Produce video coverage of local government meetings and community events on location, including "hybrid" meetings;

    4.  Operate technology and equipment related to in-person as well as hybrid meetings and events (with remote participation). This includes (but is not necessarily limited to) cameras, microphones, audio mixers, computers, video conferencing software, streaming software & hardware, and sound systems.

    5. Perform post-production and basic video editing tasks.

    Hours:  An average of approximately 20 hours per week to start. There is some flexibility with the program scheduling work, but will ideally be performed during weekdays. The production work will be at various times, as assigned, but mostly will be weeknights, with an occasional daytime assignment.

    Qualifications:  Candidates should have the following:

    1.     Strong overall technical aptitude with audio-visual equipment and computers, along with experience in digital media production.

    2.     Excellent oral communication skills and a good attitude

    3.     Critical thinking skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and problem solve

    4.     Access to consistent and reliable transportation.

    Compensation: $18 - $22 per hour, depending on experience. Mileage reimbursement is provided for assignments when traveling more than 20 miles.

    To Apply: Contact Patrick Cody, Executive Director, to express interest. Include a resume and any other information that you feel would be useful. Email  pcodyatokemovalley.tv

    Flooding

    Mon, 07/10/2023 - 22:12 -- Patrick

    Ludlow Village resident & Okemo Valley TV community producer Pat Moore takes a tour of the catastrophic damage early in the day during the flood event of July 10, 2023. Keep up to date with emergency management information for your Town (see above).

    And then Pat goes out on another tour, showing the aftermath, the morning after the flood, Tuesday, July 11th:

    Zachary McNaughton submitted the following videos showing dramatic scenes from Proctorsville:

    Day of the Flood in Proctorsville


    Day After the Flood in Proctorsville

    Flood Recovery Information

    Mon, 07/10/2023 - 21:34 -- Patrick


    Through this flood recovery period, the Governor Scott Administration is holding multiple press conferences per week, sharing important and timely information. Streams of the Flood Response Press Conferences can be viewed here, thanks to our colleagues at ORCA Media in Montpelier.


    To view recently-recorded press conferences on demand, go HERE.


    To view other programs related to the flood & flood recovery, go HERE


    Other sources for emergency management information related to the flood:

    Vermont 211- for State & Regional Emergency Contacts & Info

    New England 511- Road Closure Info.

    Okemo Valley Disaster Relief Fund

    Ludlow Emergency Services

    Mount Holly Emergency Management

    Cavendish Emergency Info & Shelter

    Plymouth Emergency Services

    Producer Awards

    Tue, 06/27/2023 - 19:40 -- Patrick


    Over the last 12 months (starting July 1, 2022), we have broadcast & streamed well over 800 new LOCAL programs. That's more than 16 NEW shows per week, and a large portion of these are provided to us by community members and volunteer producers (yes, you too can have your own show!).
    The 2023 Okemo Valley TV Producer Awards were presented at the Annual Meeting on June 20th. Watch the highlight reel here:


    And the winners are (shown in the collage below, clockwise from top left)....

    1. Producer of the Year- Pat Pullinen & Gary Blodgett, for "Update from Expeditionary School at Black River" (with Executive Director Patrick Cody in the middle of them)

    2. Outstanding Achievement- Claire McKey Berkman, for her production of "Cavendish Library shorts" (shown with our Operations Coordinator Rebekah Fontaine)

    3. Community Impact- Paula VanGuilder, for "Talk with Paula" (shown with Rebekah).

    4. Youth Impact- Heidi Baitz, LES 6th Grade teacher, for her annual class project - this year it was the "Identity Project" (photo credit- Otis Nelson).

    We'd like to congratulate this crew for their great over the past year and to thank everyone who contributes all of the local programming!

    Board of Directors Election

    Sun, 06/18/2023 - 23:25 -- Patrick

    It's time for the annual Board of Directors election, which coincides with our Open House Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 20th . Click below to access the ballot & cast a vote - please read through the brief instructions first. Voting is open for anyone age 14+ living in one of the Towns in our service area - Ludlow, Plymouth, Cavendish, Mount Holly, Andover, & Reading.

    Create your own user feedback survey

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