Submitted by AccessAdmin on
Meet the candidates, watch their videos and read their statements.
The 2010 Access Tucson Board of Director Candidates are:
Sal Baldenegro
Sandee Brooke
Franklin Calsbeek Jr.
Harry J. Findysz
Gerald Harwood, Ph.D.
Dan Harrigan
Libby Hubbard aka Doctress Neutopia
Bob Kovitz
Steve Leal
Tom Morello
Glenn Wolfgang
Ballots were mailed out to all active members on April 23rd. If you do not receive a ballot by May 3rd, please let us know so we can be sure to get one out to you.
In order for your votes to be counted, the accounting firm DeVries CPAs of Arizona must receive your ballot either through the mail or in person by 5pm on May 11th.
The results will be announced at the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Event at Access Tucson on May 13th.
[qt:/video/BOD10_Sal_Baldenegro.mov 320 256]
Occupation: Assistant Director
Employer: SER – Jobs for Progress
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
I am a member of Pan Left Productions, a local independent filmmaking collective committed to producing films about issues that affect our community, here in Tucson and Southern Arizona. In partnership with them, I am currently making a historical documentary film about the Tucson Civil Rights Movement of the 60s and 70s.
In addition to this, I have been involved with and volunteered time to a number of community groups and organizations. For example, I used to volunteer as a mathematics tutor at Pueblo Magnet High School. I would tutor at-risk students, to help prepare them for the annual AIMS tests. I have also volunteered as an umpire for Tucson Little League, and as a referee for AYSO and Pima County youth soccer leagues.
I am a former Tucson Parks and Recreation employee, and used to work at an afterschool center that provided arts, recreation, and education for children and young adults. I am also very concerned about the environment and the preservation of our Sonoran desert. I have participated in volunteer buffelgrass removal at various local sites, and have also spent time fostering dogs for the Tucson Humane Society. I am also a firm believer in supporting our local businesses, and always make every effort to support them, whenever possible.
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I am a Tucson native, born and raised. I love this community, and want to help Access Tucson to not only continue in its current form, but to expand it and make it an even more influential part of our local arts and media community.
Access Tucson is the voice of the people. It is, therefore, invaluable and irreplaceable. I believe that my skills, knowledge, and expertise can be of great benefit to Access Tucson, and to our community.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
I believe that I am very qualified for this position, and can use my unique skills and experience to greatly help Access Tucson. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona.
Since then, I have worked for KVOA Tucson (Channel 4), the UA Sports Video department, and Channel 12 Tucson. I am a member of the National Association for Latino Independent Producers (NALIP), as well as Pan Left Productions, a local independent filmmaking collective.
I am very knowledgeable about television and film production, including both the technical and business aspects. Furthermore, I am currently producing an independent film of my own, a historical documentary about the Tucson Civil Rights Movement.
In addition to this, I have a very strong background in our community. and have made many friends and partnerships, over the years. I believe that this can be very useful and beneficial when working with the larger community.
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Occupation: Volunteer
Employer: Retired by Disability
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
2000 Consultant, River Road; Campbell to Alvernon Way/Alvernon Way; Ft. Lowell Road to River Road, Final Location Report for Pima County Department of Transportation.
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I have been a Member of Access Tucson since 1988 and have served on the Board since 2002. These have been hard years for us, lots of problems with how to keep this wonderful place going. Right now we have a very good team on the Board and I would like to stay and keep fighting for our survival. Even if it means at a reduced number of open hours. Just for now until the economy improves, and it will.
In the meantime, it is up to us all who care about Access Tucson to contribute what money we can to help keep the doors open and the lights on.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?I have been a Volunteer all over Tucson for more than 20 years and for more than 2 dozen Non-Profit Organizations. I think my interaction between all these groups is very important to share the Access Tucson Story with them. I also bring their stories and information back to Access Tucson, it’s a good fit. As a past Producer of my own show for more than 7 years and behind the camera producer of 2 more, I have a good understanding of what it takes to do those jobs as well. Over-all I think I am in a position to continue to be beneficial to the Access Tucson Board of Directors.
[qt:/video/BOD10_Franklin_Calsbeek.mov 320 256]
Occupation: Self Employed, Old Pueblo Theatrical Solutions, Inc.
Employer: OPTS
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I think that my background allows me insights into areas that might allow Access Tucson additional opportunities for service and training, income, members, grants and an over all well-being. I wish to see Access Tucson be able to survive and then flourish in the future. I feel I can assist in making that happen.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
I bring with me, through my affiliation and work, additional potential members, trainers and equipment discounts that might not other wise be available. Since I have a strong background in Education and Specifically in Communication Arts, and have served as department head with in an educational arena,
I have some idea as to what it takes to operate such programs and what it takes to have programs survive. That is why I feel I am an excellent candidate for the board of this fine organization.
[qt:/video/BOD10_Harry_Findysz.mov 320 256]
Occupation: Retired
Employer:
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I feel Access Tucson will be going through a long process to remain a member of the community with the new direction we may need to take working with Tucson 12 and the City Government. We need people who will can get on board with this new program and hang on. I feel I am this type of person. I have worked over twenty years in the fire service and have worked up the ranks from firefighter to Fire Chief and can keep a professional level head during just about any type of event. I have been a member of Access Tucson only a short period of time and have learned that every person needs their outlet to tell their story.
I do not always agree with every type of show that I see on Access, but I will fight for them to have their right to speak. We are a very great county that has given our citizens the right to free speech and we need to make sure this is not switched off. I strongly feel that the money paid by both Comcast and Cox customers for Public Access should go to those programs and not to the city’s general fund. I would love to see Access Tucson continue with their great training classes and see them help each of their many programs to work towards a professional product they can be proud to show. I also feel we should bring more local events to television by using the great equipment we have in Tucson and promote local people and organizations. Throughout the county many Access programs have been closed and I would not like to see that happen in Tucson.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
I have attended several Access Tucson training classes over the last four months and after the training I have enjoyed working on two programs. The Duke and Cat Show and also World Harmony.
I attended the University of Arizona during the late 1970’s and was working towards a Degree in Radio and Television when I started my training for the fire service. That was the days when video equipment was very large and heavy and video tape was on reels. Today I enjoy editing HD Video using a lightweight camera and a desktop computer. What you can produce from your home computer is unbelievable. I can not wait to see what television programming will be like in the next 25 years.
I also manage a small and young video production company that provides services to promote local group and events. My many years working with young people in their search for a career in either law enforcement, the Fire service or a Medical career through the Learning for Life Program has given me the understanding that we need to help our children obtain their dreams by giving them the tools and training to work in a career they will love.
[qt:/video/BOD10_Gerald_Harwood.mov 320 256]
Occupation: Independent documentary producer, writer, environmental consultant.
Employer: Anubis Productions (president)
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
Public access television is more vital to Americans than ever before. While alternative means of communication innovate and proliferate on the World Wide Web, television remains the most powerful educational and motivational force in our culture. For two decades, public access television has facilitated constitutionally guaranteed free speech for individuals and community organizations while providing diverse programming including art, drama, music, documentaries and in-depth coverage of local public events. Concentration of commercial media ownership and distribution among a few giant conglomerates is limiting the variety and depth of music, discussion, entertainment and news coverage that Americans see and hear, as well as greatly diminishing local community coverage. Detailed coverage of local events and debate of political and controversial issues for large audiences is increasingly limited to those who can afford to produce and purchase air time for expensive advertising; and even then, media owners sometimes refuse to broadcast or publish ideas with which they disagree. For these reasons, public access television, community radio and public broadcasting are vital to the protection of the social and political balance of power upon which survival of America’s constitutional democracy depends.
Access Tucson has been consistently rated as one of the nation’s best public access television centers. Access Tucson annually provides media services and programming worth several million dollars to our community and its citizens for a fraction of the cost. Providing these services is far more complex than simply furnishing quality equipment, producer training, and programming to our citizens. In the mid-1990s, Access Tucson survived a stalled cable license renewal process between the city and the cable service provider, forced layoffs of half of our staff and nearly closed our doors. The December 1997 cable license agreement and subsequent City Council action seemed to assure our funding for the next decade, sufficient to expand public services and update aging equipment. However, in 2001, the Council changed the method of our funding, reducing its amount and stability, requiring annual Council approval. Resulting funding cuts necessitated reductions of our public services. In 2007, cable license renewal negotiations between the City of Tucson and its cable provider have been especially difficult and remain unresolved, particularly over the number of channels available to the city for education, government and public access use. There are additional ongoing threats to the survival of public access television at the state and federal levels of government. Public access television should not be a politically partisan issue, as it can benefit citizens of all political persuasions. This continuing history demonstrates the importance of Access Tucson having a vigilant and pro-active board of directors and staff to effectively connect and network in the greater Tucson economic, political and business communities.
As a policy making board of directors facing decisions affecting Access Tucson’s operations, it is essential that our deliberations always consider the increasingly complex “larger picture” that includes economics, technological developments, community demographics and politics. Beyond this, we must also keep abreast of economic, political and business activities at the state and national levels, where corporate and governmental decisions can and do affect cable television regulation, economics and viewer population.
We continue to face new challenges such as expansion of our services to include more individuals and organizations in times of rapid growth in population and demographic diversity, and integration of new technologies and media. The evolving model of our funding makes it imperative for us to expand our revenue sources. I also believe that it is time for us to expand our services beyond city borders into a “greater Tucson” geographic area that includes portions of Pima County and other newly incorporated areas.
Predicting technological, social and political change, even a year in advance, is difficult. Technology driven changes in television, telephones and computers are impacting society, economics and politics in exciting new ways, Access Tucson’s board and staff must be proactive in avoiding obsolescence of public access television. The market share of cable as a program transmission medium can change, affecting public access viewership, which has been tied to cable technology. Our board, staff and member-producers will be called upon to be innovative and flexible to keep our public access mission relevant and effective in this evolving environment.
During my service on the AT Board, my votes on issues have been based upon consideration of the following elements: the health and survival of Access Tucson and Public Access; the continued growth of programming diversity and quality; the interests of public access and independent producers; and the benefits provided by our services and programming to our citizens. Restoration of a viable and endowed grants program for public access production continues to be one of my priorities. Given the uncertainties of the cable license renewal process, I believe that it is imperative for us to expand our geographical viewer, market and membership bases and to continue building cooperative relationships with other agencies and organizations. I also believe we must help the public understand that the small fee the cable company adds to cable bills for PEG access is not a tax charged by the city, but a rental fee charged to cable companies for their use of public property for conducting their business.
Dealing with many complex issues, the Board benefits greatly from the diverse skills and experience of its members. AT members should be aware that the Board could not work effectively without the excellent support and dedication of AT’s talented professional staff. I believe that public access television can continue to: enrich our citizen’s lives by enhancing our understanding of cultural diversity; improve public education and health; and be a positive force toward understanding and alleviating underlying causes of many social problems. In the future, I would like to see more of our citizens use public access as a forum for discussion of our community’s social and political issues, particularly our youth whose generation faces problems of unprecedented magnitude in our cultural and planetary experience.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
As an independent producer/writer/distributor of arts, third world travel, historical and natural history video and television documentaries, I feel that I bring a combination of production, business and inter-cultural experience to the board. My past board experience (as chair, vice chair, secretary and service on many committees) also permits me to bring historical continuity and perspective to the board in its work. Public service experience in crisis intervention and counseling of crime victims has given me intimate “behind the scenes” contact with diverse elements of Tucson’s culture and insight into our community ‘s social issues and needs. Service on other councils and boards has given me community networking experience. Teaching and research experience on the faculties of the University of Arizona and Pima College provide me with knowledge of the learning process and with a bridge of understanding between our elected and appointed board members. My production experience, public access production training and past Access Tucson board experience have given me understanding of and insight into many production and logistical problems that may be encountered by our member producers and have helped me in my participation in the board’s decision making process. Experience with Federal grant writing and judging has been valuable in my work with Access Tucson’s grant programs and committees.
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Occupation: Theatrical, Film, and Television Production
Employer: various Production Companies
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
Since 1990, I have witnessed the slow diminishing of Public Access Television and the diversion of time and resources away from Public Access TV toward the Company and Community Access programs, as well as obscene salaries.
I believe this has been caused by the Board of Directors ignoring the will of the Public Access users.
Some Board members have been uncritical of staff directions and recommendations. The Organization has been compromised.
Forty percent of the Board members are not accountable to the membership because their seats are GIVEN to them. They are NOT elected by YOU, the members.
Forty percent of the Board has NEVER had to run for election. They have had their Board positions HANDED to them. They are NOT accountable to the members, only to the organizations they represent.
Also, I recommend that you NOT re-elect any currently seated members. With them at the helm, Public Access has been reduced to not much more than a token. All of the votes by the Board have been in favor of the needs or wishes of the Company at the expense of Public Access.
I am running because these issues (as well as many others) need immediate attention if Public Access is to be salvaged.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
As a volunteer since 1985, I have watched a once vibrant, thriving and growing public access operation shrink to where it is barely visible, a shell of it’s former self. I know how to make the public access process work through the use of many volunteers and very few staff. I know where the company went wrong, and I know how to fix it., with your help.
Having worked the television and motion picture industry for many years, I have seen some curious management styles. However, the management style at Access Tucson takes the cake. Public Access gets the crumbs.
I would appreciate your votes. Thank you for your time.
Libby Hubbard aka Doctress Neutopia
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Occupation: web designer
Employer: A.P. Hubbard Lumber Company
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
Access Tucson needs a Lovolution, a non-violent social movement to restore democracy. The only way I see public access TV surviving and thriving in Tucson is if there is a grass roots effort to save it. Lovolution is a transformative movement to remove the status quo consciousness that has been blocking the evolutionary impulse to radically change our world for the good. The public needs Access Tucson to be a station for this great change. It needs to broadcast the protest movement live! We have the studios and equipment to do it. Now, can we, the membership of Access Tucson, find the Goddess of Democracy necessary to challenge the State?
As a directress of Access Tucson, I have the intention of building such an evolutionary broadcasting movement that revolutionizes the value system of the city. I see Access Tucson becoming channels where truth, cries for social justice, and vision of building an alternative future can be heard. Our first step in constructing global justice and the new world it creates is to change the consciousness of humanity by saving public TV.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
Nothing could be more important to Access Tucson at this time than the need for sacred activism. We need to feel so passionately about protecting and defending our sacred right to free speech that we will put our bodies on the line to save it. As a student at the University of Massachusetts, I was involved with several building takeovers. I’ve been involved with hunger strikes and picket lines. I’ve witnessed the way solidarity and community evolved out the struggle for social liberation. It is my honest feeling that the only way authentic community arises is through coming together for a great cause. Being part of these protest moments in history, I realized that to be truly alive is to be an activist for the future. What future do we have if we loose Access Tucson? It is the only place in the city where the people’s voice can be heard. What will happen to us if we loose our voice?
This is our historic moment. If on March 10th, it has been decided that Access Tucson will not reopen its doors, then we organize a building sit-in to keep it open. We will not let our right to free speech to taken away from us.
I can’t do this alone. I need help in organizing an effective Lovolutionary team who has the media skills to be successful in getting out our demands. We need to get together to brainstorm and then to agree on what our demands are. We need to send our call to action to every member of Access Tucson and invite them to bring their sleeping bags and join into our sacred activist’s party to make a 24/7 stand against a corrupt system of government that is killing us. We need people who can write press releases and who are good with interacting with the mainstream media. We need outside support people who can provide us with food (only vegetarian and raw) and other outside resources needed to allow the protest community to grow inside.
Our enemy is not individual council people, but the entire American system that uses tax payer money for developing weapons of mass destruction and endless wars rather than putting money for parks, public TV, health care, public housing, and devising a plan to move us all into sustainable cities. We are talking about ridding ourselves of an unjust system were local officials receive thousands of dollar in salaries while people in our community are homeless in need of medicinal attention and compassionate love.
If this message touches your heart and you love freedom of speech as much as I do, then please contact me and join the Lovolution to save Access Tucson. Commit to keeping the building open on March 10th. Call me to tell me what skills and talents you can volunteer for the cause.
It’s time “we rally together to do something different” as the architect of sacred activism Andrew Harvey says. The bureaucratic way of dealing with the City Council is useless in saving Access Tucson and changing the world. Doing something different is putting the protest live on TV, educating the public to our demands, and building a grass roots movement that embodies the superpower of the people.
Thanks for your service.
Doctress Neutopia
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Occupation: Semi-retired; communications and public policy consulting
Employer:
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
President, Oro Valley Kiwanis Club
Treasurer, Act One Theatre Corp.
Graduate, Greater Tucson Leadership
Vice Pres., Tucson Hebrew Academy
President, Oro Valley Toastmasters
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
Since my earliest involvement with cable television and CATV in 1968, I have believed that the community is best served when its members are allowed the freedom to use the public airways in return for granting cable companies virtual monopolies on the provision of services that use the public rights-of-way. Access Tucson has demonstrated its commitment to serving all segments of the southern Arizona community through its wide variety of programming and its vibrant membership corps. Having helped to initiate and produce the Town of Oro Valley’s first involvement with Access Tucson (through regular participation in the “Government Connection” series), I have seen firsthand the dedication of Access Tucson members, volunteers and professional staff. Now that I have reached a point in my professional career when I can devote more time to civic affairs, I would be honored to join the Board in order to offer policy direction and experience in any way that is needed.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
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Occupation: Administrator
Employer: Pima County
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I very much believe in the principle and need of free speech in American life. I have actively fought for it all my life. Tucsonans are very involved in participating in shaping the destiny of their own community. Access Tucson is a foundational tool for Tucsonans to do this.
Also Access plays a wonderful role in showcasing many religious, cultural and arts programming that celebrate the Tucson community.
While on the City Council I fought to protect Accesses independence and financial well being. I want to help protect Access and expand its community outreach. I want to make it more powerful and secure for all of us. Citizens need this now more than they ever have in the life of our country.
The recent Supreme Court decision regarding Corp funding of campaigns is very threatening to the role of real democracy for all of us. Access Tucson has the potential to help create one of the countervailing forces that can help us deal with this problem.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
I have served on many Boards over the years, from the Mayor and Council to Voices. I have also had a show on Access in the past. I have worked on other peoples shows assisting them.
I also have some abilities in community organizing.
No picture or video available for Tom Morello.
Occupation: author, researcher
Employer: self employed
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
Since Access Tucson’s UFO AZ began in 1991, I have had a continued interest in Access programming. I have followed the many budgetary and programming challenges facing Access for nearly two decades. There are many dedicated producers and crews of Tucson Access programming. As floor director and Consultant for “Cosmic Chronicles”, I know how vital free speech is. In a time of increasingly limited media choices, Access Tucson provides a critical forum for the Tucson community. Being a Director of Access Tucson brings together my interests in television production and First Amendment rights. I cannot passively watch as the future of Access Tucson is threatened. My involvement on the Board will bring a new approach to this future.
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?
My knowledge of Access programming and production is essential to a Board Director’s position. Because of my “hands-on” involvement with Access programming, I can bring a practical approach to the day to day issues facing Access television. As an individual familiar with Access Tucson’s studios, I am aware of the many quality control concerns impacting budgeting decisions. From my experiences with other organizations, I realize the importance of financial goal setting as applied to non-profit organizations. I am looking forward to using my skills at problem-solving as the Board faces challenges. This is a critical time for Access Tucson. By serving on the Board, I will place the integrity of Free Speech and dedication to the Tucson community above all else.
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Occupation: various including delivery driver, landlord, maintenance, cashier & tourguide
Employer: none
Membership in Professional Organizations:
Involvement with Community Organizations:
Why do you wish to serve as a Director of Access Tucson?
I would like to see Access Tucson continue to grow within Tucson into a valued resource. Free Speech means a great deal to me & the access to media outlets provided to regular individuals is something that should be protected. The various organizations that benefit from the exposure afforded them by television is also extremely valuable to the Tucson community & I want to become a mouthpiece promoting this type of community media. As a resource to the community Access Tucson is severely under appreciated. It would be my pleasure to become more involved with this organization. I want to work to make the inclusiveness of Access Tucson into something that protects it and propels towards prosperity
What expertise or special qualifications do you possess which you feel would be important to Access Tucson?