Transportation. Safety. Education. Jobs. The environment. These are community issues that are on the minds of adults today. They are also the issues that are on the minds of young people, although they don’t often get a chance to voice their opinions about them. A group of Pima County youth known as The Hi Tech Team is looking to change that with Think. Talk. Take Action: A Community Gathering for Youth and Families, October 8, 6-10 pm at the Historic Rialto Theatre. The event will bring together youth and adults to “think about community issues and envision new possibilities, talk to people in power, and take action to make a difference,” says Dr. Judith Anderson, CEO of Every Voice in Action Foundation, the sponsor of the event.

“Through this event, we hope that youth and adults can build relationships and be able to cooperate with each other in order to solve issues, and create solutions in our communities,” says Marcos Perez, member of the Hi Tech Team. “ Everyone can provide their proactive assets: We can all become the change we wish to see in this world”

The multi-faceted event will include an open mic session—offering young people a chance to perform on the Rialto stage—and the screening of youth-produced short videos, including the premier of a short documentary film entitled Tucson Through the Eyes of Youth, which was produced and directed by the Hi Tech Team. The team’s purpose: To capture youth voice and to expose community issues and solutions through digital media.

Access Tucson will be there to cover the dialog between city leaders and youth. The documentary and the event may be seen:

Saturday October 31 & Sunday November 1st
8:00pm and 11pm
Cox 99
Comcast 74

Any youth that would like to work as crew on this event, please contact:

Lisa Horner, Director of Training
lisa@accesstucson.org
520.624.9833 x109

- Lisa Horner
Director of Training

Tucson police and amateur boxers from other law enforcement agencies squared off in 15 matches Sept. 19 in what police billed as the Battle of the Badges, a charity event. Boxers were matched by height, weight and boxing experience in the ring to raise money to revive the Tucson Police Officer’s Association’s Police Activities League, a nonprofit organization.

Tucson police officer Mark Doe, who is part of TPD’s gang outreach effort, wants to help children stay out of trouble. He said money raised by the admission fee will be used to buy sports equipment for youths at risk as a reward for doing well in school.

David Cheng

The event was held at the Casino del Sol’s beautiful AVA amphitheater, whose staff and facilities are top notch! A big thanks to James Christensen (aka Tank) for all the assistance.

Gordon Austin

David Cheng and JonPierre Reaume

La Monte Ward, Access Tucson Deputy Director and Co-Producer for the event

This was one of those truly wonderful, but VERY intense productions. It required a very capable crew–thankfully we had some of Access Tucson’s finest volunteers! Gordon Austin, Bryce Schneider, Bill Kersey, Charles Onwuhai, David Cheng, JonPierre Reaume and Hal Jackson made this production happen! Staff members Larry Foster, La Monte Ward, Lisa Horner and Vikki Dempsey rounded out the team. It takes an amazing amount of hard work to set-up, produce and strike an event like this. A giant thanks goes out to this crew.

Bill Kersey & Larry Foster

Hal Jackson

Bryce Schneider

Access Tucson Engineer, Roy Knappenberger

Personally, I would have fallen out of the ring doing camera if not for Charles Onwuhai, Access Tucson truck driver extraordinaire and my grip for the night. The ring literally shook when the bouts were underway–it was all I could do to hang on to the corner and keep shooting! Charles parted the ropes for me a million times to run in and get up close and personal with the fighters between rounds. I have many sore muscles and many lovely memories of the evening–like the rinse spit on my foot from a fighter. Totally exciting!

Lisa Horner & Charles Onwuhai

Catch the cablecast of the entire program on the premiere weekend:

October 10th and 11th
@ 8:00 and 11:00pm
99 Cox
74 Comcast

“The thousands who tuned in each year to see their children and friends in the Parade let us know they wanted it back on TV. We couldn’t be happier that both KOLD News 13 and Access Tucson stepped up – in a show of unprecedented community spirit and cooperation – to provide live and repeat Parade coverage,” said Bill Gourley, 2006 Rodeo Parade Committee Chairman.

Jim Arnold, KOLD News 13 general manager, said, “Tucson is no longer the town at the end of the dusty trail. But we have an Old West history that should not be lost. Access Tucson and KOLD News 13 want to do our part to preserve an important piece of Tucson’s frontier heritage.”

For the last four years, Access Tucson has provided the equipment and technicians for the broadcast; KOLD News 13 has provided its frontline anchor team, program producer and control room staff for the Parade telecast.

“This is what community TV is all about; projects like the Rodeo Parade are why we’re here,” said Sam Behrend, executive director of Access Tucson.

Vicki Evans receives recognition award from Bob Stewart, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee

Not only does Access Tucson help bring the parade to television each year, we also participate in the parade! The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee donates an entry each year for Access Tucson. Members from the Access Tucson Board of Directors, production volunteers and producers waved to the thousands of spectators along the parade route this year.

Hector Urias, J. Lisa Jones, Gordon Austin and Debra Rollinson wave to the crowd

A special thanks to Debra Rollinson and Elizabeth “Bunny” Uriarte spent hours decorating the Access Tucson entry this year. It was quite a colorful and festive ride for the parade participants!

Bunny and Debra decorate the Access Tucson Entry

You can see the 84th Annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo Parade (and the access Tucson Entry!) all this week at 8pm on Comcast 74/ Cox 99.

On Location with YES

The kids were the concept designers and actors and received technical assistance from Access Tucson members Mark Jordan, Jamie Robinson and Matthew Baer. Staff members Vikki Dempsey and Vicki Evans provided their expertise as well.

Mark Jordan tapes with YES participants

Invasive Species Production

Checkout their projects on the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s website and vote for your favorite Eco Ad!

You will also be able to see these Eco Ads on the Access Tucson channels. These environmental messages will run in between regularly scheduled Access Tucson programming as public service announcements.

A round of applause for Amy Orchard of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, all the environmental and technical experts and of course the youth!

When Randy Hanson, Director of Creative Services for La Paloma Kids called and asked if Access Tucson could televise a musical performance to benefit his organization—we were interested. Access Tucson regularly provides non-profit organizations the opportunity to televise community events. Staff and volunteers collaborate to provide Tucson viewers with the chance to see some of the wonderful community service work accomplished in Tucson, to learn about the organizations and often celebrate success.

La Paloma Kids had a big event in mind…International rock legends; Foreigner in concert. We did not think for a second that international rock legends or, more likely, their agents, would allow their performance to be taped. That’s when we found out that Randy’s son is Kelly Hanson, lead singer of Foreigner.

La Paloma Kids appeared on Local Matters, Access Tucson’s long running community affairs program, to promote the event and talk about the organization: “It’s a sad statistic: most children who enter the foster care system experience at least three placements after separation from their family. Most begin this journey with only the clothes on their backs. This lack of security and permanence undermines their attempts to form healthy relationships with those few adults who are committed to providing them with support, confidence and valuable life skills.

Founded in 1980, La Paloma Family Services has provided shelter, counseling, guidance and assistance to Arizona’s at-risk children and families for more than 25 years. Through a variety of programs designed to provide the tools and support they need to meet life’s challenges, La Paloma has positively empowered thousands of Arizona’s Youth.”

Access Tucson signed up as a media partner for the concert. We were given the rock star treatment; riding in the limo with Kelly and the KLPX contest winners, touring the La Paloma Kids facility and lunching with the international rock star. What emerged was an interesting story about the band; each member has a connection to a cause and the band as a whole agrees to donate performances as benefit concerts.

The Chilli’s

Access Tucson coverage of this event includes the concert with Tucson locals The Chilli’s and Foreigner, plus behind the scenes footage with La Paloma Kids organizers. When you hear the stories about these kids and see the commitment of the La Paloma Kids staff, it’s easy to see why Foreigner donated their time and talent to this exceptionally good cause.

See it!

Cox 99
Comcast 74

Photos courtesy of Francisco Medina
Tucson Citizen

To learn about Access Tucson services for non-profit organization link to For Groups.

It’s the 83rd Annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade….a truly unique Tucson tradition. The world’s longest and best non-mechanized parade has nearly 1,000 horses pulling antique wagons, carriages, floats and carrying riders. Be sure to watch for the Access Tucson entry in the parade.

[See post to watch QuickTime movie]

For the third year, Access Tucson teams up with KOLD 13 and the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee to bring the parade live to Southern Arizona. If you can’t be there in person, watch the parade live on Channel 13, starting at 9am on Thursday, February 21.

View the Tucson Rodeo Parade website for parade route details and more.

Only Access Tucson will air replays of the Tucson Rodeo Parade along with a behind-the-scenes documentary “Get Them Wagons Rollin’!” Don’t believe ‘em when they say the Old West is just a memory..watch the 83nd Annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade!

REPLAY TIMES:
Every evening, Saturday through Friday, Feb 23-29 at 8:00pm
Access Tucson Channels U74 Comcast / U99 Cox

Access Tucson’s production truck, mini-mobile unit or package team go on location for community events. Here’s what we’ve been doing recently and we invite everyone to see it on TV!

Public Hearing on Health Insurance Coverage For Women
Experts outline the startling inequities that women in Arizona suffer when it comes to health insurance and talk about the solutions. The event was coordinated by the Pima County/Tucson
Women’s Commission. www.pimatucsonwomen.org
Premiere Weekend
May 12 at 6pm & 9pm
May 13 at 8pm & 11pm
Access Tucson Channels
99/Cox
74/Comcast

Representative Phil Lopes makes a point.

ArtsReach Annual Native American Student Reading
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of ArtsReach! Elementary and secondary school students read the poetry and short stories they created in ArtsReach writing workshops. www.artsreach.net
Premiere Weekend
May 19 6pm & 9pm
May 20 8pm & 11pm
Access Tucson Channels
99/Cox
74/Cox

National Day of Prayer
Congress established an annual day of prayer in 1952. In early May, Tucsonans gathered at the Demeester Center in Reid Park to celebrate the power of prayer. www.nationaldayofprayer.org
Premiere Weekend
June 2 6pm & 9pm
June 3 8pm & 11pm
Access Tucson Channels
99/Cox
74/Comcast

Tucsonans celebrate the power of prayer at the Demeester Center.

Busniness + Information Technology Expo
AMIT is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help further the hi-tech industry and employment opportunities in Tucson. The 2nd annual Expo focuses on “big business technology on a small business budget.” www.Amit-Az.org
Premiere Weekend
June 16 at 6pm & 9pm
June 17 at 8pm & 11pm
Access Tucson channels
99/Cox
74/Comcast
Business + IT Expo 07

[See post to watch QuickTime movie]

For the second year, Access Tucson teams up with KOLD 13 and the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee to bring the parade live to southern Arizona. IF you can’t be there in person, watch the parade live on Channel 13, starting at 9am on Thursday, February 22.

View the Tucson Rodeo Parade website for parade route details and more.
www.tucsonrodeoparade.org

Only Access Tucson will air replays of the Tucson Rodeo Parade along with a “behind-the-scenes” documentary. Don’t believe ‘em when they say the Old West is just a memory..watch the 82nd Annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade!

REPLAY TIMES:
Sat. Feb 24-Mar 2
8pm
Access Tucson Channels Cox/99 and Comcast/74

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/video/player.php?file=111006souls1

In it’s continuing community events coverage, Access Tucson teamed up with the Tucson Citizen to create highlights of the 2006 All Souls Procession. Read the story and see the highlights on-line at the Tucson Citizen.

Access Tucson has long worked with non-profit and civic organizations, educating the public about the services these orgainzations provide. We make it our business to fill those gaps that the mainstream media often ignore.

It’s been exceptionally busy the past three months: 8 shoots on location and one live show from Studio A gave Tucsonans the opportunity to enjoy diverse community programming. 30 Access Tucson volunteers donated nearly 250 hours of crew time. The earliest crew call was 4am for AIDSWALK 2006. The longest shoot was the Musciale Regale coming in at 16 hours!

Each location shoot requires decisions about what type of shoot(truck, mini-mobile, or package) is best for the event; plus site visits, a ton of equipment wrangling, selecting a crew and expecting the unexpected. Now, the behind the scenes tour:

Viva Arizona! concert at the UA Centennial Hall with the production truck. A 13-hour day and 10 Access Tucson volunteers brought the history of Hispanic dance and music in Tucson to your television. We also produced and aired a 30 second event PSA for Viva Arizona! to help them promote the concert, and hosted the organization on Local Matters.

Ashli Cotton and Fara Baidinger make sure all is O.K.

Waiting to go on at Viva Arizona!

Byron Bissell and Marco Sanchez take a break

2006 Election: Access Tucson cablecast the most extensive debate coverage in S. Arizona.
We partnered with the Arizona Daily Star and Pima Community College to shoot and televise the Primary Election Candidate Debates for Congressional District 7 and the nationally-watched race in District 8. We also joined with the Arizona Clean Election Commission to air all of the locally contested legislative races (8) and state offices.

For the General Election debates we went live with a studio audience for the Cogressional District 7 candidates and took the mini-mobile to Pima Community College for the CD8 debate–this program was on the air 45 minutes after the debate finished! We used the new Tricaster digital switcher in the mini-mobile for this shoot. C-SPAN aired the District 8 debate and CNN used many video clips leading up to the election.

We aired 11 other local legislative and state debates produced by the Clean Election Commission. And produced and cablecast numerous PSAs promoting the debates, which also aired on Pima Community College channels. And we featured the Arizona Daily Star Election Team on our weekly, live program, Government Connection.

Citizens wait for the debate to begin

Mini-mobile, poised and ready

The new digital Tricaster switcher makes its debut

City of Tucson Welcomes the new UA President, Robert Shelton. A shoot/edit package at two locations. Access Tucson partnered with Council Offices Ward 3 and 6. A first-time volunteer, fresh from Digital Field Production class, has to unexpectedly fill in at a camera position and does a wonderful job.

AIDSWALK 2006 Began before the sun came up. We set up in the dark on the UA Mall. Seven cameras and volunteers scattered to shoot the 10K race and the 5K walk, the opening ceremonies, the displays, interviews and the thousands of people who made the walk a success for the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation. We aired a pre-produced PSA for SAAF and featured the organization of Local Matters.

Mark Jordan and Vicki Evans begin the day

Gordon Austin is on top of it

Enjoying the day at AIDSWALK 2006

Musicale Regale 2006 The world famous Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus annual kick-off concert. Probably the most physically strenous shoot. The venue was the UA Student Union Ballroom—up 2 flights of steps from the production truck and far from the elevator. All cameras (5), miles of camera and audio cable and accessories were hauled up and down the stairs. Again, a brand new volunteer, who didn’t expect to run a camera was thrown on one at the last minute and stayed 2 hours longer than he intended. This was the 16-hour day and no one could feel his legs when it was over.

Tucson’s renowned Boys Chorus

First time volunteer, Dominic Mamaril makes it look easy

Stephen St. Clair makes it look easy

Memory Walk 2006 Access Tucson managed to stetch its resources, thanks to volunteers, and shoot this event on the same day as the Musicale Regale. Though small, the crew was efficient and covered the entire event: the walk, entertainment and interviews. We helped the Alzheimer’s Association of S. Arizona promote this event by producing and airing a 30 second PSA and an appearance on Local Matters.

Tim O’Grady and Fara Baidinger unload gear

Signing up for the Memory Walk

Shooting interviews helps tell the story

Tucson Money Faire was a first-time, special one-stop event to combat predatory lenders and offered consumers free credit reports, tax prepartation and financial services for low and moderate income consumers. To promote this event we produced a 30 second PSA for the Westside Coalition, Weed and Seed Program, and an appearance by 2 of the sponsors on Government Connection. (One crew person finds, in the remote gear, her glasses which had been missing for 5 months–since the Juneteenth, 2-day remote!)

Please join us for our last remote shoot of the year. With our production truck, we go live from our parking lot to bring you the Holiday Parade of Lights from 6-9pm on December 9th. This is the second annual partnership between Access Tucson and the Tucson Downtown Alliance.

Check out for yourself just what “behind the scenes” with Access Tucson is all about. And if you can’t be here; watch the parade live on Access Tucson channels Cox/99 Comcast/74.

As Access Tucson teaches individuals to “do” television, so we provide services to organizations to educate, inform and promote public dialogue through cable television. Our definition of community is limitless.

Don’t miss the premeire on Access Tucson Channels Cox 99 and Comcast 74:

• Saturday, August 19th 6pm and 9pm
• Sunday, August 20th, 8pm and 11pm

August 5, 2006 UA Centennial Hall 7pm. VIVA ARIZONA! Hispanic Performing Arts Concert. For more information, visit www.vivaazworkshops.com

August 28,29, or 30 Pima Community College (East Broadway) Congressional District #8 Candidates Forum. Republican candidates one night and Democrataic candidates on another. Stay tuned for the exact dates and times.

October 8, 2006 UA Central Mall 6:30am-11:00am. AIDSWALK 2006. This annual walk/run event raises money for the programs and services for the Southern Arizona Aids Foundation (SAAF) Visit www.saaf.org

October 28, 2006 Reid Park Band Shell MEMORY WALK ‘06 7am-1pm. The event raises money for the Southern Arizona Region of the Alzheimer’s Association. Visit www.alzdsw.org

[See post to watch QuickTime movie]

October 28, 2006 UA Student Union Ballroom 5:30pm. TUCSON ARIZONA BOYS CHORUS MUSICAL REGALE. Monies raised assist the The Chorus to access under-served segments in the community.

November 4, 2006 El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway. 10am-2pm. FAIR MONEY FAIRE. This first-time event will inform people about payday lenders, recognize and avoid fraud, and the brass tacks of financial literacy.

January 20, 2007 Pima Community College Procenium Theater. Dance Southwest Dance Festival. The producer is Access Tucson member Krystyna Parafinczuk.

February 17, 2007 Reid Park 10am-5pm. Saving Animals from Euthanaisa (SAFE). One day festival that educates and entertains people and their pets! Visit www.safeanimals.com/aaf.html.

February 22, 2007 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo Parade. Access Tucson teams up with the Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee and KOLD Channel 13 to bring the parade, live, to Tucsonans.

Access Tucson’s television remote crew was at Kennedy Park this year and invites you to watch this long-time Tucson tradition.

Premiere Weekend
July 8 at 6pm and 9pm
July 9 at 8pm and 11pm
On Access Tucson channels Cox 99/Comcast 74

Ping Fu came to this country by way of a Chinese Prison. In less than 10 years, she has co-founded and runs a 30 million dollar company. Microbusiness Advancement Center is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Leadership Luncheon to benefit the Tucson-Pima County Women’s Business Center.

Cablecast premiere:

• May 13, 2006 at 6 pm and 9 pm
• May 14, 2006 at 8pm and 11pm

The program premieres on:

• Saturday, April 8th at 6pm and 9pm on Comcast Channel 74 and Cox 99
• Sunday, April 9th at 8pm and 11pm on Comcast Channel 74 and Cox 99

The Homenaje features tributes by local writers, musicians dancers, and performing artists, Adalberto Gallegos, Mariachis Los Changuitos Feos, Ted Ramirez, Mike Ronstadt and the Santa Cruz River Band, and writer Patricia Preciado Martin, with Ernesto Portillo, Jr., as master of ceremonies.

Watch Homenanaje: La Vida de Lalo Guerrero

• Premier Cablecast Saturday March 18th at 6pm & 9pm
• Encore Cablecast Sunday March 19th at 8pm & 11pm

On:

• Comcast channel 74 and Cox channel 99

Access Tucson where Tucson’s on TV

Access Tucson will replay the entire parade that evening at 8 pm, cable channel 99 Cox / 74 Comcast. Encore cablecasts continue at the same time, same channel, each night through Sunday, March 5th.

“The thousands who tuned in each year to see their children and friends in the Parade let us know they wanted it back on TV. We couldn’t be happier that both KOLD News 13 and Access Tucson stepped up – in a show of unprecedented community spirit and cooperation – to provide live and repeat Parade coverage,” said Bill Gourley, Rodeo Parade Committee Chairman.

Jim Arnold, KOLD News 13 general manager, said, “Tucson is no longer the town at the end of the dusty trail. But we have an Old West history that should not be lost. Access Tucson and KOLD News 13 want to do our part to preserve a important piece of Tucson’s frontier heritage.”

For at least the next three years, Access Tucson will supply equipment and technicians for the broadcast; KOLD News 13 will provide its frontline anchor team, program producer and control room staff for the Parade telecast. Each will contribute equipment and personnel free. Incidental costs will be covered by four program sponsors, with the remaining sponsorship revenue being donated to support the Rodeo Parade Committee’s preservation efforts.

“This is what community TV is all about; projects like the Rodeo Parade are why we’re here,” said Sam Behrend, executive director of Access Tucson.

In addition to the Parade telecast, Access Tucson is producing a one hour documentary on the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum. The world-renowned museum is only open to the public during January and February. It houses the largest collection of authentic, historic wagons, stage coaches, buggies and pioneer-days artifacts in America. Many of the 150 vehicles have appeared in Hollywood movies and TV westerns.

For more information contact:

• Bob Johnson, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee: 520-406-6607
• Jim Arnold, KOLD-TV: 520-744-1313
• Sam Behrend, Access Tucson: 520-624-9833, ext. 103