Here Are the Winners!
The Alliance for Community Media Northeast Region is proud to announce the winners of the Special Awards for 2014. Thanks to our members participating in the process! It was not an easy decision for the committee, but we are pleased to be recognizing the following people:
- The Brian Wilson Mentor Award is going to retiring Coordinator Peter Pijoan of Wolfeboro Community TV in New Hampshire. Nominated by his replacement Ryan Noonan, Peter was praised for his dedication to New Hampshire public access and mentoring everyone who worked with him. “He was the founder of LRPA (Lakes Region Public Access), and then moved on to creating Wolfeboro Community Television. He has decided to retire after 10 years of service as the Coordinator, I am now his successor and would like to recognize him for his mentoring of me and as well as other stations in NH,” said Noonan. Pijoan just turned 80.
- The Chuck Sherwood Leadership Award is going to Scott Campitelli of RETN in Burlington, Vermont. Scott was actually nominated by two people. Jason Daniels of Easton Community Access Television said, “Scott leads an organization that covers a vast area spanning multiple communities. He has to wrangle and coordinate a large group from multiple schools and districts. His capacity to create and unify the region under the RETN brand is testament to his leadership skills.” Scott has been a dedicated leader and inspiring colleague for those around him. Also Nominated by his colleague Drew Frazier, Scott was praised for steering RETN through a transformative period, shaking up how RETN operated and forging more partnerships with non profits. Scott “has also been a leader in collaborative discussions taking place between RETN, CCTV (government access) and VCAM (public access) on the topic of merger feasibility. He has been a leader on the statewide level for decades. He founded the Vermont Media Exchange (VMX) and recently became the chair of the VMX Governing Committee. Scott’s leadership has also been vital in helping VAN (Vt Access Network) affiliates negotiate contract renewals with Comcast and other cable operators,” Frazier said.
- The Rika Welsh Community Impact Award is going to Al Grant and Corinne LaCharite, producers of “Call to Serve” since 2003. The show has been hosted by MCTV volunteer Kathleen Corey Rahme since its inception. Nominated by Methuen Community TV volunteer Thomas Gradzewicz with support from the MCTV staff, Tom said, “Many people in the local communities have had no idea of what it means to serve in the armed forces. Not everyone goes to war, but all give a portion of their life in service. These shows have made an impact on many veterans’ families, since many of them never had any idea of what their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, friends have sacrificed to preserve our way of life.” In addition to MCTV, the program is distributed through Methuen’s local library and copies have been sent to the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans’ History Project.
Congratulations to the winners and all the people who were nominated. These awards will be given out at our KeyNote luncheon at the “Live Free and Make Media -Tradition Meets Innovation II” Conference in Nashua, NH on Friday, October 10.