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Community Television
Methuen Councilor Kathleen Corey
Rahme
(03/06/07)
When the crew from Methuen
Community Television’s Call to Serve formed back in
the winter of 2003 to create a show about the oral
histories of local veterans, no one could have imagined that
it would still be going strong in 2007. We are about to
record our 50th show! If you are ever wondering about the
value of, or the impact of, local access television, just
ask the crew. Or better yet, ask the fifty, veteran
guests and their families about what the experience has
meant to them.
“There isn’t a better example of community
involvement than community television,” says Karen
Hayden, Executive Director of MCTV. People can directly
impact their neighbors by creating their own shows or by
recording events in the community. “Call to Serve is
just another way the medium can be used to give our
veterans the opportunity to talk about their experiences
while defending our freedom. It is a powerful
thing,” says Hayden. This is all possible because of
the wonderful volunteers willing to utilize the free
training provided at MCTV. But this all could change.
Currently, there is a bill known as An Act Promoting
Consumer Choice and Competition for Cable Service,
sponsored by Sen. Steven Panagiotakos of Lowell. It is
being promoted to encourage consumer choice and
competition. The opposite could actually result. If
passed, it will change community access television as we
know it. Some of the changes would result in the
elimination of, the existing cable law MGL c. 166A. If
you would like details about the proposal, check it out
at www.massaccess
.org/Public Policy.html.
Basically, because public access is not a public utility,
it is subject to the user fees you see on your cable
bill. It must rent the fiber space. These fees are used
to help pay for the wonderful, local programming you
enjoy on MCTV. According to Hayden, “no one is
questioning whether there should be competition for cable
television services, but rather what we are willing to
give up for the competition.” Hayden is convinced
that we should not have to give up anything. She feels
that legitimate competitors can obtain licensing right
now. The proposed legislation will attack our local
television station and their ability to provide
programming like high school sports, community events,
municipal meetings and programs like Call to Serve.
“If we give this up, what could possibly replace
it?” asked Hayden.
As we approach our 50th show, I am thinking about the
invaluable experiences our crew and participants have
enjoyed, as well as the unquestionable impact this
program has made. I would like to thank and acknowledge
the crew because without them none of this would be
possible. Thank you to Al Grant, Corinne LaCharite, Paul
Clover, Joe Clover, Bruce Wilson, Mike Beshara, Ed
Curran, Jack Dorsey, and all the extra volunteers like
Tom Gradzewicz, Paul Perrone, Rosa Croughwell, Christine
Ryan, Marie Rahme and Michael Rahme.
The guests should also be acknowledged for without them,
there would be no Call to Serve. They are Michael
Beshara, Edmond Solomon, Louise Shea Flynn, Sara Payne
Hayden, Domenic Stella, Andrew Bernard, Joseph Lovoi,
Luthur McIlwain, Ray Cormier, Alfred Bruno, Bill
Broderick, Winifred Medauer, Fred Kuehn, Joseph Messina,
Arthur Wyman, Tom Petrillo, Joseph Drelick,
Marco Derrico, Sylvio Uliano, Herbert Hynes, Judy
Schadlick, John Caro, Harvey Gibeau, Jim Oliveri, Bill
O’Connor, Stanley Podbeilski, Connie Grew, Michael
Buglione, Buddy Keyes, Richard Kiessling, George Dyer,
George Sargent, Sam DiNoto, Ed Sidon, Sid Wagner, Anthony
Marchese, Charles Boddy, Bruce Arnold, Al Grant, Paul
Clover, Charles Bruderer, Raymond DiFiore, Richard
Henrick, Joseph Bella, Paul Perrone, John DiSalvo, Arthur
Mansor, Paul Frechette, Angus MacPherson, and Ed Curran.
The show actually placed third in the Alliance for
Community Media Awards in 2004. It follows the guidelines
of the Library of Congress’ Veterans’ History
Project. The shows are archived in the Library of
Congress. “When a veteran thanks you for your
service to the community, you know you are doing
something important,” says Hayden referring to Call
to Serve. This show continues to inspire all who view it.
It tells the stories of the people you know, or think you
know. It tells the stories of your neighbors, your
mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, sisters and
brothers. It puts a face on all those who answered the
‘call to serve.’
Methuen City Councilor, Vice Chair, Councilor At
Large, Methuen Youth Corps, Founder (978) 686-0008
home or (978)387-2963 cell http://www.ci.methuen.ma.us/Council/council_members/rahme.htm.
You can email her at kcoreyrahme @comcast.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The March 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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