June 2008

It feels good to stand in the sunshine.

At the end of a hard day, when you complete a project and step back to admire your work, it feels good to stand in the sunshine and appreciate your effort. Often times you may look around to see if others appreciate your work. It may be a case where someone might use or benefit from what you’ve created. If you’re really lucky, you have created something that you and the entire community can appreciate – and use – every day.

 Well, PAC 14 is feeling pretty toasty right now. After 10 years of effort and achievement we’re standing out in the sunshine for all to see.

With the election coverage at fever pitch, the world constantly in some sort of daily crisis and satellites buzzing above our heads beaming all of it into our living rooms, it’s no wonder headache remedies are now offered next to the candy in the checkout isle. On the other side of that thought, there is value in being informed and in-tune with the world around us. This should include not only our global community, but our ‘local’ community as well.

In fact I’d argue that in many cases it’s as important – if not more important – to be informed about what’s going on in your own hometown. Inside your own community, your geographical space, there are an endless number ‘things’ going on. Where can you turn, to view, or personally disseminate this information? Certainly the major networks are not going to provide ‘local’ information and the local commercial stations simply package a limited number of stories, sound bites, to share each day. That leaves PAC 14 and Public Access Television. We are uniquely local and focused on only the people and activities within our community.

PAC 14 opened its doors a decade ago. Since that time we have actively sought the funding necessary to provide the services typically found in other Access Operations – and for the sole purpose of making these services available to the citizens of this community. The services needed to produce and disseminate ‘local’ information – to provide ‘local’ educational programs – and all of it to benefit the people who live here.

We all seem to care about our freedoms – the freedom to speak - the freedom to participate in the processes. PAC 14 embodies every facet of these freedoms which incorporates every single person within this community… from the citizen who walks off the street to volunteer produce ‘local’ programming – to the viewer.

There are always nay-sayers, there are always mountains to climb, what counts is the end of the journey - when you can say - we made it - we achieved goals far beyond those even envisioned. We lack nothing but the funds to establish our ‘local’ Community Media Facility and more people to join those already using our services. PAC 14 is without doubt a destination on the dial; we are the ‘home’ of local programming we are by all standards a success. Yes, it feels very good to stand in the sunshine.

I thank every single viewer – every one of our over 600 PAC 14 members (and growing) – and every single person who has helped us survive and thrive over the last decade.

Don’t forget holidays this month - we celebrate Flag Day and Fathers Day in June.

Mike Goodson,
Manager PAC 14

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