PARIS – The Community Television Association of Maine had its annual meeting at Norway/Paris Cable on June 24.

The association’s mission is to “advance democratic ideals by ensuring that people in Maine have access to electronic media.” The association works to educate community leaders about the benefits of participating in locally produced media.

A fully equipped station is called a PEG station, which stands for Public, Education and Government, a concept created by Congress in 1984 with the Cable Communications Act. The idea was to open up the public’s access to the airways. PEG stations broadcast a variety of public events. Public access stations also offer community bulletin boards with free message services.

Sally Ann Hebert, association president and station manager in Greene, conducted the meeting. She represents Maine in the northeast chapter of the National Alliance for Community Media. That connection has resulted in a regional conference, Oct. 24 and 25, in Portland.

The conference will include workshops on public policy, franchising, the arts and a youth track. As the workshop coordinator, Georgia Humphrey, station manager in Gorham, is organizing round table discussions. There will be demonstrations and a video competition that is expected to draw entries from all over the northeastern United States.

Shoshanna Hoose, station manager at TV3, Portland Arts and Technology High School, is the conference organizer.

Organizers expect the fall conference will draw hundreds of station managers from all over the northeast.

Community Television Association of Maine members spoke proudly of their accomplishments in the last year. They submitted L.D. 947, about the regulation of franchises. The Maine Municipal Association is now writing a guide to cable franchising with Tony Vigue, Station Manager in South Portland and association liaison, as their consultant.

William F. Stockwell was the featured speaker at the conference. Stockwell is a professional fund-raiser and nonprofit management consultant. In the last 30 years, he has raised between $35 million and $40 million on behalf of charitable institutions. He reminded people they could make a meaningful difference with even the smallest donation.

Richard Box, 93, is the oldest volunteer in the association network. Box is one of the founders and the longest serving volunteers at NPC-TV. He currently produces a show called “The Human Side,” with the assistance of his wife, Lucille. For three years, Box did a weekly show at the Paris Public Library called “Kids Club.”

The Community Television Association of Maine was formed in 1979.

For conference information and links to the national Web site, go to www.ctamaine.org.

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