Mission Statement

SCAT STAFF in 2007

Wendy Blom – Executive Director
Responsible for all day-to-day operations of the SCAT including staff supervision, planning, and financial management; Seeks and secures private funding to support programs; Produces and updates outreach efforts, including SCAT's quarterly newsletter, website, brochures, press releases, and other promotional materials

Charles Tesch– Technology Coordinator
Maintains and repairs SCAT's production equipment while keeping abreast of new technologies beneficial to SCAT and its members; recommends equipment for purchase, advises members on production techniques, assists with SCAT productions.

Prince Charles– Programming Coordinator/Youth Instructor
Oversees scheduling, playback, and tape traffic of all Channel 3 programs; produces promotions and community service productions, teaches youth in SCAT youth programs.

Dacia Kornechuk– Membership & Youth Program Coordinator
Oversees membership database and correspondence; organizes volunteer efforts and fosters member support; coordinates SCAT's monthly art gallery exhibitions and produces Art@SCAT, maintains SCAT office supplies, runs SCAT’s youth programs.

Bill Barrell– Digital Media Coordinator
Oversees the SCAT facility in the evening hours Monday through Thursday, manages and troubleshoots edit computers and drives, oversees the Community Bulletin Board, produces community service TV programs, teaches production classes, manages SCAT video on the Web.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mimi Graney
Union Square Main Streets

John Carreiro
SCAT Member Representative

Eileen Costa, Treasurer
City Office of Communications

Wilson Dillaway
Tufts University

Candyce Dostert, President
Community Representative

Pat Garrity
Community Representative

Jessica Collins
Somerville Health Agenda

Sidney Storey
Community Representative

Ellin Reisner
Somerville Transportation Equity Project

Al Rubio
SCAT Member Representative

Gerathel Theodore/Nesley Lambert
SCAT Member Representative

* affiliations for identification purposes only

COMMENTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2007 was a productive year at SCAT. For the third year in a row SCAT won the Alliance for Community Media Hometown Award for Overall Excellence in our category of mid-size public access stations. SCAT has set the bar high for the competition across the country, and SCAT is highly regarded in the access community. At the national conference in Minneapolis, where we received the award, Dacia Kornechuk led a panel on Youth Documentary Workshops.

SCAT is well embedded in the community. New projects begun in 2007 are collaborations with other Somerville organizations and agencies. We work with Cambridge/Somerville Elder Services to produce Active Aging, a monthly series for and about local elders, and with the Somerville Arts Council to produce UnionTube, a series of shows about ArtsUnion activites. We have also begun a new series with the Cambridge/Somerville Health Alliance called Welcome Wellness. These shows, along with Somerville Art Matters, Art@SCAT, and Talking About Somerville are designed to provide timely information about local topics.

The Thursday night “By and For Somerville Production Company” is an initiative to enable newly certified SCAT producers to get involved in productions right away, and in the process build a sense of community among members. As a result, Thursday nights at SCAT are buzzing with activity in the studio and members have a ready crew for programs shot on Thursday nights.

There have been substantial technology upgrades this year. In June we installed a broadcast server so that all recorded programs are now sent to the channel from a computer rather than from DVD or VHS players. As a result, Channel 3 consistently looks better and programming is more flexible. We also purchased five new Sony camcorders for field production. They, along with several of the older cameras that still function well, allow for seven field producers to use equipment at the same time. Each weekend all seven cameras are usually booked. The youth program equipment is also new, thanks to grants from the Clowes Fund and Tufts University. We purchased new cameras, laptops, portable decks, microphones, and portable hard drives. The new computer lab that took over the back edit suite has the laptops ready for computer-based classes and editing.

Dacia Kornechuk transformed the SAYMedia! program into an in-demand youth media program called Next Generation Producers. Each quarter she and Prince Charles work with teens from other youth-serving organizations, and with middle-schoolers as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Program. A documentary produced by a teen in the Spring program won first place in the Northeast Regional ACM video contest.

Cable access provisions remained threatened in 2007 at both the state and national levels. In Massachusetts, Verizon promoted a bill that would have provided for a state-wide franchise to replace the current local franchising process. Through intensive grass roots organizing and pressure from the MA Municipal Association led by Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, the bill was stalled in committee. In Washington, the FCC passed new rules that would weaken local control over the franchise process for new cable TV providers, particularly the telephone companies. Those rules are being challenged in Congress and it remains to be seen what effect they will have on Somerville’s PEG services.

Looking ahead to 2008, I expect SCAT to expand its digital media training program for both adults and teens in the new computer lab. We also plan to redesign the website to allow for more member interaction and access to video on the site. We hope to attract new members and assist more non-profits in Somerville to use media to achieve their objectives.

Wendy Blom, Executive Director

2007 MEMBERSHIP

Total Membership on December 31, 2007: 191
Member Organizations: 24
Membership Income: $7,445

2007 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR : Andrew McLeod

Andrew McLeod joined SCAT in 2005 as an organizational member through Boston Indymedia. After taking classes in field production, editing and documentary production, Andrew created a documentary on Boston activist, Mel King. He also volunteered to shoot and edit important local events for SCAT, such as Scott Ritter’s political forum at Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theatre. Andrew also used his construction skills to transform the back edit suite into a much-needed computer classroom. Andrew can always be counted on to pitch in, and we value his involvement at SCAT.

2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR : Candice Leonard

Candice Leonard joined SCAT in 2007 and immediately took the portable production and studio production classes, and learned to produce in the HOT Set. She began a weekly HOT Set show with Bill Trudell called Positively Schmooze Street, and volunteered to help out as crew on many studio productions. In the Fall, Candice began hosting and producing Welcome Wellness, a SCAT production funded by a grant from the Somerville Health Foundation.

SCAT VOLUNTEERS 2007

These folks volunteered their time and expertise to create special community programs and events, they helped keep the facility running smoothly, and they read for the visually impaired.
Thank you everyone!

Wallace Amarante
Mario Archer
Nicole Barios
George Berry
Karen Callwood
Stacy Cohen
Drew Cookson
Janet Cormier
Darren Costa
Michael Cuhna
Mary Ann Dalton
Steve DeCarlo
Roberto Diaz
Hans Elmidor
David Eckelkamp
Julia Fairclough

Eileen Feldman
Jeanne Flannagan
Laurel Greenberg
Rinat Harel
Joaquin Hernandez
Jessica Hunt
Chelomin Jeong
Grace Johnson
Carrie Joyce
Alison Keehn
Chris Kung
George LeBlanc
Maureen LeBlanc
Nesley Lambert
Candice Leonard
Chris Locke

Aru Manrique
Daniel Marques
Sarah Martin
Joe Medeiros
Helawie Melaku
Mary Lu Mendonca
Elisa Mintz
Peter Neresian
Consuelo Perez
Gizela Perez
Dimie Poweigha
Arlene Quinn
Rachel Reid
Trish Reid
Allison Rodriguez
Al Rubio

Al Rubio
Richard Shieferdecker
Tarsha Stacke
Denis Stacke
Victor Tiernan
Rob Tronic
Bill Trudell
Pietre Val Buena
Lyn Voyda

Interns

Karen Callwood – Suffolk University
Drew Cookson – Emerson College
Cheolmin Jeong – Kyung Hee University
Grace Johnson – Emerson College
Christoper Locke – Emerson College
Daniel Marques – Harvard Extension
Allison Maria Rodriguez – Museum School

ART GALLERY EXHIBITORS

January: Candy Witcher

February - March: Gena Merliss

April - May: Jennifer Hughes

June: Janet Cormier

July - August: Susanne Bartz

September - October: Bridget Galway

November – December: Christian Waeber

SOMERVILLE ORGANIZATIONS SERVED by SCAT IN 2007

* Indicates SCAT membership

Accion USA*
ArtSomerville
ArtsUnion
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Boston Indymedia*
Boys and Girls Club*
Brickbottom Gallery
Centro Presente*
Community Action
Agency of Somerville
DARBI
Dare Family Services
Disabilities Commission*
Dreams for Youth Foundation*
Duplo Louvor*
East Somerville Main Streets
Ego Art*
Fluff Festival
Freedom of Mind
Resource Center*
Growing Center
Groundwork Somerville
Honk! Festival

Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway
Theatre*
Lexington Park Mural Project
MAPS*
Mudflat Studios
Mystic View Task Force
Mystic Avenue Mural Project
North Clark Institute*
Peru Earthquake Relief
Shalom International Baptist
Community*
Shape Up Somerville
SMO Money Records*
SSP Somerville
Somerville Arts Council
Somerville/Cambridge Elder Services*
Somerville/Cambridge Health
Alliance*
Somerville Community Corporation*
Somerville Dog Owners Association
Somerville Health Agenda
Somerville Homeless Coalition*
Somerville Journal
Somerville Museum

Somerville Open Studios
Somerville Producers
Group*
Somerville Public Library
Somerville Rotary Club*
Somerville School
Department
Somerville Transportation
Equity Project
Somerville Youth Hockey
Teen Empowerment*
Triangle, Inc.
Tufts University
Union Square Main Streets
Welcome Project
WIC
Windows Art Project
World Revival Church*
Year Up Program
YMCA*

HIGHLIGHTS 2007

Winter

• The Annual Meeting was held on January 25. Food and drink and raffle prizes were donated by area restaurants, stores, and SCAT friends. Guest speakers included State Rep. Denise Provost and State Senator Pat Jehlen, who spoke about the need to stop the State Legislature from changing the franchise rules to benefit Verizon. Certificates of appreciation were given to all SCAT member series producers. The event was cablecast live.
• We purchased two Sony HDR FX7 field cameras for our member producers. The cameras can record in both standard and high definition formats and provide a fabulous picture quality.
• James Mayhew left SCAT for a job in New York, and Bill Barrell, who was the part-time production instructor, left his full-time job at WHDH and came to work at SCAT as Digital Media Coordinator.
• SCAT continued to produce new episodes of Critical Focus: A Forum on Media Today in collaboration with CCTV in Cambridge.
• Member Jeanne Flanagan held a screening of her documentary on the Tabitha-Cambodia Project that she shot when she was a volunteer on the project in Cambodia.
• SCAT purchased an “audio snake” for studio productions using multiple microphones.
• Documentary screening of I know I’m Not Alone by musician Michael Franti.
• We held a Hot Set Open House.

Spring

• The Somerville Arts Council contracted with SCAT to produce a monthly series called UnionTube about ArtsUnion happenings. The show is hosted by Arts Council staffers Rachel Strutt and Melissa Woodman, and produced by SCAT staffer Bill Barrell.
• The By and For Somerville Production Company is an initiative to bring in members on Thursday evenings to produce a variety of studio shows. Led by Bill Barrell, the group improves their technical skills and provides crew for community productions.
• SCAT received a grant from the Clowes Fund to purchase new cameras and edit computers for the youth media programs at SCAT. We purchased three cameras, two portable decks, three microphones, and five laptops.
• The Next Generation Producers held a Youth Film Festival at the Somerville Theatre to showcase projects completed by youth from the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Family Center and the West Somerville Neighborhood School. Mayor Curtatone congratulated the teens on their hard work before the screening. All the participants received Certificates of Achievement and many kudos.
• Somerville Adult Learning Experience (SCALE) recognized SCAT at its Community Appreciation Breakfast for its “efforts as a community partner and mentor in media skills development and production.”
• SCAT purchased a Princeton Server for cablecast operations. The server cablecasts directly from computer files rather than from DVD’s or tapes, creating a much more dependable system and an improved look for the channel.
• Hundreds of PEG access supporters and elected officials crowded into the Gardner Auditorium in the Massachusetts Statehouse to voice their opposition to the proposed “Verizon Bill” which would create a state-wide franchise for cable TV providers. Mayor Curtatone, Rep. Denise Provost, and Sen. Pat Jehlen all spoke eloquently about how the bill would hurt community communications, reduce the income and support that cities receive from the cable companies, and eliminate all local control over cable TV service.

Summer

• For the third year in a row, SCAT won the national award for Overall Excellence from the Alliance for Community Media in its category of mid-size public access center. Wendy, Dacia and Prince attended the award ceremony at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
• Dacia Kornechuk led a panel workshop on teaching youth documentary production at the Alliance for Community Media Conference in Minneapolis.
• SCAT had a booth at the annual ArtBeat event in Davis Square. The booth was created and manned by SCAT interns Allison Rodriguez, Daniel Marquez, and Karen Callwood, who painted a big box for use as a SCAT portable studio. Passers by at the festival were invited to make comments on tape about their favorite animated character. The footage was edited into a program by Allison.
• The Summer Next Generation Producers program was taught by Dacia Kornechuk and Prince Charles with assistance from Tufts intern Allison Rodriguez. Eleven students worked on video projects two afternoons each week for six weeks, producing PSA’s on racism and harassment, documentaries, dramas, and a video collage to an origianal poem.
• The SCAT Board of Directors threw a party for members at The Macchu Picchu Restaurant to celebrate the Hometown award.
• Critical Focus was broadcast as a Free Speech TV program on the Dish Satellite Network, reaching millions of viewers around the world.
• With a grant from the Local Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, SCAT hosted a documentary film screening series.

Fall

• SCAT staff and members created programs on community events such as MUM, the Fluff Festival, Honk Fest, and a lecture by Scott Ritter at the Jimmy Tingle Off Broadway Theatre.
• The back edit suite was converted into a computer classroom for edit classes and editing projects on laptops.
• With a grant from the Somerville Health Foundation, SCAT staff and member Candice Leonard began production on a monthly series called Welcome Wellness.
• The Next Generation Producers worked with teens from Centro Presente and the Healy School on many video projects. Centro Present teens started a HOT Set show called The 3:30.
• SCAT’s fall interns were Drew Cookson, and Cheolmin Jeong.

VIDEO PRODUCTION TRAINING

SCAT Studio Producer

The four-session Basic Studio Production class teaches the skills needed to produce programs in the studio, including how to operate the cameras, floor direct, and design lighting and control room operations. In the Studio Directing class students build on the skills acquired in the Basic class and learn the steps to directing a show in the studio.

Basic Studio Production: 4 courses, 37 participants
Studio Directing : 2 courses, 7 participants

SCAT Community Producer

These courses cover all the necessary steps of portable production. The Community Producer Certification allows members to use SCAT equipment to produce public service announcements, dramatic videos, meeting coverage, documentaries and more.

• Basic Portable Equipment introduces the miniDV camcorder, microphones, lighting and basic shooting techniques.

8 courses, 62 participants

• Final Cut Editing Introduces students to non-linear editing with Mac Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro software.

8 courses, 53 participants

Special Workshops

Documentary Production: 1 course, 9 participants; Vlogging and Producing Music Videos offered but no participants.

Next Generation Producers - Youth Media Workshops

Winter: Programs with the Family Center, the West Somerville Neighborhood School, and the Somerville Boys and Girls Club.
29 students.
Spring: Boys and Girls Clubs of Somerville and South Boston, West Somerville Neighborhood School.
22 students
Summer: Next Generation Producers came from all over Somerville. 10 participants.
Fall: Programs with Centro Presente and the Healy School. 16 participants.

PROGRAMMING ON SCAT CHANNEL 3

Original Programs Hours
Members using SCAT Facilities 1,015
Grants & Contracts 10
Staff Supervised/Produced* 126
Total SCAT Produced Programming 1,151

Series - Independently Produced in Somerville 220
Series - Independently Produced in Boston Area 422
Series - Independently Produced outside Boston Area 702

Free Speech TV - 2,080

Total All Original Programs 4,575
Total Hours with Repeats 8,410

* includes programming such as Art@SCAT, News for the Visually Impaired, Talking About Somerville, Somerville Art Matters and community events such as ArtBeat and The Fluff Festival

MAJOR GRANT AND CONTRACT REVENUE FOR 2006

SCAT Operating

• Comcast & RCN Cable Providers: $238,106
• City of Somerville: Rent & Utilities In-Kind Value: $73,248.
• MA Cultural Council / Organizational Support: $7,000

Grant Funding for Programs

• Tufts University: $1,215
• The Clowes Fund $12,500
• Somerville Health Foundation $2,500
• Somerville Arts Council $900

Contract Programs and Projects

• Greater Boston Bed Bug Task Force $1,185
• Somerville Arts Council: Union Tube $1,000
• Somerville/Cambridge Elder Services: Active Aging $3,250
• 21st Century Community Learning Afterschool Programs $2,800
• Somerville Rotary Club Promotions $600
• Accion USA: Public Service Announcement $100
• Somerville YMCA: Cops & Kids $300
• South Boston Boys and Girls Club $1,800
• Family Center $400

Facility and Equipment Rental Income: $2,203
Investment Income: $33,337

DONATIONS MADE IN 2007

ArtSomerville
Mr. and Mrs. John Carreiro
Dave’s Pasta
Patricia Garrity
Great Thai Chef
Jerry’s Liquors
Kendall Theater
Luizia’s Beauty Salon
Mike’s Restaurant
Neighborhood Restaurant

Nellie’s Wildflowers
Petsie’s Pies
Sherman’s Café
Somerville Theatre
Subway in Union Square
Taqueria Mexicana
Taylor Rental
Union Pizza

Equipment & Facilities

Studio & Control Room usage: 659 hours
Control Room Editing usage: 331hours
Dub room: 505hours
Edit #2 (Basic Non-Linear Editing) usage: 418 hours
Edit #3 (Advanced Non-Linear Editing) usage: 1094 hours
Field Camcorder usage: 475 sign-out's

Dollar Value* to the Community for Public Access Services

Equipment
Studio Production:
288 uses

Field Equipment:
1485 sign-out's

Editing:
253 hours in control room
639 hours in non-linear edit suites

Dollar Value to the Community for SCAT services
Equipment/Facilities*: $198,855
Training @ $100/session: $8,100
Channel Time @$125/hour: $1,051,250

TOTAL $1,258,205

* based upon the rental fees SCAT charges its members for using SCAT equipment and facilities for productions not intended for cablecast on SCAT Channel 3.