The following press release was submitted by WayCAM President and Chair, Ken Isaacson:
WayCAM is moving…and we have an exciting plan that will benefit everyone!
WayCAM manages and operates Wayland’s own Public Access TV station, a non-profit [501(c)3] corporation established in 2001. WayCAM is funded by cable TV subscriber fees, and, except for one full-time employee, Program Director Jim Mullane, WayCAM depends entirely on Wayland resident volunteers.
This past year WayCAM produced 469 original TV programs. Over 100 students produced 222 of these, including 161 musicals, plays and sports events; town programs, Town Meeting, and community shows. Wayland resident-producers created 165 programs. Volunteers covered and broadcast 143 town government meetings. All programs appear on Comcast and Verizon cable, and as Video-On-Demand, 24/7/365, on WayCAM’s own Web site, www.waycam.tv.
Since 1985 WayCAM has been operating out of a small, cramped studio in the basement of the High School Administration Building. It’s cozy and it’s ‘home,’ but when the new Wayland High School is built, our studio will be torn down and WayCAM will need to move.
There’s a solution that benefits everyone!
Warrant Article #5 at Special Town Meeting, November 16th, asks Town Meeting Members to allow the Selectmen to lease to WayCAM a building attached to the Field House, that has been designated as storage space in the new high school plan. This space is currently the Weight Room. It is being replaced in the new high school, by a new Fitness Center in Building A. With your approval, in 2012, the former Weight Room will become the new home of WayCAM.
The renovated Weight Room will be WayCAM’s new home, and WayCAM’s own financial investment in the building will provide a financial benefit to the residents of Wayland.
If STM voters approve Article 5, WayCAM will borrow as much as $200,000 to renovate the interior of the building, and create a modest but modern and proper TV studio. This will enable us to expand our educational program with the school department, as well as our community-focused educational program, both of which enable town-wide coverage of community events, school events and government meetings. The new TV studio will also be a wonderful resource for community residents to create their own shows and broadcast them to the Wayland community on TV, as well as via our Web site.
We’re grateful for the enthusiastic support of our Selectmen, School Committee, High School Building Committee and Finance Committee, to build the new studio, at the high school campus.
With your vote at Special Town Meeting on November 16th, WayCAM can continue to:
• grow the high school’s, middle school’s and grammar schools’ advanced TV/Video educational curriculum;
• maintain and expand our free TV training program so every Wayland resident who wants to can be involved in Wayland community television; and to
• improve and increase our TV coverage level for Town Government meetings.
Wayland benefits every day from the social contributions of WayCAM’s citizen volunteers and student volunteers. Your vote to approve Article 5 at Special Town Meeting on November 16 will greatly benefit Wayland. There’s a short video posted on our Web site, www.waycam.tv, that tells you more about our plan. Please contact me (ken@waycam.tv) with comments or questions.
