[Yaaarc] Free AA Cable TV promo for YAAARC & FIRST teams

[Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR)]

I received a call from Lucy Visovatti today.  Lucy is from the
Ann Arbor cable TV company, and is offering us some **FREE**
time on the community access channels to promote the club,
and its activities.

If we wish to take advantage of this offer, we can either 
1) supply video in a compatible format for them to air, or 
2) can use their facilities for FREE to tape something about us.

The two primary exposure opportunities are:
- A 5 minute segment (lumped together with others) on "Access 
  Soapbox", AND/OR
- A full 1/2 hour show segment of "Access Ann Arbor", featuring 
  our "host", and up to three guests of our choosing. 

Their channels reach about 93,000 households in the AA, Ypsi, and 
Saline markets.  I'm an AA resident, and so qualify for this offer.

(Full details are attached below.)

On it, we are allowed to promote upcoming activities (like normal 
or special meetings), contests, etc.  Though we can't ask for money 
*directly*, we ARE also allowed to "advertise" fundraising events, 
ask people to join us, solicit mentors and sponsors for local 
FIRST teams, etc.

**IS** there interest in creating a "show" or segment for the local 
cable, to promote the group or its activities?  If so, is there 
either someone here:
a) with their own video editing software that wishes to try to 
   produce something for them to air, or
b) interested in spearheading a project of "writing and
   working with CTV" to produce a full segment on our group?

FYI, for (a), I have several US FIRST robotics org promo tapes 
that can be used as fodder for a video edit session.  One option
would be to just mix in some club video, add a "wrapper" around 
it promoting the club itself (lead-in, titles, etc.), and submit it.

I'm sure we all could also easily come up with lots of still 
photos of our activities to create a "slideshow" with an audio 
commentary track as well.

Is there anyone interested in taking on this project?  Though 
I've studied Radio/TV, I'm personally way too busy with FIRST 
activities to lead this.  But I may be able to assist someone 
with video experience that wishes to spearhead the effort.

Her email is attached, for reference.

- Keith Mc.

------------- original message follows -------------
> From: "Visovatti, Lucy Ann" <LVisovatti at ci.ann-arbor.mi.us>
> Subject: CTN - Cable Channels 16, 17, 18, 19
> Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:26:05 -0400
> 
> Hi, Keith!
> 
> It was great to talk with you this evening about the marketing 
> opportunities available at CTN for the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor 
> Robotics Club and U.S. FIRST Robotics.
> 
> CTN is the community media center for the City of Ann Arbor, 
> and operates Cable Channel 16, 17, 18, and 19 on the Comcast 
> Cablevision system in the greater Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. 
> Our free community media resources include:
> 
>  *   Free production training and equipment (Studio, Hotline 
>      Studio, Camcorders, and Editing) to produce your own programs 
>      for telecast on CTN Ch. 17
> 
>  *   "Access Soapbox" - a weekly half-hour program comprised 
>      of a collection of 5-min. segments.  Get up on your soapbox 
>      and speak-out, create, communicate!  Taped Thursdays from 
>      2-6 p.m.  To book your appearance, call 769.7422.
> 
>  *   "Access Ann Arbor" - a half-hour talk show, where you 
>      provide a host and up to three guests to discuss issues 
>      of importance to you.  
> 
> You mentioned that you have some videotapes that you might be 
> interested in submitting for telecast.  All of our services are 
> available free of charge to Ann Arbor residents and non-profits 
> based within the City of Ann Arbor limits.  Bring proof of 
> residency (driver's license, for instance, if you are a resident; 
> a letter from your non-profit, if you are representing an Ann 
> Arbor non-profit), along with your video during our business 
> hours (Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 10:00pm).  At that time, 
> you will need to complete a Residency Verification Card (RVC)  
> and an Application for Presentation, which is a legal document 
> in which you take full responsibility for the content of the tape.
> 
> Your videotape must:
> - be in VHS or SVHS format
> - start within the first few minutes of the tape (only one 
>   program per tape)
> - contain at least ten seconds of black or a countdown at the 
>   beginning of your program
> - be accurately timed out from start to finish (do not count 
>   black or color bars)
> - not contain any commercial content
> - not directly solicit for funds
> 
> Your program will take a minimum of three weeks for its first 
> telecast once the tape has been submitted.  You will receive 
> a full telecast schedule in the mail prior to the program's premiere.
> 
> Please check out our website for more details about our services 
> at www.a2ctn.org    Also, if you would like to sign-up for an 
> appearance on "Access Soapbox" or "Access Ann Arbor" you may 
> reach me directly at 734.997.1052.  I look forward to helping 
> put your organization on TV!
> 
> All the best,
> Lucy Ann Visovatti
> Assistant Manager
> Community Television Network (CTN)
> Cable 16, 17, 18, 19 - City of Ann Arbor
> 425 S. Main, Ste. LL114
> Ann Arbor, MI  48104
> Main:  734.769.7422
> Direct:  734.997.1052
> Web:  www.a2ctn.org
> Email: LVisovatti at a2gov.org
------------------------------------------------------------------