[Imc] Re: Springfield IMC? (fwd)

[Molly Stentz]

News from Springfield...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2000 18:10:29 -0600
From: blowingthewhistle <blowingthewhistle at blowingthewhistle.org>
To: Molly Stentz <molly at clam.clamcenter.org>
Subject: Re: Springfield IMC?

Great to hear from you!  Yes there seems to be interest in Springfield 
for an imc!  Blowing The Whistle had about 25 people come to the 
screening at Lincoln Library last night and they really enjoyed "This Is 
What Democracy Looks Like."  That is actually a really good turnout for 
Springfield - I was especially pleased with the number of new faces I saw 
there. The people seemed very interested in an imc. 

We have a second screening planned at the Heartland Peace Center in 
Springfield on Monday and tonight I am showing it at the Decatur Public 
Library.

Blowing The Whistle has been doing a video series at Lincoln Library for 
a few months and this screening fit in just perfectly especially since we 
are one of the groups that is working toward an imc.  Almost everyone 
there filled out contact info too so the mailing list is growing :)

I just purchased the domain name www.springfieldimc.org as a present to 
the cause so that we can keep the world updated about our activities 
around forming an imc.  There are several groups and numerous individuals 
who want to be involved with an imc.  However, I am waiting to hook it up 
until I can meet with other groups so they can all have input on website 
content. Of course, then I will want to train others on how to update the 
website.

Some of the people who want to be involved in a Springfield imc are very 
community radio and have a vision of an imc as housing a community radio 
station.  Others are more print and pre-produced media focused.  I am in 
the group that is more interested in video production and presentation 
and in web development.  Right now we are without a physical location and 
are just working on forming - unfortunately, there is some clashing 
between some individuals that is going to have to be overcome.  These are 
the very early stages of coming together under the umbrella of an imc and 
I am sure it will come with its share of triumphs as well as challenges.

Personally, I love to shoot and edit video and it would be great to have 
an imc house equipment which we could not only use to cover local issues 
but could also be taken on the road to help other imcs with video 
coverage of events.  Blowing The Whistle, the cable public access program 
which I co-produce, focuses on local, national and global issues, 
community activism, art and music which makes doing imc oriented 
production a next logical step.  Also, we already do video presentations 
which are very much in line with imc work and we produce a sporadic 
newsletter of various under-reported and non-reported news stories. 

Good luck with your low-watt fm application.  Unfortunately, the 
Springfield community radio group chose not to file.  Personally I helped 
some Decatur area groups with their applications.  Do you suppose anyone 
around here will ever see a license?  I hope so.

I (and I am sure everyone else) certainly hope we can collaborate on some 
projects. I do have access to assorted video equipment and to others with 
video experience if that can ever be of assistance.  Of course we all 
have various talents so if you ever need anything - let us know.  There 
may be someone who can help.  I will let you know when our website is 
hooked up and you should do the same.  

I will share your greetings with others here in Springfield - thanks for 
getting in touch!

Well, it is off to the library for tonight's screening.....

Lisa Hensley
Co-Producer
Blowing The Whistle

On 12/01/00 5:03 PM, Molly Stentz wrote:

>
>Hi,
>
>I just heard recently that there may be an Independent Media Center
>forming in Springfield! How exciting! I am writing from the Independent
>Media Center here in Urbana-Champaign, to let you know we're doing similar
>things, and aren't too far away! 
>
>We have been organizing our IMC for the past few months, and were excited
>to hear there's similar activities going on nearby! Some members of our
>group worked with the IMCs in Seattle and DC, and were inspired to try to
>build a local citizen media outlet here, too. 
>
>Did you have a good turn out for the N30 anniversary? We held a smaller
>video screening as well; we had hope to do a website launch, but didn't
>have enough lead time. We hope to have one soon, when we open our retail
>space for the Center (probably at the new year!).
>
>Currently, we have been working on reporting on local issues here and
>producing media for various existing media outlets, and we have plans to
>hold classes and events once we have a facility. We have also applied for
>a low-power FM frequency for our own micro radio station.
>
>What is your group planning or working on? It would be great to
>collaborate, or at least keep abreast of all that is happening with all
>the groups here in Illinois. We'd love to hear what is happening in
>Springfield!
>
>-Molly Stentz
>Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
>Urbana, IL
>molly at clamcenter.org
>217-344-0183