ANNUAL REPORT FY 2016 in Short, It Was a Good Year
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ANNUAL REPORT FY 2016 In short, it was a good year. Some years writing the “From the Director” note to the annual report has been a bit of a struggle. Although it doesn’t happen often, I admit to occasionally having to think a little about what was so special about the last year. Not this year. This year was very special. In fiscal year 2016 we completed an endeavor that we started more than two years before. We brought dozens of members and volunteers together in meetings and work sessions that involved hundreds of hours of planning and preparation. We hired architects, contractors, and vendors from a wide variety of area firms to help us build new production and distribution facilities within the AIM studios on North Danville Street. We created new curricula, new policies, and new workflows to accommodate our new capabilities. We hired and trained new staff to help us with the increased workload. We contacted area press to promote our new endeavor and were pleased by their enthusiastic response and positive coverage. We welcomed hundreds of new members and dozens of new producers and volunteers to the fold; we introduced them to our new project and trained them in the use of our new equipment. We hosted our community at the largest event AIM has ever thrown and counted down the seconds until we threw the switch. In short, we started a radio station. I don’t mind telling you that when the idea of starting a radio station was first raised three years ago, I was nervous. Could we do it? Was it a good idea? Would our members and the community support it? Where would all the programming come from? Well, I’m happy to tell you that my fears were unfounded. It turns out that Arlington loves radio and has embraced WERA in a way that exceeds all expectations. Not only has our membership increased by 50 percent, but our longtime members have also welcomed the newcomers with open arms. We’re seeing tremendous crossover between radio and television, and the two groups are trading tips and learning from each other. In less than five months we trained 159 members in radio production and put 50 radio programs on the air. We hear every day from listeners who love the station and we continue to receive applications for new shows. Our social media presence in the community (and the world) has jumped astronomically and our local presence in the press has also increased. In short, it was a good idea. It’s important to remember that WERA didn’t replace our other media training, production, and distribution activities. No, we added WERA to an organization already nationally famous for local, independent media. In addition to all the amazing things happening on the radio side, we also managed to have another outstanding year teaching video, television, and other forms of digital media to our members and provided them with state-of-the-art production facilities. In return they provided the Arlington community with another year’s worth of fantastic programming that featured the sights, sounds, people, places, and events in and around Arlington. In short, we’re really awesome now. Of course, none of this could have happened without the help of our volunteers. In fiscal year 2016 we received a record shattering 4,250 hours of volunteer time from our members. This represents a breathtaking dedication that is unheard of in most organizations. It is not overstating the case to say that without our volunteers, there would be no WERA and no AIM. It’s only through the selfless sacrifice of their free time that hundreds of radio and TV programs get made and Arlington gets to enjoy the best in local, independent media. In short, we’re very grateful. Paul LeValley Executive Director Annual Report FY 2016 Arlington Independent Media In Memoriam 4 Events 5 In the Community 6–7 Community Projects 8–9 Membership 10 Volunteers 11 Programming 12–13 Training 14–15 Facilities & Equipment 16–17 Financial Audit 18–27 “Our mission is to promote and facilitate free speech by providing access to established and emerging media.” Don Hammond AIM lost a great friend, amazing producer, and stellar volunteer when Don Hammond passed away this year. Don produced the Arlington Weekly News every week for the past 35 years, making it AIM’s longest running series—and one of the longest running, continuously-produced shows in America. In fact, Don was producing the Arlington Weekly News before there even was an AIM. But Don was more than the producer of the News. He was also intimately involved with the organization at every level. He was a teacher of new crew and talent on the News and was personally responsible for dozens of people over the years getting their first experience in television production. Don was also a member of the AIM board of directors for many years and served as the president from 1996 until 1998. With Don as president, AIM successfully negotiated a move to our current location from the third floor of the GMU Metro Campus at irginiaV Square. Most importantly, Don was a friend to all. His perpetual smile and nonstop good humor was such a staple at AIM that it’s hard for us to believe he’s gone. We all owe Don a huge debt of gratitude for the many years of service and dedication to AIM. For 35 years he led the way. He will be greatly missed. 4 This Year’s Highlights: • Launched WERA-LP 96.7 FM in December 2015 • Trained record number of members (891) • Set new record for highest number of Rosebud Film Festival entries (105) • First year of Document Historic Arlington • First year teaching Camera Grip and Digital Cinema Production workshops • First year offering several new audio classes: On-Air Radio Broadcast, Basic and Advanced Audio Production, and Pro Tools Summer Happy Hour Mexicali Blues June 9, 2015 Video Production Camp 1 Movie Premiere AIM Studio July 3, 2015 Producers’ Meeting AIM Studio July 13, 2015 Annual Picnic Bluemont Park July 19, 2015 FAIM SpeakEasy: Copyright AIM Studio July 23, 2015 Video Production Camp 2 Movie Premiere AIM Studio July 31, 2015 Summer Lovin’ Karaoke AIM Studio July 31, 2015 Booth at Arlington County Fair Thomas Jefferson Community Center August 5-9, 2015 Booth at Clarendon Day Clarendon September 26, 2015 Annual Meeting of Members AIM Facility September 27, 2015 Document Arlington Movies Premiere AIM Studio October 8, 2015 Halloween Karaoke AIM Studio October 24, 2015 FAIM SpeakEasy: Casting AIM Studio November 12, 2015 WERA Launch Party AIM Facility December 6, 2015 Holiday Potluck AIM Studio December 13, 2015 Rosebud Film Festival Nominee Showcase Navy Heritage Center January 23, 2016 Rosebud Film Festival Awards Gala Clarendon Ballroom January 24, 2016 Float at Mardi Gras Clarendon February 9, 2016 FAIM SpeakEasy: Radio Production AIM Studio March 10, 2016 5 AIM served and worked • Funk Ark Spark Club Members Media Appearances alongside the following • George Mason University groups in FY 2016: • Global CoLab • Karen Akerson • Arlington Connection • Jamie Nicholas Printing & • Diane Allan • Arlington Magazine • 10 Year Plan to End Graphics • John Andelin • Arlington Sun Gazette Homelessness • Leadership Arlington • Cheryl Beversdorf • ARLnow • African American Heritage • Lyles Movie Files • Jim Bloch • Brightest Young Things Museum • Meridian Homeschool • Ken Briley • Current • All Quiet on the Set Club • William Calder • DCist • Alliance for Community • Mexicali Blues • Erin Crawley • Elevation DC Media • MPTD • Doretha Dixon • Falls Church News-Press • Arlington Career Center • Nine Hours Films • John Duran • Fourth Estate • Arlington Chamber of • Our City Film Festival • Maribeth Egan • InsideNoVa.com Commerce • Poetry N.O.W. • Mary Fantucchio • It’s All Journalism • Arlington Committee of • Prometheus Radio Project • Paul Fiddick • Mix 107.3 100 • Reel Affirmations • Hilary Freer • Northern Virginia • Arlington County Board • RIFE • Bruce Gilbert Magazine • Arlington County Civic • Rosslyn Business • Joseph Gueron • Radio Survivor Federation Improvement District • Grace Holden • Spark! • Arlington County Fair • Smithsonian • Urban Bohemian • Arlington County Parks Museum of Founders Club • WAMU 88.5’s Art Beat and Recreation Natural History • WAMU 88.5’s Bandwidth • Sons of • Washington Blade • Arlington County’s Historic We are grateful to the following Preservation Program Confederate • Washington City Paper businesses and individuals who • Arlington Public Schools Veterans • Washington Post • Arlington Cultural Affairs • Stonehenge contributed to the WERA Founders • WTOP • Arlington Economic Auditions Club: • Yahoo! Tech Development • Strategic • Arlington Humanities Partnerships & • Arte Modus Local Sponsors Commission Initiatives • BlochHouse Media LLC Audio • Sunny Knight • Arlington Public Libraries • Cardinal Construction • Taken • Ben’s Chili Bowl • Arlington Street People’s • Gary Thayer Back Our • Bracket Room Assistance Program • MainStreet Bank • Arlington Student Film Community • Cherrydale Hardware • Rust Insurance Fest • Takoma Radio • Delhi Dhaba WOWD-LP FM • Arlington Teen Summer • Earl’s Sandwiches • Teens Dream Thanks, Expo • Fireworks Pizza • Artists and Makers • The Beat & Paul • Four Sisters Grill Studios Path • Fuego cocina y tequileria • Arvold Casting • The Humanities • Busboys and Poets Project • Janet Irwin • Giant • C-SPAN • The UPS Store Clarendon • Olga Jevtich • Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe • Carlin Springs Elementary • Thomas Jefferson • Tato Joelson • IOTA Club & Café School Summer Activities Fair • Clara Kelly • Java Shack • Clarendon Alliance • Two Ton Twig • Gene Kreider • Liberty