arlington community media video learning youth and news film...

Annual Report2013

We are so fortunate to have had the leadership years ago to establish our own community access cable TV organization, and we are fortunate now to have an encouraging and generously accommodating staff at ACMi now. They are top notch professionals and great at training even the most tech-traumatized of volunteers.

–Judson L. Pierce, 2013 Candidate for Arlington School Committee

As someone who is very new to video production, I can tell you that the prospect of having to spend hundreds of dollars, according to estimates I’d received elsewhere, just to learn basic filming and editing techniques was incredibly discouraging. It nearly derailed my planned projects before they could even begin. Thankfully, I kept my member-ship current with ACMi, and I couldn’t be happier. My needs and my schedule of availability were accommodated by a cheerful and com-petent ACMi staff, always willing to generously share their time and knowledge. I am a very satisfied ACMi member.

– Michael Armanious, ACMi member producer

annual report 2013 1

From the President

From the Executive Director

From the Studio Manager

Membership & Community Outreach

Web, Media, Graphics, Branding

Organizational Use of ACMi’s Community Bulletin Board (FY-2013)

Learning Opportunities

Workshops

Table: ACMi Workshops (FY-2013)

Estimated Market Value of ACMi Workshops Attended

Volunteering at ACMi

Programming

This Year’s New Productions

P.E.G. Programming Defined

Public Channel Programming

Education Channel & Youth Programming

Government Channel Programming

ACMi Programs in FY-2013 produced by Members & Staff

Public Channel

Education Channel

Government Channel

Arlington Public News

Community Use of ACMi Resources

Our Board of Directors

Our Staff

Our Members & Supporters

Financial Statements (audited)

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3

4

5

6

7

8

11

16

19

20

22

23

24

table of contents

2 arlington community media inc.

The Board of Directors and I present to you the Seventh Annual Report of Arlington

Community Media Inc (ACMI). June 30, 2013 marked the completion of our seventh full

fiscal year of operation as Arlington’s PEG (Public, Education, Government) cable access

station. ACMI will continue to serve the community in that role through September 2016

as the Town of Arlington has renewed our operating agreement.

ACMI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is in full compliance with IRS regulations.

The annual independent audit of our financial books and records, as summarized

herein, demonstrated our excellent financial controls and oversight and as always that

we continue to be in sound financial health.

As you know last fiscal year ACMI leased its second studio location, “STUDIO B” at 892 Massachusetts Avenue, across

from Arlington High School. This year we completed a top-to-bottom renovation of the storefront and opened a multi-

use television studio/learning facility equipped with new iMac editing stations with Adobe CS6, as well as much more.

We have also continued to upgrade our primary studio facilities at the Dallin Library Studio-A facility. The lighting grid

has been expanded and improved with modern new eco-friendly low-wattage low-heat LED lights, and an upgraded

lighting control console that allows for future expansion and advanced studio lighting and effects. Additional computer

servers were added to improve workflow.

The Board is pleased with the efforts of ACMI staff that have resulted in an increase in the quantity and quality of our

programming for our community of viewers. Our members and staff have been recognized in both regional and na-

tional video contests and continue to produce programming that is available worldwide through our website.

Last year we offered workshops in Basic Field Production, Studio Production, Digital Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro,

and 3 different workshops in Graphic Design for Video--all taught by our capable staff. These workshops taught skill

sets for use beyond the walls of our studios to enhance the lives, and potentially the work prospects, of those who

attended them. In addition to the skills taught in the workshops, our staff helped members hone their skills on the

programs they produced and edited for cablecast. This collaboration provided for the airing of many hours of local

first-run programming produced by ACMi members--novice and veteran alike--on our three PEG access channels.

Just after the close of FY-2012 we rounded out our staff with the addition of Jessica Barnthouse as our new Govern-

ment Access Coordinator, as Sara Alfaro-Franco transitioned into her new position of News Director of ACMI’s forth-

coming Arlington Public News (APN) department.

We are very proud of our accomplishments over the past year and we are gratified by the steady increase in scope,

depth, and power of ACMI’s contribution to Arlington’s social and cultural community life. The Board and I thank

you for your trust in us. We encourage you to view our community-produced programming, to look for our equipment

and crews around Town, and to become a member, a volunteer, or a producer at ACMI--Arlington’s television/media

station.

John D. Leone

President

Arlington Community Media Inc.

from the president


When giving tours of ACMi I usually begin with the following: “We began years ago with two employees, two desks,

no computers, and a bunch of DVD players.” Seven years later we have a staff of nine, state-of-the-art program and

edit servers, multiple digital editing stations, and high definition portable and studio cameras.” ACMi has changed so

rapidly, at times our collective heads spin with the rate of the change… the speed of change, indeed!

One of the changes this year was the official opening in September 2012 of Studio B on Massachusetts Avenue, almost

directly opposite Arlington High School. This storefront facility is intended to make it easier for anyone interested in

learning television production to simply walk across the street, or get off the bus directly in front of the studio, or park

in the lot behind it. Moreover, since Studio B is in such a highly visible location, some of our residents thought we had

moved there from 85 Park Ave! Now they know we have not only one, but two studios.

Having a second studio has allowed us to expand our menu of workshops. Scriptwriting, short film and micro

documentary production were all developed by our Youth Coordinator, Dan Black. With Dan’s encouragement one

student production was chosen a first place winner in Don Daniel’s Just-A-Minute Film Festival.

A second change was the launching of hyperlocal news for Arlington through our creation of Arlington Public News

(APN). We felt that after six years of growth it was time to use all of the creative talent and TV production equipment

here at ACMi to offer viewers the chance to see for themselves some of the people, places, programs, and issues that

make up the Arlington community. In January 2013, twenty-five volunteers showed up at our main studio to see what

our public call for citizen journalists was all about. For the next few months these volunteers learned story develop-

ment, interview and production techniques, and editing skills taught under the direction of ACMi News Director Sara

Alfaro-Franco. After several months of creating and airing “unofficial news” programs, we announced via postcard in

September 2013 to all Arlington households that Arlington now had its own news program -- a true reflection of all that

is Arlington.

Here at Arlington Community Media we believe in the free expression of ideas and that the creation of a TV program

can serve as a vehicle for social change. The staff at ACMi works very hard to provide the professional creative

expertise and facilities that afford our townspeople the opportunity to say what is on their minds and in their hearts.

So why not come join us at ACMi to find your public voice and, if you’d like, to help deliver the news.

Norman J. Mcleod

Executive Director


from the executive director


Change is The Only Constant There’s always something new or evolving at ACMi; this

past year was no exception. There was new and upgraded

equipment, new projects, new programs, and related ben-

efits for our members and viewers. When people asked

What’s new at ACMi? I would say, Studio B, which created

the vision of a new home for youth producers – a space

to call their own. With ACMi Youth Coordinator Dan Black

at the helm, Studio B became an incubator for learning,

used by AHS and ACHS students.

Studio-A at 85 Park Ave is once again in near constant

use, even after moving our youth production activities to

Studio B. Ongoing and new shows are filling the sched-

ule, some recognized by national media organizations

and one distributed internationally. The Studio-A lighting

grid was expanded to fit new lights and an upgraded light-

ing control console was added to allow future expansion

and advanced studio lighting effects.

Master Control is the heartbeat of the station and has

increased in size and capability since our humble begin-

nings as one channel on one cable provider. We have

since implemented a full three-channel P.E.G. distribution

center across three cable providers that required the

addition of a digital playback server and a range of new

media technologies. New equipment included digital

routers, network switches, and various signal monitors.

Because of increased noise and heat, Master Control was

moved in October 2012 to the lower level at 85 Park Ave

and now has its own temperature-controlled room. The

newly quieter and emptier control room is now ready to

double as a newsroom for our team of news producers.

I love to see the look on members’ faces when they come

to ACMi after not having been here for a while. It’s like

they are here for the first time. As we look back each year

to review our accomplishments, we are truly amazed by

all we have done.

If you volunteered your time and energy, your ideas,

or your talent to the unique mix of community media

content during the past year, you were part of what we do.

It is such a joy when this process of learning new skills

and creating new programs enriches our community and

our connection with each other. I am proud each year

to reflect on our work together. I can’t wait for your new

input during the year ahead as together we create the

future of community media in our great town of Arlington.

ACMi 2013-14 – here we come!

Jeff MunroStudio Manager


from the studio manager

Top: AHS senior and Focus Media member, Noel Forte, directs Battle of the Bands 2013 for ACMi.

Bottom: Member/producer Kate Barvick edits an episode of “Murphy’s Law”, a home school science series production aired on ACMi’s Education channel.


Membership Arlington Community Media Inc. (ACMi) is a member-

based, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated

in April 2003 and contracted by the Town of Arlington in

September 2006. ACMi’s active members numbered 266

as of June 30, 2013.

Membership at ACMi is open to all who live in our town.

A nominal annual membership fee, due at the begin-

ning of each ACMi fiscal year (July 1st), provides access

to all the features and benefits ACMi has to offer. These

include:

> High-quality digital video production equipment

> Training to operate equipment effectively

> Ability to borrow and use equipment outside of the

studio

> Use of our studio, equipment, and editing facilities

> Air-time on our Public, Education, and/or Govern-

ment channels carried by RCN, Comcast, and Verizon.

> Access to ACMi newsletters and invitations to ACMi

special events and meetings

Community OutreachThe 2012-13 fiscal year was so full of new equipment, new

staff, new programs, and new workshops that it was easy

to be heard and seen in the local media and online.

The Arlington Advocate continued to publish our news

releases and to carry our full-page weekly TV schedule

which keeps our viewing community up to date with

ACMi programming and events. Our regular weekly ad

and our occasional specialized ads about workshops and

other special events rounds out our company exposure in

the local paper. We received excellent coverage about our

Arlington Short Animation Film Festival and about the

coming launch of Arlington Public News. We also kept up

with our advertising in the Advocate’s online publication,

Wicked Local, as well as on the websites of YourArlington.

com and Patch.com/Arlington.

We continue to stay in touch with our members and

friends via our newsletters and email blasts and, as

always, we offer twice-monthly orientation tours to

prospective members at our 85 Park Ave. ACMi Orienta-

tion provides the opportunity to present the overview of

seven years of our operational history, and to introduce

our ever-expanding inventory of equipment and menu of

workshops for those wanting to learn the craft of digital

media production right in their own town.

Studio B, with its presence on Arlington’s principal

avenue, has served to enhance Arlington’s awareness of

our mission and our work at both our facilities and within

the Ottoson Middle School. Just following the close

of this fiscal year the in-house Ottoson News Network

(ONN), under the supervision Media Librarian Edith

Moisand and ACMi Youth Coordinator Daniel Black, is

covering the visit this fall to Ottoson Middle School of

acclaimed young reader book author Rick Riordan. The

author’s very popular titles include The Percy Jackson

series, the Kane Chronicles series, the Heroes of Olympus

series, and others of The 39 Clues books, and House

of Hades.

Dan trained and mentored AHS and Arlington Catholic

student ACMi members in many production projects

during the past year and even worked with the Peirce

Elementary School on a student book project that is still

in progress and scheduled for completion in the new

fiscal year. As the new 2013-14 year proceeds, we continue

to publicize our mission and our expansion of learning

and programming opportunities for Arlington residents,

organizations, and town agencies. For the official launch

of Arlington Public News in September, we sent a press

release to all major media outlets in the greater Boston

area and also mailed promotion postcard to every house-

hold in Arlington. Additionally, YourArlington.com did an

in-depth article about our news department and the buzz

has continued to build since then.

membership & community outreach


WebsitesDuring FY 2012-13 ACMi launched the Arlington Public

News website (news.ACMi.tv) which became the reposi-

tory for all of the APN news segments and newscasts. In

less than a year we outgrew the capabilities of the original

site and began production on the new APN website,

launched prior to Arlington Town Day 2013. The new site

features robust search, navigation, and categorization

features, and places the most recent and relevant content

up front on the homepage. This new APN website, built

largely with the help of ACMi intern/member Noel Forte,

has springboarded a redesign process for the rest of

ACMi.tv that will take place during our 2013-14 fiscal year.

MediaA dedicated and centralized network edit server for ACMi

member projects has been successfully implemented and

is now being used by most of our active member produc-

ers. Adobe CS6 software (Creative Suite 6) is now running

on all edit stations which, when used in conjunction with

the new edit server, has greatly enhanced the digital work-

flow process at ACMi.

Graphics/BrandingThe visual identity of ACMi continues to evolve both

organically and through planned steps. This past year

we released a number of Studio B, Arlington Public News,

and more general studio promotions, including postcards

and flyers. We created a new tri-fold brochure to replace

the previous version, used since the company’s first full

year of operation in 2007. The unique visual identity of

Studio B was successfully merged with the overarching

identity of ACMi, including the use of our Studio B color

swatch and a new tagline, Watch, Join, Learn, Create.

Media/Programming Coordinator and Mass Access board

member, Sean Snyder, was a panelist at the MassAccess

Spring Mini Conference for the Design and Branding

session where he presented the history and progression

of the evolving ACMi brand.

web, media, graphics, branding

Middle: Arlington Public News co-anchors Michelle Marino and Paul Wehrlin commence newscast on APN’s new set.Bottom: ACMi sign adorns our Town Day booth to encourage ACMi brand recognition.


American Cancer Society, Inc. | N.E. Division

Arlington Community Education

Arlington DDS Services

Arlington Education Foundation

Arlington Family Connection

Arlington Historical Society

Arlington International Film Festival

Arlington Lodge of Elks #1435

Arlington Public Works

Arlington Senior Center

Arlington Youth Counseling Center

Beacon Hospice

Belmont Hill School

Boston Kermesse Street Fair & Festival

Calvary Church United Methodist in Arlington

Community Education/Workforce Development

Coolidge Chapter

Covenant Church of Arlington

Cyrus E. Dallin Museum

Dare Family services

Daughters of the American Revolution,

Joseph Diane Taraz

Ecofest 2012

Education Camp

First Baptist Church in Arlington

Fox Branch Library

Harry Haroutunian’s Memorial Scholarship

Kidney Transplant/Dialysis Association

Massachusetts DCR - AMP

Mass Flash Film Festival

MassHealth In-Home Behavioral Services Focus Group

Menotomy Weatherization

Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Metropolitan Wind Symphony

Minuteman High School

Nihan Environmental

Matignon High School

NuPathe Inc.

Parents Decide

Philharmonic Society of Arlington

S.H.I.N.E./Minuteman Senior Services

Shoot for the Cure

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Taking on the DC Budget Debate

Taste of Arlington

Vision 2020

Visiting Nurse and Community Health

Waltham Symphony Orchestra

organizational usage of the acmi cbb service

CBBThe Community Bulletin Board service continues to be a viable option for promotion of local events and activities by

community groups, agencies, and nonprofits. Moreover, it is a successful outlet for ACMi messaging and branding.

Studio B TodayIt is the newest community resource in Arling-

ton and was open for business at 892 Mass

Ave soon after the September opening of the

2012-13 academic year. Intended primarily

for use by the Arlington high school students

at Arlington High and Arlington Catholic,

ACMi officially opened access to its student

members for computer and electronic media

technology at a location very convenient to

them as they complete their weekday school

work. Studio B provides ACMi’s growing youth

membership the needed extra production

space to supplement the primary ACMi facility

at 85 Park Avenue in Arlington Heights.


Part of the ACMi mission is to empower our members

by teaching them skills in video, television production,

and related computer technology so they may participate

in the ever-more-important fields of electronic visual

arts and communication. Several of our members have

successfully leveraged this hands-on education for use in

further academic and professional pursuits.

WorkshopsACMi is well-equipped to continually upgrade its high

quality digital TV production equipment and facilities.

Providing access to and training on these resources

continues to be our primary focus. Workshops at ACMi

provide our members the opportunity to learn basic video

and television production skills from the ACMi staff for a

nominal fee. Below are the workshops that were offered

at ACMi during FY 2012-13.

intro to acmi (orientation) introduces new-

comers to everything they need to know before getting

started at ACMi – becoming a member, taking work-

shops, using our equipment, producing TV shows, and/

or helping others produce theirs.

basic field production gives ACMi members

a basic understanding of how to set up and operate our

portable camcorders, and of the differences between

using digital tape and solid-state memory cards. DSLR

camera operation is taught separately.

basic studio production is designed to give

a beginner’s overview of the in-studio process for live

and live-to-tape TV productions. Participants learn the

required tasks for each of the crew positions in the studio

and the control room, and get the chance to operate cam-

eras and audio equipment, as well as graphics equipment

and a digital video switcher. They can even take a turn at

being the on-camera “talent”.

portable studio production teaches

members how to direct a live (or live-to-tape) production

or event on-location using a portable studio setup that

includes robotic cameras, computer graphics, a portable

video switcher, lighting, and audio. Practical applica-

tions include coverage of performances, sporting events,

meetings, and community festivals like Town Day. The

workshop also includes hands-on practice at actual meet-

ings or events.

basic non-linear digital editing intro-

duces participants to the Adobe Premiere Pro digital

video editing software, considered the industry standard

in video editing and one application in Adobe’s suite of

apps (CS6).

basic digital filmmaking (Short Film) guides

participants through idea and story development, produc-

tion planning, camera basics, and editing theory.

screenwriting fundamentals covers the

three-act story structure, character development, event

sequencing, and screenwriting.

news production workshops cover all of the

above as they specifically relate to our television news

operation, Arlington Public News.

stop action animation teaches participants

stop-motion animation from theory to practice. Students

work in groups with a variety of media, including paper,

clay, legos, and whatever else they bring in to animate to

produce a short animation by July 1st to show at ACMi’s

annual Arlington Short Animation Film Festival in August.

learning opportunities

Youth member Milo Rossi learning to operate robotic cameras at Selectmen’s Chamber control room.


workshops

ACMi Workshops (FY-2013) Among the workshops offered in the 2012/2013 fiscal year, we tracked enrollment in the ones below: Basic Field Production,

Basic Studio Production, Basic Digital Editing, Digital Short Film, Special Effects, TV News Production, Stop-Action Anima-

tion, and the week-long SummerFun TV Production Workshop.

The first table below shows the number of workshops offered by ACMi and number of members taught.

The table below shows the estimated value of workshops offered ACMi.

Total Estimated Market Value of ACMi Workshops in FY 2012-13 returned to the Town of Arlington: $71,925

July 2012-

June 201323/79 92/606 71/603 52/97 6/16 11/68 35/25 1/8 1/12

Intro to ACMi

Basic Field

Basic Studio

Basic Edit

DigitalShort Film

Special Effects

TV News

Stop-actionAnimation(Jun 4-Jul 2)

SummerFun Week(July 2012)

ACMi

Workshops

Commercial

Rental Fee

Value of

Workshops

$45 per

session

$1,035 $13,340 $17,750 $26,000 $1,500 $3,300 $7,000 $1,000 $1,000

$145 per

session

$250 per

session

$500 per

session

$250 per

session

$300 per

session

$200 per

session

$200 per

session

$200 per

session

Intro to ACMi

Basic Field

Basic Studio

Basic Edit

DigitalShort Film

Special Effects

TV NewsTraining

Stop-actionAnimation(Jun 4-Jul 2)

SummerFun Week(July 2012)

Value given

to ACMi

members

Promoting your Production or Event on the ACMi CBBOne of the many services ACMi offers is our Commu-

nity Bulletin Board. The CBB is an electronic forum in

which local producers and non-profit organizations may

promote a program, an event, themselves. This workshop

focuses on preparation of the materials to be displayed

on the CBB and on teaching basic skills in image com-

position, communication, and software (in this case,

Adobe Photoshop). Participants should have an event or

production to promote, along with necessary photos or

logos to incorporate.

Developing Titles & Lower ThirdsAn often overlooked component in video production, is

the look and feel of a show in addition to its recorded

footage. Participants in this workshop will learn basic

skills in design, composition, and software such as

Adobe Illustrator while creating the graphics that will

further distinguish their shows. Participants should have

a program in production for which the materials are

intended.

Developing Your Creative Open Building off of an understanding of Titles and Lower

Thirds, attendees are encouraged to grow the look and

feel of their show with creative opens, incorporated video,

graphics, motion graphics, and music/sound design.


Volunteering at ACMi Many of our in-studio and field productions would not be

possible without the energetic and collaborative efforts of

our member volunteers and producers. ACMi volunteers,

along with ACMi staff, make a big commitment each year

to cover public events in Arlington. This year, once again,

our volunteers helped us produce ACMi’s coverage of the

American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, The League of

Women Voters’ Candidates Debate, Arlington’s annual Town

Meeting, and other official meetings. There are two particular

events at which ACMi volunteer participation is essential:

Arlington’s fall block party, a.k.a. Town Day, and the biennial

ACMi Awards event in June. Town Day provides a fast-paced

testing ground for acquiring and demonstrating large-scale

live television production skills. The Awards event gives

members a chance to appreciate their achievements at ACMi

and to augment the “extra curricular activities” section of

their college applications. The younger ACMi members can

dream of future honors while helping ACMi staff with future

LIVE Awards shows.

This past year was an off year for the ACMi Awards, but

the biennial ACMi Producers’ Picnic (see page 15) was

celebrated in style at the elegant and historical Whittemore-

Robbins House, behind the Robbins Library.

ACMi member-producers depend on other ACMi member-

volunteers of diverse backgrounds to collaborate with them

in creating our growing schedule of community program-

ming. There is no greater example of the apprenticeship

opportunity at ACMi than the interplay of diverse age groups

volunteering for The Steve Katsos Show. By the time of the

2013 ACMi Annual General Meeting this November, Steve

will have completed four years of his weekly variety talk show

and will have begun his fifth season. The show has been

a magnet for ambitious volunteers looking to build their

experience working on a successful and ongoing production.

The show’s growing notoriety and international audience

enhance the experience for all who volunteer. Volunteers are

always welcome.

learning opportunities volunteering

Top: Arlington Public News co-anchor Michelle Marino pre-pares for moderating spring 2013 election debates in ACMi Studio A.

Middle: ACMi Youth Co-ordinator Dan Black holds forth in Studio A control room, explaining the behind-the-scenes workings of the studio.

Bottom: Steve Katsos receives from Outreach Co-ordinator Walter Locke an “ACMi” for Best Production 2011-12.


programming new productions/p.e.g./public channel

This Year’s New ProductionsThis year (July 01, 2012 – June 30, 2013) ACMi members

and staff continued to expand its base of member-

produced and staff-produced programming. FY 2012-13

has started off well with new and continuing program-

ming as listed below on pages 16-19 of this report.

Due to our school-based Media Days to promote

Arlington student use of ACMi resources, and our other

continuing outreach efforts, we expect a corresponding

rise in the quality and quantity of new programs during

our 2013-14 fiscal year.

FY-2013 First-Run Local Programming (in hours)

Note: The above figures exclude programs downloaded from satellite TV.

P.E.G. ProgrammingP.E.G. (Public, Education, Government) programming is

unique to local access television, as no other broadcast or

cable television network is organized around the ideal of

universal public access to uncensored local community

programming designed specifically for these PEG areas

of public interest.

publicOur Public Channel (RCN 3, Comcast 8, Verizon 31)

features programming by our member-producers, often

produced using ACMi equipment and studio facilities.

We also air programs from other public access channels

and independent producers, including a few distributed

via satellite, such as Democracy Now! and Classic Arts

Showcase. (See “Public Access Programming” below.)

educationOur Education Channel (RCN 13, Comcast 9, Verizon 24)

features educational programs, shows produced by

local students, and programs made about them by com-

munity producers. This past year saw a great increase

in programming and learning opportunities for ACMi

student members. (See Education Access Programming

below.)

governmentOur Government Channel (RCN 15, Comcast 22, Verizon

26) features programming by and information about

town governmental bodies, agencies, and committees,

including the Board of Selectmen, the School Commit-

tee, the Redevelopment Board, the Budget Revenue Task

Force, and the Town Meeting. The Government Channel

again carried the greatest volume and diversity of town

government-related programming since ACMi’s

commencement of operations in September 2006.

(See Government Access Programming below.)

Public Channel ProgrammingThe ACMi Public Channel features programming by

our member-producers, using ACMi equipment and

studio facilities. It also airs programs from other

sources, including other community access stations,

independent producers, and a few programs via satellite,

such as Democracy Now!

During this fiscal year, the ACMi Public channel’s

programming has continued to expand. New program-

ming includes shows about local public art, senior

citizen affairs, informative talk shows, and now the

content-rich Arlington Public News program produced

by former Government Access Coordinator, Sara

Alfaro-Franco.

Public Channel programming connects our community

on a local level. The following are some of the shows

produced during FY 2012-13.

the steve katsos showThis year The Steve Katsos Show completed its fourth

season and more than 175 episodes at ACMi. In FY-2013,

Steve continued to offer ACMi youth members the

valuable experience of working side by side with some

of New England’s best television production profession-

als and ACMi adult members and staff. He produced his

Fourth Anniversary Spectacular at the Regent Theatre in

Totals 197 35 192

FY 2012-2013 EDU-LocalPUB-Local GOV-Local


programming

Arlington Center, once again as a charity benefit for

the Jimmy Fund, raising more than $10,000 over all.

Season five is expected to launch in the fall of 2013 after

a summer hiatus.

new england journalNew England Journal, produced at ACMi’s Park Avenue

studio in Arlington Heights, is a monthly regional news

magazine program, featuring on-location segments and

in-depth interviews in studio. The show received both a

2012 Communicator Award of Distinction and a 2012 Telly

Award last year. Both are national awards with nominees

from professional production houses and networks.

Producer Adam Dusenberry added to his list of awards

one for Best Director that was presented at the June 2012

ACMi Awards in Arlington’s Town Hall. Adam also cov-

ered the 2013 New England Music Awards and produced a

superlative television special for ACMi’s Public channel.

town day 2012ACMi’s live coverage of Town Day 2012 was another step

forward in elevating the standard of Arlington’s annual

September block party. Our cablecast included live and

pre-recorded on-the-street interviews, and interviews from

the Selectmen’s Hearing Room at Town Hall. For the

second year the live event was hosted by ACMi members

Jo Guthrie and Bob Kuhn. The previous evening’s Town

Night festivities were hosted by ACMi member Phil

Enright. Town Day is a large-scale production which

utilizes ACMi staff and member volunteers. It provides

an unparalleled opportunity for our member producers

and volunteers to learn the complicated process of live

television production. As the 2012-13 year came to an

end we were already planning for a live Town Day

production hosted by our Arlington Public News

department in anticipation of its planned public

launch five days after Town Day 2013.

living out loudProduced and hosted by Arlington Council on Aging

Executive Director Susan Carp, Living Out Loud is an

information show for Arlington Seniors. Some of the

subjects covered are Medicare issues, finding wheelchair-

accessible apartments, transportation concerns, and

meeting the new geriatric nurse clinician. With a senior

citizen population of more than 9,400 in our town, this

is an important program that educates our elders about

available resources in Arlington.

on the avenueAnn MacGowan produces, hosts, and edits these shows

in which she interviews special guests at locations around

Arlington. She has taken viewers to shops on Mass Ave,

to ACMi’s Studio B for a visit and interview with ACMi

Youth Coordinator Dan Black, and for a tour and chat

with the new Robbins Library executive director, Ryan

Livergood.

an evening with chris nauman & friends ACMi member and singer/songwriter, Chris

Nauman, produced an in-studio music special featuring

his own original music and arrangements. He invited

three talented musical friends to join him and the result

was an uplifting and lyrical combination of in-studio

songs intercut with pre-recorded musings alongside

the Menotomy Rocks Park pond.

theater @ firstACMi member producer Jo Guthrie continues to bring to

Arlington audiences staged plays performed at Theatre at

First in Somerville. Jo produces, shoots, and edits record-

ings of these theatrical productions, often single-handed-

ly. This year ACMi was pleased to receive for airing on its

Public Channel Margaret’s Ghost and Pride and Prejudice.

martin berkovsky’s reflections on hovhaness (third in a 3-part special series)

Alan Hovhaness, one of the most prolific 20th-century

composers (67 numbered symphonies and 434 opus

numbers) and a 1929 graduate of Arlington High School

was honored at a plaque dedication and concert in his

honor on May 17, 2009. Pianists Martin Berkofsky and

Ani Hovsepian, flutist Orlando Cela, cellist Cynthia

Forbes and the Arlington High School Madrigal Singers

and Honors Orchestra performed the music of Hovha-

ness, Hayag Boyadjian, as well as the world premiere of

Pasquale Tassone’s “Dzon”. Berkovshy returned to

Arlington subsequently for another concert of the prolific

Armenian-American composer’s music. These events

public channel (continued)


education channel

comprise the first two episodes of the series produced for

the ACMi Public Channel by our Public Access Coordi-

nator, Lakis Koulouris. This year the third episode was

produced and aired. It consisted of a long distance inter-

view between Martin Berkofsky, at home in Cassanova,

Virginia, and Pascuale Tassone in our ACMi Studio-A. It

was very well received indeed.

Other ACMi Member-produced Series and Special Programming The following programs will continue during the 2013-14

fiscal year:

> Town Hall 100th Birthday Celebration

> Election Night Returns Coverage

> Nicole’s Review (series)

> Just Cook It! (series)

> Senior Medicare Patrol (series)

> AHS Sports (series)

> Young Men’s Success (series)

> Patriots’ Day (annual special)

Education Channel ProgrammingOur Education Channel features educational programs,

including shows produced by our student members. The

channel’s other purpose is coverage of instructional

offerings from outside sources, and presentation of pub-

lic health and safety information. Additional “bicycled”

programs, such as NASA Launchpad, NASA: Our World,

TED programming (from the conference series), Khan

Academy (from the web series), a block of programming

from the National Science Foundation, and a presenta-

tion of MIT’s Open Course Ware (from the web series)

come from other access TV stations. Still others, such as

Classic Arts Showcase, come via satellite TV.

aceThis year ACMi partnered again with Arlington Commu-

nity Education (ACE) to bring the week-long SummerFun

TV Production Workshop to twelve Arlington youth. During

the week of July 29th – August 2nd the participants were

mentored by ACMi staff and, by the end of the week,

the group had created three presentation pieces each,

including video scavenger hunt, a creative countdown

for the beginning of their projects, and a production with

Animal Adventures.

Arlington Short Animation Film Festival (First Annual)Arlington Community Media Inc, Arlington

Center for the Arts, and Friends of Robbins

Farm Park came together this past summer,

under the supervision of ACMi Government

Access Coordinator Jess Barnthouse, to issue

a call for entries for the first-annual Arlington

Short Animation Film Festival. The event, an

outdoor evening festival for all ages that

showcased animated shorts on a big screen

at Robbins Farm Park on Saturday, August

10th, was a big success. A live band performed

from 7-8pm and the films started screening at

8:30pm when the sun had set. About 200 folks

came, some with blankets and picnic food, and

others with pocket money for purchasing food

and drink from local vendors.

Massachusetts animators will soon be invited

to show off their work next summer in the

second Annual Arlington Short Animation Film

Festival. Entries are invited from novice and

experienced filmmakers alike, from anywhere in

the Bay State.


programming

ottoson news network (onn)ACMi recognized the need for media literacy at an earlier

age. Many of the Ottoson Middle School students with

whom ACMi has collaborated during the past six years

are now at the high school.

This past year ACMi held a Media Day at Ottoson to

determine the level of interest among current students

for media production. The response was overwhelming.

A large and enthusiastic group of students indicated their

desire to participate in community media. This permit-

ted a strong revival of the Ottoson News Network begun

originally by middle-school parent and current ACMi

board member Charlotte Pierce.

arlington enrichment collaborative (aec) ACMi initiated weekly workshops this past year

for students served by AEC. The after-school program

participants, supervised by Diana Weisner, were taught

both field and studio production skills by AEC’s David

Vishniac and ACMi’s Youth Coordinator, Dan Black. By

the end of the school year the group produced the “AEC

Game Show”, a fun and suspenseful series of half-hour

episodes engaging youngsters in playing games like Jenga

and Battleship and showing them other safe alternatives

to after-school boredom.

acmi home-schoolersThe ACMi Home-Schooled Producers program has been

a part of ACMi programming for the entire six years of

its existence. For the first three years a group of middle-

school-aged youngsters, supervised by parent Kimberley

Harding, produced a program called The Show, a drama

written, directed, and produced by the group. As the

group membership expanded and matured, Caryn John-

son, parent of one of the now high-school-aged students,

came on board to facilitate the production by the older

group of a “What if…” series called Murphy’s Law that

focuses on scientific experimentation and tinkering with

established formulas, laws, and menus. The show’s up-

coming fourth episode on the ACMi Education Channel

is about alternative cookie recipes and their differences

from the original one.

arlington high schoolParticipation of AHS students increased and intensified

during the 2012-13 year. More students became aware of

community-produced television as ACMi’s equipment

and capabilities continued to develop. AHS member

producers, notably those in the Focus Media group,

have been given the opportunity to learn most aspects

of television and video production at the 892 Mass Ave

Studio B facility, including studio and field production,

sportscasting, digital editing, and computer graphics

utilizing Adobe software applications like Photoshop,

Illustrator, and After Effects. AHS journalism students

and others have made good use of the ACMi studio

resources as well.

arlington catholic high schoolDuring the past year the students that produce Arlington

Catholic TV have created their own news show, recorded

at first at Studio A, then at Studio B. After school the

15-member ACTV crew comes to the studio to shoot and

edit the ACTV News program. ACMi looks forward to

expanding programs that are made with, for, and by the

students and faculty at Arlington Catholic High School.

education channel (continued)

ACMi Again Hosts Interns from Northern IrelandArlington Community Media Inc. was once again

blessed by the arrival of two interns from North-

ern Ireland as part of a program initiated last

year by The Irish International Immigrant Center

(IIIC) and Ann-Marie Byrne, Director of its Learn-

ing Exchange Program. 27-year old Niall from

Londonderry and 19-year-old Ryan from Omagh in

County Tyrone settled in quickly and immediately

began helping with Town Meeting sessions and

live-to tape recordings of The Steve Katsos Show

at ACMi’s 85 Park Avenue Studio. They also spent

time at ACMi Studio B, across from Arlington

High School, to participate there in projects being

produced by AHS and ACHS students under the

supervision of the ACMi Youth Coordinator.


government channel

Government Channel ProgrammingThe ACMi Government Channel features programming

by and information about Arlington government bodies,

agencies, and committees. These include the Board of

Selectmen, the School Committee, the Redevelopment

Board, the Budget Revenue Task Force, the Finance Com-

mittee, and Town Meeting. Broadcasting these meetings

is an important part of transparency within Arlington’s

town government, and also facilitates conversation

between Arlington residents about significant hyperlocal

issues. Through streaming these meetings on the web

via our Video-On-Demand service, Arlington residents

have an even greater ability to participate in local democ-

racy than ever before.

Government Meetings Recorded with the Help of Volunteers and ACMi Staff

> Selectmen

> School Committee

> Special School Committee Meeting

> Arlington Redevelopment Board

> Budget Revenue Task Force

> Finance Committee

> Town Meeting

> Special Town Meeting

> Board of Health Meeting

Public Forums and Public Hearings

> Arlington’s Master Plan Interactive Workshop

> Public Input Session on Financial Coordination Recom-

mendations

> Special Town Meeting Leaf Blower Committee Public

Meeting

> Massachusetts Avenue Corridor Project Public Hearing

Debates

> ACMi/Advocate Candidates for Selectmen Debate

> ACMi/Advocate Candidates for School Committee

Debate

> League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night

Other Public Events> Stormwater Awareness Series

Other Activities> State Senate Update with State Senator Ken Donnelly

> Veteran’s Day Parade 2012

> Candidates’ Video Profiles

> Selectmen Meeting Roundups for Arlington Public News

> School Committee Meeting Roundups for Arlington

Public News

> Finance Committee Meeting Roundups for Arlington

Public News

> Redevelopment Board Meeting Roundups for Arlington

Public News

> Town Hall 100th Birthday Celebration

The 2013 ACMi Producers’ PicnicAs we did in June 2011 for our first Producers’

Picnic, ACMi members and staff gathered again

this June on the side lawn of the Whittemore-

Robbins House behind Robbins Library for

games, videos, music, food, and fun.

The Producers’ Picnic is designed to acknowledge

the value of its member producers during the past

year to ACMi and to the Town of Arlington. In June

of alternate years, all those celebrated at the picnic

will be part of the ACMi Awards gala at Town Hall

where their work during the past two years will

be showcased. The picnic is also an occasion for

bidding farewell to our graduating high school

seniors. This past June we said goodbye to

two graduating AHS seniors and veritable super-

stars of the 13-17 set of ACMi members, college-

bound Noel Forte and Amy Currul. Both received

crystal mementos from ACMi Executive Director

Norman McLeod as outstanding producers of both

programs and specialized graphics. It was a fine

gathering; the weather cooperated; the music and

food were great, and Frisbee play was ultimate.

While more down home and less glamorous than

the Awards gala, the 2013 ACMi Producers’ Picnic

was a memorable event.


acmi programs in fy-2013 produced by members & staff

Each fiscal year, ACMi members and staff endeavor to

create an increase in the quantity and quality of its pro-

grams. It is to that endeavor that we dedicate the bulk

of our time and energies. And every year, so far, we have

succeeded in achieving our goal of helping more of our

town’s government agencies and committees, more non-

profit organizations, and more residents of every age and

stripe to learn the science and art of video and television

production. We believe our efforts this past fiscal year

have once again resulted in more programs of greater

quality on our channels for our community.

Public ACMi Awards 2012

ACMI Annual General Meeting 2012

A Celebration of Jane Howard

Affordable Housing at Capitol Square Apartments

A Night of Music with Chris Nauman and Friends

Ahyshia Faines - Internship at ACMI

AIFF Panel: We Still Live Here

Arlington Farmers Market 2012

Arlington Historical Society - Voices from the Back Stairs

Arlington Memorial Day Celebration - 2013

Arlington Public News

Birth 2012 Boston Promo

Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner 2012

Cookies and Carols - Middlesex Concert Band

Dr. Nouvellon

Fidelity House Gymnastics

Guns & Hoses for Autism

Housing Corp of Arlington 2012 Annual Meeting

Hovhaness - Reflections by Martin Berkofsky

Just Cook It

The Kenny Selcer Band

Living Out Loud

Martin Luther King Jr.25th Annual Birthday Observance

Memorial Day Parade - 2013

Middlesex Concert Band - A Celtic Celebration

Mystic Chorale 2013 Gospel Concert

Film Festival Special: Neil McGarry Interview

New England Journal

Nicole’s Review - Talk that Matters

On the Avenue

Patriots Day Parade 2013 Special

Personal Stories: Veteran Thomas J. Hudner Jr.

Personal Stories: Veteran Robert Drennan

Public Art in Arlington Special

Roots of Arlington: Variations on a Mystery

SEPAC Special: IEP Procedures

Sgt. Allen Jones Avery Memorial Sq. Dedication Special

SMP: Health Care Errors, Fraud and Abuse Special

Saint Athanasius The Great, Greek Church Services

The Art and Flow of Aikido

The Steve Katsos 2012 Anniversary Blue Carpet Special

The Steve Katsos 4th Anniversary Spectacular

The Steve Katsos Show

Theatre at First Special: Margaret’s Ghost

Theatre at First Special: Pride and Prejudice

Town Day 2012 Special

Veteran Stories: Richard Byron

Veteran’s Day Parade 2013

Wu So Fai Presents: Schubert and Bartok

Wu So Fai Presents: Suk and Elgar

Education ACHS Boys Basketball

ACHS Boys Hockey

ACHS Special with Principal Biagioni

AEF Trivia Bee 2013

AHS Football

AHS Girls Basketball

AHS Girls Soccer

AHS Girls Hockey

AHS Graduation 2013

AHS Music Tech

AHS Wrestling

All-Town String Concert

Arlington International Film Festival

AHS Bejazzled

Battle of the Bands 2013

Brackett School Concert and Art Show


Cancer Awareness Relay for Life Talk with survivors,

Lauren and parents

Ceiling Boy

Cindy Starks’ Inside Arlington’s Schools Series

Circle of Songs

FTC Robotics Competition 2013

Halloween FX Show

Home Shopping Network – SummerFun 2012

Humorrama

Library Card Challenge

Murphy’s Law

ONN

Ottoson Chorus Concert

Ottoson Woodshop Renovation

Government ACMi School Committee Debate March 2013

ACMi Selectmen Debate March 2013

Board of Health Meeting

Budget Revenue Task Force Meetings

Candidate Profiles 2013

Candidates Night 2013

Finance Committee Meetings

Leaf Blower Public Input Meeting

Mass Ave Corridor Project Meeting

Master Plan: Interactive Workshop

Office Hours with State Rep. Will Brownsberger

Public Input Financial Coordination Presentation

Redevelopment Board Meetings

School Committee Meetings

Selectmen Meetings

Solarize Arlington: Kickoff Meeting

State Senate Update with Ken Donnelly

Stormwater Awareness

Town Hall Topics with Kevin Greeley

Town Manager explains Warrant Articles 7 and 8

- Marijuana

Town Meetings

Warrant Articles 2,4,5,6 for Special Town Meeting

on October 10, 2012

Arlington Public News ProgrammingThe largest addition to ACMi programs this year were the 13 news digests of government meetings and newscasts

created by our newly founded news department (APN) between September 2012 and April 2013 and the subsequent

six newscasts (containing 54 segments produced thereafter during April through June. The dedicated team of News

production volunteers has ranged in number from about 25 to 30, and currently numbers 21. Seven interns from five

area colleges are included in that number. Below are a few examples of the many segments produced by the Arlington

Public News team.

Special event coverage by news team, with ACMi staff assistance2013 Selectmen Candidates’ Debate (March 12, 2013)

2013 School Committee Candidates’ Debate (March 15, 2013)

Selected Newscast segments

Young Voters – Parts 1 & 2: Do young people matter in politics? (September 4, 2012)

Symmes Renovation: What’s happening at the site of the former Symmes Hospital? (September 18, 2012)

Arlington International Film Festival: Viewers’ highlights and interviews from the opening of AIFF’s second annual film

festival at the Regent Theatre (October 26, 2012)


HCA Annual Meeting of October 18, 2012: Highlights of the Annual Meeting of the Housing Corporation of Arlington

and a short interview with Massachusetts State Treasurer, Steve Grossman (October 26, 2012)

Basketball– Arlington versus Lexington: Game highlights from the January 11th Arlington vs. Lexington high school

basketball game (March 28, 2013)

Arlington Friends of the Drama presentation of Sondheim’s Side by Side: A peek at the upcoming production of Sond-

heim’s Side by Side by AFD (March 28, 2013)

Lecture: Learn about Islamism: A brief overview on upcoming lecture on Islamism, its rich culture and history (April

18, 2013)

Tuesday Night Conversations: An overview of upcoming lectures hosted by Arlington Community Education in May

2013 (May 9, 2013)

About Town Meeting: Town Meeting is the Legislative branch of Arlington, made up of 252 representatives from 21 pre-

cincts. This segment is about how some town meeting members stay in touch (May 9, 2013)

MBTA Fares–A conversation with State Sen. Ken Donnelly: APN sat down with State Senator Ken Donnelly to discuss

his bill to reduce fares for youth, seniors, and the disabled and making MBTA fares more equitable (May 9, 2013)

Town Manager Interview: Government Access Coordinator Jessica Barnthouse talked with Town Manager Adam Chap-

delaine about recent votes from Town Meeting 2013 (May 16, 2013)

Regent Benefit Concert for Krystle Campbell: Krystle Campbell was one of the people killed in the bombing at the Bos-

ton Marathon. The Regent Theater hosted a tribute to Krystle and the other victims and APN was there (May 31, 2013)

Relay for Life 2013: The 12th Annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, from 6:00 PM on Saturday June 1st, to

6:00 AM on Sunday June 2nd brought together hundreds of community members comprising more than 60 teams, to

walk the AHS Peirce Field track thru the night to raise funds for the ACS (June 6, 2013)

Generation Citizen–Youth Segment: Segment Generation Citizen, an organization dedicated to empowering young

people to become more engaged and better citizens by becoming active in the political process (June 6, 2013)

Town Hall turns 100: Segment about the Centennial Celebration of Arlington Town Hall & Gardens, featuring music,

history, and more (June 7, 2013)

Master Plan: Community outreach program of June 2013: Community forum to discuss Arlington’s proposed Master

Plan that will serve as the Town’s policy statement on future land use and physical development (June 20, 2013)

Special Report: Child Abuse Prevention: APN interview with Jodi Crowley about resources available to everyone and

what to look for (June 20, 2013)

acmi programs in fy-2013 produced by members & staff (continued)


July 2012–June 2013

368 307 491 54 98 87 88

HD

Camcorder

Reserva-

tions

(days of

use)

ACMi

Production

Resource

Use

Edit

Station

Reservations

(4-hour

blocks)

Studio/

Ctrl Rm

Reservations

(3-hour avg

use)

Audio

Mixer

(days

used)

Video

Switcher

(days

used)

Wireless

Mics

(days

used)

Light

Kit

(days

used)

Rental Value

Total Use

Value of Use

$250/day

368 days

$92,000 $61,400 $294,600 $10,800 $19,600 $17,400 $17,600

$200/hour

307 bookings

$200/hour

491 bookings

$200/hour

98 days

$200/day

54 days

$200/day

87 days

$200/day

88 days

HD

Camera

Annual Totals Edit

Station

(3-hour

avg)

Studio

(3-hour

avg)

Audio

Mixer

Video

Switcher

Wireless

Mic

Kits

Light

Kit

community use of acmi resources

APN, led by News Director Sara Alfaro-Franco, was

tapped as host and anchor for ACMi’s LIVE coverage of

Town Day 2013. News anchors Paul Wehrlin and Michelle

Marino will be on hand to guide our viewers to and from

the many activities and events to be featured during our

Town’s annual block-party.

Roving APN reporters will be on the street talking with

officials, participants, and townspeople alike about the

Town Day experience.

Since July 2013, the core group of APN news team volun-

teers has been producing short news digest segments of

Selectmen and School Committee meetings, as well as

community events, and announcements in preparation

for “going public” in late September. The pre-launch

newscasts can be viewed online at news.ACMi.tv.

Total Estimated Market Value of ACMi Resources in FY 2012-13 returned to the Town of Arlington: $513,400

The News Kid on the Block: Arlington Public News


our board of directors

John D. Leone, EsqPresident

John was born and raised in the Town of Arlington. He holds a J.D. degree from New England

School of Law and an undergraduate B.B.A. degree from the School of Business Administration

at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is admitted to practice law before the US Supreme

Court and in the states of Massachusetts and New York. He consults and advises clients who are

starting new businesses or continuing the operation of existing ones. He has been a Town Meeting

member since 1994, and is the current Town Meeting Moderator. He also serves on the Board

of Directors of the Touchdown Club.

Kathleen ColwellTreasurer

A resident of Arlington since 1981, Kathy has been an active resident serving as: a Town Meeting

member; a past president, board member and treasurer for Arlington Cable Access Inc. (ACA);

founding member and first president of the Arlington Educational Enrichment Fund (AEEF);

founding member and current treasurer of Arlington Community Media Inc. (ACMI). Kathy runs

her own computer consulting business and is, during tax season, a tax accountant.

James ClementsDirector

An associate professor of digital media and communications at the New England Institute of Art

in Brookline, MA, Jim is a 20-year professional in the television production industry, having served

six years as access coordinator for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T Broadband in

Arlington and Cambridge, MA. An Arlington resident for 25 years, Jim is a longstanding volun-

teer for Arlington cable television as well as past president of Arlington Cable Access, Inc. (ACA).

Video production credits include a Hometown USA Award for producing of a video presentation of

Stravinsky’s Firebird, by the Underground Railway Theater.

Michael T. Healy Clerk

A lifelong resident of Arlington, MA, Mike graduated from Providence College with a bachelor’s

degree in education, and then from Rhode Island College with a master’s degree in school

administration. He also holds a graduate certificate in dispute resolution from the University of

Massachusetts, Boston. Mike is a retired teacher who spent many years teaching in the Cambridge

Public School system. He previously served as a member of the Arlington School Committee,

and currently serves as an Arlington Town Meeting member. He has also served on a number of

other town boards and committees.


Linda K. OlsenDirector

A resident of Arlington since 1974, Linda’s community activities include 15 years as a Town Meeting

member, and service as both a Corporator and Director of the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum. Linda is

the Associate Director of Intellectual Property at the Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelors

Degree in Business from Boston University.

Charlotte PierceDirector

Charlotte became involved with the Arlington Studio in 2004 as producer of the Hola Arlington!

Spanish educational program and went on to produce programs for the Sustainable Arlington series

and to help start the Ottoson News Network (ONN) video production club, now AMP (Arlington

Middleschool Producers). She served on the Board of the Friends of Menotomy Rocks Park, is a

founder and president of the locally-based World Language Network, and is the owner of Day

Tripper Books (Pierce Press). Charlotte currently produces Face the Book, an ACMi show about

independent publishing and bookselling in New England. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the

University of Washington and a master’s from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Martin ThropeDirector

A former member of the Arlington School Committee and Arlington Town Meeting, Marty has

been active in the life of the community for many years. He has also served as board member and

president of The Children’s Room Center for Grieving Children & Teenagers, Inc. in Arlington.

The holder of Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Harvard, Marty’s

professional experience includes contributing to the initial implementation of what eventually

evolved into the Internet as well as responsibility for development and operation of computer

based systems for the retail and financial industries.


our staff

The value of teamwork in an organization cannot be overstated. Once ACMi’s overall annual goals and the strategy

for attaining them have been determined by the board of directors and the Executive Director, it is the ACMi staff that

brings forth specific operations, training, and programs. Along with the valuable assistance of member producers and

volunteers, these plans manifest as actions that lead to viewable results. Each staff member has been selected for his

or her particular set of skills in the process of making all of this happen.

Following the end of FY-2012-13, Sara Alfaro-Franco was moved from her position as Government Access Coordinator

to her new position as News Director for Arlington Public News. Jessica Barnthouse took her place as Government

Access Coordinator and, by the summer of 2013, had scheduled what would be ACMi’s first annual Short Animation

Festival at Robbins Farm Park – a successful event that drew 200 people to attend and elicited many positive com-

ments from them.

By the end of the fiscal year, Public Access Coordinator Lakis Koulouris left ACMi for a position at another company

and a new Production Coordinator, Jonathan Barbato, had joined our staff for the commencement of FY 2013-14.

ACMi Staff. Back row left to right: Jonathan Barbato, Sara Alfaro-Franco, Walter Locke, Sean Snyder, Norman McLeod,

Jeff Munro. Front row: Cheryl Brusgulis and Jessica Barnthouse. Not pictured: Lakis Koulouris and Daniel Black.


our members & supporters

George Ackerley

James Akimchuk III

Lauren Alicandro

Margaret Ammondson

Scott Anderson

David Anick

Michael Armanious

Kristina Arruda

Jacob Ballin

James Barrett

Kate Barvick

Nancy Barvick

Jimmy Barvick

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Leslie Bennett

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[ACMi has] been one of the most positive and influential forces for our son. Your support and encouragement, as well as your honest and helpful structure and feedback, has played a significant role in shap-ing the young man he has become. We are so appreciative of the social experiences he has gained, as well as the technological and artistic skills. ACMi gave him a great “team” to be on -- the perfect match. He formed strong and positive bonds with peers as well as with the adult staff. We will be forever grateful.

– Janet and Robert Forte, parents of graduating AHS senior/ACMi member-intern, Noel Forte

The [Martin] Berkofsky remote interview project was a fabulous pro-duction! You should be proud and pleased with your work. It really did seem as if I were interviewing Martin [in Virginia] LIVE in your studio. The pacing and audio were beautifully balanced. I wonder how many of your viewers realize the amount of work involved for you.

–Pasquale Tassone, AHS Performing Arts Instructor

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