Present: Leif Goldberg, Kurt Boss, Rachel Kane, Wiz Dow, Robin Grant
Rachel called the meeting to order 7:03
Kurt moved we accept the minutes of the July 26, 2018. Rachel second. No discussion. Unanimous acceptance. Robin, who didn’t attend that meeting, abstained.
Station Annual Report: Leif reported that we produced 142 programs, up from 124 the previous year. He mentioned broadcasting more soccer had a big impact on that change.
He conducted 1 training for new camera people, but no Vid Kids programs. He wants to pick up the Vid Kids program this summer. He’s has asked Maura Gahan to serve as instructor, expecting to pay her from our operating budget rather than grant funding. She thinking it over. If she accepts, she will provide creative instruction, while the station will provide logistical and administrative support. The program would be free to the kids.
Kevin Gregoire, from Craftsbury, has taken the training and become fairly active as a camera person.
We had some discussion of the Public Service Award production program at Hazen Union and the possibility of establishing a connection between the people there and the station.
We also had some discussion of potential new members for the board.

Comcast report: In March, Comcast technicians installed fiber optic fully into the station instead of just to the Memorial Building. The connection, now undergoing testing, will remove the need to convert our digital output to analog to send it out to the network. Leif confirmed that we will not have to pay for the installation.
The FTC ruling relieving cable companies of the requirement to fund local TV stations has not yet gone through, but, it seems it will go through.
The Vermont Access Network (VAN) met with Peter Welsh, a member of the Senate Education and Communications Committee, to see what can be done to avert the rule. No promises. VAN also lobbied the state legislature in January on the same point.
VAN’s annual meeting will be in St. Albans on Friday, May 4. Leif will learn more about this issue there.
Leif has bought some battery power back-up (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to fill the gap between the moment when a power outage starts and the 20 seconds before the town’s generator kicks in.
Leif is considering attending the Hazen Hiring Fair on May 24, as outreach to the students and teachers. He will schedule a training for anyone who expresses interest.
Leif pointed out that we need more interviewers. We discussed who he might ask and the possibility of training them.
Election of Officers:
Rachel and Kurt stood for election as President and Treasurer, respectively. Robin moved. Kurt seconded. Unanimous vote.

Community Comment: None. Adjourn 7:50

Rachel called the meeting to order at 7:51.

Robin moved that we accept the minutes. Kurt seconded. Discussion followed.

Leif has not found an online archive beyond uploading our programming to YouTube. We stream through YouTube which captures it unedited. If he edits it, he has to upload it again. He’s ambivalent about Archive.com. The up-front one-time $2000 feel feels expensive, but using it may be a good idea. He will pursue it at the VAN meeting.

The Hardwick Historical Society (HHS) is willing to hold a back-up hard drive in its repository. HCTV and HHS will work out a ‘contract’ for how updating and access will work.

Unanimous acceptance.

Balance Sheet — Nothing raised any concern. Kurt moved to accept; Robin seconded. Unanimous.

Profit and Loss — Leif pointed out that our income from PEG has dropped $2000 (roughly 12%) because of a change in their accounting practices. It will remain at this lower level for quarterly payments into the future.

Kurt moved we accept; Robin seconded. Unanimous.
Station Report — We accepted the report given during the Annual Meeting.

Staffing — The station had a busy winter, producing 50 programs between December and March. Elizabeth Rossario left the station as of the third week of March. That leaves the Curtis Whiteway project without someone to work on it. The project is unfinished, though well planned out if anyone with the skills could take it over.

Griffin has picked up the external shooting, but we need someone who can shoot things, and someone who can run the live production software.

Rachel asked how quickly we need a replacement, and Leif allowed that it’s not an immediate need. Events to cover drops off after the winter sports season, so we have time to sort out what we need.

Robin announced that he will be available soon.

Leif pointed out the pros and cons of hiring someone for the station as opposed to using contractors. Pros: somebody embedded in the station, who has working regular hours, able to cover live broadcasting, running soundboard and cameras at the same time, means we can respond to all kinds of requests. Cons: the communication with them is hard because everyone has such short hours and no crossover of their hours.