Please welcome SF Commons first Community Advisory Board: Elizabeth Allen, Ellison Horne, Catherine Lee, Arnel Valle, Idell Wilson, and Howard Vicini (who replaced Patricia Cogley as next-in-line on March 1, 2010). The Community Advisory Board will serve a term of one year, from November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010. You may email the Community Advisory Board directly, or leave phone messages for them at the station (415-575-4949) until December 18. The Community Advisory Board also started a private discussion group on Google Groups, which you can join below.

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Roles and responsibilities

The SF Commons Community Advisory Board is a non-governing body. Community Advisory Board members will serve for a one-year term. They will be expected to attend approximately 6 to 8 meetings annually, and will also be expected to conduct some tasks and research activities outside of these meetings. The Community Advisory Board will together keep meeting minutes, address topics of concern to the community, survey SF Commons members to understand community needs, and present suggestions and input to BAVC Staff and Board of Directors in formal and informal settings. The Community Advisory Board may be tasked with reviewing and developing policies and procedures, suggesting new programs and approaches, and inviting new producers and organizations to participate in SF Commons activities. The Advisory Board is a non-governing, volunteer entity.

In return, the inaugural Community Advisory Board members will receive a complementary BAVC Producer-level Membership during their year of service, will gain insight and access to the leadership of the station, and will have a professional development experience and connections that will likely be useful in future employment and community endeavors.

Above all, the Community Advisory Board should be a group of dedicated, creative volunteers who work well with teams and hope to give back to their community and realize new directions for public access television and community media programs in San Francisco.  

Process and timeline

Any BAVC member or SF Commons member was eligible to nominate candidates or to be nominated. Run-off elections (for candidates who accepted their nominations) for a six-member Community Advisory Board were held October 5 - 22, 2009. There will be many ways for other community members to participate and to give input to the Community Advisory Board.

Meet the advisory board

Elizabeth Allen

It is my deep affection for public access television that motivates me to serve on the Community Advisory Board. I teach preschool science part-time, and also work in financial services. I've lived in the Bay Area since 1989, have a B.A. in Spanish from SF State, and interned as a photographer at a newspaper in Santiago, Chile. I have been a volunteer photographer for Woman's Will, a Bay Area theater company, since their inception; I also set up their bookkeeping system. Where I have felt most at home, though, is in public access television, where I not only produced and directed my own monthly program taping local musicians, but also crewed on many other shows. I found out I love to soak up new technology and juggle the demands of a complex production. These experiences enhanced my life in many wonderful ways, forging lasting friendships and associations. Public access production is about more than the project we're working on. It is about celebrating life, bringing people together, and shaping the world we live in through our collaboration. I would be honored to be a part of its growth in this important next phase. I ask for your vote. http://www.myspace.com/thecollectionagencyshow

Ellison Horne

As a member of the community I have a strong commitment to public engagement and community building. Key to that commitment: media and communications; essential resources for us to better understand our cares, concerns and our identities within a social order rich in diversity. This is why I’m drawn to the BAVC mission of "enabling the sharing of diverse stories through art, education and technology". However, I understand the realities and challenges of being a new face in management over an environment well established as a community media center. And, equally, I understand the apprehensions of those among the public who may fear an intrusion on their ability to express or communicate to the larger community. This experience comes directly from having served as board president of the CTC during the construction of the current Access Cable 29 community media center. Subsequent to my term, I also volunteered extensively there as crew for a variety of citizen produced programs. While the constraints are huge and the demands are high, I can think of nothing better than to serve on the Advisory Board, forging solid community relations by carving a path of mutual benefit toward meeting our common goals. Ellison's videos.

Catherine Lee

I am one of the producers of the digital arts and music video show “Video Vision.” http://www.VideoVision.org I have advocated for Public Access Television at the City and State level alongside numerous other producers and supporters for the past 4 years and we’ve won a lot of legislative victories. I’ve met & collaborated with many Public Access supporters when I organized the phone banks for membership outreach in early 2009 and I’d love to continue working for an inclusive model of non-commercial television in the coming year as part of the transition team. Community media is all about us staying together as a community. I care about Public Access Television as a free-speech platform that serves all of our niche communities who live in San Francisco, and I believe that television is still the most direct communication tool used for social justice available, yet underused. Public Access needs to be available as a media literacy establishment, serving all communities regardless of their age and formal education. Public Access Television is especially crucial for those over 40 years old, to maintain media and digital literacy in the face of constant recalibration in broadcast media.

Arnel Valle

To lead a dedicated team to successfully enhance the quality of life for the community. Charity, harmony, justice, truth, strength, justice add up to incredible power. Power needs discipline and experience. As an active public access participant for 10 years, I wish to continue my involvement with the growth and development on the new face of public access television. Seniors and youth from all walks of life from all area of the city should have the benefit and life-long enrichment that is unique to public access media centers. It is a living laboratory far beyond academic theory.

Howard Vicini

Howard Vicini is retired from a career in graphic design, prepress for lithography & silk-screen, and animation. During the 1990's, he became a nationally-recognized expert in accurate color reproduction from 4 color lithography and was a pioneer in digital, large-format printing. Vicini served as tech editor for OnLine Design Magazine during the convergence of graphic and multimedia arts, designing and chronicling experiments that helped shape the emerging field. Some of Vicini's notable design clients included the Embarcadero Center, Casella Lighting, and Lightolier. Vicini is a board member and treasurer of Media Alliance and has produced for cable access for 3-1/2 years.

Idell Wilson

I have been at Access 29 for a long time and it is the only place for low-income people to go and get the experience of real broadcasting. I want to keep the door open for all diverse. I believe San Francisco has the best open opportunity in the world so please vote for me. I will leave U with some facts and quotes. Facts: Black Diva Media SF Live Call in Show Channel 76, Every 2,4 Fridays of the month @6:30-6:52 PM. "IdEaL03" TV Show 2003-07, Ghetto TV Show Accessf 29 Every First Monday of month @10-30 11:30 PM Producer, Director, Writer, Camera, Editor. Ghetto TV 07 Show Oakland Ca Channel 28 Special Occasion. Accessf 29 Intern (Open Mike) 2004-2006. Accessf 29 Above&Beyond Award 2004. Quotes: "Idell is a Hard Worker and Takes Great Delight in Learning, Highly Motivated and Compassionate." -- Tandy Iles, MPH, Coordinator Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Studies. "Idell Leaves Her Individual Foot Prints every Where She Goes Truly Deicated to Her Children, Ministry, Her Education, Attendance, and Financial Support. She Exhibits a Tremendous Level of Determination and Perseverance In the Face of Adversity." -- Freddie Parham Pastor, Word of Faith Church, Icn.