Community Public Access Wins Awards

(Reedsburg, WI) June 19, 2007- The Reedsburg Utility Commission Local Access Channel recently won several awards for the content and programming aired on the Local Channel. The Local Channel #11 has been recognized by the WAPC for its efforts to produce top notch local programming for the community, by the community.

Public Access Channel Coordinator, Kate Welter said, “this is the first year the Reedsburg Utility Commission Local Access Channel submitted programming to the WAPC Video Festival, and it was great to have found out we won three awards!”

The winners of the Ninth Annual Wisconsin Association of Public, Educational and Government Access Channels (WAPC) Video Festival awards were announced Friday, May 4. This year’s winners were named in a ceremony that took place during the Video Festival Awards Banquet, which was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, WI.

Awards were recognized to the following people and programming:  “Channel #12 Bulletin Board”, produced by Kate Welter, of the Reedsburg Utility Commission; “My Kitchen with Sheila Bentley”, videotaped by Doug Bentley of Reedsburg, and edited by Kate Welter; and “The 29^th Annual Loganville Fireman’s Festival”, produced by Bill Schuette, of Loganville. Other programs that were recognized were; “The Wooden Spoon Bakery & Bistro Interview” and the “21^st Annual MDA Freedom Ride”, both produced by Kate Welter.

Winners didn’t get to walk the red carpet, or get fancy gold statues like they do in Hollywood, but, they do take away a small keepsake and bragging rights.

“It’s nice to be recognized for the hard work and time dedication that is put into producing a program. It really is a great honor to have had some of our programs, be the chosen ones!” Welter said.  About 200 entries were submitted to the video festival.  “We received commentary from the judges, which is a great learning tool for us.  The feedback is usually constructive, and will help the producer for future programs,” Welter said.

Members of the community have been submitting programming for the Local Channel #11 now for the past year, and due to this, the Reedsburg Utility Commission is proud to be able to offer quality, local programming on its channel line-up. Anyone who produces a show and airs it on public access television can enter the video contest. Welter encourages more organizations, churches, community groups and community members to produce shows.

Welter said, “The awards represent something positive for the local channels, for the Reedsburg Utility Commission, and for the Community, a big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who submit programming”.

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