About BRCTV
Public access television in our community began in 1995 when Neal Verge conceived of it as a means for the YMCA to be able to broadcast Y and school sports. As there was no knowledge of the fact we could even have a local television station, when the original contract with the cable company was signed by the towns in 1992, no provision was made to secure the financial support of a community TV station through cable franchise fees or other means.
BRCTV and its board of directors existed as an ad hoc committee of Boothbay Harbor town government until incorporating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2002 (under the name Boothbay Region Access Channel 5). The organization has been entirely volunteer-run up to the present date (more about that later, in the "What Community Television Does" section). Until 2001, sports and a few local events (Windjammer Days, Fishermen's Festival) made up almost the entirety of programming due to the interests of the volunteer producers, who were very few in number. Beginning in that year, a small but dedicated group of volunteers began a conscious effort to improve the quality and diversity of the programming on the channel, in the hopes that they would thereby be able to interest more volunteers, better serve the viewing audience and raise the level of awareness in the community about what needs can be met by locally-produced television.
It has been a long, hard climb, but we have left the days of broadcasting the same, possibly three-year-old football game four times a day behind us! We have broadened our volunteer base to include producers interested in local politics, arts, documentary, history and community events of all kinds, while maintaining and improving the quality of the sports and local government coverage our volunteers provide.
Board of Directors - Bios
President - Sharon Goldhirsch, Vice-President - Lizzy Derecktor, Secretary - Candy Prince,
Treasurer - Larry Crane, Larry Brown, Michael Christopher
Larry Crane is fortunate enough to be at a place where his life experience and interests mesh nicely with the mission of several local organizations. He is involved with the activities of the Friends of the Southport Historical Society, the Investment Committee of the YMCA Endowment, as well as BRCTV. Born in Illinois, he joined the Army as a West Point graduate and served at several posts around the country, in Europe and Vietnam. He subsequently earned a graduate degree in business from New York University, and made a career evaluating the investment management of large pension funds in New York. All aspects of video production are favored activities at the Station. Larry and wife Jan closely follow the southern Maine theatre scene, and are both working playwrights.
Michael Christopher has been involved in the pro audio field since the mid 70's, repairing equipment, working in studio's. Sound reinforcement in clubs as well as outdoor concerts. Has also worked in manufactiring, building professional audio equipment. Factory certified to repair most high end audio equipment. Worked in Hollywood, California through the 80's as a Pro Audio Technician / Audio Engineer, and Location Sound Recordist. Relocated back home to Maine in the 90's to raise my family.
Jonne Trees - Station Manager
Born in Farmington, Maine and have lived in Maine most of my life, with time in other states and the U.K. during a 5 year plus stint in the U.S. Air Force. I have been working with video and computer equipment since the military. In college after the U.S.A.F. I studied physchlolgy and art and worked in the college television studio and started taping weddings and other events besides my college assignments. I have been a teacher of students and adults with disibilities, worked in construction, been a roadie for various bands, and studied various alternative healing methods. When I was working on a job in East Boothbay I disovered the incredible beauty of this area and decided to stay.