Election Forums, Town Meeting Day and Free Speech
Channel 17/Town Meeting TV has a NEW web address. Change your bookmarks to www.Ch17.tv
It is Town Meeting Season
(or March voting by Australian Ballot if that is how your community does it.)
Live election coverage starts at 7 p.m. on March 6. Tune into Channel 17 or watch live streaming video with online discussion at www.ch17.tv. This year we welcome Fran Stoddard as co-host alongside election host veteran, Joel Najman. In Studio B, Eli Harrington and Nick Carter will welcome visitors from Seven Days, VT Digger, candidates and surprise guests. Channel 17 field teams will bring you voter interviews from the polls and election night parties. And, as always, we bring you complete Town Meeting Day results from Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Essex, Williston, Colchester and this year, thanks to VCAM - Shelburne.
Before you head to the polls on March 6 take a moment to learn more about the candidates and issues in your community. Burlington voters be sure to check out the great discussions happening in your neighborhood planning assemblies as well as the numerous mayoral forums we have recorded. If you aren't sure who you are voting for, it isn't because there is a lack of videoed debates!
Channel 17 would like to extend a big thank you to all the candidates, town officials, moderators and volunteers who participated in these forums and NPA discussions! And, thank you to Main Street Landing for their continued financial support of Channel 17/Town Meeting TV election coverage.
You Might See a Question on Your Ballot About the Citizen's United Decision...
Corporations Are Not People Panel Discussion 01/21/2012
On the two year anniversary of the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, The Peace and Justice Center, Burlington, Vermont hosts a panel discussion on the local and national implications of the ruling. Panelists include: Vermont State Senator Ginny Lyons, who has introduced a resolution proposing "an amendment to the United States Constitution ... which provides that corporations are not persons under the laws of the United States."; Jerry Greenfield, Co-Founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream who has stated that “Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is not a person.”; Aquene Freechild, senior organizer of Public Citizen’s Democracy is for People Campaign; and Dan Barrett, Staff Attorney for the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union.
Local Media Coverage of Town Meeting Issues. These are just a few of the resources we can point you to for local or statewide Town Meeting Day coverage.
The Burlington Free Press
The Essex Reporter
The Williston Observer
The South Burlington Other Paper
SevenDays VT
VPR - Public Post
VT Digger
The Vermont Secretary of State's office has great Town Meeting Day resources, guides for the young and old alike.
Vermont Town Meeting Coloring & Activity Book
From the Secretary of State Website:
Click here for a PDF of Vermont Town Meeting Coloring & Activity Book or click on the book.
"You are never too young to learn about Town Meeting! This activity-packed workbook will teach our youngest Vermonters all about this unique day. The booklet also includes suggestions for classroom activities to help students experience the concepts addressed in the coloring book. "
Upcoming Common Good Vermont Skills Building:
March 20th - Vermont Nonprofit Conference 2012: Benchmarks for a Better Vermont. The nonprofit event of the year is designed to meet help you manage and measure your results so you can run a more effective organization! Register Today!
April 14th - Media Maven: Rich and Lasting Corporate Partnerships with Julia Andrews of J Andrews Marketing. This is a must for nonprofits and businesses interested in strengthening their corporate support and partnerships. Register Today!
Training, Events, Grants and Jobs - Check out www.CommonGoodVT.org for the latest!
Make Your Own TV at Channel 17/TownMeeting TV
Basic Camera class is on the second Tuesday of the month at 10 am. Non-linear editing taught one-on-one project by project basis. OR let us know what you want to learn about making community TV. Contact Meghan at morourke [at] cctv [dot] org (morourke [at] cctv [dot] org) 862-3966x16
Are you willing to VOLUNTEER for channel 17/Town Meeting TV? We need Front Porch Forum ambassadors. Do you know about Front Porch Forum? This is a great neighborhood resource. FPF ambassadors are willing to post links to events or programs that are specific to your community or neighborhood about 6 times a year. Sign up today!
CCTV Productions
Video is a great tool to rally people to your cause! Are you thinking about a video project but don’t know where to begin? CCTV Productions will helps you produce creative videos that move people to action. Check out a recent project: Planning for People: Livable and Walkable Communities recently produced for AARP Vermont. Call Jess Wilson at (802) 862.1654 x15 to learn more!
Sign up for This Week! Are you subscribed? Delivered each Monday with quick links to Channel 17's featured programs that inform, educate and entertain!
Only Hours Left to Bring Free Speech TV to Burlington
Free Speech TV needs to raise $2,000 by midnight Wednesday to retain all of its current pledges. Spread the word! So close. Will you help in these final hours? Thanks to over 70 individuals, nonprofits, and socially responsible businesses, the "Friends of Free Speech TV in Burlington" have raised ~$8,000 of the $10,000 needed to bring Free Speech TV to Burlington. Midnight on Wednesday is the deadline to raise the final $2,000 in order to ensure the pledges made on the Kickstarter campaign*.