Your Access TV station is looking for volunteers. I'm Barbara Doody and I volunteer at the Goffstown Television (GTV) studio. I am also a member of the Goffstown Cable Access Committee.
GTV operates channels 16 and 22 on the Comcast cable system where we facilitate the production of several local TV shows that are done by the public and we play regional shows of interest. GTV is also responsible for broadcasting the town’s public meetings. The station is located in the back of the Goffstown High School. Look for the sign over the door to the studio.
In 2004, I moved to town and knew no one. Watching the local news stations to get acquainted with my new area, I saw an ad on GTV’s bulletin board about volunteering to edit shows. The ad said you didn't need to know anything about video editing, that the station would teach you. The ad directed volunteers to contact Dick Gagnon, the station coordinator, at 497-5707. The studio hours were in the evenings and I thought it was just right for me as a volunteer. I would be able to choose the times I felt like working.
I learned how to edit shows using the studio’s computers and video editing software. I also learned how to video tape events using the studio’s field cameras and have recorded many town meetings and community activities. After editing, these shows air on GTV channels 16 & 22. With all aspects of TV production being new to me, I had a slow start, but now it’s easy and enjoyable. When you're enjoying yourself, you don't notice the time flying.
GTV is constantly updating its systems and uses the latest editing systems, recently moving to the Sony Vegas video editing platform. Learning new systems and improved methods is an interesting part of volunteering at GTV. My past editing experience helps me learn the new programs and use them effectively.
Getting to know the many people that come to the studio is one of the great benefits of volunteering. Also, being involved in the many community programs and meetings that GTV takes part in is fun.
The people who run the studio and that are responsible for recording the town meetings, are town employees (Dick, Dave, and Andrew). Some of our work overlaps. As a volunteer my schedule is very flexible and I come and go as I want. Part of my work now is to download from the Internet shows produced at other access TV station and prepare them for broadcast on GTV.
One of the nice things that our station does is to put people’s favorite photos on the GTV bulletin board that runs between scheduled shows. Anyone in town that submits a photo (or a noncommercial bulletin for that matter) can have it run for a month or so. The better quality the photo or slide, the better it displays on the TV.
Many times I have the studio to myself. I can work at my own pace while muttering to myself about the vagaries of the computer programs; I don't have to apologize to anyone. Volunteering at GTV is very interesting and quite the learning experience. You hardly need to know computers, but do have to be self motivated.
There are many aspects of studio operations that would benefit from having more volunteers. You are only limited by the amount of time and energy you bring to the studio. We would love to have you join us in any capacity.
Barbara Doody
GTV committee member and studio volunteer
Please note, the GTV Committee now meets the second Wednesday of the month, 6:30 pm, in the Mildred Stark room (room 106) in Town Hall. Please log onto http://www.goffstown.com/gtv for more information.


























































