[New-imc] Springfield IMC Introductions

[Marc Sanson]

> The Springfield Independent Media Center is a =
> grassroots organization committed to using media production and =
> distribution as a tool for promoting social and economic justice in =
> Springfield, Illinois and the Sangamon River Valley.. It is our goal to =
> further the self-determination of people under-represented in media =
> production and content, and to accurately illuminate and analyze local =
> and global issues that impact ecosystems, communities and individuals. =
> We seek to generate alternatives to the biases inherent in the corporate =
> media controlled by profit, and to identify and create positive models =
> for a sustainable and equitable society.
> 
> We wish to participate in the Indy Media Network in order to be able to =
> share our skills and efforts with those working toward similar goals =
> throughout the world.  We also hope to draw upon the knowledge, skills =
> and energy of others in the network in order to help us achieve our =
> purpose and vision locally.  Among the purpose of the Springfield IMC =
> are the following:
> - Move beyond coverage of only activist news and work toward providing a =
> viable local alternative news source (i.e. covering local events that =
> are ignored or poorly covered by corporate media)
> - Actively reach out to communities which are under-served and =
> under-represented in the Springfield area press and provide a forum for =
> their voices to be heard and welcome them to participate in the SIMC
> - Facilitate the production and dissemination of audio, video, photo and =
> print stories by the general public
> - Awaken critical thinking with regards to media, specifically the =
> corporate and state media systems - provide links to alternative media, =
> activist, and research groups
> - Share Internet and technical media skills in workshops
> - Utilize all forms of new and old technologies to achieve these goals =
> so as to reach communities in our region who may not have access to the =
> Internet
> 
> Individually, we also have our own purposes for promoting independent =
> media locally and in joining the global IMC network.  Below are some of =
> the individuals in our collective and their own personal statements:
> 
> Joe Lanter
> Hello, I\'m Joe Lanter.  I am interested in being involved with the IMC =
> because there is a crying need in Springfield for viewpoints that are =
> progressive.  IMC and The Space (a local organizing center with which I =
> am also involved) are two avenues for this need to be fulfilled.  I hope =
> to bring some skill in organizing and a little content to the IMC =
> banquet.
> 
> Marc Sanson
> I've been involved in the Springfield Independent Media Center since the =
> winter of 2000/2001, as well as other community and progressive =
> interests in Springfield IL.  It is through my interests in peace, =
> social justice, political reform, community building, and local control =
> over media that I came to the SIMC.  It is my goal to utilize my skills =
> in journalism, web design and organizing to help build a grassroots =
> movement locally and contribute to the global IMC network in any way I =
> can.
> 
> Sheila Nopper
> After visiting with folks in Seattle who were organizing the first =
> indymedia center to coordinate the media coverage of the demonstrations =
> at the 1999 Festival of Resistance against the WTO, I began to work =
> toward creating an IMC affiliate in Springfield, initially by making it =
> the focus of my master=B9s project for my self-designed degree in Media =
> & Cultural Activism.  I was able to offer the SIMC skills in organizing, =
> community building and alternative media which I developed from years of =
> activism within Toronto=B9s multicultural milieu, as a programmer and =
> documentary producer at community radio station CIUT, as a freelance =
> writer and from local projects developed by the Media Activist Coalition =
> which I founded in Springfield in 1999.  My emphasis has always been to =
> provide a radical critique of the status quo, and a place where the =
> marginalized voices silenced by corporate media could be heard.
> In collaboration with other Springfield-based media, and peace and =
> justice activists, as well as some guidance from UCIMC, SIMC has =
> developed a non-hierarchical and transparent organizational structure =
> that is supported by a commitment to making decisions by building =
> consensus.  Though at times it has been a struggle to accomplish this =
> task, I believe the resolve of the group members to continue through the =
> sometimes-difficult process of building consensus on these issues =
> demonstrates our determination to become an IMC affiliate.
> As someone who has always promoted the concept of integrating a physical =
> space with the cyberspace component of indymedia---especially here in =
> Springfield where access to a collectively operated community center was =
> nonexistent---I am very pleased that the SIMC has decided to utilize and =
> help financially sustain \"The Space,\" a small house that was recently =
> rented by the new non-profit Springfield Community Network.  I think The =
> Space will stimulate more people to \"become the media\" as well as help =
> to build a more diverse and integrated web of activist projects in the =
> area.
> As for myself, I will soon return to Canada where I plan to continue to =
> participate in the indymedia network as a freelance contributor to the
> Vancouver and/or Victoria IMC.
> 
> Ron Sakolsky
> I have been interested in starting an Independent Media Center in
> Springfield ever since returning from Seattle where I got to visit the =
> just established IMC right before the Festival of Resistance in 1999.  =
> My ongoing interest has been to link Springfield up as a participant in =
> the global network of IMC media activists and news sources, and to have =
> a local IMC that can hopefully be a catalyst for the community-building =
> process here in Springfield by offering an opportunity for progressive =
> people to \"become the media\" and collectively create a culture of =
> resistance.  What I have brought to the table is my skills at =
> organizing/activism, consensus decision-making and grassroots =
> fundraising.  While I personally will be leaving Springfield to move to =
> Canada in August, I am increasingly impressed with the SIMC\'s =
> accomplishments.  We now have a website and have begun to cover local =
> stories, are attracting new participants, and have been involved in =
> creating a promising new physical space in the community in conjunction =
> with the Heartland Peace!
>  e Center where grassroots activists can meet, hold events, organize and =
> just plain hang out together.  Consequently, it seems that we have at =
> this point, after much perseverance, established a solid foundation on =
> which to build an active SIMC affiliate of which we can all be proud.
> 
> Bill Jarrico
> Springfield is a flat and pious place.  The ground isn't steady because =
> of carelessly dug mines under the city.  I haven't had the exposure to =
> left culture here that I had before I came.   I hope to write and speak =
> for the SIMC and maybe there are other ways I can help.  I've been a =
> computer programmer since 1964 (in several different places) and have =
> also worked as a lawyer.  I am the moderator of a website for local =
> writers.
> 
> Lisa Hensley
> I wish to bring my internet, computer and media production skills to the =
> Springfield IMC in order to report on stories, groups and activities =
> ignored or under reported by mainstream media and to teach others these =
> skills in order to empower them to become the media themselves. I am =
> also interested in event organizing in our physical space in order to =
> promote SIMC\'s presence in the community and to facilitate outreach to =
> the community as well.
> 
> Duane Whittingham 
> I've been involved also since around winter 200/2001. I have been
> interested in starting a IMC in Springfield and fully support this
> proposal to add Springfield IMC to the Global Network of IMCs. There is
> very little alternative media in central Illinois. SIMC will change that.
> I wish to help and support with my time and skills in computers, the net
> and radio broadcasting. I fully support Springfield IMC to Global. 
> 
> 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: winmail.dat
Type: application/ms-tnef
Size: 5780 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/new-imc/attachments/20020704/4c798b8b/winmail.bin