We invite you to attend the 40th Amherst Media Annual Meeting on Wednesday, 6:30 PM, October 21, 2015, to engage with the organization, celebrate the Jean Haggerty Award honoree, and review proposed bylaw changes.
Although we currently have no open seats for community representation on the Board of Directors up for election, please consider becoming a volunteer on one of the our standing committees to engage with Amherst Media. It's a great way to help the organization and to prepare yourself for running for our Board of Directors–-we will have three open seats next year. If you are committed to Free Speech; a belief in political transparency; a love of the arts; and see the role of Amherst Media intertwined in these and other important values and topics, come and hear about each Committee’s exciting work.
We all were saddened to hear that our friend-and-colleague, Jean Haggerty passed away on May 9th. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the Jean Haggerty Award in honor of the former Amherst Community Television producer, board member, and community activist. Amherst Media established this award to recognize community engagement and social change. The award honors Jean’s lifetime dedication to community betterment and concern for those who have been denied an opportunity to be heard. Previous awardees are: Isaac Ben Ezra, Cynthia Brubaker, Ed Severance, the founders of “Student News”, and Judy Brooks. You are cordially invited to help celebrate Jean’s legacy by honoring this year’s Amherst Media’s Jean Haggerty award honoree: Jerry Gates.
Jerry Gates has been instrumental in the establishment of Craig’s Place, a homeless emergency shelter that he continues to serve as President of their Board of Directors. The shelter partners with Town government, local churches, and social-service agencies to provide a safe place, nutritious meals, warm showers, and supportive community during the winter months. Jerry has also supported the Amherst Community Connection’s Transitional Housing Program and aided in the creation of the Shelter-to-Work program. Amherst Media’s Board of Directors have voted Jerry Gates their choice as this year’s Jean Haggerty award winner for his years of dedication to the ideals inherent in the award.
Finally, this year, the Board reviewed the Bylaws for Amherst Media and, at the September meeting, voted to recommend a number of relatively minor changes. Mostly these were to correct nomenclature changes (what we call ourselves, for example) and to bring the bylaws in-line with current practice. We hope none of the changes will be controversial and invite the membership to review the proposed draft bylaws and to view a concise summary of the changes.
