BRUCE BAGNOLI - 2015 CMCM Board Candidate Statement

Why do you want to serve on the CMCM Board of Directors?

As a founding member of CMCM, I want to see the organization reach its potential for service to the community. I’m a passionate advocate for public access (PEG) TV and eager to help CMCM grow and support our community. CMCM is a community catalyst and cohesive force constantly bringing new aspects of our community to our residents. CMCM is also playing an important role providing transparent access to government meetings, bringing residents critical information about how local government functions, giving them opportunity to participate in new ways. I’ve been able to serve CMCM on the board and helped negotiate the present Designated Access Provider (core) contract with MTA. In the process I’ve met incredible people and learned a lot, hope to continue the service and learning.

What relevant experience do you bring to this board position?

As a founding member of CMCM, I’m familiar with the contractual and legal framework of the organization, understand its budget in detail, and bring a wealth of experience dealing with our major funder, the Marin Telecommunications Agency. I’ve represented CMCM to local town councils and other agencies, and worked to ensure that the organization maintains solid relationships with our Community.

I have over 30 years of experience in film, video, and multimedia production, as well as in web and social media. My management experience qualifies me to provide budgeting, human resources, government relations, public process, and other relevant support to the organization. I’ve been working with public process in government for decades and know many of the present and former elected representatives who serve on the constituent agencies that make up the Marin Telecommunications Agency as well as many of the community organizations that work with CMCM.

My background in video and TV production and my active participation as a volunteer on many productions at the Media Center give me a unique perspective as to the strengths and needs of the organization. I’ve worked on dozens of productions as director, camera operator, and TD, and have also produced (with my wife/partner Sharon Skolnick-Bagnoli) over 60 programs that have aired on public access in Marin.

What is your vision for CMCM and how will you achieve it?

CMCM brings many different parts of the community together and provides a portal to the human treasures of Marin County. CMCM gives voice to points of view that otherwise would never be heard and opens a window into the operations of our local government: a vital function in our society.

CMCM has some good educational programming, and is actively expanding in this area with programs such as our Summer Baseball Video program for students, our intern program, and our collaboration with John MacLeod at Tam High through the Marin Dept. Education and I want to see these become successful and to expand.

Likewise, the potential for CMCM to connect area residents with the government and to make government transparent is growing in importance, and I believe I can help the organization to provide effective and efficient service as more and more residents, cities, and government organizations rely on CMCM’s government channel and production infrastructure. I hope to see CMCM become an asset to the emergency response teams across the county, a potential long identified but not yet implemented.

Public access television is a passion of mine, and while the programming and the groups of folks who produce for broadcast on the station are vibrant and expansive, there are serious financial challenges that must be addressed. We also need to continue to develop new community producers and the network of volunteers that is essential for the center to operate.

If I am elected to a new term on the CMCM Board, I intend to work diligently to support the growth and operations of CMCM and to reach out to the community to raise the funds to keep CMCM viable, as well as actively participating in member events and as a producer.

Read Other Candidate Statements:
Jim Geraghty read candidate statement
Jacek Andre Sochan read candidate statement
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