How many times does a person or an organization have to win an award before it’s finally named after them?
That’s a question the American Legion Department of Michigan is going to have to seriously ponder.
Why?
Because for the sixth consecutive year, Oxford Community Television (OCTV) and Station Manager Bill Service were honored with the Best Electronic Media Award for their ‘exceptional? efforts ‘to provide meaningful coverage of veterans? issues and patriotic activities, as well as the American Legion.?
The award was recently presented at the American Legion’s 97th Annual State Convention held in Sterling Heights.
‘When they call our station (name during the ceremony), it’s very emotional for me to walk down that aisle with everyone applauding us,? said Service, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force (1959-63). ‘It’s really exciting for me.?
A sixth win is a particularly impressive feat considering there are approximately 400 American Legion posts throughout Michigan and approximately 300 television stations ? between VHF, UHF and cable public access channels ? around the state.
Loads of footage filmed and aired last year by OCTV was submitted as part of the station’s entry for the state award.
It included coverage of Oxford and Addison’s Memorial Day observances, Oxford Middle School’s annual Americana Concert celebrating Veterans Day, Wreaths Across America at Ridgelawn Memorial Cemetery and the Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony.
The many activities and functions of Legion Post 108, along with the other groups housed under the same roof, were also filmed by OCTV. These included packing parties to create care packages for U.S. troops serving overseas; school tours of the post’s military history museum; holiday events; gun shows; the weekly fish fry; scholarship presentations; marching in local parades; and aiding veterans in need.
‘This is a busy post and a busy station,? said Service, who’s a past Post 108 commander. ‘It’s one of the best posts in the state. Anything we can do to help them, helps us all.?
Many of the aforementioned events and activities were filmed and aired as part of a program Service has produced for years called ‘Our Community Access,? which features people, places and events around town.
OCTV also tries to highlight veterans, particularly those who served in World War II, through it’s ‘My Life? program, which features interviews with a variety of interesting local people sharing their life stories.
Service, who’s been with OCTV for about 10 years and took over as station manager in 2013, gave most of the credit for this year’s award to his hard-working staff, which includes Production Manager Teri Stiles and 13 part-time employees.
‘We have some incredibly talented young people here,? he said.
‘I’m so proud of this staff,? Stiles said.
OCTV is a small station, but it manages to accomplish a lot and consistently operate with a high degree of professionalism.
For example, OCTV produces 11 programs on a weekly basis, from start to finish. This includes organizing, filming, editing and airing them.
‘That’s a lot of work,? Service said. ‘That’s difficult for the big boys in Detroit or Flint (to do that).?
‘There isn’t another public access station in the state that does (all) that on their own,? Stiles noted. ‘We’ve got a team that can do anything. The only thing that limits us now in what we can do and what we can produce is staffing hours.?
OCTV is in its 35th year of operation and covers everything in the Oxford-Addison area including local government meetings, community events, businesses, festivals, parades, school plays, concerts and Wildcat sports.
More and more people are tuning into OCTV on a regular basis as the station’s program schedule continues to expand.
For a long time, requests from the public for copies of programs were a rarity. Now, the demand is such that Service said the station is making 400 to 500 copies annually.
OCTV is also gaining a following on social media sites like Facebook and YouTube.
‘We used to get nobody (watching),? Service said. ‘Now, we get 100 to 300 or 400 (views).?
‘It’s growing daily,? Stiles added. ‘We’re trying to appeal to younger people.?
Stiles noted residents in surrounding communities are watching OCTV as well.
‘We’re approached all the time by (viewers from) Metamora and Brandon,? she said.
Service and Stiles are extremely grateful for the support they’ve been receiving from the Oxford Area Cable Communications Commission, which oversees OCTV’s budget.
‘They gave us over $100,000 for equipment (about a year ago) and that really got us going,? Service said.
‘It’s paying off,? said Stiles, who noted not only has the quantity of programming increased, but the quality’s improved as well as the station ‘no longer? experiences frequent audio or video problems.
‘The video looks great. It’s HD (high-definition) capable. We have just A-1 quality programming now.?
OCTV can be viewed by Charter cable subscribers on Channel 191. AT&T U-verse customers can tune in to Channel 99.
For more information about OCTV, please visit www.occtv.org or call (248) 628-9658. Feel free to drop by the station, located at 1775 N. Lapeer Rd., and check it out. Station hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Local folks who produce their own programs are invited to submit them to OCTV for potential broadcast.
‘We would love to have volunteers put something together and air it,? Stiles said. ‘That would be a better way to promote our community. That’s our biggest want right now