ONTV Celebrates Successful Year at Banquet

Submitted by ONTV

Orion Neighborhood Television marked a huge 2012, moving from their previous location on M-24 into the Orion Center on Joslyn Road.  New state-of-the-art equipment was purchased, many new programs were produced, and dozens of new faces joined the ever-growing ONTV family of volunteers and producers who made 2012 so memorable. ONTV staff, board and commission members, volunteers and producers gathered at King’s Court Castle at Canterbury Village for the 2013 Volunteer Appreciation Banquet.  It was a time to reflect upon a year that brought significant changes to ONTV, and to say “thank you” to the people who produce the programs that air on ONTV (Comcast Channel 10 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99) and to those who volunteer their time behind the scenes and in front of the cameras. 

 “They’re amazing,” said ONTV Executive Director Diane Griffiths.  “Most of them really enjoy what they’re doing.  It’s really cool to see someone come through Orientation and have an idea for a program and learn how to actually bring it to completion.”

ONTV Operations Manager Ian Locke added, “We want to say thank you to all the people who came to ONTV on a whim to see if they could learn something about how to make a television show, and at the end of the year it’s us giving back to them to say thank you for trusting us and allowing us to help them put their vision together.”

Following dinner, certificates and plaques were handed out to exceptional volunteers.  Recognized as Volunteer of the Year were Steven Murtaugh and Robert Krohn.  Named Rookie of the Year was Johanna Schwensen, who got involved with ONTV in 2012 after she visited the Orion Center’s grand opening.   Ian Witherspoon and Pat Ronan were named Producers of the Year for the sheer volume of episodes of Between Taorminas during 2012.  The live sports talk show celebrated a milestone in 2012 with 52 episodes produced in 52 weeks.  The team is well on their way to passing 100 episodes this fall.

Longtime Cable Commission Member JoAnn Van Tassel was thanked for her decades of service to ONTV.  Van Tassel, who stepped down from the Cable Commission in 2012, was instrumental in helping to get public access television off the ground almost three decades ago.

“I’m sorry that Beth Dumala couldn’t be here,” said Van Tassel, “to see what decision she and I made and got approved by the Village Council and the Township Board that all of the franchise fees would go for running the access studio and how it has grown and how those funds have been used.  (ONTV) is truly the voice of the community and that what public access is all about.”

It was also announced during the banquet that a program produced in 2012 received national recognition.  The Alliance for Community Media has named ONTV’s 2012 Dragon on the Lake special a winner in the Community Events category, Professional division.  The program was produced last August by ONTV’s Joe Johnson and hosted by Lake Orion’s Kayla Brandon.  Representatives of ONTV will travel to San Francisco at the end of May to accept the award.