We were fortunate to get Steve Ahern to attend last years conference in Wagga Wagga and the feed back from his sessions was overwhelming.

So imagine how happy I was when I received an email from Steve from Afghanistan offering to return to this year’s conference and present again.

That is one of the reasons that there is a new program out and you can find it in this newsletter and of course on line as always.
This means there had to be a reshuffle of some of the program and we have had to remove the AGM from the program but we will be announcing the AMG Dates and location at the conference so stay tuned for that one.

This year has been interesting as we have had to change the program around a bit as some presenters could not make it due to other commitments. We understand how that goes and we just make changes to keep the conference content as relevant to the delegates as possible.

Steve will be doing two plenary sessions this year and will be coving two completely new topics.

Plenary 3 :- Volunteer Management – Steve Ahern – It’s the volunteers who make your station great. it’s also the volunteers who can cause you the greatest headaches. Steve Ahern gives an insight into how to get the best from your volunteers in this session on volunteer management. Recognition, setting expectations, and feedback are three of the tips Steve will share with participants during this session. Steve has recently shared these and other tips with emerging radio presenters in Afghanistan after the launch of the Nai Media Institute. Link to http://www.steveahern.com.au/KabulNMIlaunch2a.mov

Plenary 8 :- Programming Principles – Steve Ahern – Does your audience know what to expect when they tune in to your station? If a new arrival to town switched on and listened for 15 minutes at 8am, noon, 5pm and 10pm, would they get a sense of what the station is really all about? Or would they just be confused? The diversity of community radio programming one of its great strengths, and also its greatest weakness. Making Radio author Steve Ahern will teach programming principles in this conference session so you can get the best out of your programming

The 2012 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro

The SCMA web presence has been a little dated of late and we are working hard to ensure that not only SCMA but our information portal remains relevant and up to date with our membership. To that end our IT Team have started renovations for want of a better word on our www.scma.org.au and www.my.scma.org.au websites to keep pace with the ever changing need and requirements of our membership. Over the coming months you will see some changes to our sites and with each major upgrade we will release information on what we are doing and how it will benefit the users from the Sector in general and specifically our members.

The members only area is going through a revamp at the moment and we will pass on more information in regard to that as soon as we have completed the upgrade and all changes are online and available, In the mean time we ask you all to be patient as these changes take effect and the website development continues.

If you are not already a subscriber to the Program Distribution System (PDS) we recommend you do so. There is now a wide array of programs available through the system and the numbers are increasing all the time. PDS is available to financial members of the SCMA at no charge and is one of the many benefits of being a member of the “Can Do” association.

SCMA is moving forward and continues to develop and grow our online presence we hope you will join us and become a part of the “Can Do” association.

Are you ready to enter the X Awards?

Have you sorted out your entries and made a plan of the pieces you intend to enter into the prestigious 2012 X Awards. You have …great because the X Awards Entries are open now and your station can enter for free provided that you are a financial member of the SCMA or you will be attending the 2012 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference.

That’s right if you want to enter the 2012 X Awards for excellence in Community Broadcasting then entries are open right now. Just go to www.scma.org.au and click on the X Awards entry tab and you can enter. All the rules and conditions of entry are available right there on the website.

The most important thing to remember is you Must be a financial member of the SCMA at the time of judging the awards or if you are not a member of the SCMA then you must have a delegate attending the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference and they must be registered as a delegate before the judging of the X Awards.

Entry into the X Awards is free of charge regardless of if you are or are not a member of the SCMA and all are welcome to enter the awards or become members of the SCMA or Both if they wish.

Conference registrations are now open for the 2012 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference

You can register for the conference via the SCMA website www.scma.org.au. You will notice that conference registration costs have not changed since last year and that is part of the SCMA’s commitment to its member stations and keeping the conference as affordable as possible to all within the sector.

Accommodation cannot be booked through the SCMA for this year’s conference but there is information on accommodation bookings elsewhere on the website.

There have been some challenges in the last few months and that is why there has been a delay in getting the X award entries and the on line registrations open but they have largely been solved at this point in time. If you have any problems registering for the conference or entering the X Awards please don’t hesitate to contact Ray and he will sort it out for you as quickly as possible.

This year all entries to the X Awards and all registrations to the conference will be via the SCMA website www.scma.org.au

We look forward to your entries and registrations and just to ensure that all is running smoothly you registrations and entries will be confirmed via email this will mean that you can rest assured that they have been received and are being processed as quickly as possible.

Ballarat is the place to be from Friday March 2nd to Sunday March 4th 2012

See You in Ballarat for the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference 2012

MEDIA RELEASE
5th November, 2011

Community Radio stations are to be challenged to a special problem-solving session during the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference to be held at Ballarat in March.

The SCMA who organises the conference predicts the session will challenge stations attending to nominate issues that they face and then together with the rest of the conference work to solve them.

The President of the SCMA Helen Bath said the session will be just one of the many features of the 2012 Conference. It will be a great opportunity for stations to share their knowledge and assist each other to develop or to overcome some of the challenges that face us all.

Delegates will be asked to nominate the Big Issues they want to discuss during the first plenary session and they will be discussed in detail towards the end of the conference.

Helen Bath went on to say that these sessions will give members a great opportunity to ensure the topics and issues that most effect their stations will be discussed in a real down to earth problem solving session that will give all stations a chance to be part of providing each other with the assistance and support that the SCMA is well known for throughout its membership.

Planning for the 2012 conference is well underway and there is little doubt that the 2012 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference an outstanding event with a focus on problem solving, support and growing the outstanding network that the SCMA is so well known for within community broadcasting. The SCMA is proud of the conferences ability to provide ample opportunity for community radio station members to be involved in understanding and discussing the issues confronting community radio.

The Conference will feature a wide range of information from organisations such as the ACMA and the CBF as well as individual presenters who are well known for their knowledge and expertise in many fields relevant to community broadcasting.

The National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference is just one of the highlights of the year planned for the SCMA.

The SCMA has released the dates and location of the 2012 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference.

The 2012 conference will be held in the Historic City of Ballarat at a central CBD Location. The conference dates will be as follows:

Welcome BBQ Friday March 2nd 2012

Day 1 Conference Sat March 3rd 2012

Day 2 Conference Sun March 4th 2012

More information about the Venue and other details will be released in the next few weeks including exciting news about guest speakers and workshop topics.

The President of the SCMA Helen Bath said that the 2012 Conference will be something special. All Conference activities will be at the one Venue with Accommodation being just half a block away. Voice FM will be the host station and they are looking forward to welcoming delegates to the station for tours and the welcome BBQ.

It is all happening in Ballarat the home of Eureka and steeped in National History.

Start making plans to be at the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference in March 2012 it promises to be a fantastic event.

For more information email conference@scma.org.au

and get good results

On a grey and overcast day after much to do within the township of Bordertown in South Australia for people stepped into the Studio’s of 5 TCB with a commitment to stay awake and be on air for the next 49 hours.

Scad and Mandy of Melomania fame along with survivor of the original Lockdown Ray and new kid on the block Stephanie entered the lockdown with mixed emotions and trepidations.

The lockdown started life last year as a concept brought together by the Melomania team and SCMA to assist the leukaemia foundation and 5 TCB. It was a success and even though it was a hard concept to get up and running and the execution wasn’t always pretty it proved to be a great event and something that was well worth the time and effort to develop it and maybe expand it to other stations as a major fundraiser.

This year the lockdown wasn’t just about 5 TCB and the Leukaemia Foundation with four other stations joining into the network the pressure was on to prove that we as community broadcasters could work together for the common good, Joining the lockdown network in 2011 were stations that shared the vision and were prepared to take a chance on something a little different and new. 2 MIA (Griffith), TEM FM (Temora), 2 GHR (Holbrook), EMFM (Echuca) and Voice FM Ballarat all stepped up to the plate and decided to have a go and see if history could be made with one of the first live simulcast broadcasts for a fundraiser within community radio could be achieved. The simple answer is yes it was achieved and yes it was successful and yes there were some problems but by in large they were overcome and the show went on.

There was a very steep learning curve and some trial and error to keep all stations happy as much as possible but that was always going to be the case and has provided the organisers with a lot of information to ensure that the next Lockdown will be bigger better and as user friendly as is possible.

So to the actual event. 49 Hours of Continuous on air content provided by four people and some 60 plus interviews. There were challenges and problems there was some personality conflicts and disagreements but all in all it went well and provided an entertaining and in most cases enjoyable listening experience. There were some notable highs such as talking with Foo Fighters and Suzie Quatro and so many others. There was outstanding acts of generosity from listeners as well as performers, one example was the guys from Noise Works who are about to put a new album together and will be in the studio soon doing just that. When we explained to them what we were doing and why right then and there live they went we want to help out we will donate a prize for two people to spend the day with us in the studio to just hang out and watch us record for you to auction off, that auction is still going on as I right this and it was already in the three figure area. Yes it was a hard 49 hours with no sleep and yes at

times the content was not the best but what it was; was proof of concept it proved that 6 community broadcasters can get together and make a difference, that we can work together and that it is possible if we are prepared to step out of the comfort zone and take a few risks.

I congratulate not only the people that stepped into that studio for the 49 hours but also the crew at Melomania and 5 TCB who supported the concept and assisted to make it all work, the SCMA for being involved and helping to put the thing together. Most of all I congratulate Voice FM, EMFM, 2 GHR, 2 TEM and 2 MIA  for taking the chance and believing enough to take on the lockdown and create that network that was interactive live and vibrant.

I know we did live crosses to most of the stations several times throughout the lockdown event and that proved to be an important link back to the communities of the stations that were taking the show and supporting the concept.

I don’t know if there will be a Lockdown in 2012 but I certainly hope there will be and if there is I am more than happy to be involved again and see the event grow and develop as a fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation and for Community Broadcasters in general. To quote Paul Kelly “from little things big things grow” and I hope that this is one event that continues to grow and prosper and that the stations that put their hands up to be involved in this event remain involved and continue to benefit form their vision and involvement.

The ACMA has released the new B66 Form for Community Radio Licence Renewal.

The good news is the form has been revamped and features a new Simplified layout.

The not so good news is there are some new requirements for the relicensing process and it is important that you read the form and start to put into place the procedures and actions that will make it easier for you to complete the B66 when it comes time for renewal of your station licence.

Probably the most notable of the new requirements is the requirement to provide a 5 year business plan.

This will of course mean an increased workload for station volunteer Boards of Management and Staff to ensure the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed but in the longer term means an increased level of awareness and better governance in place at your station.

The latest version of the ACMA’s B66 renewal form can be viewed and downloaded from here

Audio will be uploaded in the coming couple of weeks.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS & ALL WHO ENTERED

Best In House Production Of A Sponsorship Announcement

88.6 Plenty Valley FM – Hurstbridge Town

Best In House Production Of A Sweeper or Station ID

Voice FM – Sparks ID Brad Ward

Best In House Production Of A CSA

Great Lakes FM

Best In House Production Of A Show Promo

5TCB – Melomania – Scad & Mandy

Best Sports Program

3MFM – Footy Show – On The Bench

Best Outside Broadcast

Great Lakes FM – Andrew Farr – NABIAC CHARITY RODEO

Best Interview

5TCB – Melomania – Leukemia Foundation

Best locally produced Program (Music)

5TCB – Melomania – Scad & Mandy

Best locally produced Program (Non Music)

3MFM – The 3MFM Kitchen

Best Locally produced News

2MIA – Amy Ryan

As the excitement builds towards another National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference march 11th to 13th there are many stations who await the conference dinner and the presentation of the prestigious X Awards.

This year has seen a record number of entries received for the X awards. A huge thank you must go to our IT Guru Brad Ward from Geek Internet who has assisted SCMA throughout the year and has been instrumental in the introduction of the on line X Award entry system that has proved to be so successful. There is no doubt that this new system has made it easier for stations to enter the awards and has eliminated the cost and time factor of burning entries to CD and posting them to the SCMA not to mention the cost and time factor for SCMA to get them to the judges as quickly as possible.

I guess we all want to know what stations are in the final three in each category of the awards. Before we tell you that let me once again stress how the X Awards work.

Judging is done by judges who are independent of the SCMA and are not aware of who their fellow judges are.

All scores are submitted independently and are calculated to give a final total score for each entry.

Once we have a final set of scores from each judge we then add them together to give us a final three in each category of the X Awards. The finalists are then notified via email and of course right here on the website and in the newsletter.

So who are the finalists for this year?

As they say in all the classic awards shows “in no particular order” here are the 2011 finalists in the prestigious X Awards.

Best in House Production of a Sponsorship Announcement

2 MIA – MIA Rural Services

Plenty Valley FM – Hurstbridge Town

2 RBR – Rod and Reel Hotel

Best in House Production of a Sweeper or Station ID

Plenty Valley FM – Plenty Valley Summer

3 MFM – John Cartwright

Voice FM – Sparks ID – Brad Ward

Best in House Production of a CSA

2 MIA

Great lakes

3 MFM

Best in House Production of a Show Promotion

5 TCB – Melomania

Great Lakes FM – When there’s nobody else

OKR FM – Midday Line up

Best Sports Program

3 RIM – Football Coverage

Plenty Valley FM – Football Coverage

3 MFM – The Footie Show

Best outside Broadcast

EMFM – Floodathon

Highland FM – Anzac Day

Great Lakes – Nabiac’s Charity Rodeo

Best Interview

3 RIM – Quincy McLean

5 TCB – Leukaemia Foundation

Great lakes – Troy Cassar Daly

Best locally produced Program (Music)

Great lakes FM – Brekky with Lol and Drew

Voice FM – The 999 Drive

5 TCB – Melomania

Best locally produced Program (Non Music)

2 REM – Snowy Tribute

3 MFM – In your Kitchen

Great Lakes FM – in your Garden

Best Locally produced news

Voice FM – Alan Steinman

2 MIA – Amy Ryan

Great Lakes – Christopher Groves

Congratulations go to all the finalists as well as all the people that entered the X Awards this year. It was great to see new stations enter the awards as well as the stations that have been involved in the past. The standard of entry was once again very high and I am sure the judges didn’t have an easy task.

If you want to just attend the X Awards and Conference Dinner tickets are still available at a cost of just $60-00 per person and you are more than welcome to join in. All you need do is contact ceo@scma.org.au to arrange tickets and payment

The X Awards are constantly growing and evolving and that is because of your involvement and feed back. We are always more than interested in any suggestions that you may have to improve the awards or make entry easier. We will be asking you this at the conference as well as into the future. We thanks you all for your involvement in the X Awards both in the past and well into the future

See you in Wagga Wagga March 12th for the awards presentations

The SCMA is proud to announce that one of its members has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to Community Broadcasting.

Roger Wood one of the founders and stalwarts of Community Station 2 RBR Coraki in N.S.W has received recognition in the Australia Day Honours list.

Roger is one of the grass roots community broadcasting stalwarts that has a fire in his belly and a real belief not only in community radio but also in his community and has battled the odds to not only make his station a vibrant and vital part of its community but has also furthered the cause of Community Broadcasting within Regional and Rural areas.

The Order of Australia Medal is not awarded lightly there is a very stringent selection process that is gone through in considering nominations. The Council for the Order of Australia is an independent advisory body that meets twice yearly to consider all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor-General on who should receive awards in the Order of Australia. The Council also recommends the level of award.

The Council consists of 19 members from across Australia. These include a number of public office holders, representatives from each state and territory, and a range of community representatives who are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Its diversity means that the Council has a national perspective. The Council seeks to satisfy itself that the person concerned has:

• demonstrated achievement at a high level;

• made a contribution over and above what might be reasonably expected through paid employment; or

• whose voluntary contribution to the community stands out from others who may have also made a valuable contribution.

The degree and value of the contribution, rather than merely length of service, is the primary focus of the Council’s consideration.

After assessing the nominations, the Council recommends a list of recipients to the Governor-General for approval.

We spoke to Roger and he said he was a proud recipient of the award but it went deeper than that it was an honour not only for him but for all the people within community broadcasting and the SCMA who have and still work hard to make community broadcasting what it is today and to ensure the future of the sector. Roger also paid tribute to the many members of his station that work tirelessly for the station and the community as a whole and make his job so much easier.

Roger has been involved in the SCMA for several years and has been a big supporter of the association and the work it does in support of the Regional Rural and Sub Metro part of the community broadcasting sector.

You can bet that once again this year at Wagga Wagga Roger and Robyne will be at the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference as they have been in past years not only supporting the conference but also gleaning as much information as possible and asking the hard questions at the same time.

The President of the SCMA Helen Bath congratulated Roger on behalf of the SCMA and it’s members and said that it was important that the hard work that goes into developing, growing and maintaining a Community Broadcast station be recognised and there can be no greater recognition than an Order of Australia Medal. Helen went on to say that it was not only a huge honour for Roger and his family but also valuable recognition of the work so many do within the community broadcasting sector.

The Board of Management of the SCMA also take this opportunity to congratulate Roger on his award and hope that he continues to be involved in community broadcasting for many years to come.