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.

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.

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

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.

In 2011 the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference will welcome Steve Ahern as a guest Speaker.

Steve has a wealth of knowledge on not only Community Radio but broadcasting in general and will be a great assets to this years conference and one of the many must attend sessions of the conference.

Steve will be conducting several sessions at the conference.

Session One – Plenary Session

Saturday 12/1/11 0915 Hrs Plenary area

Community Radio The Future

Steve Ahern will tackle the topic of what the future holds for community broadcasting, what your station can expect and what is the latest and greatest developments and innovations within community broadcasting

Session Two – Workshop 5

Saturday 12/1/11 1130 HRS

Sponsorship: Better writing and production

Join Steve to learn more about this vital part of your stations income and on air presence.

Get some of the tricks of the trade from Steve as he speaks about everything from writing copy through to the production of a great sponsorship announcement

Session Three – Plenary Session

Sunday 12/1/11 0930 Hrs

Management Think Tank Forum

Steve Ahern will host this informative session that will encourage open discussion on best practice management for your station and your association. This is expected to be an open and informative discussion on management practices and a fantastic learning opportunity for all involved.

There is no doubt that Steve Ahern is one of the Stand Out Speakers within the community broadcasting sector and his knowledge and insight will prove to be most valuable to those attending his sessions.

Steve is just one of the many speakers at this years National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference who will be dealing with a myriad of topics.

The 2011 National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference will see the following speakers presenting information at the conference.

Michael McFeeters from MJM Solutions

Denise Kuchmar from DK Training

Phyllis Fong from the ACMA

Steven Atkins from the ACMA

David Wilson from David Wilson Business Coach

Dianne Richmond from RR Insurance

Brad Ward from Geek Internet

Plus even more outstanding speakers with a great knowledge of their topics

There are heaps of reasons to be at this years conference, new information from the CBF and ACMA, fantastic speakers, fellowship, Trade displays, networking and all the social activities.

If you have not registered for this years conference get on line and do it now.

Go to www.scma.org.au and follow the links to the conference registrations.

See you in Wagga Wagga

Two more community radio stations have become official emergency broadcasters in time for the bushfire season, Minister for Emergency Services Bob Cameron announced today.

Visiting Stereo 974 FM in Brooklyn and Plenty Valley FM today, Mr Cameron said the stations will become emergency broadcasters in a further bid to boost emergency messaging to communities in times of need.

Mr Cameron said the agreements are similar to the MOUs in place between the emergency services, community broadcaster UGFM – Radio Murrinidindi, commercial radio networks, ABC local radio and Sky News TV.

“Stereo 974 FM and Plenty Valley FM are both committed to providing official emergency information to all communities in their areas, no matter the emergency, and the Brumby Labor Government is proud to partner with them in having this historic MOU signed,” Mr Cameron said.

“Both stations have a strong history of serving their respective communities and our Government is proud to have worked with the local communities to harness the great local work they do to help keep the community safer.

Mr Cameron said while all radio stations have access to emergency information, under the new agreement, Stereo 974 FM and Plenty Valley FM will break into programming to broadcast emergency warnings at the request of the emergency services, and move to continuous coverage in some circumstances.

Stereo 974 FM broadcasts on 97.4 FM to the western suburbs of Melbourne, including Brooklyn, Sunshine, Braybrook, and Footscray, while Plenty Valley FM transmits on 88.6 FM to high fire risk areas in the Nillumbik Shire Council and City of Whittlesea, including Eltham, North Warrandyte and areas of the Kinglake Ranges.

The Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner has invited all community broadcasters in Victoria to enter into emergency broadcasting MOUs, subject to their capabilities.

Acting Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Buffone said both stations will play a significant role in assisting the emergency services to alert local communities.

“Stereo 974 FM and Plenty Valley FM will assist their local areas by broadcasting local emergency warnings to the community as quickly as possible,” Mr Buffone said.

“Local information is critical to saving lives and during this Fire Action Week a week we are dedicated to educating Victorians about how to prepare, act and survive during a fire.”

The Southern Community Media Association (SCMA) is pleased to announce that two more member stations have completed the process and will sign Memorandums of Understandings to become only the second and third Community Broadcasters to sign MOU’s with the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner (OESC). STEREO 974 based in Brooklyn and Plenty Valley FM located in Mill Park will join the only other station to sign a MOU; 3 UGE FM Alexandra who are also members of the SCMA.

The signings will take place on Tuesday the 12^th of October and will be signed by the Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron and Acting Emergency Services Commissioner Joe Buffone as well as key Station personal from both Community Broadcasters.

The SCMA has worked hard and long to get Community Broadcasters recognised as Emergency Broadcasters with its efforts dating back over 4 years. The SCMA had identified the valuable roll that community broadcasters could and do have in times of natural disaster and emergencies and began work on developing a protocol to recognise these efforts and introduce uniform emergency broadcasting formats for it’s member stations and the sector as a whole.

The President of the Southern Community Media Association Helen Bath said “It was great to see member stations being recognised for a role that so many community broadcasters had been carrying out for such a long time in an unofficial capacity. The SCMA has achieved what we set out to do and we hope that the fruits of our labour will have a flow on effect throughout the community broadcasting sector right across this Great Southern Land. – Australia”

While these stations are the start of the MOU faze for community broadcasters within Victoria it is hoped that the groundwork laid by the SCMA and the OESC will become the template for MOU’s throughout the nation. While the MOU roll out and development continues community broadcasters from not only the SCMA will continue to pass on vital information to their listeners in times of emergency.

The SCMA is proud to have been deeply involved in this process and congratulates not only the stations that have reached MOU status but all community broadcasters who have made a commitment to emergency broadcasting.

More information or comment on this release by contacting SCMA’s President Helen Bath – either via our web site www.scma.org.au or by phoning 0407770209

The CEO of the SCMA has announced that as part of the ongoing commitment and development of the association’s internet presence that the SCMA has acquired a new faster Australian based server to locate its IT services on.

Web Master for the SCMA Mr Brad Ward said “The introduction of this new server will see a significant and noticeable increase in speed for both the SCMA’S websites and also for the PDS”.

The new server was brought into service earlier this week after some extensive testing to ensure that it would provide the association and it’s membership with a reliable faster way to get information out to the membership of the association.

The most significant improvements will be in upload and download time for programs available on PDS with the new server providing a faster and more stable platform for the system to operate on.

The Associations web presence is constantly being updated and developed to provide the SCMA membership with the best possible information and support.

If you are interested in finding out more about the services that SCMA have available to it’s membership please feel free to contact the associations via the contact us page on the SCMA’s web site http://www.scma.org.au/contact-us/ or simply have a look at the SCMA’s website www.scma.org.au

Ends
__________________________________________________________________

More information or comment on this release by contacting SCMA’s Web Master Mr. Brad Ward
via webmaster@scma.org.au or phone Geek Internet 03 9014 9815.
__________________________________________________________________

Yes the Melomaniacs have over come all of the drama of the past few months and have shown their deep commitment by putting their show onto PDS effective immediately.

As of right now Melomania is available via the PDS and is waiting to be added to your stations playlist.

The show is broken into around 7 segments allowing plenty of time for you to insert sponsorship announcements and other promotional materials.

So what is Melomania all about ……………

Meaning Of Melomania is A Singular passion for music that is beyond all reason, hence the name of the show.

Melomania has been on the Airwaves since AUGUST 2008 and has already had talented national and international artists from many styles of music from Country through to mainstream as well as all places in between. The Melomaniacs also interview local guests not just for them but also locals from around Australia.

Melomania is about letting you know what is charting, what the celebs are up to, even a bit of gossip as well as what’s new.

We also like to introduce bands and artists that you wouldn’t usually hear even if they are from the same town or city as you. We love to discover new artists.

Basically Melomania is just a few hours of fun, great music and a little bit of craziness all rolled into one great show that your listeners will just become addicted to.

Melomania it’s young, it’s vibrant it’s entertaining … and who doesn’t like music?

Want to know more go to www.melomania.com.au and take a look