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**About “The I.A.M.C.A.”

What is The I.A.M.C.A.?

  • The I.A.M.C.A. is your local, member-supported & organized,  community non-profit public platform/utility.  A “People’s Platform”!
  • It’s your WEEKLY JOURNAL of “all things local”.  Featuring local news & information, cultural arts, entertainment, events & activities, public interest programs & features, and much more!!
  • The go-to place to discover & connect with LOCAL & INDEPENDENT ARTISTS and JOURNALISTS.
  • It’s your CALENDAR for upcoming local EVENTS & ACTIVITIES. From parades, block parties, farmers markets, high school sports & other events, holiday celebrations to “theater in the park”, live music, book releases/readings, conventions, elections & other public affairs, and much more!!
  • It’s a COMMUNITY HUB for “all things local”.  The place to connect, discover events & activities near you, get involved, post bulletins/classifieds, find everything from new bandmates to local p-patches, car pools, & used item swaps, organize a parade, block party, community projects, and much more!!
  • The go-to place to discover & connect with LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. From Mom ‘n’ Pops to worker owned co-ops, public markets to handcraft artisans, small family farms to all manner of specialty trades & services.  You’ll find them here!!
  • It’s where you will find a wide range of SPECIAL FEATURES, SERVICES, TOOLS & RESOURCES.  From member-supported services to partnering with local community resource & outreach organizations & programs, local directories, free workshops, how-to tutorials & information, events planners to civics & media literacy tools, PSA’s and more!!
  • A place to DISCOVER, CONNECT, SHARE & GET INVOLVED!!  From joining your local IAMCA Chapter’s staff to becoming a contributor, volunteering for the upcoming annual parade, local food bank, or “Chess Park” project.  Share content, organize a public campaign, event or activity, join the IAMCA PRESENTS team and help develope & create featured public programming, features & services, participate in I.A.M.C.A. TOWN HALL Events, Member Polls, community forums, and much more!!
  • A place to CELEBRATE COMMUNITY!!!

    At it’s core, The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is a community organizing tool, dedicated to the celebration, promotion, empowerment, preservation, & support of communities, local culture, journalism, local economy & environment, and public commons.

 

Our mission is to provide a basic framework, platform, tools & support to communities seeking to rebuild, protect, preserve, promote and celebrate cultural, economic, environmental, and representative LOCALISM.

1.) COMMUNITY:

    I.A.M.C.A. is a place for connection, collaboration, participation & mutual support.  We believe there are powerful opportunities & natural partnership to be had by bringing together

  • LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
  • LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES

Through the support & facilitation of this partnership, we seek to bring about our vision of strong, healthy, vibrant, connected, resilient, and engaged communities, as well as for the establishment of a successful & sustainable, member-supported, non-profit, public utility/platform, for generations to come.

2.) EMPOWERMENT:

    The I.A.M.C.A. begins with a deep and abiding belief that real, positive, transformational, sustainable and just change is only made possible, not by “strong”, charismatic leaders, celebrities, large corporations or Superman, but by ordinary people, working together to build stronger, more connected communities.

    Through a wide range of member-supported public interest programming, services, features, tools, resources, activities, events, news & information, the I.A.M.C.A. seeks to engage, connect, support, celebrate, educate & inform, invest in, and uplift all participating members &  communities.

3.) OPPORTUNITY:

    The I.A.M.C.A. is designed to function as a central hub, organizing base, resource, and springboard, in support of all things local. Our goal is to help build strong, healthy, connected communities, as well as dynamic, diverse, stable, & thriving local economies by

  • providing a platform for the promotion & support of local independent artists & journalists, small businesses, from public markets, worker owned co-ops, to “mom ‘n’ pop’s”, craft artisans, and other services, community organizations & programs.
  • through membership support, revenue from featured services, merch sales, special fundraising events, available grants, and other such means, create new local jobs & opportunities for local independent artists, journalists, and other creators/producers of cultural arts, activities, events & programming, serving in the public interest.
  • organizing & maintaining a robust & effective, on-going “Support Local” campaigns. featuring & maintaining directories, classifieds and other community bulletin boards for local independent artists, journalists, small businesses, and other community non-profit organizations & programs. helping to identify & promote local government agencies, programs, resources & other opportunities. providing featured coverage & promotional support for all contributors.

4.) CELEBRATION:

    At the core of our sense of self-identity & general well-being, is COMMUNITY. It’s that sense of connection we feel when we meet someone, abroad, from our home town, the sense of pride we feel when we hear someone we went to school with, on the radio, or when our team wins the big game, but much more. It is foundational to both, who we are, as individuals, as well as our shared humanity.

    All throughout history and everywhere you look, the communities with an active, dynamic, robust, inclusive “culture of community” are more connected, resilient, prosperous, engaged, involved, happy, healthy, supportive, and thriving communities, draped in rich, vibrant tapestries of cultural arts, celebrations, traditions, history, local cuisine, and so much more.

    I.A.M.C.A. sees the CELEBRATION of COMMUNITY as a key tool for realizing our goals for all other three pillars. We provide a basic framework, tools & other resources to help you organize, develop, support, and promote your local arts, culture, events & activities, and public commons.

The four key characteristics most commonly found among any strong, healthy, resilient, connected, successful community are

  1. A high level of interest, participation & engagement in local cultural arts, activities & events.
  2. are well-informed on matters directly affecting their lives, with a high level of media literacy & critical thinking skills, understanding of basic civics, and are engaged & participate in local politics/policy/elections.
  3. a high level of connectivity & participation within the community, local pride, community stewardship, are well organised around matters of public interest, celebrates it’s shared culture & diversity, has more block parties, annual parades, and such other activies & events, and are generally more involved in each others lives.
  4. a high level of support for local small businesses, economic & environmental localism and commitment to stewardship, the public commons, and a fair & equitable economy.  Understand the fundamental connection of a strong, healthy, diverse, sustainable local environment to a strong healthy, diverse, resilient & successful local economy.

    And it is for this reason that your I.A.M.C.A. Chapter’s homepage is into 4 FEATURE DEPARTMENTS.

 
  • LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS 
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
  • The COMMUNITY HUB
  • LOCAL ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT
    But don’t worry.  Even with just these four categories, we are confident you’ll find something for everyone, to keep ’em coming back!  And if you don’t find exactly what you are looking for, there’s tons of SPECIAL FEATURES, TOOLS & RESOURCES to help you connect with, or otherwise start or promote your own project, group, activity, event, etc.

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**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

MASS-MEDIA MONOPOLIES, LOCAL CULTURE & THE PUBLIC INTEREST

 
    At a time when so many working families & individuals, across the country, working longer hours to make ends meet, are increasingly relying on social media platforms, to stay connected with family and friends, & informed on the issues directly affecting our lives.  The field of such available platforms is dominated by five giant digital media gatekeepers, AKA “Big Tech”, as well as a small handful of corporate mass-media monopolies, owning over 90% of all mainstream media (that includes TV, newspapers & other print, radio, record labels, film studios, etc.).  These large corporations represent & serve only the interests of their wealthy shareholders & CEO’s, etc.
 
    This was made possible, in large part, due to series of bad (and very consequential) legislation such as “The 1996 Telecommunications Act”, the repeal of Net Neutrality laws, deregulation, industry capture of regulatory agencies, a failure to enforce anti-trust laws.  The losers, in this deal, are the communities, whose locally owned newspapers, radio & TV stations, etc., that once featured local news, journalism, local arts & culture, and other programming & services, who were quickly bought up or otherwise driven out of the market.  
 
    What was driven out along with it, were the days of turning on the radio and hearing your favorite local bands, high school team sports news & scores, ads from the local hardware store, diner or roller rink, newspaper & broadcasting that employed local journalists to cover local news, politics, activities, events, and other matters of public interest. 
 
    And with vast corporate media monopoly & the homogenization of programming, across the country, also vanishing are the days of local arts & culture putting a community on the map, from Beale Street to Austin, Harlem to Detroit, San Fransisco to Memphis, etc..  And along with that, the whole interconnected fabric of the local economy, from tourism to arts & events venues, record shops to print shops, poster artists to instrument repair techs, & numerous other services & industries, that support or in some way benefit from the kind of activity that vibrant, dynamic & bustling cultural arts centers tend to draw, begins to unravel.  What ultimately was driven out was us.
 
    What the corporate mass-media model offers, in its place, apart from monopoly, relentless commercialism, and an empty, “cookie-cutter” consumer culture, is a media landscape flooded with the kind of narratives & content that serves the material, socio-economical, political and ideological whims of said, wealthy shareholders, who have consistently demonstrated little to no interest or commitment to the public interest. 
 
    In just the last 15yrs, employment opportunities for professional journalists has dropped by well over 70%, and currently in free fall, globally.  What has replaced local journalists investigating & reporting on the matters that directly affect our lives, are things like pre-packaged VNR’s (“video news releases”), produced by corporate PR or marketing firms, a steady drumbeat of corporate PR spin, corporate lobbyists as expert guest commentators on broadcast news, “if it bleeds, it leads” type sensationalistic & cynical marketing ploys, to name a few.
 
    Media literacy, journalistic integrity, accountability & standards, public service, an informed citizenry with a strong, working knowledge of civics, public affairs, and the issues that most directly impact their lives.  All dropped from the list, in favor ever more profits, public interest be damned.
 
    The “vast wasteland” of commercial broadcast media models, as famously described by former FCC Chairman (1961 – 1963), Newton N. Minow, has now gone on steroids and taken over the internet.  Much like with radio & TV, and now, more than ever, there needs to be a robust, sustainable & accessible public platform option, dedicated to serving the interest of local, working-class & under-served communities.
 

IT’S TIME for a PUBLIC PEOPLE’S PLATFORM!!!

    While each affiliated IAMCA Chapter is locally supported, organized & operated, each are an essential part of a larger, nationwide network/community of chapters, that come together to brainstorm & work collectively on:

  • developing new tools, resources, support & features for the advancement our shared platform.
  • new collaborative productions, programs, activities & events, news & information, services, products, etc., for exclusive license, access & use by member IAMCA chapters.  Everything from the development, support & production of national & international news, elections coverage, to IAMCA merchandise, to bigger productions, like a feature length film or documentary, etc.
  • representing their chapter’s membership, with regard to Official IAMCA Central policy and practices.

**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL is the “mothership” & supporting parent organization for all local affiliated chapters.  Our role includes the following:

 

  • Reviews & approves charter applications for local chapter status.
  • Establishes general standards & guidelines for chapter membership.
  • Coordinates, oversees & records chapter votes on amendments to national charter practices & policy.
  • Provides support for local chapters.
  • Creates feature public interest programming, PSA’s & other content, tools & resources, for use by local chapters.
  • Develops & maintains I.A.M.C.A. media archives.
  • Organizes & hosts nation conventions / conferences.
  • Coordinates friends & partner collaborations, supporting local chapters & I.A.M.C.A.’s mission.
  • Organizes & chairs nation/world news divisions.
  • Hosts national election coverage & “national member town hall’s”.
  • Coordinates nationwide promotional campaigns, chapter membership drives.
  • Manages “I.A.M.C.A. National Flea Market”.
  • Organizes “support local” campaigns.
  • Helps organize, develop, produce, support, promote, cheerlead for, or otherwise participate in multi-chapter collaborations, productions, and other efforts.
  • Produces, publishes, licenses, & distributes public interest programming, tools & other resources.
  • Supports I.A.M.C.A. and it’s member chapters through grants, fundraising drives, membership & services fees, merch sales, and other donations.

    The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is a member-supported, organized & operated central “community hub” for all things local.  It’s the place for:

  • I.A.M.C.A. members, family, friends & neighbors.
  • Non-profit organizations & programs serving the public interest.
  • Community organizers, advocates, activists, mentors, volunteers & stewards.
  • Participants & wallflowers 
  • Friends & partners
  • Community cultural arts, activities & events organizers
  • Independent artists, musicians, authors, performers, filmmakers, & other talent.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Public art creators, parade designers to buskers.
  • Events volunteers
  • Local arts venues, theaters, museums, & other cultural arts centers.
  • Aspiring new artists.
  • Member-supported local news coverage
  • Independent journalists, investigative reporters, commentators.
  • Small, locally owned & independent broadcasters, publishers, podcasters, etc.
  • Local documentarians, historians, fact-checkers, archivists.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Civics & media literacy educators.
  • Aspiring new journalists
  • Local, independently owned & operated, small businesses/services only.
  • “Mom ‘n’ Pop’s” to worker owned co-ops.
  • Farmers Markets to Public Flea Markets to P-Patches.
  • Artisan hand-crafters to “small-batchers”.
  • Aspiring new business owners
  • Labor new & information
  • Local conservation & our commons, environment, wildlife, parks & public spaces
  • Community planners, organizers, advocates, volunteers & stewards.
  • and, of course…

  The I.A.M.C.A. website is your journal for all things local. “The Front Page” is where you will find;

  • Highlights from the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS, “COMMUNITY HUB”, and NEWS DEPARTMENTS.
  • Important public announcements, news & information
  • FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
  • COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES announcements & coverage.

    Each I.A.M.C.A. Chapter curates their own “Front Page” programming, and other special featured presentations & content.  These are drawn from the following 4 sources:

  1. I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL
  2. LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTORS
  3. POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS
  4. I.A.M.C.A. Presents

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Special features, local cultural arts, activities, events, news, information & other public programming, created by

  • your local chapter’s production team
  • commissioned works, from local independent contributors.

    “IAMCA Presents” is funded by membership fees, small dollar donations and in-kind services & support, fundraiser events, grants, and other such revenue.  Proceeds from the sale, subscription, and licensing of feature presentations, goes back into

  • creating more jobs, opportunities & support for local independent artists, journalists & other contributors
  • funding new public interest programs, activities, events, & services
  • I.A.M.C.A. Staff and other operations costs.

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    A “Potluck Production” is an independently developed & organized, community collaborated & produced program, activity, event or other such content.  Looking to meet other local artists & individuals interested in collaborating on bigger projects or events?  In the POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS department, you will find;

  • BULLETIN BOARD, where members can post & search project collaboration proposals.
  • Tools, resources & other information on everything from project development & production tips, to how-to’s on everything from organizing a parade or other such public event, to tips on fundraising, promotion & distribution, and more.
  • CLASSIFIEDS section, where you can post & search Potluck Productions project ads
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

    A “Potluck Production” that has reached the specified criteria & meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, receive pre & post production promotional support.

    Independently produced programs & other content that meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, can be

  • shared on the LOCAL ARTS & ARTIST section’s feed
  • submitted to the I.A.M.C.A. team, for consideration, for the “Front Page”, in exchange for multi-faceted, special featured promotional campaign & support.

**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

 –  BLOCK PARTIES  –  HOBBY-IN  –  ADVENTURE GUIDE  –  P-PATCHES  –  BULLETIN BOARD  –  COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTORY  –  BARN-RAISERS’ GUILD  –  SWAP CIRCLES  –  WORKSHOPS & CLASSES  –  EVENTS & ACTIVITIES CALENDAR  –  COMMUNITY FORUMS  –  AUDIO/VIDEO-CAST DIRECTORY  –  THE POSTIN’ POST  –

    When brainstorming for the I.A.M.C.A. logo, I began by exploring various symbols for “community”.  Over & over, the one that quickly rose to the top of the list was, you guessed it, the AMERICAN BISON! 

    Researching further, I was thrilled to find that, not only is the buffalo (and bison) shared by numerous cultures, all throughout history, as a symbol of “community”, but also for several other attributes that fit perfectly with our core values.

    Here’s a list of some of the more commonly held symbolic attributes, that ultimately convinced me the buffalo was the right one to represent The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’s mission.

unity

vision

creativity

service to community

grounding

abundance

humility

knowledge

gratitude

generosity

hospitality

sharing

courage

strength

challenge

endurance

survival

protection

altruism

formulating beneficial plans

manifestation of goals

  • Money out of politics.
  • Universal Healthcare.
  • Housing Justice.  Safe, clean, affordable, dignified housing for all. 
  • Taking our communities & housing back from predatory, private equity & corporate landlords.
  • Divest public subsidies from large corporations & reinvest in local small businesses, public markets, co-ops, and other jobs & opportunities.
  • Net Neutrality
  • Public Broadband
  • Replace “1996 Telecommunications Act” with laws & regulations that support & protect local, independent ownership of media.
  • Public service & community stewardship
  • Social justice, community health, safety & well-being.
  • Universal human rights.
  • Community culture that celebrates its diversity.
  • Workers’ rights, health, safety & well-being. Labor unions.
  • The protection of journalism, journalists, journalistic freedom, safety, security, & justice.
  • Fully-funded, quality public education
  • Creating good paying jobs, opportunities and support for local, independent arts & artists,
  • Environmental justice
  • Protection & preservation of our cultural commons

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**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

BASIC MEMBERSHIP:

  • Access to all I.A.M.C.A. Special Features, programs, & services.
  • Access to I.A.M.C.A. Archives
  • Receive member NEWSLETTER, notifications of special public events, activities, programs, etc.
  • Ability to participate in COMMUNITY FORUMS
  • MEMBERSHIP CARD that entitles you to special discounts with participating local businesses, independent multi-media content creators, vendors, subscriptions, and more.

 

ARTISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Artist profile in the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

JOURNALISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Journalist profile listing in the INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Business profile listing in the LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY
  • Special member discounts on ADVERTISEMENTS
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS & PROGRAMS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Profile listing in the non-profit COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/PROGRAMS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Free & discounted ADVERTISEMENTS, and other promotional support.

     The I.A.M.C.A. is intended to provide an effective springboard for local independent artist, journalists, & small businesses, with an emphasis on accessibility, equity & affordability.  In order to maintain a more level playfield, & protect against undue influence of sponsors of more abundant financial means, eligibility for promotional support & advertisement space is based on the following criteria:

  • Must be local, independent & currently earning a gross income that qualifies as small business status.  Businesses that grow beyond the established threshold, receive a place of honor on I.A.M.C.A.’s “Graduates Billboard & Listings”, but are no longer eligible for advertisement space.

I.A.M.C.A. vs CORPORATE MEDIA 

I.A.M.C.A.’s MEMBER-SUPPORTED MEDIA vs CORPORATE MEDIA MODELS COMPARED

CORPORATE MEDIA

I.A.MC.A.

  • Corporate mass-media conglomerates, serving profit & market dominance. 
  • Member-supported & organized, public platform, serving & supporting local communities.
  • The alternative to community.
  • The community alternative.
  • Corporate, for-profit media model.
  • Public, non-profit media model.
  • Maximizes profits for wealthy shareholders
  • Connects, empowers, uplifts, supports & serves the community.
  • Promotes celebrity & consumer culture. 
  • Promotes community culture, local arts, activities & events.
  • “Blockbusters”. 
  • Block parties.
  • Employs A.I. (artificial intelligence), in place of skilled artists, journalists, and living wage jobs for real people.
  • Employs, supports & promotes local independent artists, writers & other talent.  I.A.M.C.A. does not, in any way, support “artificial intelligence”.
  • Major League Sports programming (corporate sponsored, pay per-view)
  • Local leagues, high school sports, neighborhood family flag football/BBQ at the park, etc.
  • Increases profits by way of deep cuts to news department budgets, journalists, local news coverage, replacing investigative journalism & coverage with pre-packaged, corporate PR content, etc.
  • Promotes & supports local independent journalists.  Creates new jobs & opportunities. Develops and provides tools & resources, in support of independent journalists.  Member-supported local news.
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TOP 10 MYTHS ABOUT CORPORATIONS & REASONS to SUPPORT LOCALISM

MYTH #1:

Corporations are “job creators”.

 

FACT:

    When a corporation moves into a community, their standard business model entails driving out competition.  The competion, in this case, often meaning long-established, inter-connected networks of locally owned “mom ‘n’ pop’s”, public markets, family farms, local printers, manufacturers, tool & dye shops, shop owners, handcraft artisans, repair shops, and all kinds of other small businesses & services.

    This is done in a multitude of ways, foremost among them being the ability to offer lower prices for goods & services than most small businesses able to provide, due to general “cost of doing business” expenses, and still stay in business.  The lower prices being offered are made possible, by way of undercutting costs, through

  • paying their employees the lowest wage possible,
  • outsourcing the production of goods & services to countries whose workers are paid even more extreme subsistence, starvation wages,
  • cutting employee hours,
  • eliminating as many paid jobs as possible, through the use of automation,
  • access to special tax breaks, subsidies and other resources, not readily available to your average local small business owner.
  • seeking the externalization of costs, at tax-payer expense, through deregulation
  • and various other (often publicly subsidised) means

    Communities that support local small businesses, on average, provide significantly more quality, stable, diverse, long-term, well-paying jobs, with better benefits, health, safety and quality of life outcomes, than communities that favor corporate chains, “big-box stores”, and other such services.  Period.

 

 

MYTH #2:

    Large muti-national corporations bring opportunity and are a benefit to local economies.

FACT:

    As has so often shown to be the case with such large corporations, their business model is also purely extractive and exploitative in nature.  With particular regards to a community’s commons, laws, resources, labor, productivity, worker and public health & safety, and profits.  And, as characteristically, when a community’s wealth, resources & economy’s metaphorical “tank is tapped dry, stripped for parts, and abandoned on the roadside”, before moving on to the next host.

    The lion share of very penny you spend at a big chain goes right into the pockets of a handful of absurdly wealthy CEO’s & shareholders.  When you support local small businesses, the lion share of every penny stays right here, in the community, circulating through the econony, creating more local jobs, opportunities, economic stability, resilience & diversity, wealth, and strong foundation for future generations.

What is “The I.A.M.C.A.”?

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About your LOCAL CHAPTER

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What is “I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL”?

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Who is The I.A.M.C.A.?

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MEMBER-SUPPORTED Public Programs, Activities & Events

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How does it work?

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What is “I.A.M.C.A. PRESENTS”?

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What is a “POTLUCK PRODUCTION”?

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CONTRIBUTORS, PARTNERS & FRIENDS

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About our 4 FEATURE DEPARTMENTS

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About I.A.M.C.A.’s WEEKLY EDITION

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Other exciting SPECIAL FEATURES

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What is “The COMMUNITY HUB”?

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The 4 PILLARS of I.A.M.C.A.’s MISSION

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About the AMERICAN BISON as our symbol.

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A PUBLIC PEOPLE’S PLATFORM

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The I.A.M.C.A. vs Corporate Media

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I.A.M.C.A. Supports the Following

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How to START a CHAPTER

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GET INVOLVED!!  How to participate.

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All about MEMBERSHIP

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What is “The I.A.M.C.A.”?

    At it’s core, The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is a community organizing tool, dedicated to the celebration, promotion, development, preservation, & support of communities & local culture.

    The I.A.M.C.A. is a non-profit, member-supported, public platform/utility & weekly journal of “all things local”.  A “People’s Platform”!

    It is a central “community hub” for the collaborative partnering of IAMCA membership with local & independent contributors, creators, producers, organizers, volunteers, community organizations, venues and other partners, for the purpose of:

  • providing a wide variety of public interest programming, cultural arts, entertainment, activities & events, news & information, services, tools & resources. 
  • establishing a dynamic & robust public platform, committed to the celebration, empowerment, uplifting & bringing together of local participating communities.
  • creating/providing opportunities, tools & resources, promotion, advocacy & support to our members, local artists, journalists, contributors, small businesses, partners, and communities at-large.

Your LOCAL CHAPTER

    While each affiliated IAMCA Chapter is locally supported, organized & operated, each are an essential part of a larger, nationwide network/community of chapters, that come together to brainstorm & work collectively on:

  • developing new tools, resources, support & features for the advancement our shared platform.
  • new collaborative productions, programs, activities & events, news & information, services, products, etc., for exclusive license, access & use by member IAMCA chapters.  Everything from the development, support & production of national & international news, elections coverage, to IAMCA merchandise, to bigger productions, like a feature length film or documentary, etc.
  • representing their chapter’s membership, with regard to Official IAMCA Central policy and practices.

What is “I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL”?

I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL is the “mothership” & supporting parent organization for all local affiliated chapters.  Our role includes the following:

 

  • Reviews & approves charter applications for local chapter status.
  • Establishes general standards & guidelines for chapter membership.
  • Coordinates, oversees & records chapter votes on amendments to national charter practices & policy.
  • Provides support for local chapters.
  • Creates feature public interest programming, PSA’s & other content, tools & resources, for use by local chapters.
  • Develops & maintains I.A.M.C.A. media archives.
  • Organizes & hosts nation conventions / conferences.
  • Coordinates friends & partner collaborations, supporting local chapters & I.A.M.C.A.’s mission.
  • Organizes & chairs nation/world news divisions.
  • Hosts national election coverage & “national member town hall’s”.
  • Coordinates nationwide promotional campaigns, chapter membership drives.
  • Manages “I.A.M.C.A. National Flea Market”.
  • Organizes “support local” campaigns.
  • Helps organize, develop, produce, support, promote, cheerlead for, or otherwise participate in multi-chapter collaborations, productions, and other efforts.
  • Produces, publishes, licenses, & distributes public interest programming, tools & other resources.
  • Supports I.A.M.C.A. and it’s member chapters through grants, fundraising drives, membership & services fees, merch sales, and other donations.

Who is The I.A.M.C.A.?

    The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is a member-supported, organized & operated central “community hub” for all things local.  It’s the place for:

  • I.A.M.C.A. members, family, friends & neighbors.
  • Non-profit organizations & programs serving the public interest.
  • Community organizers, advocates, activists, mentors, volunteers & stewards.
  • Participants & wallflowers 
  • Friends & partners
  • Community cultural arts, activities & events organizers
  • Independent artists, musicians, authors, performers, filmmakers, & other talent.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Public art creators, parade designers to buskers.
  • Events volunteers
  • Local arts venues, theaters, museums, & other cultural arts centers.
  • Aspiring new artists.
  • Member-supported local news coverage
  • Independent journalists, investigative reporters, commentators.
  • Small, locally owned & independent broadcasters, publishers, podcasters, etc.
  • Local documentarians, historians, fact-checkers, archivists.
  • Contributing creators of public interest programming & other content.
  • Local producers, engineers, technicians & other talent.
  • Civics & media literacy educators.
  • Aspiring new journalists
  • Local, independently owned & operated, small businesses/services only.
  • “Mom ‘n’ Pop’s” to worker owned co-ops.
  • Farmers Markets to Public Flea Markets to P-Patches.
  • Artisan hand-crafters to “small-batchers”.
  • Aspiring new business owners
  • Labor new & information
  • Local conservation & our commons, environment, wildlife, parks & public spaces
  • Community planners, organizers, advocates, volunteers & stewards.
  • and, of course…

MEMBER-SUPPORTED Public Programs, Activities & Events

**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

How does it work?

  The I.A.M.C.A. website is your journal for all things local. “The Front Page” is where you will find;

  • Highlights from the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS, “COMMUNITY HUB”, and NEWS DEPARTMENTS.
  • Important public announcements, news & information
  • FEATURE PRESENTATIONS
  • COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES announcements & coverage.

    Each I.A.M.C.A. Chapter curates their own “Front Page” programming, and other special featured presentations & content.  These are drawn from the following 4 sources:

  1. I.A.M.C.A. CENTRAL
  2. LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTORS
  3. POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS
  4. I.A.M.C.A. Presents

What is “I.A.M.C.A. PRESENTS”?

Special features, local cultural arts, activities, events, news, information & other public programming, created by

  • your local chapter’s production team
  • commissioned works, from local independent contributors.

    “IAMCA Presents” is funded by membership fees, small dollar donations and in-kind services & support, fundraiser events, grants, and other such revenue.  Proceeds from the sale, subscription, and licensing of feature presentations, goes back into

  • creating more jobs, opportunities & support for local independent artists, journalists & other contributors
  • funding new public interest programs, activities, events, & services
  • I.A.M.C.A. Staff and other operations costs.

What is a “POTLUCK PRODUCTION”?

    A “Potluck Production” is an independently developed & organized, community collaborated & produced program, activity, event or other such content.  Looking to meet other local artists & individuals interested in collaborating on bigger projects or events?  In the POTLUCK PRODUCTIONS department, you will find;

  • BULLETIN BOARD, where members can post & search project collaboration proposals.
  • Tools, resources & other information on everything from project development & production tips, to how-to’s on everything from organizing a parade or other such public event, to tips on fundraising, promotion & distribution, and more.
  • CLASSIFIEDS section, where you can post & search Potluck Productions project ads
  • COMMUNITY FORUMS

    A “Potluck Production” that has reached the specified criteria & meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, receive pre & post production promotional support.

 

4.) LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONTRIBUTORS:

    Independently produced programs & other content that meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, can be

  • shared on the LOCAL ARTS & ARTIST section’s feed
  • submitted to the I.A.M.C.A. team, for consideration, for the “Front Page”, in exchange for multi-faceted, special featured promotional campaign & support.

Our CONTRIBUTORS, PARTNERS & FRIENDS

    Independently produced programs & other content that meets your local chapter’s terms & guidelines, can be

  • shared on the LOCAL ARTS & ARTIST section’s feed
  • submitted to the I.A.M.C.A. team, for consideration, for the “Front Page”, in exchange for multi-faceted, special featured promotional campaign & support.

About our 4 FEATURE DEPARTMENTS

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About I.A.M.C.A.’s WEEKLY EDITION

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What is “The COMMUNITY HUB”?

 –  BLOCK PARTIES  –  HOBBY-IN  –  ADVENTURE GUIDE  –  P-PATCHES  –  BULLETIN BOARD  –  COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTORY  –  BARN-RAISERS’ GUILD  –  SWAP CIRCLES  –  WORKSHOPS & CLASSES  –  EVENTS & ACTIVITIES CALENDAR  –  COMMUNITY FORUMS  –  AUDIO/VIDEO-CAST DIRECTORY  –  POST-R-BOARD  –

Other exciting SPECIAL FEATURES

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The FOUR PILLARS of OUR MISSION

1.) COMMUNITY:

I.A.M.C.A. is a community organizing tool, that provides a basic framework to build a sustainable, member-supported, non-profit, public utility/platform, committed to serving public interest. It is a place for connection, collaboration, participation & mutual support. It is a platform that supports, promotes, & brings together

  • LOCAL COMMUNITIES
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS
  • LOCAL INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
  • LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES

2.) EMPOWERMENT:

The I.A.M.C.A. begins with a deep and abiding belief that real, positive, transformational, sustainable and just change is only made possible, not by “strong”, charismatic leaders, celebrities, large corporations or Superman, but by ordinary people and communities, working together to build a stronger, more connected communities.

Through a wide range of member-supported public interest programming, services, features, tools, resources, activities, events, news & information, the I.A.M.C.A. seeks to engage, connect, support, celebrate, educate & inform, invest in, and uplift all participating local communities & individuals.

3.) OPPORTUNITY:

The I.A.M.C.A. is designed to function as a central hub, organizing base, resource, and springboard, in support of all things local. Our goal is to help build strong, healthy, connected communities, as well as dynamic, diverse, stable, & thriving local economies by

  • providing a platform for the promotion & support of local independent artists & journalists, small businesses, from public markets, worker owned co-ops, to “mom ‘n’ pop’s”, craft artisans, and other services, community organizations & programs.
  • through membership support, revenue from featured services, merch sales, special fundraising events, available grants, and other such means, create new local jobs & opportunities for local independent artists, journalists, and other creators/producers of cultural arts, activities, events & programming, serving in the public interest.
  • organizing & maintaining a robust & effective, on-going “Support Local” campaigns.
  • featuring & maintaining directories, classifieds and other community bulletin boards for local independent artists, journalists, small businesses, and other community non-profit organizations & programs.
  • helping to identify & promote local government agencies, programs, resources & other opportunities.
  • providing featured coverage & promotional support for all contributors.

4.) CELEBRATION:

 At the core of our sense of self-identity & general well-being, is COMMUNITY. It’s that sense of connection we feel when we meet someone, abroad, from our home town, the sense of pride we feel when we hear someone we went to school with, on the radio, or when our team wins the big game, but much more. It is foundational to both, who we are, as individuals, as well as our shared humanity.

All throughout history and everywhere you look, the communities with an active, dynamic, robust, inclusive “culture of community” are more connected, resilient, prosperous, engaged, involved, happy, healthy, supportive, and thriving communities, draped in rich, vibrant tapestries of cultural arts, celebrations, traditions, history, local cuisine, and so much more.

I.A.M.C.A. sees the CELEBRATION of COMMUNITY as a key tool for realizing our goals for all other three pillars. We provide a basic framework, tools & other resources to help you organize, develop, support, and promote your local arts, culture, events & activities, and public commons.

About the AMERICAN BISON as our symbol.

    When brainstorming for the I.A.M.C.A. logo, I began by exploring various symbols for “community”.  Over & over, the one that quickly rose to the top of the list was, you guessed it, the AMERICAN BISON! 

    Researching further, I was thrilled to find that, not only is the buffalo (and bison) shared by numerous cultures, all throughout history, as a symbol of “community”, but also for several other attributes that fit perfectly with our core values.

    Here’s a list of some of the more commonly held symbolic attributes, that ultimately convinced me the buffalo was the right one to represent The INDEPENDENT ARTS & MEDIA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’s mission.

unity

vision

creativity

service to community

grounding

abundance

humility

knowledge

gratitude

generosity

hospitality

sharing

courage

strength

challenge

endurance

survival

protection

altruism

formulating beneficial plans

manifestation of goals

A PUBLIC PEOPLES PLATFORM

MASS-MEDIA MONOPOLIES, LOCAL CULTURE & THE PUBLIC INTEREST

 
    At a time when so many working families & individuals, across the country, working longer hours to make ends meet, are increasingly relying on social media platforms, to stay connected with family and friends, & informed on the issues directly affecting our lives.  The field of such available platforms is dominated by five giant digital media gatekeepers, AKA “Big Tech”, as well as a small handful of corporate mass-media monopolies, owning over 90% of all mainstream media (that includes TV, newspapers & other print, radio, record labels, film studios, etc.).  These large corporations represent & serve only the interests of their wealthy shareholders & CEO’s, etc.
 
    This was made possible, in large part, due to series of bad (and very consequential) legislation such as “The 1996 Telecommunications Act”, the repeal of Net Neutrality laws, deregulation, industry capture of regulatory agencies, a failure to enforce anti-trust laws.  The losers, in this deal, are the communities, whose locally owned newspapers, radio & TV stations, etc., that once featured local news, journalism, local arts & culture, and other programming & services, who were quickly bought up or otherwise driven out of the market.  
 
    What was driven out along with it, were the days of turning on the radio and hearing your favorite local bands, high school team sports news & scores, ads from the local hardware store, diner or roller rink, newspaper & broadcasting that employed local journalists to cover local news, politics, activities, events, and other matters of public interest. 
 
    And with vast corporate media monopoly & the homogenization of programming, across the country, also vanishing are the days of local arts & culture putting a community on the map, from Beale Street to Austin, Harlem to Detroit, San Fransisco to Memphis, etc..  And along with that, the whole interconnected fabric of the local economy, from tourism to arts & events venues, record shops to print shops, poster artists to instrument repair techs, & numerous other services & industries, that support or in some way benefit from the kind of activity that vibrant, dynamic & bustling cultural arts centers tend to draw, begins to unravel.  What ultimately wass driven out was us.
 
    What the corporate mass-media model offers, in its place, apart from monopoly, relentless commercialism, and an empty, “cookie-cutter” consumer culture, is a media landscape flooded with the kind of narratives & content that serves the material, socio-economical, political and ideological whims of said, wealthy shareholders, who have consistently demonstrated little to no interest or commitment to the public interest. 
 
    In just the last 15yrs, employment opportunities for professional journalists has dropped by well over 70%, and currently in free fall, globally.  What has replaced local journalists investigating & reporting on the matters that directly affect our lives, apart from record profits, are pre-packaged VNR’s (“video news releases”), produced by corporate PR or marketing firms, a steady drumbeat of corporate PR spin, corporate lobbyists as expert guest commentators on broadcast news, “if it bleeds, it leads” type sensationalistic & cynical marketing ploys, to name a few.
 
    Media literacy, journalistic integrity, accountability & standards, public service, an informed citizenry with a strong, working knowledge of civics, public affairs, and the issues that most directly impact their lives.  All dropped from the list, in favor ever more profits, public interest be damned.
 
    The “vast wasteland” of commercial broadcast media models, as famously described by former FCC Chairman (1961 – 1963), Newton N. Minow, has now gone on steroids and taken over the internet.  Much like with radio & TV, and now, more than ever, there needs to be a robust, sustainable & accessible public platform option, dedicated to serving the interest of local, working-class & under-served communities.
 

IT’S TIME for a PUBLIC PEOPLE’S PLATFORM!!!

I.A.M.C.A. supports the following

  • Money out of politics.
  • Universal Healthcare.
  • Housing Justice.  Safe, clean, affordable, dignified housing for all. 
  • Taking our communities & housing back from predatory, private equity & corporate landlords.
  • Divest public subsidies from large corporations & reinvest in local small businesses, public markets, co-ops, and other jobs & opportunities.
  • Net Neutrality
  • Public Broadband
  • Replace “1996 Telecommunications Act” with laws & regulations that support & protect local, independent ownership of media.
  • Public service & community stewardship
  • Social justice, community health, safety & well-being.
  • Universal human rights.
  • Community culture that celebrates its diversity.
  • Workers’ rights, health, safety & well-being. Labor unions.
  • The protection of journalism, journalists, journalistic freedom, safety, security, & justice.
  • Fully-funded, quality public education
  • Creating good paying jobs, opportunities and support for local, independent arts & artists,
  • Environmental justice
  • Protection & preservation of our cultural commons

How to START a CHAPTER

**CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.  CHECK BACK SOON!!**

GET INVOLVED!!  How to participate.

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All about MEMBERSHIP

 

BASIC MEMBERSHIP:

  • Access to all I.A.M.C.A. Special Features, programs, & services.
  • Access to I.A.M.C.A. Archives
  • Receive member NEWSLETTER, notifications of special public events, activities, programs, etc.
  • Ability to participate in COMMUNITY FORUMS
  • MEMBERSHIP CARD that entitles you to special discounts with participating local businesses, independent multi-media content creators, vendors, subscriptions, and more.

 

ARTISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Artist profile in the LOCAL ARTS & ARTISTS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

JOURNALISTS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Journalist profile listing in the INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

SMALL BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Business profile listing in the LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY
  • Special member discounts on ADVERTISEMENTS
  • Products/services/subscriptions listings in “The I.A.M.C.A. STORE”, that links to your own site & online store.

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS & PROGRAMS MEMBERSHIP:

  • All BASIC MEMBERSHIP perks & privileges.
  • Profile listing in the non-profit COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/PROGRAMS DIRECTORY
  • EVENTS CALENDAR listings
  • Free & discounted ADVERTISEMENTS, and other promotional support.

Promotional Support & Advertisement

     The I.A.M.C.A. is intended to provide an effective springboard for local independent artist, journalists, & small businesses, with an emphasis on accessibility, equity & affordability.  In order to maintain a more level playfield, & protect against undue influence of sponsors of more abundant financial means, eligibility for promotional support & advertisement space is based on the following criteria:

  • Must be local, independent & currently earning a gross income that qualifies as small business status.  Businesses that grow beyond the established threshold, receive a place of honor on I.A.M.C.A.’s “Graduates Billboard & Listings”, but are no longer eligible for advertisement space.