On Sunday 21 October a two-hour broadcast special will go on air around the globe. The program will be available to millions - the only people watching this will be the - thousands more who will see the broadcast as a video screening in local venues - ie the premies. Maharaji's PR minions always mention the possible audience whenever they pay to have an EV video shown on a network as if this is something to boast about..
VISIONS Global Update
Visions International Newsletter
ISSUE 1 October 2001
Join the global celebration
On Sunday 21 October a two-hour broadcast special will go on air around the globe. The program will be available to millions who subscribe to the networks broadcasting to homes and halls in approximately 52 countries. TV viewers on the 21st will be joined by many thousands more who will see the broadcast as a video screening in local venues.
Celebrating the worldwide impact of broadcasts and materials throughout their evolution across the decades, the two-hour special, titled "Cause a Global Effect," will feature the following:
- On air MCs
- The video Passages - a Master's Journey
- Highlights of the evolution of broadcasts & materials development
- Opportunities to participate, contribute, or become a Broadcast and Materials Sponsor
How Can I Join in the Celebration & Watch the Special Broadcast?
Australia, MediaSat, Channel 4 at 2 pm AEST (GMT+10) 21 October
Canada, Bell ExpressVu, Channel 893 (Encrypted) at 7 pm ET 21 October
Europe, Telefonica, Elan Communications Channel, Eutelsat Hot Bird 13 degrees East at 8 pm CET 21 October
India, Sri Lanka & Nepal, contact your broadcast information sources
New Zealand, MediaSat, Channel 4 at 5 pm NZ Summer Time (GMT+13) 21 October
South Africa, contact your broadcast information sources
South America, HispaSat, Channel 0, test at 21:30 GMT, program at 22:00 GMT on 20 October (Saturday)
United States, DISH Network, Channel 9602 at 4 pm ET 21 October.
Check the website in your area for broadcast schedules.
How Can I Become a Broadcast and Materials Sponsor?
Canada Tel: 1 514 381 164S Fax: 1 514 381 9265
Europe Elan Communications: Tel: + 34 91 381 7665 Fax: + 34 91 382 1184
Email: ecommunications@terra.es Website:www.elancommunications.org
Spain Tel: + 34 902 25 50 60
UK: Tel: + 44 (0) 1273 747 179
US: Toll free Tel: 1 888 610 0500
US: (+) 1 805 496 4777 ext.23
Website:www.visionsinternational.org
See you on 21 October!
National Cable Networks
A possibility in the US
After several months of testing public access cablecasts in three US cities, research is being re-directed to the possibilities of broadcasting via national cable networks.
The pursuit of this new avenue would involve negotiating for preferred time slots by experienced staff, as well as fundraising to sustain the project. As that effort gets underway, the programs currently on public access will continue airing until the end of the season, at which time they will be phased out.
In South America, cablecasts - which began in August on a major international network, have achieved a viewership of around 140,000, according to the rating systems used and presently have the highest popularity of all the shows on at that time slot. Inspired by the South American example, the United States would like to begin research in the major networks arena, which offers good quality transmissions and widely accepted programming.
Visions Global Update
Interviews Carol O'Connell,
New General Manager of Visions International
Q. What do you see as the most important task Visions is faced with today?
A. "Distribution has been a problem, with people in some countries having little or no access to recent material - videos, audios & publications. We need to improve the situation by working with local volunteers and country contacts."
"Listening to customers is something we also need to do more of. Did you know that all feedback sent to our website and offices is read by the full production team, including the producers of the broadcasts and videos?"
Visions Staff. Standing left to right: Naomi Shayer, accounting; Russ Hendemng, operations & purcnas,ng. W- nw Baiter. translation & transiated materials, Sally Weaver, account rig, Jodi Barger, snipping assistant: Rich Neel, accounting, Bass Barnett, broadcasts: Carol O'Connell, general manager. Barbara Huelsbeck, duplication stuck). Mg Herrmann, sales & cus:omer service.
Kneeling, clockwise: Susan Hay, sales manager, Gall Suffer, broadcasts & materials sponsocsh 1p/accoirting, Scanne Shayer, shipping -mgr.
"For the first time the recent 'One World' event videos, seen in Europe, contained interviews in local languages with English subtitles - a small change but one frequently requested. The response from those countries has been great; they were so well received. The next step is to get these interviews onto the broadcasts."
from page one
Most people don't know that 80% of Visions financial resources comes from donations and only 20% from sales. It's important that we let people know how these donations are used."
'Some essential activities funded by Visions' include documenting events with Maharaji and making that footage available for use in audio and visual materials, producing broadcasts for a global audience and providing event videos/CDs for those who want to keep in touch."
"Next, we need to improve the quality of what we produce. This is a message to touch the heart, not the head and this demands clarity and simplicity in how it is conveyed."
"We all want high quality, well produced broadcasts, videos, audio tapes and publications. We can produce them with the right resources. We are working on a strategy to ensure we spend our money where it will have maximum impact. it may be that we produce fewer items but of a higher quality than before."
Q. What do you consider the role Visions needs to play in the future?
A. "There is a global audience listening to Maharaji, all with different cultures, languages and social customs."
"Visions aims to help individual countries or cultures create some of their own materials, designed specifically for their own needs. To do this, a shift in the way we operate is called for."
"We need to get in touch with creative teams who want to help in these countries, providing them with access to information, material and technical help. There is so much talent and desire to help, we just need to start talking to each other. It is not going to be easy, and it will take time, but the end result will be worth it."
"Visions can become more of a central hub supporting efforts all over the world while ensuring Maharaji's words and images are treated with the respect and dignity they are due."
Maharaji
30 Years in the West
A collection of quotes and photos, taken from Maharaji's teachings over the past three decades, tastefully bound, this gift book is a keepsake to cherish gift years to come.
Available from Visions let, $12 US (plus S&H)
"No matter what the
differences that exist between
people, every human being on
the face of this earth has got a
wonderful thing happening
inside of them.
Maharaji
New Double Music
CD Arriving Soon
Songs from the Mezzanine, a double CD collection of original music donated by artists from around the world, is due to be released soon.
Expect this album to be an adventurous blend of music styles united by the common threads of celebration, gratitude, orginality and sincerity. Listen for heart-felt ballads, smooth jazz, world beat eclectic bhajans, a nitty-gritty country tune or two, and hip techno pieces.
All tracks are new original music, given from the heart. Get ready for this fun music anthology.
Video Feature of the Month
This Issue of Happiness
An Introduction to Maharaji's Message
"When we are happy, the issues don't matter.
And you know this. Happy people get on with the business of enjoying happiness."
Selections from an event in Santa Monica, California USA, May 1996. 17 minutes in duration
Video or Audio available from Visions in1srnaiOnai Video $15 US, Audio $3 US, (plus S&H)
The Process of Discovery: New boxed set of 10 different audios
This is a specially created boxed set of 10 unique audios, of approximately 60 minutes each. Beginning with an introduction to Knowledge, continuing with the theme of finding out more, and including questions and answers, this set is an exciting way for someone to "discover for themselves" the magic of Maharaji, his message and Knowledge.
$29 US (plus S&H)
Visions International materials available at www.visions-catalog.org or fax to (+)1 605 495 3165.
Send us your feedback!
Visions International Global Update needs your input to make materials work for all parts of the planet. To submit your suggestions, questions, comments and general feedback,
please go to:
www.visionsinternational.org
/feedback/html
© Visions International
A Personal Perspective
My parents, who have Knowledge, recently moved into the countryside where there is no hall event. Even when they lived in the city, they began attending less events in the hall, as they both have age-related mobility problems. My father is 71, and my mother is 70 this year.
Although the local librarian made sure that they had a good supply of videos in their new residence, I thought it would be nice for them to receive the satellite broadcasts at home. I installed the equipment on a Saturday afternoon in time for the broadcast; they were so excited. After the broadcast my mother said, "It just gets more magical." I didn't try to explain the technicalities of how Maharaji ended up on the TV, as she does not even know how to work the VCR she has had for several years, and because I loved her simple acceptance of what had just happened.
For the Sunday night program, they invited some friends around; ten people in total watched the broadcast that night. When I went to visit them the following Thursday night, my father was smiling and his eyes were shining. He was so excited, because in five days they had watched three events.
The satellite broadcasts have definitely put a spring in their step. Special thanks to everyone involved in making the satellite project become a reality, and a very special thank you to Maharaji.
-Anonymous in the UK