Santa Barbara Channels is currently holding a membership drive that will conclude in a live, hour-long “Telebration” event on November 20.

Candi Corbani, chair of the board of directors, and David Starkey, producer and host of Channel 17’s “Creative Community,” will be masters of ceremonies. The event will also showcase music by Grady Lee, a Dos Pueblos High School junior and member of the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir.

S.B. Channels is a public access station that representatives say plays an essential role in the cultural, social, and educational aspects of our community. By offering their media sources to members, the Channels helps facilitate public dialogue, free speech and participatory democracy, fosters local creativity, education and culture, as its Web site describes.

Earlier this year, when the Santa Barbara City Council included a proposal to reduce the Channels’ funding by 30 percent as part of its deficit-cutting policy, Keri Stockstad, executive director of the Channels, as well as other producers managed to sway council members to reduce funding by only 15 percent.

The folks at the Channels have been seeking alternative ways to adapt and re-up their funding ever since.

“We know many people have been informed or entertained by our programming for years,” said Stockstad, according to a written statement. “This is their opportunity to support this important community resource,” she added.

The membership drive offers annual general memberships for $50 while students and seniors can become members for $25. New members and donors will be featured on-air during the Telebration event as Dynamic Donors.

What are the perks of becoming a member? S.B. Channels offers paid members access to production classes, equipment, and special programs. The trade-off is that members will have unlimited access to production resources to give Channels 17 and 21 program content.

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