Meet Maarit Steinwedel, video virgin

Well, okay, maybe she isn't actually a video virgin.

But Maarit Steinwedel, Shaw TV's newest volunteer recruit, says it's been a while "since I did anything with a camera like that."

Steinwedel (shown) told SooToday.com that she decided to volunteer for the cable company when she saw our recent coverage about Shaw's problems attracting enough volunteers to provide live broadcasts of City Council meetings.

"I just thought it would be a good way to find out what's going on around here and meet some people," she said.

She also said she would have signed up with or without any financial incentives from City Council.

Shaw gives City its money back

If Shaw does reward Steinwedel and its other volunteers, it won't be with City money.

In a letter to Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland dated October 12, Shaw representatives politely turned down the City's offer of $5,000 to remunerate its volunteers.

At City Council's last meeting, Butland persuaded his fellow councillors to give the money to Shaw to recruit, retain and reward volunteers on its live Council telecasts.

SooToday.com background article

Council is required by a City bylaw to record all of its meetings, so when Shaw couldn't staff that meeting, a private videographer (Charismaworks) was hired to produce a record of it for public library's collection.

Butland, aware of Shaw's problems with volunteer recruitment and retention, responded with what he now calls a premature response.

Knee-jerk reaction

"Yes it was a knee-jerk reaction because I felt it was important that we have some continuity in Council coverage," Butland said.

"I think it was a tempest in a teapot," he said.

"They said they don't like the bad publicity and I don't like the bad publicity for putting this forward so I want to thank Shaw for changing their minds."

Grandpa Tony

As a side note, Tony Tagliabracci, who produces Council coverage on Shaw Cable, informed SooToday.com that he was away for the last meeting because he was visiting his newborn first grandchild.

As another side note, Councillor Butland publicly referred to Tagliabracci at last night's meeting as Tony Kramer.

Butland later apologized, indicating that Tony hasn't used his old broadcast moniker in many, many years.