Wareham Community Television celebrated a busy year of broadcasting and plans to expand its studio on Main Street after it purchased earlier this year the historic building it uses as a headquarters.

The organization welcomed three new board members and looked back on the year on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the station’s annual membership meeting. From covering more than 25 Wareham Gatemen baseball games to hosting its own 10 episode talkshow at the Pier View Restaurant, WCTV has had a good year driving community engagement, according to Executive Director Steve Ruiz.

“It’s a direction we want to continue next year,” Ruiz said. “We want our community to have all that we can offer.”

New on the board for WCTV are Onset Bay Association President Kat Jones and Wareham High School teacher Tom Ticker. The pair is joined by Patricia Hackett who will fill a two-year seat belonging to current board member Rose Berry. 

According to Ruiz, the function of the board is to help direct the station by generating ideas for possible programming and approving member projects. The board also signs off on spending for the station.

WCTV hired over 12 interns this summer who worked on a variety of projects including film classes taught at both Wareham High School and Wareham Middle School. The station also awarded three $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors and spent another $2,500 to purchase video editing software for the school.

“Our kids should have the best,” Ruiz said. 

The station also celebrated the launch of its redesigned website, which allows for faster and easier navigation. Several social media channels for WCTV such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have also been created to drive community engagement.

Membership with WCTV is $15 per year and grants members access to station equipment and training for free. According to Public Outreach Coordinator Queen Banda, the station is seeking to expand its membership base and create new programming.

“We want to be more visible in our community,” Banda said. “We’re always open to member suggestions.”

Ruiz touched briefly on plans for the old Town Hall at 505 Main St. which the station purchased from the town earlier this year. The station has used the building as its base of operations since 2009 and is planning to put a 1,800 square-foot addition on the back of the existing structure for studio space.

“We’re hoping it will be done this time next year,” Ruiz said. “But it will happen when it happens.”

No taxpayer money will be used to build the addition as all the funds will come from Wareham Community Television. Ruiz did not disclose any information pertaining to possible delays.

For more information to watch WCTV online, visit www.warehamtv.org.