Deborah Vinsel retires from TCMedia

Shirley Stirling

Job well done, Deborah Vinsel!   

Thurston Community Media, in its 39th year, is a treasure to our community and this column gives kudos to both retiring CEO and Executive Director Deborah Vinsel, who has served the group for 34 years, and founding member and production manager, who preceded her, Carol Burns (1939-2014).  

The nonprofit organization started as a study group in 1982 — the Capitol Area Community Television Association (CACTA). It incorporated in 1983, and in 1986 became Thurston Community Television (TCTV).

Though you may know them by this acronym, as of 2016 the group became Thurston Community Media or TCMedia, providing noncommercial media services.

Until 2023, they worked with governmental and educational access and the public, but are now focusing on media arts to support media makers through both the internet and cable channel 22.  Some areas include video editing, youtubing, podcasting and mobile streaming.  

I knew Carol Burns  who passed away in 2014. She and her husband were known for producing a 1970 independent film on the Indian fishing rights controversy, “As Long as the Rivers Run.”

It is a documentary of one family and their struggle to hold on to their treaty rights and a traditional way of life. For TCTV, a project she completed in 1996, it was the result of a year and a half of research.

She examined the validity of charges against three men for sexual abuse. She published a 115-minute film, “Crimes of imagination: a case of alleged Satanic ritual abuse in Thurston County 1988-1990,” and released it as a TCTV six-part series.

Her worked helped expose a sad phenomenon of the late 1980s that has been likened to the 1700s-era Salem witchcraft hysteria. The film is available from The Evergreen State College library on DVD or free online, for registered community members. (Historic newspaper articles on the case are also available at the Washington State Library through NewsBank Inc.)   

Deborah VInsel has served as Executive Director and CEO since Nov. 1, 1990. She interviewed for the job on the way back from an Alaskan fishing trip and was startled by the Pacific Northwest casual dress.

When she started, the organization was housed in a 1,200 square foot facility on Limited Lane, producing and airing programs on three-quarter inch Umatic tape. Their current studio is 5,000 square feet.

Much has changed in 34 years and TCMedia has grown into an award winning, nationally recognized media center.

“I’m so very proud to have been a small part of TCMedia’s success over the years,” says Deborah. “I’ve been blessed to have a career that was so fulfilling and fun. It would not have been possible without our outstanding staff, board, and community members. I'll be cheering from the sidelines as our media maker space continues to serve local content creators."   

Deborah loved her career, marveling at how few jobs are as pleasant and rewarding as hers. She related that in 34 years, the number of “bad days” can be counted on one hand.    

One of the big rewards, for her, has been helping people find their voice and promote their passions. One member, known for pigeon-holing legislators on campus to support causes benefiting people with physically disabilities and developmental challenges, had her own TCMedia program.

One notable day, featuring a deaf woman and blind young man on stage at the studio, the member announced, “I do this program because I have learned to speak for myself.”   

Deborah is looking forward to spending time with her husband, Lex, and Mac, their West Highland white terrier puppy.   

As Deborah moves into retirement, Martha Correa and Tamara Erazo step into new leadership positions.

Martha has been promoted to Director of Production & Operations and Tamara is the new Director of Administration & Development. 

Stay tuned for their big plans as the new management team, with their staff and volunteers, take a new direction.

Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you'd like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.