[Approved]
KPFA Local Station Board
Regular in-person meeting, July 13, 2013, 11am-4pm
North Berkeley Senior Center
1901 Hearst Ave., Berkeley, CA
Note: An audio archive of this meeting is available at www.kpftx.org/archive.php
Present: Shahram Aghamir*, Craig Alderson, Brian Edwards-Tiekert, David Gans, Matthew Hallinan, Mark Hernandez, Cynthia Johnson, Janet Kobren, Jack Kurzweil, Samsarah Morgan, Andrea Prichett, Mel Sanders*, Lewis Sawyer*, Franklin Sterling, Barbara Whipperman, Burton White.
*Arrived after roll call.
Absent: Mal Burnstein, José Luis Fuentes, Donald Goldmacher, Joy Moore, Tracy Rosenberg, Dan Siegel, Ramsés Teón-Nichols, Carole Travis, Margy Wilkinson.
1. Call to order
Meeting called to order by chair B. White at 11:17 am.
2. Roll call and excusing of members
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to excuse all absent members. Approved without objection.
3. Approve agenda
Moved (B. Whipperman) to delete #11 (iGM discussion on racism allegations). Approved: 7Y, 2N.
4. Minutes
Moved to approve June 8, 2013, minutes as drafted. Approved without objection.
5. Public comments
Daniel Borgstrom, Craig Williams.
6. Announcements
A. C. Johnson: Invitation to benefit dinner Saturday, July 20, at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian-Universalists featuring Daniel and Patricia Ellsberg speaking on civil liberties. July 13 3pm Guantanamo and Pelican Bay hunger strikers at Peace Park in Berkeley. Evening of July 13 as part of LaborFest is Trans-Pacific Partnership: NAFTA on steroids, with people from Sutter and Asian hospitals.
B. B. Edwards-Tiekert: Fund drive starting July 22. Need phone room volunteers for two-week drive. Phone room open 6:30am-8pm weekdays and 7am on weekends.
7. Interim GM report (R. Pirodsky)
Fund drive from July 22 to August. 2. This will be different because of length and because of split focus. We need to think about sustainability. We’re spending 90 days/year in drives and focus shifts to premiums due to special programming rather than to regular programming. Fund drives deny listeners the programs they tuned in to listen to. The message should be that the programming is the premium, but that won’t raise enough money by itself, so this drive will target programs that will not be pre-empted. Those programmers will get special training from GoalBusters on pitching; those programmers will train others. This will be done with 5 shows each drive. We can use revenue response to evaluate programming. We need to add more voices to the pitching process so there is more than one story that addresses what we do and why it’s important. We need to remind people of the value of KPFA.
Workplace investigation is being conducted by Robert McCree. Some people and documents are left to be interviewed and reviewed. No commitment to the date yet but close of investigation is drawing near. Report will be a factual report with recommendations, expected late July or early August. Those who would like to speak to McCree should contact Tamika at the national office: tamika <at> pacifica.org or call the office, extension 206. iGM said his position is for duration of the investigation. He has asked the national office to inform him of an exit strategy now that the investigation is wrapping up.
Moved (A. Prichett) to extend agenda item by 10 minutes. Approved: 9Y, 4N.
The board moved to executive session to discuss further personnel details related to the investigation.
GoalBusters is happy to address board concerns and discuss what KPFA can do to expand revenue streams. Jim Anderson will be here on July 15-16 10am to 8:30pm to help with training. Contact Veronica veronica<at> kpfa.org to schedule time with him. iGM is working with GoalBusters to develop comprehensive campaign once pledge drive is over. We can ask them for a report.
8. Treasurer’s report (B. Whipperman)
TR1 is corrected version of 7-month report that she passed out at June meeting. Errors were due to incorrect Excel formulas. There are no statements from May or June due to disarray in national office. Col. Q shows how we compare to the budget. We’re over budget by $4800 but this doesn’t include revenue from fund drive in May.
Fulfillment rate increases over time. May fund drive fulfillment rate was 67% but as of June 7 it was 71.4%. We are a little behind on listener support and ahead on corporate matches. We’re over on car donations. Personnel costs are $39,000 over budget but administrative expenses are $120,000 under budget. We are already getting December Crafts Fair income. CPB grants are being withheld until the CPB audit is done. We are about on target for shared expenses, though we’ve been subject to national office requests for money. $103k was predicted as loss in 2012-13 but actual figure has been $40k.
No documents yet for 2013-14 budget. National Finance Committee schedule is that first draft from LSB is due July 31, with threat they NFC will take budget control away if that deadline is not met. Treasurer proposed three workshops to for board members to meet and discuss budget.
$120k in bank after payroll, with $55k in owed in bills, one of which is $33k for medical insurance.
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert): That the LSB hold a special meeting for budget review and approval Saturday, July 27, at 11am at a location to be determined by the LSB officers. Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Dates proposed for workshops: July 18 & July 22 at times to be determined, July 25 at 3:30.
Moved (A. Prichett): That these are provisional dates and times and that the board do a Doodle survey to survey members whether they can attend on these dates and times. Failed: 0Y, 2N.
7. Interim GM report (continued)
Following return to open session, iGM restated broadcasting rules he reviewed during closed sessions. Pacifica attorney and iED have determined that language violations at all stations show Pacifica policy not strong enough. Their memo lays out specific guidelines: one day suspension for self-reported violations, minimum 2-show suspension for violations not self-reported.
9. KFCF report (M. Sanders)
See attached.
10. Old business
A. IT efficiency audit
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to table. Approved without objection.
B. Resolution on members in good standing
Moved (B. Whipperman) to table. Approved without objection.
C. Pacifica Archives resolutions
Moved (S. Aghamir) to table. Approved without objection.
D. Equity and inclusion; committee of inclusion
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) that at board’s next regular meeting it will hold elections to populate the Committee of Inclusion. Approved without objection.
E. Development
Board considered motion submitted by A. Prichett at May 11, 2013, LSB meeting:
“The LSB designate representatives (2-3) to serve on development team currently meeting under the supervision of the iGM and Goalbusters. LSB reps will represent development ideas of the board to the development team and report back to the LSB.”
Moved (B. Edwards-Tiekert) to close debate. Failed: 8Y, 4N (2/3 needed).
Motion failed: 5Y (S. Aghamir, J. Kobren, S. Morgan, A. Prichett, F. Sterling); 7N (C. Alderson, B. Edwards-Tiekert, D. Gans, M. Hernandez, L. Sawyer, B. Whipperman, B. White)
11. Other reports(informational)
A. PNB (B. Edwards-Tiekert)
Last meeting’s public session dealt with elections. Pacifica ED had declared no intention of conducting elections but PNB passed resolution to proceed. Also approved mailing in July to find bad addresses and to post job notice for national election supervisor.
B. PNB Development Committee (A. Prichett)
PNB investigating strategies on underwriting. Stations such as WBRU in Maine and WORT have underwriting; 15% of WORT’s budget is underwriting. Underwriting is not advertising but things like listing on website, thanking during fund drives. Way we develop says who we are and it’s a strategy worth considering. National pressures building in favor of underwriting.
Adjourned 3:56pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig Alderson
LSB Secretary