[Approved]
KPFA Local Station Board
Regular in-person meeting, October 19, 2013, 11am-4pm
Humanist Hall
390 27th St., Oakland, CA
Note: An audio archive of this meeting is available at www.kpftx.org/archive.php
Present: Craig Alderson, Mal Burnstein, Brian Edwards-Tiekert, José Luis Fuentes, Donald Goldmacher, Matthew Hallinan, Janet Kobren, Jack Kurzweil, Joy Moore, Andrea Prichett, Tracy Rosenberg, Mel Sanders*, Lewis Sawyer, Dan Siegel, Franklin Sterling, Ramsés Teón-Nichols*, Carole Travis*, Barbara Whipperman, Burton White, Margy Wilkinson.
*Arrived after roll call.
Absent: Shahram Aghamir, David Gans, Mark Hernandez, Cynthia Johnson, Samsarah Morgan.
1. Call to order
Meeting called to order by chair B White at 11:14 am.
2. Roll call and excusing of members
Moved (M. Wilkinson) to excuse all members not present. Approved without objection.
3. Approve agenda
Moved (M. Wilkinson) to add item following iGM report for report from iED Summer Reese, to consist of 10-minute report and 20-minute Q&A period. This will be followed by a 30-minute executive session. Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Incorporating various motions to modify the agenda, chair ruled to move item 12 (Reports) to 8.5, following treasurer’s report. Reports will include additional items “C. PNB Development Committee” and “D. Workplace discrimination status report.” New item 8.5 will be 30 minutes’ duration.
4. Minutes
Moved (M. Wilkinson) to approve September 14, 2013, minutes as drafted. Approved without objection.
5. Public comments
Virginia Browning, Daniel Borgstrom, Brian Geiser.
6. Announcements
A. J. Kobren: 1) Action right now at Ocean Beach, a human mural spelling “Fukushima is here.” 2) Oct. 25, “Facing Urban Shield” all-day event, with rally from 5-6 at 11th and Broadway, Oakland. Details at facingteargas.org.
B. A. Prichett: CopWatch presents people’s investigation and conversation regarding mental health policies and police. Oct. 23, 7pm, South Berkeley Senior Center. Also an event regarding police accountability at the farmers’ market.
C. J. Moore: “Taste of North Berkeley,” Nov. 12, 5:30-8:30pm, a fundraising event to support gardening and food programs in Berkeley schools.
D. D. Siegel: Port truck drivers organizing 5am strike Oct.21 in support of striking BART workers.
7. Interim GM report (R. Pirodsky)
We recently shut down KPFA Facebook page for liability reasons. The page was established and administered by station, which made it responsible for the content. We’re in the process of addressing liability concerns, and this was one.
An interim hire had been made for the fund drive/volunteer coordinator position. We’ve undervalued our volunteers, and with just a little coordination we could get more done. iGM urged board to consider practices of other stations. Most stations require specific number of hours from volunteers in addition to time they spend on programming, but we don’t even tabulate our volunteers’ hours. We don’t know who is eligible to vote. We need standards on hours required and a volunteer coordinator; he would like to start a dialogue about those standards. Volunteer coordinator Tina will contact similar organizations to share volunteers, offer reciprocal services.
Fund drive did reasonably well but did not meet goals. December drive will be different. GoalBusters will be here then for 15 days and will supervise drive. They routinely raise more than we do for the same programs, and we need to find a better and quicker way to raise money. We can’t do them as we have in the past. His fundraising priority would be to make technological improvements. With GoalBusters’ help, we just submitted a grant to digitize the KPFA music library. GoalBusters’ main involvement in fund drive will be in first three days, working with people on air. We’ll use programs we’ve had luck with to raise money. They think they can exceed our goal and end early.
He has looked at online promotion disks. These are technically feasible but content is a challenge. We have a video hole because we don’t have constant video content.
Programming task force is looking at program schedules, KPFB, media supporters, and program council. Progress has been slow because they’re working toward consensus. Media sponsorships may pose conflict with Pacifica bylaws. The task force is trying to research and work with other general managers regarding the program council. We need some form of regular program review. This means trained, informed people. The program council is not viable if it can override program director; there is no accountability if program director’s authority is taken away. Task force is meeting regularly and he hopes to have results soon.
8. Interim executive director report (Summer Reese)
Interim Pacifica executive director Summer Reese appeared at invitation of chair. She became iED one year ago. In that time, she has launched a cleanup of the national office and has addressed $500k discrepancies in accounts, suspension of corporate status, CPB audits, and other irregularities. She appointed a CPB compliance office. 2011 IRS audit is ongoing.
Management changes at WPFW, and with a successful fund they’re on track to catching up on bills. At WBAI, Pacifica has solicited local management or public service operations agreements, by which WBAI’s broadcast day would be leased. If we don’t take action, we’ll lose WBAI signal. WBAI operating costs are down by $1m/year but we don’t have money to make improvements. Interim program director there has quit. Her intervention in fund drive boosted revenues. KPFT is also failing and drives need to raise enough money to pay bills.
No money for LSB elections. Costs from last year’s elections haven’t yet been paid off. A court would probably let us off the hook for lack of money. She believes replacing termed-out members with runner-ups is fairest way with least potential harm. We need to make fundamental bylaws changes. On KPFA recall election, judge said we couldn’t count ballots, and terms are up in two months anyway, so iED ordered ballots destroyed and case settled.
Moved (M. Wilkinson) to extend discussion 10 minutes. Approved without objection.
One development strategy is working with Pacifica Archives, which received $128k matching grant. She thinks it is possible to offer PA content online. She is not focusing on underwriting. Our problem is programming, promotions and placement.
At this point, 1:30pm, the board moved into executive session. Open session resumed at 3:27pm.
8. Treasurer’s report (B. Whipperman)
TR1 is report from Memsys breaking down pledges received and portions that go to KPFA and to KFCF. KPFK does not go into Memsys and so does not appear here. “Acquisitions” denotes brand new members; “renewals” denotes rejoins. “Addt’l gifts” denotes members who already gave at least once on air.
Adjourned 3:46pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig Alderson
LSB Secretary