Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors
Boulder Community Broadcast Association, Inc.
November 15, 2005
Board in attendance: Marty Durlin (ex-officio), Chip Grandits, Kit Hollingshead, Janaki LeFils, Paul Mischo, Greg O’Brien, Steven Sherman-Boemker, Michael Shuster and Marge Taniwaki.
Public in attendance: See attached attendance list.
Staff in attendance: Kris Abrams, Mouse Bradshaw, Joanne Cole, Marty Durlin, Elaine Erb, Sam Fuqua.
The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the previous Board meeting were approved as amended.
Public Participation:
Davide Andrea expressed his feeling that things “are not quite right at KGNU.” He outlined four areas where! he feels that the Board specifically may not be doing its best to serve the station and its listeners. Davide’s concerns are these:
1. That the Board is reneging on its promise not to endanger the core of the station.
2. That the Board is leaving the station vulnerable to “hijacking.”
3. That the Board is overstepping its authority.
4. That the Board is squandering the listener members money.
A detailed copy of an emailed version of Davide’s comments are attached to this report.
Kathleen Martindale: Feels it is necessary to have a place for people to be able to talk about how they feel.
Joel Edelstein: It’s important to express concerns about the future of KGNU and 1390. He feels we should have confidence and reminded all that KGNU has gained about a 400% increase in possible listenership. This will mean more supporters.
Michael Shuster: The Board has always said we would not put the building as collateral.
Kris Abrams: Expressed that she would never want a 24 hour a day talk show.
Christy Barden: Asked that deejays revise how they read station ID’s so as not to be divisive, by making it sound as though Denver is “down there.”
Greg O’Brien: Disagrees with much of what Davide said and feels that further discussion is needed.
Chip Grandits: Expressed that he had believed that Davide was a supporter of digital conversion in the past.
Barry Gilbert: Asked whether money has moved between the station’s operating accounts and 1390.
Marty Durlin: Yes, money from KGNU operating accounts has been used to support 1390, but all money is being kept track of so that it can be repaid to the operating budget! The Denver Outreach position will be funded by 1390 as much as possible. Marty assured members that all money is being tracked. Also, accounting changes have been helpful. The next Budget Committee meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 7th.
Election of Officers - Nominating Committee:
Nile Southern read the proposed slate of Board officer candidates:
• Michael Shuster, Chair
• Paul Mischo, Vice Chair
• Chip Grandits, Treasurer
• Janaki Lefils, Secretary
The Board then cast paper ballots and the slate of candidates was approved unanimously.
David Kane was recommended to the Board as a candidate. His resume, application and letter of intent have been filed. The floor was opened to the all to ask David about his reasons for wanting to join the Board and his thoughts and concerns about KGNU. David shared that it’s important to reach out to minority communities in Denver, and that he would like to be involved in that as a Board member.
Following this open session, the Board moved to a closed executive session with two members of the Nominating committee, Arleigh and Nile. The Board voted unanimously to approve David to the Board. His first term will end November, 2008.
Nile then went over requirements for Board membership and the application procedure, reminding all of the streamlined application process meant to expedite applicants.
Station Manager Report: See attachment
Staff Reports
Membership Director/Volunteer Coordinator:
Mouse spoke on some of her concerns and questions for the station:
• Feels very strongly about her duties to the station! and the members;
• We value the human concept that has built this community station;
• Sees our move into Denver as our community growing, getting bigger;
• We must maintain the heart of KGNU;
• She doesn’t fear change, but she is concerned that with haste, without due thought we might get away from the ideals that make KGNU what it is today;
• We can’t ignore the history of KGNU and how it has worked in the past;
• Mouse cautioned running off into new things;
• The station is an equal platform for members, volunteers, staff and Board.
Mouse also shared concerns about finances:
• Nobody is working at KGNU because of the money;
• It’s not necessary to create a system that judges staff on what they have accomplished;
• Hopes we don’t move into being more like a big business.
Assistant Membership Director: Evan Perkins was absent due to illness. His report is attached.
News and Public Affairs Department: See Sam’s report attached.
Development Director: See Joanne’s report attached.
Music Department: See Elaine’s report attached.
In addition to her detailed report, Elaine took time to share what she feels are crucial concepts at KGNU:
• Operating with care and mutual respect for each other;
• Examine the highest and best uses of time and resources;
• New exciting programming such as Western Front;
• We need to keep looking for a way to have some sort of “access hour”
• Find innovative ways to move KGNU forward;
• Our frugality over the years has got us where we are;
• Slow and considered actions and responses
• There is a lot of work ahead and we’re all in it together, so let’s! keep the discussion open;
• On staffing issues, she’s not seeing the kind of help she needs.
Engineering Report: See attachment.
Denver Campaign Coordinator: Before delving directly into her report, Kris took time to go “off script,” and accepted responsibility for her contribution to the dynamics between the staff at KGNU. Her detailed report is attached.
Committee Reports
Greg O’Brien, whose second term on the Board expires in January, 2006, took a few minutes to reflect on his past six years on the Board.
• He especially liked working with Marty and Arleigh.
• Feels it is important that the Board be able to question the Station Manager.
• Feels that too many Board members are more concerned with getting meetings over than making decisions.
• The Board needs to meet every month, there’s just too much to be done.
• It’s been a great six years, thanks to all.
Inclusiveness Committee: Members of the committee, including Kathleen, John Penman, Greg O’Brien, Brandon Carter, and Joel Edelstein shared their thoughts on the upcoming Inclusiveness Training, to be held Saturday, December 10th.
• The training needs to be tailored to fit KGNU’s needs;
• The training is important, we are always able to improve here;
• There are issues that still need to be dealt with here at KGNU;
• Things will come up that may be uncomfortable but which need to be talked about.
• The issue is that we have issues; the intent of the training is to be honest and to empower us to face these issues.
• It won’t be perfect but we should give it a chance.
Stephanie has collected questions and comments from OverDub! youth.
Denver Friends of KGNU: Andy Bardwell’s report is attached.
Signal Committee: The Nederland translator issue will be presented to the Nederland Planning Commission on Wednesday, November 30th, 7 pm.
Follow Up Committee: David Kane’s report is attached.
Staffing Issues: Marty spoke to upcoming hiring of new staff persons, including the Development Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Denver Campaign Coordinator and news and music assistant positions. She would like to make the final decision in these hirings, as the Follow Up committee is an advisory committee and has no authority to overrule the Station Manager.
The Board approved a motion to affirm the Station Manager’s responsibility and authority to make staffing decisions, with two abstentions.
Funding for the Denver Campaign Coordinator will come out of the 1390 budget. Funding for the Volunteer Coordinator, new and music assistants is not clear at this time.
Marty will make a decision regarding the Development Director before the next Board meeting. Kris would love to take the Denver Campaign Coordinator position and is excited about it. Marty will negotiate with Kris on the position.
Other Business:
Janaki motioned for a December Board meeting. Marge added a friendly amendment to the motion, calling for the Board to continue to meet monthly. Marty spoke against the motion. Arleigh expressed her thought that if the Board meets every other month it will be more difficult to move new Board candidates through the process. After further discussion, the motion passed with one abstention.
The meeting adjourned at 10:58 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Steven Sherman-Boemker
Secretary, KGNU Board of Directors