KGNU Board Meeting – January 10, 2005
PRESENT
Community members: Ann Thompson, Wendy Emrich
Staff: Sam Fuqua, Faye Lamb, Mouse
Board: Michael Shuster, David Kane, Greg O’Brien, Marge Taniwaki, Steven Boemker-Sherman, Chip Grandits, Kit Hollingshead, Janaki LeFils
The agenda was approved.
Kit agreed to be the timekeeper.
Minutes of the last Board meeting on December 13, as well as the special Board meeting, were read and approved.
Kit moved that Marge be made interim vice chair of the Board for 60 days until the March Board meeting, to fill in for Paul’s unfinished term. Janaki seconded the motion. Passed unanimously.
STATION MANAGERS REPORT – attached.
Addendum: Michael will negotiate with Kris Abrams about a time for a confidential chat with her, and determine who will be present to receive her input upon leaving KGNU. This is tentatively scheduled for January 23 at 4 pm.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Nominating Committee –
Mouse said that the time frame from a first application to the Board to the Board recommendation is about one month. New board members need to have a commitment to and knowledge of KGNU.
Issue: Is the board a fundraising board, and therefore does the Nom Com recruit for people qualified to raise funds? The Board has to at least be open to doing fundraising activities, thank you calls, etc.
Issue: New Board members could be asked to sign a contract. No current Board member has signed one.
Agenda item: Should new and /or existing Board members sign a contract?
The Board requested that the Nom Com meet at least one week before the Board meeting.
Strategic Planning Committee-
Has not met yet. Co-chairs are David Kane and Arleigh.
Denver Advisory Committee-
Wendy Emrich reported that the main focus has been creating a name for the committee as well as a mission statement. The official name is “KGNU Denver Advisory Committee”.
The committee is working on getting a studio space in Denver with the needed equipment for production. The space, for the time being, is at the Micro Business Center in Five Points.
David moved that the Board approve KGNU Denver Advisory Committee as a standing committee of the Board. Marge seconded. Approved unanimously.
Agenda item: Review the mission statement of the “KDAC”.
PBOG Committee – attached.
Have sold 45 of 100 tickets to date for the Deepak Chopra event.
Robert Parry will be a guest speaker on February 19, 2006.
Inclusiveness Committee
There will be a Martin Luther King potluck on Sunday, January 15, 5 to 7 pm.
Agenda item: Will the Inclusiveness Committee be a permanent committee of the Board?
Marge expresses concern about watering down the energy and resources of the Board.
Program Committee
No notes available
Budget Committee
On December 30, Janaki and Chip went to the Band of Denver and signed on a $200,000 loan for KGNU at 7.25% interest. Terms are interest-only for two years, or $1200 per month. After two years the principal would have to be amortized and the loan would be renegotiated. There is no prepayment penalty. The money to repay $150,000 of that loan is at KGNU, but the terms with the private lender have to be finalized. Michael reported that another individual has offered to loan the remaining $50,000 at a low interest rate. So the loan with the Bank of Denver, using the KGNU building as collateral, could be paid off soon.
Agenda Item: Question: Should the loan to the bank be paid off soon, or should we keep it as a cushion because the $150,000 private loan must be paid back in one year at 5% interest? The bank could be asked for a smaller line of credit, and use it as a bridge.
Signal Committee
Chip will call Joe Miller and ask what he wants for 88.1. All negotiations are contingent on board approval, with input from the KDAC, and all talking about it is exploratory. With the current AM-FM setup we can split the signals. That could not be done with 88.1.
Will satellite radio present strong competition? Sam says not as long as we stay rooted in compelling community radio.
Building Committee
The solar electric installations are up and are waiting for an inspection. It is plugged into Xcel. Michael says that is should save between 8 and 12% of our electricity costs.
By-Laws Committee
Chip reported that three years ago, inspired by the debacle at Pacifica, KGNU decided to review our by-laws. It was found that we did not follow them, nor did we want to. So we began a revision process, headed by Arleigh. Then our lawyer reviewed them. We are now ready with the revised by-laws.
Has there been enough public notice? The mission statement has been put on the web.
There are no provisions for any contested office. Must one be nominated by the Nominating Committee to be on the Board? Can someone stand up and say they want a position on the Board? The by-laws do not answer this.
Kit moved that the Board approve the modified by-laws. Janaki seconded. Passed with one abstention (Greg).
Other Business
Kit moved and Steven seconded that the next Board meeting be on Wednesday, February 15, rather than Tuesday, February 14. Passed unanimously.
KGNU Volunteer Orientations – a member of the Board should be present
Feb.2 Janaki
Mar. 2 Michael
April 6 Steven
May 4 Kit
June 1 David
July 6 Marge
Aug. 3 Chip
Sept. 7 David
Oct. 5 Michael
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Janaki LeFils, Secretary