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Boulder Community Broadcast Association Board of Directors

Minutes of Meeting, Tuesday, March 14, 2006
2125 West 33rd Avenue, Denver, CO

Present:
Staff: Sam Fuqua
Community: Chris Mohr, Andy Bardwell, Leanne Schamp, Clover
Board Members: Michael Shuster, Marge Taniwaki, David Kane, Steven Sherman-Boemker, Kit Hollingshead, Janaki LeFils, Chip Grandits, Wendy Emrich (just voted in)

Meeting called to order at 6:15 pm. Minutes of February Meeting were approved.

Station Manager’s Report: See attached, written by Sam Fuqua, Acting Station Manager

Committee Reports
Nominating Committee:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT                        3/13/05
Vice Chair: Marge has been Acting Vice Chair. The Nomcom suggests, and Marge agrees, that Steven formally replace Paul Mischo as Vice Chair.
Preliminary SWOT submissions:  The committee did not have a chance to produce a unified and vetted SWOT representing the group—nor did we get to talk about it.  We have emailed Kit a preliminary submission—we aim to have a final one in May.
Board New Member Packet: a collection of ‘welcome’ guidelines, outreach letters, process instructions and orientation materials going back to the 1990s (compiled by Neil Parker) will be given to Kit tonight. We look forward to helping him review and repackage these materials and to creating a new welcoming orientation kit. The information should be consistent with website and bylaws, as well.
 
Recommendation of Wendy Emrich to serve on the board. Wendy is an excellent nominee. She has an extensive history with progressive causes and fundraising, lives in Denver, and is gung-ho for outreach, bringing KGNU to the masses—and vice-versa. She has been interviewed by Nomcom, and she served on the Committee that hired Marcos. She currently serves on the DAC.
 
 
The Nominating Committee is: Arleigh, Joy Barrett, Diane Singh, Nile Southern, Neil Parker, Thomas Lenk, Mouse Bradshaw, Janaki LeFils, Marge Taniwaki, Evan Perkins.
Discussion: Nile Southern presented the committee’s nomination of Wendy Emrich to the board. After the Board interviewed Wendy, the Board approved the nomination, with one member abstaining.


Strategic Planning:
Planning Committee Meeting – 11 AM, Thursday, March 9, 2006, Wedding Chapel, Golden, CO

In attendance:


Staff: Board: Volunteers:
Sam Fuqua Steven Boemker-Sherman Arleigh (Co-chair)
Faye Lamb Kit Hollingshead Yukari Miyamae

David Kane (Co-chair) Chris Mohr

Greg O’Brien


Participants went over the summary of SWOT analysis conducted during the February 2006 meeting, and David Kane summarized this effort. It is attached to this report

The committee will use the results of this SWOT analysis, and those submitted by the other KGNU committees, to help focus discussion in developing goals, objectives, and actions for major areas of the plan. The committee held discussion on the preliminary areas that the plan should address. The list below is not exhaustive and is not presented in any particular order. The committee fully expects to refine this list, likely by adding additional areas of focus:

  • Denver
  • Outreach/Inreach
  • Budgeting

These last three areas (Denver, Outreach/Inreach, and Budgeting) were not specifically addressed due only to the 2-hour duration of the meeting. These areas will be the first items addressed at the committee’s April meeting. Greg O’brien reiterated that the committee will need to meet more than once per month to move the plan further along, and meet the date to present a draft plan to the KGNU community at the annual meeting in November 2006.

Kit Hollingshead has now twice sent out a request to all KGNU committees to conduct their own internal SWOT analysis, and then submit that to the planning committee for incorporation into the strategic plan. Several committees have completed and submitted their SWOT analysis, and David Kane will compile the information once it’s been submitted by all committees

It was also agreed among the committee members present that the Board should resolve to have each committee develop a vision/purpose/need statement to help focus planning and present to the board. This information would also be included in a revised volunteer handbook/guidebook. Members of the planning committee have offered to facilitate this discussion if committees deem it necessary.

The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday April 13, 2006 at KGNU.


Summary:
KGNU SWOT Analysis (Planning)
March 9, 2005


Strengths:

1. KGNU Spirit
2. Volunteer Energy
3. Programming
4. National Leader
5. Consensus
6. Core Values
7. Physical/Technical Environment
8. Informed Community
9. Community Support Reputation
10. Lack of Competition (other stations)
11. Independence (Noncommercial)
12. Flat Decision Making Structure
13. Feminine
14. Local Appeal/Appearance (Boulder)
15. Community Relationships (Listeners, other Non-Profits,Community-at-Large)
16. Longevity

Weaknesses:
1. Short-Staffed
2. Debt
3. Volunteer Retention
4. Organizational Structure*
5. Board depth & size*
6. Communication (Staff)
7. Aging & White
8. Lacking Listeners (Denver)
9. Perception of Extreme Left Perspective
10. Fundraising
11. Uncertainty about Denver (Among Boulder listeners)
12. Programming Inconsistencies (Content & Quality)
13. Lack of Professionalism (Too Casual, Lack of skills, Hurried)
14. Disorganization (Programming Materials, Events, Repetition of Programs)
15. Landscaping of KGNU Building

Opportunities:
1. 2 million + Listener Base*
2. Utilize Volunteer Energy by Better Organization
3. Alternative Community-Based Voice*
4. Split Signal
5. Coordination with Other Community Organizations
6. Expand Local Programming
7. DIY Media
8. Satellite Radio (helps listenership of KGNU)
9. Become More “Standard” (Professional) Non-Profit*
10. Fresh Blood (Volunteers, Staff, Board)*



Threats:

1. Right-Wing/Religious/Infiltration from Outside*
2. Need to Service Debt Affecting Programming and Culture (e.g, consensus model)
3. Expansion Leading to Dissolution of Quality of Programming
4. Time & People Power (Unavailable or Insufficient)
5. Competition by Other Stations Purporting to be “Community” Radio
6. Too Many Media Choices
7. Deviation from Successful Process (“Throwing out the baby with the bath water”)*
8. Pacifica Lessons
9. Possessiveness/Territoriality of On-Air Programmers
10. Staff Infighting/Blaming* 11. Boulder-Denver Divisiveness 12. Lack of Trust&Faith/Fear of Youth and Younger/Upcoming KGNUers with New and Different Ideas* 13. Unwillingness to and Fear of Change (in Staff, Programming, Station Culture)* 14. Lack of Vi
sion/Strategy to Promote/Encourage Successive Leadership (Board, Staff)*

Discussion: David Kane presented the issue of developing a purpose and need statement from each committee. The Board unanimously voted to proceed with this process.

Budget Committee: Not submitted

Denver Advisory Committee: Not submitted
Discussion: The fall in representation on the DAC was discussed, and various strategies for outreach were considered.

Programming Committee: Not submitted

PBOG Committee:
General
Boulder Magazine Announcements – March 17th deadline. Event coordinators are responsible for providing information about their events to Joanne before the deadline. Joanne is responsible for submitting all announcements.


Coming Events
Silent Auction – March 16, Thursday
Event begins at 6:30 with a 30 min preview of merchandise. Bidding begins at 7 and ends promptly at 9.

Antonia Juhas/Boulder Bookstore Sale has been postponed.

Medea Benjamin – tentative date is Monday evening April 10
Co-founder of Code Pink and founding director of Global Exchange has agreed to speak in Denver on behalf of KGNU. The date is subject to change depending on her obligations at the Conference on World Affairs where she is participating Monday through Wednesday, April 10-12. Details will be posted on the KGNU website as they are known.

KGNU will have an outreach table at the Boulder Creek Fest, Memorial weekend.

The Charles Bluegrass Festival in Gold Hill – July 23, Saturday.
All performers have been confirmed: this year features Darol Anger, Earl Girls, Sweet Sunny South, Clay Kirkland. Tickets will go on sale June 1.

Past Events
The debriefing meeting for the Deepak Chopra Reception concluded that the financial rewards of the event ($5300 net for KGNU) was highly diluted by the costs of on air time, volunteer time, and a somewhat negative public relations position of KGNU in alignment with the money making World Wellness Weekend agenda. The meeting of 8 people included the original reception planning committee, as well as the volunteer coordinator and several volunteers who worked the event. All felt that a repeat with Beach Avenue Productions would not be in KGNU’s best interests, that KGNU for the most part is better off pursuing its own speakers or public figures independently, and that for any future partnering ventures the potential financial gain be weighed against the full cost of the resources that will be used.

February 19 and 20, Robert Parry gave two talks related to his book “Secrecy and Priviledge-Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq” in both Denver and Boulder drawing slightly over 100 people between both.

Tentatives Events
Cindy Sheehan – Through her assistant, Sheehan has expressed a strong interest in coming to the Denver region to give a talk, and confirmation of this event seems to be resting on determining workable dates with her crew. Right now the first or last part of June is the target. The talk would be in Denver as a benefit for KGNU and independent media.

Amy Goodman – Very good chance she will again speak on behalf of KGNU in September, details TBA

SWOT discussion – from 7PM until almost 8PM. Joanne wrote comments on flip chart for each category. The entire PBOG committee stayed to participate (minus 1 person who had to leave early) in a very lively, positive discussion. Joanne took responsibility for getting the notes to the Planning Committee.

To Date (from October ’05) Net Income from KGNU events:
Len Barron $522
Walnut Room Raffle $1200
Persuasions $1000
Chopra Reception $5251
Robert Parry (x2) $1000

Inclusiveness Committee: Not submitted

Building Committee:
From: Phil Dougan
> The Building Committee met for its monthly meeting on Monday, March
> 13. Three items were were discussed:
> Our general landscaping plan was reviewed. Minor improvements will be
> made as the growing season arrives.
> Kathleen Martindale has requested that the large tent be left
> standing in the parking lot for the entire month of August. We will
> contact the manufacturer of the tent to find out what wind loads the
> tent was designed for and then make whatever modifications are
> necessary to insure its stability should very high winds occur.
> Michael Bradshaw has evaluated our new training space in Denver. He
> has noted that while the facility is adequate for training purposes,
> it is far from optimum for creating broadcast quality material due to
> a very loud air delivery system. If production is to be done in this
> space, he suggests the purchase of a portable sound enclosure in
> which up to four people could work if an air conditioning unit
> designed for the enclosure is also purchased. The price would be in
> the $9-15,000 range, although Michael is not sure that this solution
> would be entirely adequate. Clover pointed out that the current
> budget does not include any capital expenditures for the Denver
> studio space. The trade-off at this point is free rent vs.
> expenditure to overcome the current building's limitations in order
> to do production of adequate quality.
> _______________________________________________
IT and Internet Committee: Not submitted

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm