KGNU Board meeting, June 13, 2006

Minutes

Present at Meeting

Listener members: Travis Kiefer, Clover, Michael Buck

Staff: Marty Durlin

Board: Michael Shuster, Kit Hollingshead, Marge Taniwaki, Chip Grandits, David Kane, Janaki LeFils, Steven Sherman-Boemker, Wendy Emrich

Agenda

The agenda was approved after adding an item in “Other business” on KGNU’s vacation policy.

Minutes from the May 9, 2006, board meeting

The secretary was asked to amend her method of doing the minutes to simply give a summary of the business of the meeting, rather than incorporating the reports into the minutes.

Station Manager’s Report

Marty announced that John Schaeffer was hired as our new Music Director. She noted that there were several excellent candidates that the search committee had to choose from. The search committee members were staff members Marty Durlin and Sam Fuqua, interim music director Kathy Gilbert, and volunteers Brandon Carter and George Figgs.

The new digital transmitter for the 1390 AM signal was installed on Friday, May 26. Marty reports that our tower is now well-supported, the tower site is properly protected and the new transmitter is now housed in a sturdy, clean, air conditioned shelter. 2500 postcards announcing this will be sent to Denver listeners and KGNU supporters.

Because of a move in congress to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, KGNU’s funding from CPB is in jeopardy. Marty urged listeners to contact your Congress people and urge them to support full finding for CPB (contact info is available at the station). You can also go to tellthempublicmatters.com or moveon.org to relay your message.

August 29, 2006, Anniversary. This date marks KGNU’s two years of broadcast in Denver. We will celebrate with an open house at our Denver facility in the Micro-Business Development Center at 700 Kalamath. Wendy and Marcos will be coordinating the events with the members of the Denver Advisory Committee.

Finance Committee

The FM operating budget is good, better than expected. The single largest reason is that we have expended less money for salaries than budgeted because we did not hire additional staff n the schedule we anticipated when the budget was adopted. Also, the station is paying out fewer expenses than budgeted for most “discretionary” accounts, such as hospitality, repairs and maintenance, and program acquisition.

The AM operating net income is negative, due to a shortfall in membership income.

KGNU does not have any cash flow problems, despite a disappointing spring pledge drive and some significant non-recurring expenses with the upgrading of the AM digital transmitter.

The majority of the Budget Committee felt we should not keep separate AM and FM signal budgets because it would be easier to consolidate them. In a unified budget we can still break out membership, events, etc. There was no abjection from the Board.

There was discussion about an additional fund drive in the Fall. No decision was made by the committee.

Kit brought up the possibility of paying back the Bank of Denver loan of $100,000. Marty said that she and the Budget Committee prefer to keep that amount in our coffers and wait until we pay out the cost of the FM conversion to digital. There was discussion of paying back part of that amount. Wendy moved that we make a $10,000 payment on the loan and start a development committee to raise the rest. Marty felt that this amount would be safe, and she agreed to get information about whether any additional amount would be safe for the station to make. Wendy’s motion was amended to say that we make a “Prepayment” to the Bank of Denver. The motion was seconded by Chip. It was passed with one “no” vote.

No other committee reports

The only other discussion was a suggestion that Wendy and Andy Bardwell include Denver people early on in their planning of meetings, events, etc, so that they feel included, needed and can help shape things.

The changing radio market

Kit feels that podcasting is a huge threat to radio. He feels that radio is in a decline, and that the benefits of podcasting and on-demand listening (satellite) are a very serious threat to public radio. He is concerned about the $3 million debt, and fears the signal will loose value and no one will buy it. He feels we should sell our 1390 AM signal and go after the podcasting market, going on to the web and developing our listener members there. Marty pointed out that we are already podcasting and streaming on the internet. Kit expressed concern that we have no marketing budget for the Denver signal. A discussion followed, with Board members saying that the value of both signals is the sense of community, and that they are an activist and organizing tool. Radio is especially important when used during political campaigns to feature candidates. Michael pointed out that the stations that are and have been in trouble are those that have only one feature, such as all jazz, all classical, etc. Nobody else on the radio dial is doing what we are doing. The Board concluded that we haven’t had time to try out our Denver signal and that it is too early to come to a decision. The Board did agree to study the future of community radio by researching information, including the difference between public radio, community radio, and the AM signal. Chip and Kit will meet with Joe Pazillo and john Schaeffer and come back to the next Board meeting with information.

Board meeting times

David make a motion the board have regular public meetings on the odd-numbered months only, and reserve the even-numbered months for working sessions as needed. Marge seconded the motion. It was approved unanimously by the board.

Large donation gift acceptance policy

Wendy made a motion that the Ad Hoc Development committee become the Development committee. Her motion was tabled until the ad hoc committee develops a purpose statement.

Other business

Steven agreed to contact committee members to make sure they get their written reports to the Board around a week before the next Board meeting.

Marty explained KGNU’s vacation policy, saying it was a very liberal one and one that the staff agrees among themselves as to time taken

Meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Janaki LeFils, Secretary