1
1
2
3
4
5 PACIFICA
FOUNDATION
6 NATIONAL BOARD
MEETING
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Washingt
on, D.C.
19
June 27, 1999
20
1 P R O
C E E D I N G S
2 MS. BERRY: We are going to start
3 this meeting of the Pacifica governing board.
4 We are a little bit late, but here we are.
5 There are no new members to be seated. Could
6 I get a motion for approval of the minutes of
7 the last meeting?
8 MR. ACOSTA: I so move.
9 MS. BERRY: Is there a second?
10 MS. CISCO: Second.
11 MS. BERRY: All in favor indicate
12 by saying aye.
13 We have already set a schedule for
14 the next meeting. Does everybody know what
15 that is? That is the first weekend in
16 October. Is that right? It is the second
17 weekend of October. It is October 10th, that
18 is the board meeting.
19 MS. CISCO: Where?
20 MS. BERRY: It's in Houston, Texas,
21 October 10th.
22 MR. BRAMSON: As a reminder, I will
1 be unable to attend.
2 MS. BERRY: Right. We want to
3 congratulate you upon the birth of your
4 daughter, before your daughter is born, and
5 before she is even a daughter. Well, I guess
6 she is a daughter. That is the next meeting.
7 Now we have the report of the LAB chair, who
8 is Charlotte Holloman, from the WPFW LAB.
9 Could you please come forward?
10 MS. HOLLOMAN: Good morning, ladies
11 and gentlemen. It's nice to see you, those
12 of you that I know, and those of you that I
13 don't, it is also nice to see you. This
14 report is on behalf of the council of chairs.
15 For those of you who don't know, that is the
16 five chairs of the local advisory boards in
17 each of our signal areas.
18 The report represents the minutes
19 of a meeting, which took place last week on
20 Thursday, the l7th of June via conference
21 call. Participating on that call was Sherri
22 Gendleman from KPFA, David Allison from KPFK,
1 Shirley Adams from KPFT, Karen Frillmann from
2 WBAI, Charlotte Holloman from WPFW and Mary
3 Frances Barry from Pacifica.
4 The agenda included the following:
5 LAB reviews related to community needs
6 assessment, station programming goals, policy
7 decisions and service provided by the
8 station, a process to calendar programming
9 reviews, the current situation at KPFA,
10 nominations to the governing board. Added to
11 the agenda: a strategic plan for the coming
12 millennium and the memo from African American
13 programmers at KPFA to Mary Frances.
14 With regard to required LAB
15 reports, Mary Frances mentioned that WBAI had
16 not turned in reports on training and WBAI
17 had not turned in reports on audience needs
18 assessments. Mary Frances pointed out that
19 the report done by Frank Millspaughs' committee
20 outlines methods by which community needs
21 assessments might be accomplished.
22 A discussion ensued about the
1 difficulty some LABs are experiencing in
2 securing required information from station
3 managers and program directors. Possible
4 causes and solutions were discussed. David
5 pointed out that clear programming goals may
6 be lacking at the national level.
7 Mary Frances invited LAB chairs to
8 offer suggestions about what current and
9 future programming goals should be. It was
10 pointed out that questions to managers by LAB
11 members with respect to policy decisions,
12 programming and service are viewed and
13 treated as interference by some station
14 managers who become defensive and decline to
15 share information.
16 It was agreed that in some cases
17 relationships between LAB members and station
18 managers are not productive. Mary Frances
19 promised to raise this problem with the
20 appropriate governing committee with the goal
21 of encouraging more supportive relationships. Mary Frances stated that
program
1 directors should be providing regular
2 reports, including Arbitron data, to the
3 LABs. It was suggested that program
4 directors meet with LABs at least twice a
5 year.
6 Mary Frances agreed to apprise the
7 appropriate step and governing the committee
8 in this directive. With respect to a process
9 for calendaring programming reviews by the
10 LABs, Karen pointed out that Pacifica
11 decisions, read as Pacifica mandates, are a
12 bigger problem at WBAI than relationships.
13 For example, national programming
14 mandates conflicting with local programming.
15 Karen pointed out that calendaring might be
16 viewed as a mandate. Charlotte suggested
17 that calendaring programming reviews should
18 come down from Pacifica management to general
19 managers and program directors who are
20 Pacifica staff.
21 It was agreed that organizational
22 structure for communications and information
1 flow throughout the network is problematic.
2 Mary Frances promised to ask the governing
3 board to send something to general managers
4 and LABs designed to enhance communications
5 and relationships. On the continuing
6 problems at KPFA, there was lengthy
7 discussion.
8 Sherry reported that there is havoc
9 and chaos at the station. At the most recent
10 LAB meeting, 80 people attended. She said
11 the demonstrations have been ugly and
12 painful. Major donors are upset.
13 Sherry reported 6,200 people
14 contributed $600,000 in KPFA's most
15 successful fund drive ever. However, 90
16 percent of this money was donated under
17 protest. Mary Frances states that Pacifica
18 policy is that no conditional pledges will be
19 accepted if they are given to affect
20 management decisions.
21 The comment was made that CPB money
22 is conditional. Mary Frances stated that
1 development directors have been asked to
2 determine which of these grants given under
3 protest are in fact conditional and that
4 money found to be conditional would be
5 returned.
6 Mary Frances said that the
7 governing board is upset about expenditures
8 and safety issues at KPFA. She has been told
9 that local police consider shots fired at
10 Pacifica and KPFA to be attempted homicide
11 and that security guards have had to be
12 hired. Any Pacifica board liability for
13 injury or worse is the central issue from the
14 board's perspective.
15 Mary Frances reported Lynn Chadwick
16 has moved over to be acting station manager
17 at KPFA because no one else was available
18 from the other stations. On the matter of
19 KPFA's African American programmers, it was
20 said that Sheryl Flowers left for another
21 opportunity and one paid programmer also
22 left.
Next page missing
1 There followed some discussion
2 about KPFA programmers having on-air
3 discussion of internal management issues by
4 reporting it as news as a way of getting
5 around the so-called gag rule. Mary Frances
6 stated unequivocally that there would be no
7 mediation with regard to Nicole Sawaya being
8 rehired or Larry Bensky going back on the
9 air.
10 There is a possibility that
11 underlying policy issues may be mediated.
12 The gag rule policy will be kept until it is
13 discussed and changed by the governing board.
14 David asked whether the gag rule policy was
15 actually a written policy because Larry
16 Bensky has claimed that it is not. Mary
17 Frances said that it is her understanding
18 from the lawyers that it is.
19 It was noted that while LABs have
20 functions, they have no power and that
21 station managers sometimes use an extension
22 of the gag rule to keep from answering

1 questions they don't want to answer,
2 particularly as it relates to personnel and
3 programming. Mary Frances offered that
4 managers and program directors should be
5 forthcoming in the interest of collegiality,
6 especially as questions relate to why
7 programs are taken off the air because this
8 is within the purview of LAB responsibility.
9 Personnel questions are more
10 difficult because of privacy issues. Again,
11 general discussion of personnel matters
12 should take place in the interest of
13 collegiality. It was noted that the Pacifica
14 strategic plan is expiring.
15 Mary Frances said that the new plan
16 will address how Pacifica structure can be
17 improved and that all the various Pacifica
18 constituencies will again be consulted for
19 their input. With regard to nominees to the
20 governing board, Mary Frances offered that
21 many good names have been received by the
22 governance committee and that the committe
1 would recommend some and that others would be
2 withheld, but not rejected.
3 She pointed out the need to do
4 greater outreach to Native Americans,
5 Latinos, Asians and white women. She said
6 that of the 19 seats on the governing board,
7 she believes there are seven vacancies. It
8 was suggested that the council of chairs
9 conference calls take place more often than
10 the current three times a year in advance of
11 governing board meetings.
12 The consensus was six times a year
13 and Mary Frances said she would take this
14 under advisement. Respectfully submitted by
15 Charlotte Holloman, chair, WPFW LAB.
16 MS. BERRY: Charlotte, that was a
17 wonderful presentation. Thank you for it.
18 Let me just reiterate for the board, let me
19 comment on some parts of it and see if any
20 board members want to.
21 First of all, it is indeed true
22 that we need these reports on audience needs
1 assessment and for the stations that haven't
2 submitted them, we would hope that they would
3 do so since that is one of the principal
4 functions of the local advisory boards.
5 Also, the problems with the
6 managers and program directors and the LABs
7 have been surfacing ever since I have been on
8 the board and I'm sure before. I will
9 reiterate, and the board I know supports
10 this, that the executive director must direct
11 the managers, yet again, that we expect to
12 have harmonious and supportive relationships
13 between the station managers and the LABs and
14 the program director should meet with the
15 LABs and the general manager can be there
16 when they meet, but the general manager goes
17 to the meetings anyway, or they should.
18 Information should be given that
19 will help the LAB to exercise its mandate to
20 conduct the kinds of needs assessments. So
21 we are reiterating again, and I am sure I
22 have the board's support. I don't see
1 anybody objecting to that because that is
2 policy, that the executive director is
3 directed to make this clear to the station
4 managers and part of their evaluation of them
5 would include, of course, LABs involved in
6 input into the evaluation process.
7 It seems to me that that would be
8 an effective way to handle that. We will
9 have some discussion after this presentation
10 and after this segment of the agenda about
11 the nondisclosure rule and what is happening
12 on that. So, I am reiterating that
13 everything that you say, I would ask the
14 board to urge people to do and I am doing.
15 We will go on from there.
16 I am also trying to figure out how
17 to have six meetings with the council of
18 chairs.
19 MS. HOLLOMAN: Perhaps the calls
20 could be shorter if they were more frequent.
21 MS. BERRY: Yes, maybe we could
22 have more of them and make them shorter.
1 Yes, Rob?
2 MR. ROBINSON: I would just like to
3 thank you for that, Dr. Berry, and thank you,
4 Charlotte. I think that it's a wonderful
5 report. But I think what you showed to
6 everyone here so clearly is that our LABs are
7 indeed diverse, business-like, competent, and
8 very very positive in their orientation.
9 Thanks.
10 MS. HOLLOMAN: I would like to take
11 one minute to recognize one of our chairs or
12 acting chairs, Dave Adelson, who
13 participated in this report.
14 MS. BERRY: All right. Are there
15 any other questions or comments from board
16 members? We will proceed and we will see
17 what kind of feedback we get next time.
18 Thank you very much, Charlotte.
19 I want to also acknowledge the
20 presence of Burt Lee who is out there
21 somewhere and to thank him very much for the
22 party he hosted last night in his palatial
1 residence for the staff and the board. He is
2 a long-time supporter of WPFW, among other
3 things.
4 Thank you so much and we're just so
5 pleased that you are here today and thank you
6 for all you do. The next item on the agenda
7 is the committee reports and the first one is
8 executive committee. On behalf of the
9 executive committee and on behalf of the
10 board, I want to read a statement and see if
11 I can get a motion on the statement that I am
12 introducing to the board.
13 Now, the statement is in response
14 to the current crisis. I have said to new
15 board members, and I am not all that old as a
16 board member myself, that Pacifica seems to
17 me to be constantly in crisis in some part of
18 the network. So, it's not that the current
19 crisis is the only one that has ever existed
20 or will continue to exist, but the current
21 crisis.
22 The board of directors of the
1 Pacifica Foundation abhors the climate of
2 violence, hate, racism and misinformation
3 that has evolved in the conflict surrounding
4 KPFA. The Pacifica board respects the
5 diversity of opinions and beliefs regarding
6 the KPFA conflict.
7 However, we are obliged to protect
8 the people, property, license and broadcast
9 air associated with Pacifica foundation.
10 KPFA is an integral part of the Pacifica
11 network, which includes stations in four
12 other major U.S. cities: KPFK in Los Angeles,
13 KPFT in Houston, WBAI in New York and WPFW
14 here in Washington. The network delivers ten
15 hours of satellite programming daily to 65
16 affiliates nationwide.
17 KPFA is a 59,000-watt station, very
18 large, located in Berkeley, which is expected
19 to serve not just Berkeley, but the entire
20 signal area from Mendecino to San Jose. The
21 board invests management responsibility for
22 the Pacifica network in the executive
1 director. This includes, but is not limited
2 to, operations, management and
3 decision-making concerning personnel matters.
4 The board this day affirms its support for
5 the enforcement of the nondisclosure policy
6 with respect to protection of broadcast air.
7 We believe it is unprofessional and
8 a disservice to the listeners for programmers
9 to use the air as a soapbox during disputes
10 over management issues. This policy has been
11 in effect by the board at least since 1989.
12 However, in order to provide a
13 forum for the discussion of issues concerning
14 Pacifica national management, programs and
15 policies, the board is directing the
16 immediate institution at each station of a
17 monthly program directed at this end. There
18 will be a monthly discussion.
19 The public and staff will be able
20 to participate, so we are directing that this
21 happen immediately. Because the board is
22 responsible for protecting the license,
1 personnel and property of the Pacifica
2 Foundation, we feel that we must provide
3 security whenever those interests are
4 threatened.
5 The firing of shots into Pacifica
6 offices and at Pacifica buildings, the
7 physical and verbal harassment of staff
8 members and the uninvited incursions into
9 staff offices have made security necessary at
10 Pacifica Properties in Berkeley. Those who
11 oppose the use of security forces have the
12 power to remove it in their own hands. As
13 soon as conditions no longer require its use,
14 the security currently in place will be
15 removed.
16 In other words, the key is in the
17 hands of those who are engaged in certain
18 activities there and we want to remove it; we
19 don't like having to pay for it, we don't
20 like having to have it, so as soon as matters
21 recede and become peaceful enough that we can
22 do so, we will do so.
1 We value and are committed to the
2 needs of local communities and will continue
3 to build collaborative relationships with
4 local representatives, while assuring
5 channels of communication. Representation
6 from each signal area on the governing board
7 and executive committee are important ways
8 that we show our commitment.
9 We have somebody from every signal
10 area on the governing board and on the
11 executive committee. Furthermore, regular
12 meetings by the LAB Chairs with the board
13 chair -- you just saw a report from the chair
14 of the WPFW board who talked about those
15 regular meetings -- is a way that we show
16 that commitment. Her participation here is a
17 way in which we show that commitment. These
18 are all important.
19 We also affirm in particular the
20 provision of the LAB Procedures and Practices
21 Policy -- that the LAB can be involved in the
22 evaluation of the general manager -- remains
1 in force and is policy in Pacifica and that
2 people can count on that. We are also
3 pleased that the Pacifica executive director
4 has been dialoguing with staff at KPFA to
5 begin conciliation with the assistance of the
6 Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
7 The board supports these
8 conciliation efforts and we also support the
9 idea of their extension and expansion as
10 determined by the conciliator to include
11 other parties of the issues with the
12 agreement of the parties. So that you are
13 clear about what I mean by that is, if these
14 efforts go forward, and it is determined by
15 the mediator after talking to the parties
16 that other people ought to be put on either
17 side, however many other people, that we, the
18 board, would support that.
19 This may include members of the
20 governing board, it may include LAB members,
21 it may include people in the community. I
22 don't know how many people it would include,
1 but we are open to and supportive of the idea
2 that other people can be included in the
3 mediations. I wanted to make that statement
4 and ask if someone on the board would
5 introduce a motion that this statement be
6 formally adopted as the policy of this
7 foundation.
8 MR. FARRELL: I so move.
9 MS. BERRY: Could I get a second?
10 MS. CISCO: I second the motion.
11 MS. BERRY: Would there be any
12 discussion that the board would like to
13 engage in at this time concerning the
14 statement that I have read and elaborated on?
15 Let me say as a point of information on the
16 statement that the unions -- at three of our
17 stations we have unions -- have contracts,
18 and the union contract has provisions in it
19 that they expect us to abide by.
20 We will implement this policy of
21 public and staff forums and want the union
22 members to participate too, consistent with
1 their contract. That is up to them to figure
2 out how they do it. We are not trying to
3 abrogate anybody's union contract. We don't
4 want it to become a dispute about -- trying
5 to overturn.
6 We know they have contracts, we
7 abide by them and we want them included too,
8 but consistent with how they view their own
9 contractual obligations. Is there any
10 further discussion of this matter? Yes,
11 Pete?
12 MR. BRAMSON: I appreciate the
13 statement. I think the tone is pretty good.
14 Specifically, the first paragraph is very
15 important because it addresses the issues
16 about violence, hate and racism.
17 I have a couple of questions, if I
18 may, which are based on, well, will there be
19 limits to the immediate institution at each
20 station of a monthly program directed to
21 these kinds of discussions about the
22 nondisclosure?
1 MS. BERRY: There are no limits to
2 what will be discussed so long as it is about
3 Pacifica programs, policies, whatever. It is
4 an opportunity for people, staff, community
5 people, anybody to discuss issues.
6 How it will be structured will
7 depend on the staff and the people at each
8 local station, because all of our local
9 stations have different kinds of way to do
10 stuff. But if there will be no limitations
11 of what they will discuss. We specifically
12 discuss Pacifica programs, policies, et
13 cetera, which is what the issue is.
14 Because if staff at a local station
15 have a problem with their general manager,
16 they can talk to the general manager, I
17 assume, and the general manager has to go on
18 the radio already to have a report to the
19 listener, in which people get to call in and
20 ask questions.
21 So, that has not been the bone of
22 contention. The bone of contention has been
1 about Pacifica programs, policies and the
2 rest. We also are aware that most
3 organizations do not have such policies.
4 Most organizations do not permit staff to use
5 the media operations, for example,
6 newspapers, magazines, and the like, don't
7 permit staff to use their news stories to
8 criticize management. Be that as it may,
9 this is Pacifica. Pacifica is different.
10 So we are saying that not only the
11 public but the staff, too, can be involved in
12 making any kind of statement they want as
13 long as they don't defame and degrade people
14 and call them, you know, racists, bigots,
15 names.
16 MR. BRAMSON: How would you
17 describe the continuance to build
18 collaborative relationships with local
19 representatives? Could you give me an
20 example?
21 MS. BERRY: You are the chair of
22 the process review committee on this board.
1 MR. BRAMSON: I am.
2 MS. BERRY: I would hope that you
3 would, in addition to what is in the LAB
4 procedures and policies, and the things that
5 I have outlined here, that you are already
6 doing and the things that I already said when
7 Charlotte was here making her chair statement
8 about how the PDs should be with the LAB, how
9 the manager should be with the LAB and these
10 other reports that you do, perhaps you will
11 suggest other ways the board can improve in
12 their --
13 MR. BRAMSON: Good. I will do so
14 within three days and I will bring it back to
15 the board.
16 MS. BERRY: All right.
17 MR. BRAMSON: I have asked this
18 before, I just want to make sure I am being
19 clear. Is there a possibility of some time
20 line regarding the assistance of the Federal
21 Mediation and Conciliation Service?
22 MR. BERRY: There are no time
1 lines. We have put an offer on the table to
2 engage in conciliation. Both sides have
3 discussed who the mediator would be.
4 I understand now there is a desire
5 on the part of at least one of the parties to
6 the conflict to expand the number of people
7 and who would be involved. I think that
8 should be taken up immediately by the people
9 who are involved in the narrow conciliation
10 process and the mediator with an immediate
11 determination of can we agree on who the
12 folks would be in this expanded definition of
13 each side?
14 MR. BRAMSON: Exactly. Great.
15 That is what I wanted to hear. Are we
16 willing to express interest in communicating
17 our time line issues to the public?
18 MS. BERRY: I just said that. I
19 want it to happen yesterday. I want it to
20 happen today. I want them to start
21 immediately defining who should be involved
22 and they are to take up each side's
1 presentation of who they want to be there and
2 act on it.
3 MR. BRAMSON: Thank you.
4 MS. BERRY: Do you want to ask me a
5 question?
6 DR. GIBBS: That is a question from
7 a member of the audience.
8 MS. BERRY: We don't do that
9 because we do not respond to questions. If
10 you want to ask me a question, you can.
11 DR. GIBBS: Oh, I see.
12 MS. BERRY: I will answer.
13 Otherwise the whole audience will be up here
14 asking me questions.
15 DR. GIBBS: Our statement says that
16 security depends upon the behavior of the
17 people who are causing us to have guards. Is
18 it possible to move the security guards in
19 front of the Pacifica national office instead
20 of KPFA?
21 MS. BERRY: The answer is no and
22 the reason why, let me explain why: there
1 were shots fired into the windows of the
2 Pacifica national office. Also, there was a
3 shot fired at the KPFA building.
4 The KPFA is a Pacifica property so
5 we are responsible for all of those
6 buildings. I know sometimes the stations
7 think that they are independent and that they
8 own Pacifica or something. But the board is
9 responsible for all those properties that are
10 owned by Pacifica.
11 Secondly, the incursions into
12 people's offices took place within the KPFA
13 part of the building and not in the national
14 office part of the building. The entry of
15 300 people or some number, I don't know what
16 number of folks in an unauthorized manner
17 into the space owned by us at KPFA took place
18 in the part of the building that is at KPFA.
19 What I am really saying is that as
20 soon as we can be assured that folks don't
21 intend to come into the building when they
22 are not supposed to, bring in 300 people,
1 make it appear that they are trying to take
2 over the building or some doggoned thing or
3 if they are harassing and abusing staff
4 members, then we'll take the entire security
5 away, paying for security.
6 But we cannot draw a distinction
7 between the buildings because we own them.
8 We own the whole thing and we have staff in
9 both of them. If something were to happen to
10 them, especially since we know something has
11 already happened, this board would be
12 considered negligent and we would be liable
13 for whatever happens. And I know that's hard
14 to take, but it's true.
15 As an anti-authoritarian myself,
16 and I have a demonstrated record of
17 anti-authoritarianism, I don't like any kind
18 of security and any kind of anything. But
19 under these circumstances I think that it is
20 necessary.
21 I hope that maybe as the mediation
22 goes forward people can sort of give
1 assurances to each other and then the board
2 wants it removed as soon as possible. Is
3 there anything else? Can I call for the
4 question? All those in favor of the approval
5 of this statement, indicate by saying aye.
6 Opposed? 7 I count one opposition. Have I
8 counted correctly? Is there someone I did
9 not count who is in opposition? Then the
10 statement is approved.
11 Also, the board has agreed that
12 board members may go out and discuss this
13 statement. We have not been publicly
14 discussing everywhere the issues around this
15 because we have felt that since we have a
16 policy of not discussing it, we would not be
17 on the air discussing it ourselves on the
18 air, but that wouldn't make any sense.
19 But now that we have a statement of
20 where we stand and the board has agreed to
21 it, there is no reason for board members not
22 to be able to discuss it. There are some
1 details that cannot be discussed. It also
2 does not preclude board members from
3 discussing the statement and the issues. Let
4 me ask the board about this.
5 Do you think we should be able to
6 discuss just this statement and the events on
7 any of the news shows on our own air as a
8 result of the change that we have made? Or
9 do you think we should still withhold
10 ourselves from discussing even the statement
11 even on our own air, keeping in mind, let me
12 just take a minute to say this, the reason
13 why this is a news story is because the staff
14 made it a news story.
15 I gave the example to some people
16 of when I was a reporter in Vietnam, there
17 was another reporter who used to go out to
18 villages and talk to people and create
19 stories, nice human-interest stories. Then
20 this reporter would write about the nice
21 human-interest story that he had just --
22 Then he would disseminate it and
1 get plaudits for this great human-interest
2 story he found in this village. Then all the
3 other editors would beat up on the other
4 reporters and say, why don't you go find a
5 nice human interest story like that?
6 Other reporters would be tempted to
7 go and do that. I call that the creation of
8 stories, and then never telling the listener
9 that you are part of the story, making them
10 think it is just a story you found. The
11 staff at KPFA, and I am not being critical of
12 them because they, I am sure, well meaning
13 people would have their own concerns within
14 this culture -- disclosure policy, they know
15 they violated it.
16 They said they know they violated
17 it and helped make it into a news story
18 something that was not a news story then it
19 became a news story so it was on the news,
20 but then we didn't comment on our air. What
21 I am asking you now is, since it is a news
22 story, they made it that, we have given them
1 a way to talk about it in the block, should
2 we report to the listeners and talk about
3 this statement or should we be willing to
4 talk about this statement on the air Friday?
5 MR. MILLSPAUGH: I think if we
6 issue a statement it is a legitimate news
7 story for any news service including our own.
8 I would point to the kind of related sort of
9 thing when a commercial broadcaster
10 broadcasts something about an organization
11 which may be their territory organization,
12 they identify the -- but they do make that
13 report and I think that as we are releasing
14 an official statement we should release it
15 universally, which universe includes KPFA.
16 MS. BERRY: Yes, Bob.
17 MR. FARRELL: I would expect that
18 another group of people who are part of the
19 Pacifica team be advised to treat this as any
20 other breaking news story that they might
21 deem to be of importance, and that is our
22 news directors.
1 News directors at each of the
2 stations have a responsibility to service
3 their area and also as part of the management
4 team, to ascertain importance of stories, to
5 place the priorities, to structure interviews
6 and comment, to establish balance as they
7 perceive that, to seek access to
8 spokespersons from several sides and put that
9 in some coherent manner so given the time
10 available to them, that they can put a
11 cohesive kind of comprehensive view to our
12 listeners and I would hope that our news
13 managers would rise to the level of
14 professionalism that is expected of them in
15 this manner as they often do in other
16 instances.
17 So I think it is appropriate for
18 our management to be available as a news
19 source and that our directors would be among
20 the first to accept this --
21 MS. BERRY: Since we are releasing
22 it as a news release it does become news?
1 MR. FARRELL: Yes.
2 MS. BERRY: However we got here, it
3 has become news.
4 MR. FARRELL: The policy that we
5 have approved in the statement, the one about
6 the forum and the staff it's on, is a way for
7 us not to have this happen in the future
8 because in the future if people want to
9 discuss something about the management they
10 can do it in that padlock and we don't have
11 to do it on programs and news and we won't
12 have this problem, so we hope that this will
13 be an exception and it won't ever happen
14 again.
15 But in this instance, we will then
16 be able to talk about this statement as a
17 news story and hope that this will be the end
18 of us having to do this.
19 MR. FARRELL: I thank the board
20 chair for bringing it up. I think that would
21 allow greater communication, greater
22 dialogue, at least in the presence of the
1 board and the members of the governing board
2 to the public.
3 MS. BERRY: So we are free to
4 discuss this statement and the statement will
5 be issued as a press release. All right, the
6 executive committee report. Why don't we
7 just go on to the next committee report, the
8 finance committee report.
9 MS. MAKELA: I will try to be
10 succinct. There were two segments of the
11 finance committee meeting, as often happens.
12 We had an executive session first and then a
13 public session.
14 During the executive session we
15 discussed financial matters of proprietary
16 nature relating to our CA budget, national
17 office budget and KPFA budget. In the next
18 segment of the finance meeting, as people are
19 aware, we have begun over the last couple of
20 years to look at proposed budgets for the
21 next fiscal year.
22 In June, in preparation for final
1 approval in October, we reviewed the station
2 budgets as they were presented to us.
3 I am delighted to report that in a
4 couple of cases the stations are projecting
5 surpluses due to successful fund drives and
6 containment of expenses this year. They are
7 planning to enter the next year with
8 surpluses that can be used for staffing needs
9 in some cases where they have been
10 understaffed and are prioritizing necessary
11 capital expenditures this year, for they have
12 not been able to make because of limited
13 budgets.
14 I want to particularly recognize
15 KPFT. We met with Garland Ganter and it had
16 been so long since KPFT had had a surplus
17 that Garland couldn't use the word. And it
18 was a lighthearted moment. But I want to
19 recognize that as with WPFW, our two smallest
20 stations have struggled out of nagging
21 deficits and a situation where they have been
22 underfunded and unable to do the programming
1 and make the changes that they most wanted to
2 do at those stations.
3 Both stations plan to end this
4 fiscal year with surpluses and are projecting
5 strong budgets for the next year. So, I
6 wanted to particularly recognize the general
7 managers of those two stations and the hard
8 work of all of the staff and volunteers at
9 those stations.
10 We had a meeting. We had a
11 discussion with the general manager of KPFK
12 about the on-going transmitter and tower
13 issue there. We had approved a budget for
14 the replacement of the tower and transmitter
15 which was to take place this summer and into
16 the fall and because of an increase in cost,
17 we had a brief discussion about the situation
18 and agreed that we needed a report on paper
19 of the new cost and new plan and that we were
20 committed to Pacifica's part of that cost.
21 We were hopeful that the NTIA grant
22 that has been applied for will come through
1 and we tabled final decision about augmenting
2 the commitment of Pacifica until August, once
3 the NTIA decision is made and we have a
4 written report from the general manager
5 there. The finance committee will reconvene
6 by conference call and work out the finances
7 for that. But we are absolutely committed to
8 going ahead as soon as possible with the
9 transmitter.
10 The National Office and Archives
11 budget at this point have not been finalized
12 and had projected deficits. The Comptroller
13 and executive director need to finalize those
14 budgets and rework them, including a plan and
15 a proposal to the finance committee as to how
16 we would cover the needed income for those
17 budgets. We then met with the general
18 manager at WBAI.
19 It was proposed to us that, well,
20 the context of it is that the finance
21 committee has had an on-going concern and had
22 been working with the WBAI management over
1 the year about the budget. There was a large
2 deficit of $200,000 and some from last year
3 that needed to be scheduled into the budget
4 this year.
5 I am pleased to report that a good
6 chunk of that deficit has been covered this
7 year; however a remaining $78,000 is in the
8 budget for this year. It is proposed to the
9 committee that we roll that amount over to
10 the next fiscal year because it would be
11 totally difficult and/or impossible to pay
12 that off this year by WBAI.
13 I think the committee expressed
14 great concern about the budget there and the
15 budget over the last few years, that we have
16 been unable to stay within the budget, even
17 with strong fund drives and an increase in
18 income. However, the committee does
19 recommend that we move the remaining deficit
20 into the next fiscal year.
21 Our further concern is that we are
22 also being told there may be an additional
1 deficit in this fiscal year. We are very
2 concerned about that so that WBAI is not
3 strapped with this as it goes into the new
4 fiscal year with much to do and can continue
5 to build the station.
6 So, in addition to recommending the
7 rollover, we have charged the controller with
8 putting controls in place to minimize the
9 deficit as much as possible as we finish this
10 fiscal year and to work with the general
11 manager to ensure that as far as possible,
12 BAI remains within the budget to send to this
13 committee and the controller will determine
14 what exactly those controls and management
15 will be.
16 We further instructed the general
17 manager at BAI to submit the New Year's
18 budget by Labor Day and the committee will
19 convene by conference call to take a
20 preliminary look at it and we will have a
21 better idea of the deficit at that point.
22 Just a note for people because there have
1 been some questions as the board composition
2 has changed, so will the budgeting of board
3 costs, the full budget for board costs will
4 now be seen in the national office budget in
5 the future.
6 Allocations were made per station
7 for signal area rests so that will be removed
8 from the station budget. That's it.
9 MS. BERRY: Could I get a motion to
10 accept the report of the finance committee?
11 MR. BRAMSON: I so move.
12 MR. FARRELL: I second.
13 MS. BERRY: Thank you very much.
14 Is there any discussion of the report of the
15 finance committee at this time? All right, I
16 will call for the question. All in favor
17 indicate by saying aye.
18 Opposed?
19 It is so ordered. Before I go to
20 the 50th anniversary committee report, let me
21 just point out that since this is Pacifica
22 there is always need for clarification.
1 When we earlier talked about being
2 available for the news -- our statement --
3 and discussed whether we would be available,
4 we did not need to imply that news directors
5 should assume that it is news and put it on
6 the air. What we were discussing was whether
7 we are willing to say, if asked, that it was
8 news and that it was okay for us to talk
9 about it.
10 That was the point that we were
11 making. The point is we decided that yes, we
12 would talk about it if anyone asked us and
13 that does not violate any policy or procedure
14 and that we're doing it because of the way
15 this has become news and the future has
16 nothing to do with us changing any way we
17 behave.
18 So that has nothing to do with
19 telling news directors that it's hot news,
20 that they should put us on the air. Now, the
21 50th anniversary committee report, Michael
22 Palmer, please.
1 MR. PALMER: The 50th anniversary
2 committee met yesterday afternoon. There are
3 ongoing events through the remainder of the
4 fiscal year that are going on at four to five
5 units.
6 I'm being helped quite ably with
7 the assistance of the national development
8 director, Cheryl Garner-Shaw. I want to
9 thank her for all of her help with that so
10 far.
11 A few of the things that are going
12 on now. KPFT last night had an event at one
13 of the venues in Houston that drew about 880
14 people to it. So it was well attended and
15 for Houston it will be a successful event and
16 we are glad to see that and for participation
17 of all of the community and all the work of
18 our staff in helping to get that off the
19 ground and completed.
20 KPFA, in May, they had a social --
21 that was similarly attended, 800 people or
22 so, that was well covered and a very positive
1 event for not only the L.A. community, but
2 the greater community during that time of the
3 crisis. They are also making efforts to have
4 another event the latter part of this year at
5 the museum on television, radio to celebrate
6 their 40th anniversary and we support all of
7 their good efforts in that direction.
8 They also have a particular -- WPFW
9 is undertaking a feasibility study right now
10 to determine their fundraising potential for
11 major gifts and one of their initial
12 priorities as I understand, is to be secure
13 the location for their transmitter; that's
14 one project.
15 Also, the feasibility study will
16 give them their capability of undertaking a
17 local capital campaign to obtain a more
18 appropriate facility for WPFW and I have full
19 confidence that the local community is
20 capable and will succeed in this effort. I
21 personally look forward to that success in
22 reaching that realistic goal to be
1 established by the feasibility study.
2 AT WBAI in early May they had a
3 public event that was a celebration of
4 Pacifica's 50 years, and as well, a
5 celebration for the program director, Samurai
6 Marksman, who had recently passed on. It was
7 very well-attended and a very good,
8 four-and-a-half hour event. I am quite
9 pleased that that community came together
10 like that.
11 KPFA'S 50TH anniversary committee
12 has suspended activities in recognition of
13 the conflict that is going on in their
14 community. So there is nothing going on in
15 that area at this time, although in the
16 meeting there was a spokesperson for that
17 committee in the audience who said that they
18 are very ready, willing and able to pick up
19 their activities again should there be
20 resolution to the conflict.
21 I would like to say that at this
22 point for me personally I would like to
1 recognize the courage of, primarily the women
2 in the national office that have been going
3 to work around all of this. They are showing
4 tremendous courage in the face of all of the
5 racism, the -- language that is being
6 directed at them.
7 Some of them are individuals, but
8 by the people that are in opposition. I have
9 been reenlightened about the magnitude, the
10 depth and the vehemence of racism since I was
11 a young boy from Korea and the latent ability
12 of a large majority of our core audience to
13 direct racism scares me to death at times. I
14 want to recognize Vanessa, Cheryl
15 Garner-Shaw, and Elan Fabri and all the
16 women in the office for putting up with this
17 level of hate from this progressive, Northern
18 California community.
19 I can only hope that the Houston
20 progressive community has a degree of
21 civility. That is my report.
22 MS. BERRY: All right. Could I
1 hear a motion to approve the report of the
2 50th anniversary committee?
3 MS. CISCO: So moved.
4 MR. FARRELL: Second.
5 MS. BERRY: All in favor indicate
6 by saying aye.
7 Opposed?
8 It is so ordered. The program
9 standards and practices committee, Frank is
10 going to tell us about the lively meeting,
11 the wonderful meeting.
12 Yes, the three-hour long meeting of
13 the program committee was held yesterday and
14 training session for the board. We had a
15 special presenter, David Giovanoni, of
16 Audience Research Analysis, who performed an
17 audience research analysis for us,
18 familiarized the board with some of the
19 procedures and techniques for doing that.
20 Two of us on the board were here
21 four years ago and had received an initial
22 instruction from David. So he had sort of a
1 baseline of four years ago to compare
2 performance of the stations. There is good
3 news.
4 The good news is that the combined
5 weekly cum of all of the stations has reached
6 or surpassed 700,000 listeners, which is a 20
7 percent increase.
8 Secondly, and more dramatically,
9 the amount of listening has increased by 30
10 percent. It was also viewed that Pacifica
11 listenership represents one-third of the
12 entire so-called community radio listenership
13 in which we are therefore a major presence.
14 There is also some, well, let's
15 call it not-so-good news, which is that
16 Pacifica listenership represents only two
17 percent of the total public radio
18 listenership, the whole public radio
19 universe. We represent two percent of it.
20 Furthermore, the Pacifica listeners
21 listen twice as much to NPR programming as
22 they do to Pacifica programming. Further,
1 Pacifica listener loyalty comes in at about
2 17 percent which is half of that, half of the
3 loyalty factor of the National Public Radio
4 audience. 5 Finally, that any given Pacifica
6 audience consists of one-third core listeners
7 and two-thirds fringe listeners. David also
8 imparted some basic conceptual information,
9 such as the definition of public service
10 consisting of the relationship between
11 significant audiences and, I think, gave us a
12 set of tools which we can all use to more
13 intelligently approach our role as board
14 members, which materials, by the way, will be
15 distributed to all the board members
16 subsequent to this meeting by mail.
17 In addition to yesterday's session,
18 I have some brief things to report. Our FCC
19 attorney, at our request, has given us a
20 letter which spells out the FCC issues
21 pertaining to so-called control of air and to
22 so-called non-commercial programming. I
1 believe you have a copy of that letter and I
2 would ask that that be submitted as part of
3 the report of this committee.
4 You have previously heard of the
5 progress in the LAB audience research
6 progress report which we did receive from
7 KPFA and WBAI, but have not received as yet
8 from the other three stations. I would urge
9 them to have them for us for the October
10 meeting so that we can have a complete file
11 and picture of the status of this effort at
12 this point.
13 We also requested some follow-up
14 answers and questions pertaining to producer
15 training opportunities at each of the
16 stations. I did get follow up response from
17 WPFW and KPFT and again, I will ask that
18 those stations which have not submitted
19 theirs as yet do so prior to the October
20 meeting.
21 I would also point out that in your
22 board booklet at Page 21 there is a national
1 program KU distribution schedule. I know
2 that many people sometimes feel that we are
3 only distributing a few hours a week of
4 nationally produced programming. That is
5 only just part of it.
6 We also distribute a large amount
7 of programming, some 50 to 70 hours a week, I
8 don't know, that reflect programs produced
9 locally and that are distributed nationally,
10 as well as a couple of independent
11 productions which we distribute nationally to
12 our 65 affiliates as well as to our five
13 Pacifica stations.
14 Along with that, I would also point
15 out that accompanying each of the station
16 manager's reports in the board booklet, there
17 is an annotated grid reflecting their program
18 schedules. I think that will be of interest
19 to all the board members, to look at for
20 their similarities and differences,
21 essentially in light of the conversations we
22 had yesterday at the meeting.
1 That concludes my report. I think
2 most of you were there yesterday, if you have
3 anything you wish to add.
4 MS. BERRY: All right. Could I get
5 a motion to accept the report of the program
6 standards and practices committee?
7 MS. CISCO: I so move.
8 MS. BERRY: Do I hear a second?
9 MS. MAKELA: I second.
10 MS. BERRY: Is there discussion?
11 MR. BRAMSON: In regards to the
12 documents going out to the governing board
13 members, is that what I heard? Will they
14 also go to the LABs?
15 MR. MILLSPAUGH: I see no reason
16 why not. I think that would be good to do.
17 MR. BRAMSON: Thank you. That
18 would be of assistance so that the local
19 boards can then do some pretty good
20 assessments. I just want to make mention
21 that KPFA has been involved in a struggle, so
22 therefore, I hope you will understand that
1 they have been --
2 MR. MILLSPAUGH: I do understand,
3 and I did point out that they in fact did
4 submit.
5 MR. BRAMSON: But they were
6 basically unable to do it, as I understand
7 it.
8 MR. MILLSPAUGH: What?
9 MR. BRAMSON: In the manner in
10 which they submitted it? I think, if memory
11 serves me, the context was, we are in the
12 middle of a fight here; we are not able to do
13 this completely.
14 MR. MILLSPAUGH: No, I would say,
15 we are in the middle of this dispute and
16 things have been difficult for us to make
17 progress, but here is the progress we have
18 made so far. That is all I would ask any
19 station for was what is the progress that you
20 have made so far?
21 I did not expect a completed
22 document but only a progress report, and that
1 was submitted and I want to acknowledge that.
2 MR. BRAMSON: Are you expecting,
3 and again, I just want to make sure I am
4 clear, are you expecting something kind of
5 completed by October?
6 MR. MILLSPAUGH: I'm expecting
7 progress reports by October. I think this is
8 an ongoing process and the root
9 responsibility of all of the LABs. It is
10 their function under law and it will be a
11 continuing revolution.
12 MS. BERRY: I think Charlotte
13 Holloman told us in reporting the council of
14 chairs that -- has turned in its needs
15 assessment. It was not -- didn't turn it in.
16 She pointed out which stations had not.
17 MR. BRAMSON: If there is anything
18 I can do to assist to get that going, I want
19 to do that. I think it is very important to
20 do that.
1 say that the presentation made to us in the
2 morning was by an individual that made no
3 recommendations at all as to what Pacifica or
4 an individual station should do.
5 They were simply holding up a
6 mirror that a impartial, third-party had done
7 to show us what our audience is, looks like
8 and it is very informative and is very
9 informative in light of getting needs
10 assessments from the LABs. It is very
11 informative because the audience that perhaps
12 we have perceptions about as well as others,
13 is different in radical ways and I found it
14 very informative, very useful, but I want to
15 be clear that it is my understanding that no
16 recommendations or suggestions were made
17 through that.
18 So that there is no
19 misunderstanding in our communities, I think,
20 that we are listening to people for this
21 reason. So, emphatically say, no
22 recommendations were made, just a mirror was
1 held out to see what this community looks
2 like.
3 MS. BERRY: I think that actually
4 once we get the needs assessment and your
5 committee does its work in looking at these
6 and matching them up, you might have some
7 recommendations to us as a board about
8 programming based on that which we could
9 enact as policy if we choose to do so. But
10 let's see what the stations -- I can see
11 where a station manager would made use of the
12 information with their program director and
13 try to figure out what to do about their
14 programs without anybody having to tell them
15 to.
16 But if they don't do that, and if
17 the LAB doesn't use the information in doing
18 a community needs assessment, then it will be
19 up to us to try to figure out what would I be
20 doing. Yes, Pete?
21 MR. BRAMSON: I would like to make
22 a suggestion that if I was handed this bit of
1 information and I was on a LAB, I don't know
2 that I would be able to understand it so
3 well. I would like a recommendation made to
4 each individual program director who goes to
5 LAB when this gets -- is that possible?
6 MS. BERRY: Well, I think it is up
7 to the station managers, the management, to
8 decide that. I have already encouraged and
9 said that PDs should go to the LAB meetings.
10 Whether they come on that occasion, that
11 would be up to the LAB and the station to
12 work out, but if they need that as a
13 resource, then certainly they ought to have
14 them.
15 MR. BRAMSON: Thank you.
16 MS. BERRY: They may also want
17 somebody to come and explain the numbers to
18 them. I was at a LAB meeting, one of the
19 ones I haven't been to in a long time, here
20 at W, where we had a discussion of programs
21 and ratings and all kinds of stuff with an
22 expert --
1 MR. MILLSPAUGH: I would hope that
2 the Program directors of each of the stations
3 were sufficiently conversant with how to read
4 numbers that they could help at least to get
5 the LAB members to the primary levels of it.
6 If that is not the case, I would suggest that
7 -- needed training for the PDs.
8 MS. BERRY: All those in favor of
9 accepting the report indicate by saying aye.
10 Opposed? 11 It is so ordered. Now we have the
12 report of the board of governors structure
13 committee. David. 14 MR. ACOSTA: Thank you Madam chair.
15 The Governance & Structure Committee met several
16 times by teleconference over the last few
17 months and also yesterday. We took up the
18 issue of nomination of directors. At the
19 February meeting in Berkeley when we enacted
20 the bylaw change regarding nomination of next
21 year's directors, we added a footnote to the
22 bylaws that states "the committee is
1 committed to maintaining a national governing
2 board composed of a majority of persons of
3 color, keeping in mind that this is a goal
4 and not a quota."
5 We have done that and we continue
6 to do that. In addition, the footnote stated
7 that "the committee recognizes that the local
8 advisory boards will still have input to the
9 governing board through the council of chairs
10 and the right to nominate collectively or
11 individually directors to the governing board
12 through the board of governors instructor
13 committee, the only limitation is that the
14 nominee may not be a LAB member and a
15 governing board member concurrently."
16 At present we are considering
17 nominees nominated by staff, present board
18 members, individual LAB members and full
19 LABs. So we are doing that. Furthermore,
20 the footnote stated that the committee will
21 ensure representation from the signal area of
22 each Pacifica station. We have done that.
1 Lastly, the executive committee
2 must have representation from each signal
3 area and we are completing that today. At
4 this time, Madam chair, I would like to place
5 into nomination for executive committee
6 member from the KPFA signal area Jewelle
7 Taylor Gibbs.
8 MS. BERRY: For the executive
9 committee, could I get a second of the
10 nomination?
11 MR. FARRELL: I second.
12 MS. BERRY: Is there any discussion
13 of Jewelle and whether we will accept her
14 generous offer to be willing to do this? All
15 those in favor indicate by saying aye.
16 Opposed?
17 It is so ordered.
18 MR. ACOSTA: And one other item
19 with regard to the directors is that we are
20 keeping in mind the diversity of
21 representation, specifically recruiting
22 membership of Hispanic, Asian and Native
1 American communities.
2 MS. BERRY: And white women. We
3 have a shortage of white women on this board.
4 I don't know how that happened since white
5 women are the majority of the population.
6 There must be something. I don't understand
7 it.
8 MR. ACOSTA: We have seven
9 positions available and hope to have a slate
10 of nominees by the October meeting. The next
11 item that we considered was the nomination of
12 officers. At this time there are two
13 vacancies for secretary and treasurer. The
14 committee recommends Andrea Cisco from the
15 WBAI signal area for a term of three years.
16 At this time, Madam chair, I would place into
17 nomination the name of Andrea Cisco for
18 secretary.
19 MR. FARRELL: I second the motion.
20 MS. BERRY: All right. Is there
21 any discussion of the name of Andrea who has
22 graciously agreed to take on this burden, if
1 we should agree to place it upon her? All in
2 favor indicate by saying aye.
3 Opposed?
4 It is so ordered.
5 MR. ACOSTA: The next vacancy was
6 the treasurer and to take advantage of
7 institutional memory and to aid in the
8 transition of this position, we recommend the
9 following: As interim treasurer for one year
10 only, June Makela from the WBAI signal area
11 and who has been our treasurer for the last
12 four years.
13 As treasurer for a three-year term
14 immediately following that one year, Michael
15 Palmer from the KPFT signal area. At this
16 time I would like to place both of these
17 nominees in nomination.
18 MS. BERRY: Could I get a second?
19 MR. FARRELL: I second the motion.
20 MS. BERRY: Is there any
21 discussion? Yes, Pete?
22 MR. BRAMSON: I want to make sure
1 that I am being clear as to why I will
2 oppose. It is not about June, nor her
3 qualifications, nor Michael and his
4 qualifications. I think we are setting a
5 precedent in our interpretation of our bylaws
6 that I cannot support.
7 MS. BERRY: Ayre?
8 MR. KRIEGEL: I also am going to
9 oppose that. But I would appreciate it if we
10 could split up the candidates because I would
11 rather vote yes where I can vote for yes and
12 no where I can vote for no.
13 I agree with Pete that I am
14 opposing June's re-nomination based on
15 procedural reasons, as we discussed before.
16 I would like to vote for Michael Palmer.
17 Given that opportunity, I would. So if you
18 could split those votes up, I would
19 appreciate that.
20 MS. BERRY: Is there any further
21 discussion of the motion on the floor?
22 MR. PALMER: I would say, it is not
1 a precedent. The board has acted
2 historically in accordance with the existing
3 bylaws.
4 MS. BERRY: Are you perfectly
5 comfortable with this process, being
6 nominated in this way, Michael?
7 MR. PALMER: Correct.
8 MS. BERRY: Is there any further
9 discussion? All those in favor of the motion
10 indicate by saying aye.
11 Opposed?
12 I hear two in opposition. It will
13 be recorded as a majority vote.
14 MR. KRIEGEL: Can you ask for
15 abstentions, please?
16 MS. BERRY: Yes. Abstentions?
17 MR. BRAMSON: I think there were
18 three nays, if I am correct.
19 MS. BERRY: Oh, did I miss -- wait
20 a minute. Opposed? Three. Abstentions?
21 In favor? Six. Even if you don't
22 vote for yourself, it still passes. There
1 are three opposed, one abstention, and six in
2 favor if we don't count you. Is there
3 anything else for your board of Governors?
4 MR. ACOSTA: Yes. The other issue
5 that we considered was committees. We are
6 presently formulating the purposes and the
7 strategies and the goals of each committee.
8 We should codify these by the October
9 meeting.
10 We established two new committees
11 that will be reporting to the governors
12 committee, as subcommittees. One is the
13 public relations subcommittee to formulate
14 ways to improve and invent communications
15 without and within the organization. We have
16 determined that Robert Farrell from the KPFK
17 signal area will be the chair.
18 We established a strategic plan
19 subcommittee to review and evaluate and
20 revise as needed the strategic plans and we
21 have determined that Andrea Cisco from the
22 WBAI area will be the chair of that
1 committee. We are also considering the
2 establishment of three new committees as
3 either full committees or subcommittees of
4 other committees.
5 The legal committee to aid in
6 issues of legality surrounding the
7 organization and the fund raising committee
8 to formulate alternative methods of raising
9 revenue and the technology committee to keep
10 us abreast and take advantage of new
11 technologies.
12 We also discussed the process
13 review subcommittee. That particular
14 committee will be reviewing and revising, if
15 necessary, parts of the bylaws and the LABs
16 policies and procedures to conform to the
17 action of the board and to clarify any
18 ambiguities.
19 We hope to have this also done by
20 the October meeting. For all of these
21 committees, we will be seeking input from all
22 segments of the organization. The last thing

1 we had on the list, I would like to introduce
2 a resolution at this time for our outgoing
3 board secretary, Roberta Brooks.
4 If I may read the resolution, Madam
5 chair: "Whereas Roberta Brooks in serving
6 Pacifica Foundation's national board, first
7 for six years as a representative from KPFA
8 and the last three years as an at-large
9 member and secretary of the board, has been
10 instrumental specifically in the formulation
11 of the board's strategic plans and generally
12 in the foundation's growth and stature in the
13 public radio community, the board recognizes
14 and thanks Roberta Brooks for her thousands
15 of hours of hard work and her dedication and
16 commitment to the highest ideals of the
17 mission of the Foundation."
18 I ask that this be approved by the
19 full board. 20 MR. MILLSPAUGH: So moved.
21 MS. BERRY: Is there a second?
22 MR. PALMER: I second.
1 MS. BERRY: All right. It has been
2 moved and seconded that we pass this
3 resolution of appreciation to Roberta Brooks?
4 Is there any discussion?
5 MR. ACOSTA: I would also like to
6 express my gratitude to the national staff,
7 and in particular, Vanessa Ransom, for all
8 her help with this committee, especially in
9 light of the climate that she and other
10 members of the staff have had to work in. I
11 appreciate all of the work from each of the
12 members of the board governance and structure
13 committee. I would ask them at this time if
14 they had anything to add to it. I would
15 welcome that.
16 MS. BERRY: Now, we first need to
17 approve the motion of resolution to be sent
18 to Roberta. All those in favor of it,
19 indicate by saying aye.
20 Opposed?
21 Secondly, we want to thank Andrea
22 Cisco for being willing to be chair of the
1 strategic plan committee and thank Bob
2 Farrell for his suggestions and for being
3 willing to be chair of that Subcommittee.
4 According to practice in Pacifica
5 and bylaws, the way they are stated -- and
6 keep in mind that bylaws are undergoing
7 revision by Pete & Company. The board chair
8 has historically appointed people to
9 committees except for the executive committee
10 and so on, or in this case their
11 subcommittees.
12 So one might think that the chair
13 of the committee might appoint people. First
14 of all, does any board member have any
15 objection to Bob being chairman of the
16 subcommittee on public relations and Andrea
17 being chair of the strategic plan committee?
18 I just want to make sure everybody gets the
19 right to express their opposition.
20 So they will be chairs of these
21 committees, without objection. What board
22 members would be willing to serve with them
1 on either one of these committees? Who has
2 an interest and is willing to serve on either
3 one of these committees? Pete?
4 MR. BRAMSON: Yes.
5 MS. BERRY: Yes? Which?
6 MR. BRAMSON: Both.
7 MS. BERRY: How about you, Ken?
8 MR. FORD: I'll take public
9 relations.
10 MS. BERRY: Public relations, okay.
11 How about you, Aaron? Will you be on PR?
12 Why don't we do the following? You think
13 about it. Don't E-mail me because I might
14 not get it.
15 Let's see what means we should use,
16 by horseback or pony express, well, by some
17 means of communication. Think about it over
18 the next week and let me know by the end of
19 two weeks from now if any of you want and
have a desire to be on any of these
21 committees.
22 DR. GIBBS: I will work with Andrea

1 on the committee.
2 MS. BERRY: Okay.
3 DR. GIBBS: Jewelle Gibbs.
4 MS. BERRY: Jewelle Gibbs will be
5 on with Andrea. So Andrea has Jewelle and
6 Pete and Bob. Bob has Pete and Aaron.
7 MS. BERRY: We are happy to have
8 board members work on any committee that they
9 care to. Can we have a motion to accept the
10 report of the board of governors committee,
11 just accept it?
12 MR. FARRELL: I so move.
13 MR. KRIEGEL: I second.
14 MS. BERRY: Is there any further
15 discussion? All in favor indicate by saying
16 aye.
17 Opposed?
18 It is so ordered. Technical
19 committee, do you have a report today?
20 MR. FORD: No. Our issues were
21 referred to the finance committee because
22 they have financial implications.
1 MS. BERRY: We are now, then, going
2 to go to the public comment section unless
3 board members have something else they would
4 like to raise that I missed and didn't know
5 it. Yes, Pete?
6 MR. BRAMSON: I have a couple of
7 comments and I will make it quick. I wanted
8 to go over a couple of issues and I wanted to
9 put forward a resolution. I submitted to the
10 full board a couple of documents representing
11 Pacifica KPFA statements, also statements
12 from the local area and each of the documents
13 developed binding threads that simply stated
14 to ask for the return of staff and
15 independent mediation dispute --
16 To that end we have all received
17 many letters and correspondence about how in
18 effect -- and I will use this as an example
19 of a letter that our major donors are upset
20 by our behavior and that they are going to
21 suspend their financial support of not only
22 of KPFA and Pacifica entirely.

1 I realize that the climate is very
2 difficult. I support the board's ability to
3 move forward into various conversations and
4 try to move things forward. At this time I
5 would like to put forth a motion which is a
6 vote of no confidence for the executive
7 director and the chair of the board.
8 MS. BERRY: Is there a second of
9 the motion introduced by Mr. Bramson?
10 Hearing no second, the motion dies for want
11 of a second. Now, we will go on to the
12 public comment portion of the meeting.
13 Do I dare let you take a minute for
14 a break or not? Okay, we will take a
15 five-minute break.
16 (Whereupon, at 11:28 a.m., the
17 board recessed to reconvene at
18 11:40 a.m. the same day.)
19 MS. BERRY: We are going to start
20 the public comment. The rules are that each
21 speaker has -- we are starting at 20 minutes
22 before the hour by my watch. I don't know if

1 it is right or not. That means we will go
2 for no more than an hour. It is suppose to
3 go an hour; we are starting late.
4 Each person who is called upon will
5 have two minutes to speak and then at the end
6 of it we will see if any board mem