Minutes <br>WPFW Regular LSB Meeting <br>April 12, 2017<br>1990 K Street N.W. Washington, D.C. <br>Robert Simms, Chair<br />
<br>Ellen Williams Carter Secretary<br>I. Call to order<br>At 6:40 pm a quorum was established. Robert Simms called the<br />
meeting to order at 6:40 pm. <br>II. Roll call<br>20 Members were present at roll call: Robert Simms, Eric Ramey,<br />
Maskeelah-Myrtle Washington, Ellen Williams Carter (non- voting), Louis Wolf, Donald Williams, Eileen Rosin, Nick Arena<br />
(non-voting), Martha Peterson, Sabooh Hakim, Jim Brown, Tony Leon, Julie Hewitt, Lona Alias, Benito Diaz, Gloria Turner,<br />
Ron Pinchback, Sandra Butler-Truesdale, Christine Cotter, Cliff Smith, Meredith Cordisco, Vickie McGill<br>2 Members<br />
Late: Campbell Johnson, JW Nightwolf, <br>1 Excused absence: Nancy Sorden, <br>The GM Jerry Paris was present.<br>The<br />
IPD Katea Stitt was present.<br>Parliamentarian: John Tatum<br>Timekeeper: Meredith Cordisco<br>III. Approval of<br />
Agenda<br>Agenda Approved<br>IV. Approval of the minutes<br>The March 8, 2017 regular meeting minutes were<br />
approved.<br>Minutes Approved <br>V. Management Reports<br>The General Manager, Jerry Paris stated the<br />
following:<br>•	The status of the Leonard Restricted fund is the following:  <br>Jerry Paris spoke with Dr. Leonard and<br />
he lifted the restrictions on the fund; consequently, it was determined that the funds were used properly.<br>•	There<br />
will be a new telephone service that is less expensive as of April 20. The cost is reduced if we share content on the<br />
fiber with CNN and CBS. <br>•	The Public Affairs programs are Podcast. The Public Affairs programs are streaming all<br />
over the world. <br>•	The GM purchased a camera for $600. Which will stream live audio and video.<br>•	The Pledge drive<br />
will take place from May 7 through May 27.<br>•	The transmitter is in good shape. <br>•	A new employee has been hired.<br />
Her name is Annette Carson. She will do the accounting. <br>The Interim Program Director – submitted a written<br />
report<br>The Interim Program Director, Katea Stitt stated the following:<br>These activities were broadcast:<br>•	March<br />
8 International Women’s<br>•	March 10 Native American tribes<br>•	NEA Awards<br>The Voices that Change the World jump<br />
drive will be available during the Spring Drive from May 7 through May 27. Chris Garlock will provide postage again.<br />
<br>The last drives jump drive premiums have gone to donors. 85% of the premiums were sent to donors.<br>Upcoming<br />
special Programming:<br>•	Earth Day April 22 <br>•	The Cannabis Festival <br>•	April 29th Pacifica will air on WPFW the<br />
Peoples Climate March a national broadcast for 4 of the 5 stations.   Produced by WPFW with contributions from WBAI,<br />
KPFK, KPFT, and the Affiliates Program.<br>•	Funk Parade on the May 6th <br>•	Saturday, July 8, Sound Scene at the<br />
Hirschhorn sponsored by DC Listening Lounge<br>•	August 8-27, Documenta 14 Radio Program: Every Time A Ear di<br />
Soun<br>Questions:<br> Eric Ramey <br> Are negotiations still going on with the Prince George’s County<br />
Council?<br>GM<br>Yes!<br>Cliff Smith statement:<br>We should cover Emancipation Day.<br>IPD<br>They would not reach out<br />
to us. <br>Moe Thomas statement:<br>Our ratings have improved.<br>VI. PNB Reports<br>Benito stated that the IED put<br />
together a recovery plan. <br>VII. Community Comment<br>Jim Brown (community member)<br> There was a motion to support<br />
the GM. What Happen to that Vote? <br>Norman Hill<br>Thanks for putting in the data service RDS.<br>Donna Grimes <br>The<br />
Program committee would like access to the Info@ wpfw.org information.  <br>Starr Bowie<br>Why is there no public<br />
affairs programming on weekends? She thought the women’s shows were great.<br>VIII. Finance Report by Treasurer -<br />
submitted a written report<br>The treasurer, Nick Arena stated the following:<br>•	The GM hired a new part-time Business<br />
Manager. <br>•	The restriction on a previous donation has been eliminated.<br>•	A reduction of operating expenses to be<br />
implemented by April 15.<br>•	A restructuring and elimination of telecommunication expenses are forthcoming.<br>•	There<br />
will be a focus on major donors and other gifts prior to May 3 Pledge Drive.<br>2016-17 Budget update<br>Updated YTD<br />
financial statements are not available.<br>In addition, the treasurer submitted a motion for the LSB:<br> “The WPFW LSB<br />
vehemently opposes any actions by the Pacifica National Office, Pacifica Foundation and the Pacifica National Board to<br />
alter or change the programming of WPFW to a ‘relay’ station for any other programming not approved by WPFW.  In<br />
addition, we insist that the Pacifica National Board direct the IED and financial staff of the Pacifica National Office<br />
to provide a detailed explanation of its criteria for what constitutes ‘financial recovery and stabilization’ and<br />
‘significant financial improvements in finances’ for WPFW in its plan dated March 30, 2017 to the WPFW LSB in writing by<br />
April 18, 2017.”<br>Excerpt from the Pacifica Recovery Plan dated March 30, 2017 – Re: WPFW:<br>h. All efforts will be<br />
made so that the Station cuts its shortfall of approximately<br>$300,000 a year, becomes current in payment of Central<br />
Services and be restored to<br>financial health this year. The current station management has been encouraged to<br>seek<br />
help from outsiders, including an experienced former general manager, who<br>have intimate knowledge of the Washington<br />
market and can provide knowledge to<br>make an effective change in the composition of the programs. The LSB can also<br />
play<br>an important role in providing an insight into this change in direction.<br>i. If turnaround efforts do not show<br />
significant improvements in the next 6 months, then<br>Pacifica’s executive management is prepared to implement<br />
additional plans which are<br>fully described in the “Contingency Plans” section.<br>Contingency Plans<br>IF and ONLY<br />
IF, we do not see significant improvements in the finances of WBAI (New<br>York) and WPFW (Washington, DC) in the next<br />
4-6 months, Pacifica's executive team is<br>committed and determined to take additional measures to restore Pacifica<br />
network finances to<br>financial health. As other stations are doing relatively well or stable and/or only<br />
incremental<br>improvements are necessary, no contingency plans are being considered for those. <br>The contingency<br />
plans may include the following:<br>1. WPFW – Washington, DC:<br>a. Much of the programming of this station could be<br />
temporarily replaced with<br>programs produced at other Pacifica stations, at least for a few months. Only a<br>skeleton<br />
staff would be needed to maintain the operations while plans are made to<br>restore the station to sustainable<br />
operations.<br>b. A new management team / advisor may be brought in to turn around the finances<br>with or without the<br />
help of existing management, as needed.<br>c. If other measures are unsuccessful, bids / proposals might be invited from<br />
interested<br>third parties for licensing agreements where the operations may be turned over to<br>them for a fee,<br />
provided that they agree to serve the needs of WPFW listeners. This<br>will save Pacifica the amount of losses that are<br />
being incurred by the station at this<br>time or for any future losses. Because the station does not have any<br />
significant<br>external debts, there will be less hurdles in making future arrangements.<br><br>It was requested that<br />
the motion be placed on WPFW’s website and sent to Bill Crosier, Interim Executive Director, Pacifica<br />
Foundation.<br><br>IX. Outreach and Development Committee <br>The WPFW LSB will sponsor the following fundraisers:<br />
<br>1. On Saturday June 10, 2017 from 8pm -1am at 10th and U Street the WPFW LSB will sponsor the Spring Fling with WPFW<br />
Programmers as DJs.<br>2. The LSB collected money from LSB members to purchase flyers that advertise the station and<br />
40th Anniversary. <br>3. On September 16, 2017, the LSB will sponsor a walk/run fundraiser.<br>X. MASC Committee<br>The<br />
committee met with the General Manager. The next meeting was scheduled for April 26, 2017.<br>XI. Programming Committee<br />
– submitted a written report<br>The Program committee stated the following:<br>•	The Programming Committee met on March<br />
23, 2017.  They did not have a quorum, but they discussed items on the agenda.<br>•	Representatives of the committee met<br />
with the General Manager. He agreed to attend PC meetings on a bi-monthly basis.  <br>•	Programming recommendations that<br />
have been approved by the LSB program committee cannot be enacted until the GM actively responds.  <br>Two issues that<br />
the committee would like addressed are:<br>•	Negotiate roles and responsibilities of the LSB, PC and GM concerning<br />
programming at the Station.<br>•	Provide access to the info@wpfw.org mailbox so that the PC can assist with responding<br />
to program related comments from the public in a timely and professional manner.<br>XII .Executive Session<br>Recessed<br />
the Regular meeting at 9:00 pm <br>Reconvened for the executive session at 9:10 pm <br>Closed meeting concerned<br />
personnel matters.<br>Convened the regular meeting at 9:40 pm<br>XIII. Adjournment <br>Motion to adjourn: There was no<br />
objection.<br>Robb Simms adjourned the regular meeting at 9:45 pm<br>Meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm<br>Minutes submitted<br />
by:  Ellen Williams Carter<br><br>