Minutes
WPFW Regular LSB Meeting
July 10, 2019
WPFW
1990 K. Street NW
Washington, D.C.
Sabooh Hakim
– Chair
Ellen Williams Carter - Secretary
I. Call to order
Sabooh Hakim chair called the meeting to order
at 6:35 pm. Quorum was established at 6:40pm.
II. Roll call
16 - Members were present at roll call:
Maskeelah-Myrtle Washington, Ellen Williams Carter, Robert Simms, Eileen Rosin, Julie Hewitt, Louis Wolf, Nancy Sorden,
Ron Pinchback, Cliff Smith, Sabooh Hakim, Tony Leon, Craig Williams, Lona Alias, Gloria Turner, Wayne Tilly, Nick Arena,
Benito Diaz, Martha Peterson,
1 - Excused Absences: Jim Brown
There was one resignation Vickie McGill.
The IPD
Katea Stitt was absent.
Timekeeper: Robb Simms
Sergeant at Arms: John Tatum
III. Agenda
The Agenda was
approved.
IV. Approval of the Minutes
The May 8, 2019 and June 10 were approved. Tony Leon wanted changes made.
V. Management Reports
The General Manager, Jerry Paris stated the following:
The June ratings will be
available on Arbitron this month. The next Pledge drive is August the 3rd. He is hiring a marketing/developing person.
Grace Aaron is the Interim Executive Director. Quarterly reports for FCC were completed. WPFW’ license renewal is
October 1, 2019. Transmitter operation is in compliance with FCC. He is renting the Live@ 5 space for $500 a month to a
group that will do a podcast show in the space on Wednesdays from 5pm-8pm. He stated that there are no new messages from
info@WPFW.org. A campaign will start to reach lapse donors. In addition, he will focus on doing more outreach in
Virginia. There will be a Pacifica wide voter drive to get voters to go to the polls. He stated that the Interim Program
Director doesn’t have to attend LSB meetings but she must submit a report.
VI. Finance Report
The Treasurer,
Nick Arena distributed a financial report:
The bank balances were $19,000 as of June 30. The Station is in an
immediate CASH FLOW CRISIS. THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET JULY 15 PAYROLL. OFFICE RENT, TRANSMITTER RENT AND
OTHER ESSENTIAL BILLS ARE NOT PAID FOR JULY. The General Manager and Staff are meeting with major donors with current
pledges of $50,000 in July and August. The budgeted income total is over $210,000. All members of the LSB should
consider any August donations they were considering or soliciting be made ASAP. Grant writers are needed. LSB members
should consider grant writers and potential major donor referrals to the General Manager. A FY19 thru February has been
provided by the CFO, It is unclear as to how we compare to the budget. For the month of June, only $49,000 in Revenues
was received against Budgeted Revenue of $107,000. Taking into account the past due Central Services payments (5-6) and
past due health insurance payments ($9,000) that have not been paid as well as $30,000 in National Election costs that
are in the budget, the budget is likely deficit over $80,000. The Station has not been asked to make payments for the
National Election to date. In addition, over $40,000 in transmitter expenses have been paid from funds raised in FY2018.
Additional Off-air fundraising activities/events are desperately needed July through September.
VII. Community
Comment
Donna Grimes- She asked several questions about the podcast that the GM is renting the Live@ 5 studio
to:
1. Who/What is the podcast that the GM is renting the Live@ 5 studio?
2. What is the theme?
3. How does
it relate to the station?
In addition, she asked what programming is the Goethe-Institut Washington doing through
August?
Tony Norman- He said that they need to bring the LSB show back. He said that the PD needs to come to the LSB
meetings.
Arthur Mc Cloud- He said there are a lot of issues with the IPD. He said she doesn’t follow proper
protocol. He stated that he asked to help 2 or 3 days at the station and Jerry Paris (GM) told him that Katea Stitt
(IPD) needed help. Arthur said he told her (IPD) that he could help her at the station. She sent him (Arthur) an email
saying she didn’t need his help. In addition, he stated that the IPD offered a Gospel show to Shea Butter his co-host.
He stated that (Shea Butter) was told by the IPD that she could start the show in mid-June; however, the show was given
to someone else.
John Anthony- He talked about his email and requested questions.
Joe Brown – He said thank
you for the live coverage of the Reparations Congressional Hearings. He would like a show about the major cuts for
disabled individuals.
O’Rourke – He said that the Program Committee has asked for regular reports from the
Interim Program Director.
Verna Avery Brown- She said according to the bylaws the IPD should not be in that position
for 5 years. She said that the LSB’s hostility has kept the IPD from coming to meetings. Tony Leon said in 2016 they
got as far as advertising for the position of Program Director. He said it wasn’t the LSB that was keeping her as IPD.
Tony said that it was nothing personal against Katea Stitt.
Lawrence Reyes – He is from KPFK - LSB.
Jessie
Washington- She is from Road Work and she wanted to thank WPFW for hosting their program.
VIII. PNB
Report
Personnel committee made some changes Maxie Jackson is no longer ED.
The PNB Finance Committee the election
period extended to the July 14, 2019 for 2019. Must be current member as of June 30th.
The PNB is writing a policy
for underwriting that will comply with FCC policy . The PNB meeting is on Thursday.
Nancy Sodden requested that the
General Manager share the password for Greater Public.
IX. Program Committee
Donna Grimes
Submitted a proposed
resolution: The LSB Chair, LSV vice Chair and Programming committee chair make arrangements with the General Manager to
restore the production of the LSB show to the Programming Committee and provide the Programming Committee access to
info@WPFW.org.
The vote was 9 in favor, 2 opposed and 1 abstention
X. MASC Committee
The MASC met on June 19,
at the meeting there was a motion to consult a radio professional to help with the selection of a Program Director. They
met again on June 26.
XI. Outreach and Development
The Blues Festival is scheduled for August 10, 2019. The
5KWalk will take place on September 14, 2019 at Wheaton Reginald Park. Martha is working on getting sponsors. She
requested that the development department provide a credit card machine.
XII. New Business
Nancy Sorden and Cliff
Smith requested to join the MASC. They are now members of the committee.
XIII. Adjourned Regular Meeting at
9:13pm
Sabooh Hakim, Chair adjourned the meeting at
Minutes submitted by: Ellen Williams
Carter