<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Beth:<div><br></div><div><div>Lawsuits will not help shift the paradigm, </div><div>but</div><div>thoughtful proposals</div><div>that would allow them to achieve</div><div>their Mission Statement</div><div>might encourage</div><div>Board/Staff</div><div>introspection</div><div>rather than defensiveness.</div><div><br><div>You need to know the reason</div><div>why</div><div>Round Valley dropped</div><div>its effort ~30+ years ago . . .</div><div>it was due to the </div><div>requirements </div><div>of the FCC for the license.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time,</div><div>they were insisting </div><div>that we provide</div><div>a signal</div><div>and</div><div>programming</div><div>for the entire county.</div><div>A practical folk,</div><div>we knew full well </div><div>we were too isolated.</div><div><div>(Remember, we did not have</div><div>digital transmitters,</div><div>the Internet,</div><div>or even</div><div>"personal computers" back then . . .)</div></div><div>And our small town </div><div>simply could not afford</div><div>"matching funds" necessary</div><div>to construct such a station. . . </div><div>(est. at 500k in 1980)</div><div>much less power and staff</div><div>such an effort —</div><div>one that would be required to</div><div>service the needs</div><div>of the entire county.</div><div><div><br></div></div><div>i.e. Reagan (via FCC) "won"</div><div>and derailed Carter's</div><div>"Rural Underserved Radio </div><div>Station Development Program"</div><div>by making the </div><div>scope</div><div>too large.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>There was no</div><div>"competition" for the license.</div><div>Donovan simply picked up</div><div>(several years later)</div><div>where Round Valley left off —</div><div>and, to his credit,</div><div>figured out a way to </div><div>do it. </div><div><br></div><div>Philo seemed like a good solution.</div><div>At the time, in the middle of "nowhere"</div><div>equidistant from everywhere . . . </div><div>Too bad it hasn't worked out.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps, the scope is still too large?</div><div><br></div><div>At this juncture,</div><div>I am surprised </div><div>there is not more call</div><div>to de-centralize more</div><div>via utilizing the satellite studios</div><div>in Willits and Mendocino,</div><div>with "Staff" at each location,</div><div>doubling/tripling production capabilities . . .</div><div><div>(You have plenty of talent in both </div><div>already existing satellite locations; </div><div>their problem is ACCESS to Philo, </div><div>=> a mere 30 minutes from Ukiah.)</div></div><div><br></div><div>...rather than reducing access</div><div>while "planning" to ultimately</div><div>centralize in Ukiah</div><div>in the effort to capture</div><div>"new audience" </div><div>in another county. (?)</div><div><br></div><div>IMO, The latter option</div><div>would simply be a sell-out</div><div>to the "Let's Make Ukiah San Jose North" set,</div><div>and do little to link up our</div><div>diverse yet dynamic</div><div>(more isolated) rural communities.</div><div>(Yes, we live here, too. Remember us?</div><div>The REASON you "qualify" for those grants from CPB?)</div><div><br></div><div><div>==>for far too long, the Board has found themselves</div><div>fighting to stay inside a box that no longer works.</div></div><div>Making the box bigger will not solve the problem, IMO.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Personally, I would prefer to see </div><div>all the "he said, she said",</div><div>finger-pointing,</div><div>name calling, </div><div>stonewalling,</div><div>and bullying</div><div>(on both sides)</div><div>end</div><div>and the Board having an environment</div><div>where they can think/work outside the box</div><div>that it finds itself in. . .</div><div><br></div><div>Only then will they be able to focus </div><div>on the real issue before them:</div><div><b>How to sustain the life </b></div><div><b>of a community radio station</b></div><div><b>that is mandated to serve</b></div><div><b>a county as large (or larger)</b></div><div><b>than most east coast states.</b></div><div><br></div><div>IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE!</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps they could begin by</div><div>Re-writing Job Descriptions and/or</div><div>Hiring staff with a passion for:</div><div>1) training/empowering </div><div>the next generation of </div><div>programmers and producers,</div><div>2) utilizing current radio production</div><div>(inexpensive, smaller-scale) technology</div><div>to link our entire county in creative ways,</div><div>3) building alliances and networks with </div><div>independent media producers, etc. who are more</div><div>"home-grown" and aware of local history,</div><div>issues and concerns.</div><div><br></div><div>~C.</div><div>sent from my commonsensical grammAphone</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On Jul 28, 2014, at 5:59 PM, <a href="mailto:nsi@mcn.org">nsi@mcn.org</a> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div><br>KZYX is turning its back on all of the initial Mission goals. It<br>was due to those carefully stated goals of inclusivity, the Philo<br>station received the coveted license over a competing community<br>applicant from Covelo 25 years ago.<br> As a founding public affairs programer with an archival memory, who<br>understands why this station was founded, and how much in the last<br>decade has been breached by this CEO, this Program Director and<br>compliant Board of Directors, I would be willing to be a Plaintiff<br>in legal action. --beth bosk<br><br> ----- Original Message -----<br>From: "" <br>To: "OBrien, Dennis" <br>Cc: "dawn50, sheila" , "Collins, King" , "mckenty, doug" , "Yasmin,<br>Sister" , Norman de Vall , nsi , Patricia Kovner ,<br><a href="mailto:dakini-heart@hotmail.com">dakini-heart@hotmail.com</a><br>Sent: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 22:07:07 +0000 (UTC)<br>Subject: Re: KZYX Response to FCC Complaint<br>You're a good man, Dennis O'Brien.<br><br>-------------------------<br>FROM: "OBrien, Dennis" <br>TO: "dawn50, sheila" , "Collins, King" , "mckenty, doug" , "John and<br>Shannon" , "Yasmin, Sister" <br>SENT: Sunday, July 27, 2014 12:27:18 PM<br>SUBJECT: KZYX Response to FCC Complaint<br><br>. . . is attached. I received hard copy on Friday and scanned<br>today.<br>Their Response generally contends that the complaints raised by<br>several people are not within the jurisdiction of the FCC. I tend<br>to agree. I recently sent an email describing what I thought to be<br>the possible legal claims against MCPB/KZYX. I focused on state law<br>(California Corporations Code) and the Corporation for Public<br>Broadcasting, which requires a CAB. Copy below. The Response<br>notes on page 6 that a challenge based on noncompliance with bylaws<br>or state corporations law will only be considered by the FCC if a<br>case is filed in a state court.<br>Short of a lawsuit, a complaint to the CPB re the CAB might be<br>productive. Failure to hold public meetings, meeting too<br>infrequently, lack of independence and diversity - these are the<br>legal bases for such a complaint. The general theme is the one that<br>has motivated this effort - decisions re who and what goes on the air<br>are too far removed from the members/public.<br>I note that John Coate has finally posted the station's Public File<br>and Station Activity Survey, something I demanded last year and is<br>also part of Sheila Dawn's informal objection. The Response says<br>that all documents required to be posted now are. They are buried<br>in a new link, "Misc Reports", that can be found at:<br>http://kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/station-business/misc-reports [1]<br>On that page, there is a stated commitment to follow all EEO rules:<br>"It is MCPB policy to follow all EEO rules. (note that we do not<br>need to file this for 2012 and 2013 because we do not now have five<br>full time employees.)" This flies in the face of the Response,<br>which says they don't follow those rules, arguing they don't have to<br>when it comes to hiring practices. Their public statement on their<br>website is at least misleading and hypocritical - do the members know<br>about this? If there is still time to file a rebuttal, I would<br>include that statement. It is most relevant to the things that the<br>FCC will consider re renewal.<br><br>So there's a bit for the FCC, but much more for the CPB and state<br>court.<br>Hope this is helpful.<br>Denny<br>PS - Could someone please forward to Sandra and Kathryn? Thanks.<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Misc Reports [2]KZYX - Mendocino County Public Broadcasting 90.7 FM<br>91.5 FM 88.1 FM<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>View on kzyx.org [3]<br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Preview by Yahoo<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <br><br>[earlier emails]<br><br>Withholding information from the board and/or members, or providing<br>misleading information, would be an abuse of authority by the<br>staff. Such improper acts could be included in a lawsuit that seeks<br>to assert the rights of the membership and board members (i.e.,<br>Sakowicz efforts to get information being rebuffed). In addition to<br>the flawed election/meeting procedures and the failure to provide<br>policies/information, there is now the board decision to improperly<br>abdicate its authority/responsibilities (recent memo), its improper<br>selection of members of the Advisory Board (board member's domestic<br>partner), and possibly improper exclusion of volunteers/members due<br>to political beliefs (Sheila's complaint). Perhaps also failure to<br>provide mechanism for voting on member-initiated bylaw changes<br>(King's issue). Perhaps a general allegation of failure to fulfill<br>its mission.<br><br>I still need to be educated as to production/syndication rights. <br>But that may be an action by the programmers, not the membership. <br>Although it could be mentioned as part of a pattern/practice when<br>alleging other acts.<br><br>I would not go so far as to force the board to comply with the Brown<br>Act, like King and others would. Ultimately, it is the board of a<br>private corporation, not a public entity. But I believe the<br>protections afforded members and elected board members are enough.<br><br>Fraud is a more serious charge and requires proof of malicious<br>intent. At that point a lawsuit becomes a sledgehammer - very<br>effective, but lots of collateral damage. It is sometimes more<br>effective to say "He has withheld information" than "He's a liar." <br>Also part of non-violent communication - critique the act, not the<br>person. It is sometimes better to let the community draw its own<br>conclusions. It also helps avoid a counter suit for defamation of<br>character.<br><br>So I believe it is possible to include most of the complaints that<br>you and others have raised in a legal action. Since I am no longer<br>an active member of the bar, I would need to be one of the plaintiffs<br>to participate. But my name should not be prominent, as it would<br>appear I am doing a hit job on behalf of the MEC/KMEC. You, John,<br>and other current members would have standing. A board member and<br>several prominent members would make a good plaintiff group.<br><br>One possible step before a lawsuit is a demand letter which says the<br>above and allows a chance for change. If you and others are serious<br>about using the legal system, I might be convinced to draft such a<br>letter. But you must be prepared to move forward if they do not<br>comply. Such a letter will probably be made public, an "open<br>letter" to the board.<br><br>I hope this helps. I will leave it to you to share this analysis<br>with others. Please let me know if there is strong interest in<br>using the legal process to assert membership/board rights. Although<br>my advocacy is more limited with age, I am inclined to help.<br><br>Denny<br><br>-------------------------<br><br>On Sunday, May 25, 2014, Dennis OBrien wrote:<br><br>More going on than I knew. Initial thoughts:<br><br>I have previously requested a copy of all MCPB and KZYX policies, as<br>any member can under the bylaws. They have only given me board<br>policies, and have not responded to my followup for more.<br><br>I also notified them that they were not giving adequate notice to<br>members re the annual membership meeting, part of the election<br>process. These two items, perhaps others, could be part of a<br>lawsuit seeking to enforce membership rights as guaranteed under<br>state law.<br><br>A few months ago I sent an email around suggesting that the bylaws<br>themselves needed amending to bring them in line with state and<br>federal law, most notably re elections and the Community Advisory<br>Board. Included specific language.<br><br>The recent Board Policy memo is an unlawful abdication of board<br>authority and responsibility under state law.<br><br>Structurally, there are too many layers between the members/community<br>and the decision making re who/what goes on the air. The result is<br>the current lack of transparency and accountability. By giving the<br>GM all personnel responsibility, then saying it's not their job to<br>oversee him, they have removed even the board from the loop.<br><br>A lawsuit re the license would involve the FCC. I do not know that<br>process. The review initiated by John Sakowicz seems relevant.<br><br>I still think the lack of a working CAB is a major violation, which<br>affects CPB funding. Stacking the CAB rather than assuring its<br>independence and diversity is a specific violation.<br><br>I have never considered the production rights of programmers. I can<br>imagine some interesting legal questions, but cannot advise. <br>The grand jury looks into the use of public funds, but I don't think<br>that includes the CPB grant. Perhaps other funding? <br> Yes, they are failing in their mission, which may not be a lawsuit,<br>but is the worst of all. <br>That's all for late night. Please respond if you want something<br>more refined. <br> Denny<br>@hotmail.com>@comcast.net>@gmail.com>@greenmac.com>.dawn50@yahoo.com>@sharejerusalem.com><br><br><br>Links:<br>------<br>[1] http://kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/station-business/misc-reports<br>[2] http://kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/station-business/misc-reports<br>[3] http://kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/station-business/misc-reports<br>[4] mailto:dennisobrien@sharejerusalem.com<br><br><br></div></blockquote></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); min-height: 15px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Times New Roman" size="3" color="#0000ff" style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><i>NOTICE: This e-mail mesage is intended only for the sole use of the recipient(s) named above. It may contain information that is protected, priviledged, or confidential. If you have recieved this transmission: any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please contact the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and its attachments, if any. Please also check your e-mail preferences to insure that any/all correspondence in general is immediately deleted from your server upon transmission to your mailbox. Thank You.</i></font></div></div><div><br></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span> </div><br></div></div></div></body></html>