<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div style="" class="" id="yiv6113822908"><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_2474"><div class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_2473" style="color:#000;background-color:#fff;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div style="" class="" id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434319636118_4460"><div dir="ltr" style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_4687">Although the resignation of the general manager is significant, people are recognizing that we
still need to focus on policies and procedures if we are going
to effect long-term change at KZYX. Below are proposals concerning communications, elections, and committees. Nonviolent communication tells us to focus on such policies
rather than demeaning personalities. I cannot support those who engage
in the latter and must disassociate myself from such activity. I ask everyone to look past the rancor and instead focus on what
policies and procedures are best for public radio in Mendocino County.</div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_2735"><br style="" class=""></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_2556">One of the goals of those seeking change is improving
<b style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_4590">communication</b> among
programmers, members, and the community. There are three ways by which
MCPB/KZYX can use its internet resources to achieve that goal:<br style="" class=""></div><br class="" style="" clear="none"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_6347" dir="ltr">1)
Interactive Communication: This function has been fulfilled to some
extent
by the KZYXTalk listserve established by Norm de Valle, which has been a
valuable resource. But its reach and effect are limited; some
folks simply are not aware of it, and it has no official affiliation
with the station. Marco's McClean's proposal of adding a community
bulletin board
service to the official website, the KZYX BBS, would allow any member,
and the public if we open it up, to be part of an ongoing discussion.
With
a tab on the main web page, more people would be aware of it. By being
affiliated with the station, it would encourage input and increase the
chance that ideas would be taken seriously by the board and management. And it would allow members to alert others to additional web resources,
including member-maintained websites.
The BBS, by definition, would be an opt-in service, as opposed to . . .</div><br class="" style="" clear="none">2)
Membership Email List: This list would initially include all members who
have supplied an email address. Its function would be one-way
communication from the organization to its members. Its primary use
would be a quarterly update, sometimes called a netletter, with news of
the station such as the current schedule, programming changes, and
upcoming events. It could also be used to announce the BBS and other
changes in policy and procedures. It seems that every organization <i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3022" class="" style="">except</i>
KZYX uses such a list, no matter how big or small. Its creation would demonstrate change in
attitude toward communicating and engaging with the members. As suggested above, this would be an opt-out list; every
member for whom we have an email would get the initial announcement, with
an opt-out link included.<br class="" style="" clear="none"><br class="" style="" clear="none">3)
Programmers Page: I have also heard from programmers and former
programmers that there is no way to get additional information to
listeners about their other good work in the community. A solution
would be to create a tab on the main web page called "Programmers" which
leads to a page or pages where each programmer can write a paragraph or
two about their activities, include one or more links, perhaps to their
own web page, perhaps with their personal email, perhaps with a picture
of themselves. Again, the purpose is to use the website to increase
communication. There would be a general disclaimer, "The station does
not endorse etc." at the top of the page(s), as there would be with the
BBS.<br class="" style="" clear="none"><br class="" style="" clear="none"></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3667" dir="ltr">A second area of change involves the <b style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_4667">election process</b>, specifically the policies that actually discourage membership and discussion.<br style="" class=""></div><div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10815" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10824" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10784" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10783" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">Although the deadline for becoming a member is December 31 of each year, the
membership list is not certified and sent to the vendor for mailing ballots
until February 28, a full two months later.<span class="" style="">
</span>There is no need to exclude from voting those people who became members
in January and February.<span class="" style=""> </span>Yet this is
precisely when interest in the election is at its highest, and when people would be most motivated to join.<span class="" style=""> </span>Candidates must submit their applications and
statements by January 31.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3593" class="" style=""> </span>Members and
the general public become aware of who is running and what the issues are.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3582" class="" style=""> </span>But it is too late to join or renew and be
eligible to vote.<span class="" style=""> </span>Conversely, prior to
December 31, everyone is involved in holiday activities with family and
friends, with little or no attention paid to the election.</span></div>
<div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10801" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10789" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10788" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">MCPB/KZYX should stop suppressing participation in the
voting process by allowing anyone who joins/renews by the date of certification
of the rolls (i.e., the last day of February) to be eligible to vote in that
year's election.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3594" class="" style=""> </span>Any earlier date is
arbitrary and capricious and serves only one purpose, to suppress participation
and voting by the membership and the listening public.</span></div>
<div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10803" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"> </span></div>
<div id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10804" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;"><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3810"><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">The timing of the direct mail renewal notice (mid-January) currently does nothing to increase the number of eligible voters.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3673" class="" style=""> </span>Concealing the simple-living membership
level of $25 per year actually reduces it.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_6390" class="" style=""> </span>An entire class
of potential members is disenfranchised by management's refusal to put this
information in their outreach letter or on the website. Moving the cutoff date and
announcing the simple-living membership are two ways that the
organization can increase membership participation and insure that the
election actually reflects the will of the community.</span></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3809"><br style="" class=""><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"></span></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_3808"><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">Making our <b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_6423" style="" class="">committees</b>
fully functional would also help engage the public and ensure that
essential decisions are not just being made by one or two people. Two
of the current committees are advisory: the Community Advisory Board
(CAB) and the Program Advisory Committee. The CAB needs to be opened up
so that it is both independent and geographically diverse, as is
required by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It membership and
activities are currently too restricted. The PAC has been dormant for
years, which at least gives the appearance that the program director is
making decisions arbitrarily and without adequate community input.</span></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_4198"><br style="" class=""><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_7136" style="" class=""><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">In
addition to the advisory committees, the board of directors has a
number of standing committees which have been inactive for years. Below
is a list of the committees and their functions as described in the
"Board of Directors Policy & Procedures Manual". They each should
be fully implemented. For example, the Personnel Committee is charged
with hearing complaints that are not resolved at the staff/management
level. This is far better that forcing people to send unresolved
complaints to the FCC. Please note that both directors and members can
be named to the committees. Note also that the Executive Committee (the officers) and the Audit Committee are not listed below, as they are already created in the Bylaws. Go to <a id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_7456" href="http://kzyx.org/images/pdf/MCPBBYLAWSAdopted12July2010.pdf">http://kzyx.org/images/pdf/MCPBBYLAWSAdopted12July2010.pdf</a></span> for details.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_7530" style="" class=""><br><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN"></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744565474_7137" style="" class=""><span id="yiv6113822908yui_3_16_0_1_1434738404624_10806" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;" lang="EN">Thanks to all for your continued interest in public media in Mendocino County and beyond.<br style="" class=""></span></div></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_5238"><br style="" class=""></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_5168">Dennis O'Brien</div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_5466"><br style="" class=""></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_5166"><br style="" class=""></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1434744270721_5291" dir="ltr">7 COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.1 Nominating and Elections:<br style="" class="">This committee will have overall responsibility for the election of Board members according to the <br style="" class="">By laws and the established Policies & Procedures of the Board (see MCPB Elections Policy in the <br style="" class="">MCPB
Policy Binder). It will recommend election procedures as necessary.
The nominating committee shall recommend to the Board candidates for all
vacancies to be filled on the Board of Directors; will oversee the
actual election process; and will declare the winners. Annual
evaluations of current Board members will be conducted by this
committee. This committee will include the Secretary of the
Corporation.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.2 Finance:<br style="" class="">This committee has responsibility for working with management on the annual budget and <br style="" class="">recommending it to the Board, according to the terms of these Policies & Procedures. In creating <br style="" class="">the
annual budget and plan, the Finance Committee will work closely with
the Fund Raising Committee on the income plan: and with all appropriate
committees on the expense plan.<br style="" class="">In addition, this
committee will work with management and with the Long Range Planning
Committee to produce and update Three Year Budgets. It will regularly
review fiscal procedures and reports of the station, select the
independent auditor for the annual audit, and generally oversee the
finances of the corporation according to the By-laws and Policies and
Procedures of the <br style="" class="">corporation. The Treasurer will serve on the Finance committee.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.3 Fund Raising and Membership:<br style="" class="">This committee is responsible for creating the annual income plans incorporating all possible aspects of producing income. It will produce Project Planning Proposals for each income project, participate where appropriate in the execution of the income projects, and review the success of the
income projects. This committee will oversee Membership development
programs, including Public Relations, Marathons and the Program guide.
The Program Guide will be produced jointly by staff, this committee and
the Programming Committee.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.4 Personnel:<br style="" class="">Revisions adopted by the board in March 2006: This committee is responsible for reviewing and <br style="" class="">recommending
personnel policies for the corporation, as well as establishing
evaluation procedures for station staff. This committee will perform
an annual evaluation of the General Manager. In addition, this committee
will review staff employment contracts and benefit packages. The
General Manager Hiring Committee will include at least one Board member
from the Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee will hear and
recommend action on personnel grievances that are not resolved at staff level.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.5 Long Range Planning:<br style="" class="">This committee is responsible for creating and updating the 3-year Plan, in coordination with the <br style="" class="">Finance Committee. This committee will regularly consider long range issues facing all aspects of <br style="" class="">the station and prepare recommendations to the Board.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.6 Programming:<br style="" class="">This committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending all programming policies and <br style="" class="">guidelines to ensure fulfillment of the station mission.<br style="" class=""><br style="" class="">7.7 Equipment and Construction:<br style="" class="">This committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending policies, procedures and projects <br style="" class="">related to the maintenance and improvement of the corporation's physical plant, including the <br style="" class="">offices, studios, equipment, transmission capabilities, etc.<br style="" class=""></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>