[Kzyxtalk] [MCN-Discussion]- attempted correction of dialog break between Sheila Dawn and Cindy Swan

[Cindy Swan]

Well, Beth,  to clarify:

Here's my original response to John Sakowitz;
FOLLOWED by Sheila's (complete) reply.
SD and I are not of the same mind, or body
as your (mashed together) post might suggest.
Never even met her.

If I had, I might have encouraged her
to "hold off" and see what
more community involvement
and a change
of Board membership might accomplish—
rather than go straight to the FCC, et al.

Saco appears to be a tar-baby . .
now, King rides in to save us
from all the discord?
All this reminds me
of very bad election campaigns
and Rovian monkey-wrenching.

Altho, if I could, I would support
Doug McKenty.
<http://mendocinotv.com/2014/02/10/the-shift-interviews-community- 
organizer-and-educator-paul-cienfuegos>

I always learn something new from his interviews.
Reminds me of Norm deVall, "back in the day".
Hey Norm - where's the ACCESS program?
Why not interview John Coate & Mary Ainger?

~C.


From: 	  cswan at willitsonline.com
	Subject: 	Re: [Kzyxtalk] Saco4 at comcast.net
	Date: 	February 11, 2014 1:40:01 PM PST
	To: 	  kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org
	Cc: 	  announce at lists.mcn.org, discussion at lists.mcn.org

Becoming Conscious: The Science of Mindfulness:
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TeWvf-nfpA>

In my mind, public radio is about
encouraging/expanding creative opportunities
for positive, community-building dialogue.
Whether via music, poetry, stories, interviews . . .
folks can share insights and perspectives.

Taking direct action to threaten the license
(i.e. control of the airwaves)
PRIOR to allowing
your community of listeners
to participate in the (albeit slow) democratic process
of upcoming elections, (and subsequent decisions
made on behalf of those they represent)
. . .  appears to be the antithesis of the above

With all due respect, John,
It's difficult to "trust" someone wielding
a bully club.
~C.


From: 	  sheila.dawn50 at yahoo.com
	Subject: 	Re: [Kzyxtalk] Saco4 at comcast.net
	Date: 	February 12, 2014 10:30:52 PM PST
	To: 	  kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org
	Cc: 	  announce at lists.mcn.org, discussion at lists.mcn.org
	Reply-To: 	  kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org

Cindy,
I want to respond that the station itself aired the announcement that  
the FCC was asking for input on how the station did or did not meet  
the needs of its community.
Having reported on the KZYX Board for almost three years and read  
their Bylaws & Board Policies thoroughly, I would point out to the  
Board when I found they were out of compliance. Not only were all my  
efforts in vain, I was routinely ignored and then blackballed from  
volunteering at the station altogether.

I encouraged people to write to the FCC, not with the purpose of  
having the license revoked but as a public service to right a listing  
ship.

There are a lot of good programs on KZYX but the mgmt. and Bd. are  
not following the mission statement to allow the community to be  
active participants in the decision making process. Some obvious  
areas the community is not being served is in children's programming  
and in having some programming targeted for the Native American &  
Hispanic population.

There is an atmosphere of disrespect for anyone who doesn't agree  
with the programming decisions made by the General Manager and the  
Program Director More importantly, there is a chilling attempt to  
silence any opposition that threatens to diversify the control now  
consolidated in the hands of the few. The station gets federal money  
to ensure that the station exists for the good of the community and  
not for the interests of a power elite as in private corporations.

What many who are trying to create change peaceably through the  
rights established in the station's Bylaws are fighting for is the  
simple right of the members to communicate with each other. This  
threatens mgmt. because if the members continue to be ignored or  
sidelined from participating in influencing programming & policy  
decisions, they have the right to hold a membership meeting. If a  
certain percentage agree, the Bylaws give the members the right to  
establish binding new law-- that is a democratic option of management  
from the bottom up instead of the top down.

This is meant to be used as a protection to the community nature of a  
public radio station. Needless to say,it has never been tested.

Management is currently withholding the membership list under a  
provision in State Corporate law that says they may provide other  
options so they are telling us they will send out our message but at  
our expense.

This may well end up in court but it is the least desire able outcome.
The General Mgr. at KMUD told me that if the membership wanted to  
hold a meeting, her job would be to facilitate it. Instead what we  
have at KZYX is a deliberate intent to obstruct.

I hope this clarifies the position of KZYX Members for Change which  
is not always in sync with individual actions.

I do support Sakowicz in his efforts to bring attention to the  
numerous deliberate discriminations of mgmt. to selected individuals  
especially in light of the fact that he is an elected Executive  
Officer of the Bd.

with responsibility to oversee station finances and is being  
prevented from exercising his responsibility by the actions of the  
General Manager.

The station has had ample opportunity to balance the power struggle  
that now threatens FCC intervention. It is no ones fault but their  
own that they have chosen to sit by idly, if not with complicity, to  
foul their own nest.

Respectfully,
Sheila Dawn Tracy



>
> FROM: John Sakowizc
>
> On Feb 11, 2014, at 11:03 AM, sako4 at comcast.net [2] wrote:
> With all due respect, Tim, it is central to my duties as a Board
> member to report what I perceive to be violations of the law.
> Board Directors at what the FCC calls a "non-commercial" station are
> sworn to uphold the highest standards for corporate governance, which
> include: accounting and audit oversight (including bank borrowings and
> other off-balance-sheet transactions); board independence; corporate
> responsibility; internal controls assuring participation of the
> public in both management decisions and programming decisions;
> restoring and maintaining public confidence in station management;
> maintaining the tower, repeaters and all other equipment; compliance
> with all federal regulations (including EEO compliance and
> diversity); meeting all public interest obligations and obligations
> for localism;  and assuring protection for programmers and news
> reporters from all forms of censorship and interference while
> providing protections for investigative journalists and
> whistle-blowers.
> These are my legal duties, and I can be held criminally and civilly
> liable for failing to uphold these duties as a Board Director.
> On all boards and commissions on which I serve, my personal style is
> to be aggressive about inspecting all records, policing the conduct
> of management, assuring quality control of services, and enforcing
> compliance with the law, corporate by-laws, and other specific
> mandates.
> In the past and by way of example, I helped identify an improper
> diversion of $9.6 million in county contributions at the county
> retirement system. The retirement system could have lost its
> tax-exempt status. Fortunately, we're in discussions and negotiations
> with the IRS for a Voluntary Correction Program (VCP).
> I was also involved in the Ukiah Sanitation District's $28 million
> lawsuit against the City of Ukiah for breach of contract and breach
> of fiduciary duty.
> I'm also all over the City of Ukiah's sweetheart contract with >The
> people trust us -- the people trust us, especially the voiceless.
> Public radio gives them a voice.
> Never forget that.
>
> -------------------------
>
> FROM: Tim Bray
> From: "Tim Bray"
> TO: kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org [4]
> SENT: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 9:25:10 AM
> SUBJECT: Re: [Kzyxtalk] full text of my complaint to the FCC
>
> John, this was irresponsible and a direct contravention of your
> duties as a Board member.  You should be ashamed of yourself.
>
>  It's purely grandstanding, as you well know the FCC is not going to
> reach down and pluck John Coate out of his position.  (If you really
> thought they would, then you aren't as smart as I think you are.)
>
>  By asking them to suspend the station's license, you have
> deliberately risked the existence of community radio in Mendocino
> County.  You're willing to take away the station so many people have
> come to depend upon, just because you don't like the way it is
> managed.  That is a shocking level of hubris and self-righteousness.
>
>  You are on a Board of Directors.   We elected you to help keep the
> station going, not to tear it down  You are supposed to be working
> with the other Directors to accomplish the positive changes many of
> us would like to see, but it seems you have not been able to do
> that.  It's one thing to put up a slate of candidates to change the
> Board, it's something else entirely to monkey-wrench the licensing
> process.  By doing so you have lost my respect, and diminished
> support for those associated with you.
>
>  Sincerely,
>  Tim Bray
>  --
> Oak & Thorn [5]
>  Facebook: Oak and Thorn
>


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