[Kzyxtalk] Actual KZYX Policy Proposals - Communications, Elections, Committees

[Dennis OBrien]

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.
One of the goals of those seeking change is improving communication among programmers, members, and the community.  There are three ways by which MCPB/KZYX can use its internet resources to achieve that goal:

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 . . .
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 except 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.

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.

A second area of change involves the election process, specifically the policies that actually discourage membership and discussion.
 Although the deadline for becoming a member is December 31 of each year, themembership list is not certified and sent to the vendor for mailing ballotsuntil February 28, a full two months later. There is no need to exclude from voting those people who became membersin January and February.  Yet this isprecisely when interest in the election is at its highest, and when people would be most motivated to join.  Candidates must submit their applications andstatements by January 31.  Members andthe general public become aware of who is running and what the issues are.  But it is too late to join or renew and beeligible to vote.  Conversely, prior toDecember 31, everyone is involved in holiday activities with family andfriends, with little or no attention paid to the election. MCPB/KZYX should stop suppressing participation in thevoting process by allowing anyone who joins/renews by the date of certificationof the rolls (i.e., the last day of February) to be eligible to vote in thatyear's election.  Any earlier date isarbitrary and capricious and serves only one purpose, to suppress participationand voting by the membership and the listening public. The timing of the direct mail renewal notice (mid-January) currently does nothing to increase the number of eligible voters.  Concealing the simple-living membershiplevel of $25 per year actually reduces it.  An entire classof potential members is disenfranchised by management's refusal to put thisinformation 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.
Making our committees 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.
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 http://kzyx.org/images/pdf/MCPBBYLAWSAdopted12July2010.pdf for details.
Thanks to all for your continued interest in public media in Mendocino County and beyond.

Dennis O'Brien

7  COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1  Nominating and Elections:
This committee  will have overall responsibility for the election of Board members according to the 
By­ laws and the established  Policies & Procedures of the Board (see MCPB Elections Policy in the 
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.

7.2  Finance:
This committee has responsibility for working with management on the annual budget and 
recommending it to the Board, according to the terms of these Policies & Procedures.  In creating 
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.
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 
corporation.  The Treasurer will serve on the Finance committee.

7.3  Fund Raising and Membership:
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.

7.4  Personnel:
Revisions adopted by the board in March 2006: This committee is responsible for reviewing and 
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.

7.5  Long Range Planning:
This committee is responsible for creating and updating the 3-year Plan, in coordination with the 
Finance Committee.  This committee will regularly consider long range issues facing all aspects of 
the station and prepare recommendations to the Board.

7.6  Programming:
This committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending all programming policies and 
guidelines to ensure fulfillment of the station mission.

7.7  Equipment and Construction:
This committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending policies, procedures and projects 
related to the maintenance and improvement of the corporation's physical plant, including the 
offices, studios, equipment, transmission capabilities, etc.
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