[Kzyxtalk] Nonprofit membership groups _ require real dialog with members

[King Collins]

Scott Peterson said:

> t was like KZYX on steroids .. opaque to the point of absurdity .. 

while claiming transparency .. Dear Scott and friends,

One of the main reasons I have stuck with the KZYX situation for 12 years or so is my belief that NONPROFIT MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS are a key part of our democracy, perhaps more important than voting every couple of years. And yet we watch powerless as these groups devolve into little fiefdoms and destroy their own mandated democratic process. I totally support calling out these false groups.

After all this time, I am not (just) for electing better individuals to head these groups. but instead for instituting STRUCTURAL (BYLAW) CHANGES to force them to engage in democratic dialog with those who elected them. In the case of KZYX, it would make a big difference if the elected directors were REQUIRED to bring themselves, frequently, in front of the public to describe what they have done and why. From there solutions will be found. Not a quasi-public meeting of the board (Viva Jeff Wright!) allowing a couple minutes of "public comment." But a real back and forth with the members, and not just an on-air meeting (which is a good start) but also in a real platform for dialog, like the on-line discussion at KZYXtalk.  

I have asked board members many times to simply (dare to) engage KZYXtalk, to endure the criticism of members and to explain themselves. These "directors"  consider themselves above that. They seem to be afraid of being called our or accused. Gutless wonders. Not one has ever enjoined the discussion here, where people like you can put questions to them and they would have to answer. 

We stand in the vortex of a great revolution in technology than makes real democracy possible, and yet our leadership continues to reinforce the deadening process of top-down organization. Thanks for your help on this Scott, Dennis and Marco, et. al. --king

From The Secret LIfe of KZYX:

Community Control : The Larger Picture
What is going on with public and community media— including television, radio, internet and print—is important for a lot of reasons. It is often said that a democracy requires that everyone have access to information and opinion. That has always been true. But at this moment, we stand on the brink of a breathtaking change in communication. Computer or “digital” technology is opening the door to interactive, back and forth, communication at all levels of government and social life.
Real popular control over community media is now technically possible. I don’t claim to know a lot about that technology, but “we” regular folks had better set up some structures (local media committees, perhaps) to keep us all informed about what is happening. Our city councils and the county board of supervisors are and will be making important decisions about our public media and communications infrastructure. Much of the infra- structure (telephone lines, fiber-optic, satellite, cable modem, DSL, ISDN) is beyond the scope of this publication except to point out that public control over communications requires some of us, at least, to think about it.
Popular control of local media is neither a Republican nor a Democratic issue, neither conservative nor liberal. The desire for more control over our lives crosses the usual political borders. Everyone wants it.
King Collins. 2005
http://www.greenmac.com/hiddenAgenda/report-PDF/SL1_KZYX_2005(2010).pdf


On May 11, 2016, at 11:32 PM, Scott Peterson wrote:

> yeah, I know .. it's off topic .. but just attended a Mendocino Art Center board meeting tonight .. 
> 
> 
> it was like KZYX on steroids .. opaque to the point of absurdity .. 
> 
> 
> while claiming transparency .. 
> 
> 
> I'll post the video here soon .. look for parallels .. 
> 
> 
> Scott M. Peterson
> 
> 
> Mendocino
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> Kzyxtalk mailing list
> Kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org
> http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk

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