<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Lawyers get me hot!<div><br></div><div> <div><div><div>On Feb 20, 2015, at 11:52 AM, Dennis OBrien wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px"><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7150"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7150"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7600" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Engaging with the Members and the Public</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7599" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7597" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7598" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There are several ways that the board and staff of MCPB/KZYX can increase their engagement with the members and the public, all of which are being underutilized or not used at all.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7596" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7640" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7639" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The first is the Community Advisory Board.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The CAB is required by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as a condition for receiving a grant from them, currently the largest source of funding for the station.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The CAB must be independent, geographically diverse, and hold enough meetings to give the public a realistic opportunity to provide input on the station’s programming and operations.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7641" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7643" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7642" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Although some CAB members are very conscientious about their duties, the CAB itself has not met these minimum requirements.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Its composition is limited; one member has the same address as a board member, which casts a doubt on both independence and geographical diversity.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the past two years, there has been only one meeting, and that one was telephonic, with many members shut out due to technical difficulties.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And the survey that the CAB was permitted to include with the ballots in last year’s election was flawed; a person had to say they disliked the station’s current policies before being allowed to vote on preferences for change.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7646" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7645" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7644" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In spite of these limitations, the CAB submitted a formal recommendation to the board of directors and station management for a second way they could increase their engagement, by participating in a regular call-in show that focused on the station’s business, perhaps once per month.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But after just one attempt, the recommendation has been ignored.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With the demise of Doug McKenty’s Open Lines show, there is no longer an on-air vehicle for discussion of the organization’s policies and procedures. The station itself is being underused.<br></span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7685" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7732" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7731" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A third way to improve engagement is to institute a Programming Council.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7740" class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In 2009, the board adopted a policy for a Programming Advisory Council that consisted of the program director, programmer reps, and community reps that would help decide who and what gets on the air.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That policy was never implemented, resulting in all decisions being made by one person, the program director, subject only to the general manager.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A Programming Council that has the final say on programming would help the programming reflect the diverse interests of the listening community, not just those of one or two people.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even if those one or two have the best interests of the people in mind, their decisions will appear arbitrary and capricious if they do not engage.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7776" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7739" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7738" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">A fourth way to improve engagement is via the internet, including the use of an email list.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our membership letters ask people to give us their email address so that they can be part of such a list.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Online donors are required to provide one, a “mandatory field”.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet there is still no way to send information to the members other that an expensive direct mailing.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many organizations, some much smaller than KZYX, use their email lists to send out periodic updates, perhaps quarterly, to keep their members and the public informed of recent happenings and upcoming events.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Of course, members would need to be able to opt out.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But choosing not to set up an email list for such communications – instant, widespread, and tree-free – is a waste of a resource.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7820" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7832" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7831" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">There have been other suggestions floated for increased engagement: a call-in comment line for those who prefer voice communications; more frequent board meetings with greater public input; a newsletter, perhaps in conjunction with the membership email list.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the board makes a policy decision to improve the organization’s engagement with the members and the public, then it will be appropriate to direct management/staff to institute these specific changes.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is not micro-managing; i<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>t is fulfilling the duty of every director to give direction to the organization and monitor its performance.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I firmly believe that the lack of engagement with the community has caused many of the problems being experienced by the station, and that increasing engagement must be part of any solution.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7843" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7855" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7854" class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">One other point.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Increasing engagement does not only help the organization and the listening public.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It helps those who engage.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember those conscientious CAB members I mentioned?<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They were at the last board meeting, full of knowledge, wisdom, and dedication, ready to help the station fulfill its mission, to serve the people of Mendocino County with county-wide public media.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We don’t just provide fulfillment for our own staff and programmers.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We provide it for everyone involved, and for each and every one of our listeners. <span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We are the stewards of the airwaves, and every moment is an opportunity to better the lives of our listeners.<span class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But if we don’t engage with the community, we will become what they fear, a small, insulated group that only promotes their own interests, not the peoples.<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7896" class="" style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And that will be the death of public radio in Mendocino County.</span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7880" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7881" class="" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><span class="" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dennis O’Brien</span></div> <div></div><div style="" class="" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1424456525297_7150"><br style="" class=""></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>Kzyxtalk mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Kzyxtalk@lists.mcn.org">Kzyxtalk@lists.mcn.org</a><br>http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk<br></blockquote></div><br></div></div></body></html>