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Proposal for the establishment of a General Board
2-6-02

FIRST DRAFT 2/6/02

by Roger Manning, NYC - Pacifica Listener, webmaster@wbai.net

The General Board (GB) of a Pacifica radio station will be an official body of the station/foundation comprised of listener members and staff. (serving in many ways similar to how The Concerned Friends of WBAI has unofficially served.)

GB meetings would be held on a regular basis with the option to call addition meetings as needed. The regular meetings could be monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly - to be determined.

FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL BOARD:

I   VOTING

1)Yearly election of the Station Board (aka:LAB)
2) Occasional binding referendum regarding national or local Policy. (details to be determined)
3) Non-binding resolutions, requests, suggestions to National and local boards and management.

There would be 2 levels of voter qualification:

Level one voters would vote in the Station board elections and on the binding referendum. These voters would receive pin number ballots (as in Berkeley) and would be able to vote by mail or however that is set up. In my opinion the qualifications for level one voter status would be best determined by the "participatory model" which requires a certain amount of volunteer hours.

Level two voters would be able to vote on the 3rd category of items: non-binding resolutions etc. These votes would take place at GB meetings and any listener or staff present would be able to vote. Level two voters would also be able to contribute to public comment regarding level one items.

This system provides for greater inclusion and encourages greater personal involvement while providing a substantial level of assurance that important issues are decided by informed, caring people. Level one status will be reasonably accessible as the formation of the GB will facilitate increased opportunity to volunteer.

II   FACILITATE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE STATION/FOUNDATION STAFF AND MANAGEMENT

Currently, the only official local public access to decision makers are the crowded LAB meetings where the public has no vote. The existence of a GB will make it easier for the Station Board meetings to function.

III   FACILITATE BRINGING TOGETHER THE LISTENERSHIP AS A RESOURCE

The station/foundation staff and management can bring tasks to the GB. Outreach/promotion, fundraising, input on programming, input on governance are some areas. The training aspect of Pacific's mission can carried out by staff working within the GB. The GB will be an excellent breeding ground for solid, educated listener member-voters, well rounded station staff, and future board members.

IV   SOME OFFICERS NEEDED

There should probably be yearly election of at least a chair and a secretary. These should be unpaid positions. Any listener or staff would be eligible. Individuals from management would not be. Level one voters would elect; probably the easiest way would to put these candidates on the ballot during the Station Board elections. A treasurer might be considered, but shouldn't be necessary as the GB budget requirements would be met by the station. The main role of the GB board chair would be to facilitate a rotating cast of meeting chairs and be up on Robert's Rules.

V   COMMITTEES

Of course there will be committees of all kinds!


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