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Minutes of KPFT Interim Local Advisory Board Meeting
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Meeting Information |
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Date and Time |
1/10/2002, 7PM |
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Location |
Leisure Learning |
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Chair |
Deborah Shafto |
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Recorder |
Dan Jones |
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Purpose |
Regular meeting |
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Attendance |
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Name |
4 |
Name |
4 |
Name |
4 |
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Teresa Allen |
4 |
Hep Ingham |
4 |
Rick Pothoff |
4 |
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Duane Bradley |
4 |
Dan Jones |
4 |
Christine Sagstetter |
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Rachel Clarke |
Glenda Kizzee |
George Reiter |
4 |
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Margaret Davis |
Robin Lewis |
4 |
Deb Shafto |
4 |
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Ben DeSoto |
Marcello Marini |
Charles Smith |
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Greg Gieselman |
4 |
Mary Ann Martinez |
4 |
Ted Weisgal |
4 |
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Carol Holst |
Michael Pimental |
4 |
Mark Wilde |
4 |
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Agenda |
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Item |
Subject |
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1 |
Introductions Introduction of Board and listeners in audience, as well as station staff Interim GM Steve Brightwell, Phil Edwards and Donna Platt. Several volunteer programmers were also in attendance |
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2 |
Next Meeting of iLAB set for 1/18/02 at 7P at Leisure Learning After some discussion about a possible meeting at KPFT, site was moved to LLU, with possible station open house prior to meeting. |
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3 |
Overview of Creation of the iLAB Presented by Dan Jones, with some audience questions about timetable of elections and voting process. |
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4 |
Resolutions for upcoming iPNB meeting Resolution presented to seek recognition of the iLAB as the official KPFT LAB, after noting that current KPFT LAB is out of compliance was presented by Greg Gieselman. There was also discussion of an alternate motion to seek creation of separate KPFT advisory governance and programming committees for to be organized by Houston iPNB representative Teresa Allen. iLAB voted unanimously to approve both resolutions with presentation first of the Gieselman proposal seeking iLAB recognition, to be followed (if unsuccessful) by the resolution proposing creating of separate programming and governance committees.. |
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5 |
Overview of National Pacifica Situation Presented by Teresa Allen and Dan Jones. The importance of attending the 1/11-1/13 iPNB meeting in New York was stressed. |
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6 |
General Manager Selection Process There was broad consensus that the next manager would be a local person. A possible process for interviewing and selecting candidates in executive session of the iLAB was discussed. Several participants favored formulating an approach after public comment at next meeting. |
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7 |
Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM |
Below is a report by Hep Ingham on the meeting.
Pacifica activists, community listeners and station staff meet to discuss the future of KPFT.
HOUSTON (Jan 10,2001) - Tonight, Pacifica activists, community listeners and
KPFT station staff met for the first time in recent memory, resulting in the
first ever open house for ALL listeners of KPFT. This historic moment came
on the back of the Houston interim Local Advisory Board (iLAB) meeting to
discuss a resolution making the iLAB the official KPFT LAB. Other issues,
such as appointing a General Manager and issues of community voting were
discussed. But the big moment came when interim General Manager Steve
Brickwell stated "I've been in radio for 30 years, I've been an interim GM
at several stations. I don't want to do programming, I don't want to be the
permanent manager, I want you all to tell me what you need." The iLAB,
including Dan Jones, Deb Shafto, Duane Bradley, and others decided to hold
the next LAB meeting in the station, something that hadn't been done in over
5 years according to former programmer Otis McClay.
The agreement to hold the meeting in the station triggered the idea of an
open house, open to the listening public. The crowd of approximately 50 people
clapped and cheered, most of whom had never heard a word concerning the
fight to reclaim Pacifica, only aware that they had be made unwelcome at the
station. Former staff and programmers told of their years
at the station and how they were driven off or left because they couldn't
stomach the changes occurring under the then new management of Garland
Ganter.
Becase of listeners lack of knowledge about the struggle, iLAB members and KPFT
staff agreed to produce a program reporting the outcome of this weekend's Pacifica National
Board meeting. The hour long show will be played several times in the coming weeks to
give listeners an accurate accounting of the battle to reclaim Pacifica.
The GM asked for a written statement concerning next Fridays meeting so that
he could produce an announcement.
Calls went out for audience members to submit their programming ideas to the
growing list of new proposals. Former programmer Torry Mercer stated "I
haven't seen this kind of energy since I was a 16 year old volunteer
programmer in 1976!" Mercer had already submitted proposals for a Beat
Poetry gig and a show covering youth oriented issues regarding proactive
solutions to teen problems.
The meeting adjourned at 9pm but activists and listeners mixed with staff
for 45 minutes until venue operator Ted Weisgal closed up shop. The spirit
of cooperation was the theme for the night as old time staff mixed with new
staff, street activists and hopeful listeners, jubilant at the possibilities
which lay ahead. Deb Shafto said it best, "I can't believe what I'm seeing,
this is amazing!
