October 21, 2009 GM Minutes (Annual Meeting)
October 21, 2009 General Membership Meeting (MEF Community Room – 60 Masonic Street)
Meeting began at 7:05 PM
Attending: Andy Sewell, Ed Russell, Arjuna Greist, Bob Gardner, Dana Prescott, Charles Merchand, Courtney Whitely (Preecha), Rikk Desgres, Tony Udell, Steve Cutting, Joel Saxe
Announcements: The Vote to renew the membership dues was pushed to the next GM – Wednesday, November 18.
AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS (amending number of board members require for Board of Directors) vote:
After discussion to change the proposed amendment language for clarity and to foster more participation; a vote was held to amend the bylaws:
“The size of the board shall be no less than five (5) and no more than nine (9) members.”
VOTE: 9 for; 1 opposed; 1 abstained – amendment passed.
Annual Board Election for new Board of Directors (serving beginning November 2009).
Candidates with submitted desire to serve: Bob Gardner; Steve Cutting; Steve Curylo; Tony Udell; Arjuna Greist
No additional persons at the meeting voiced desire to run.
**Reminder that a nominated person, including write-ins, must receive a minimum of 5 votes to obtain a board seat. All nominees receiving 5 or more votes will obtain a Board seat, if one is available. Board seats are based on plurality, meaning the person with the highest number of votes is appointed to the first available seat, then the next highest number of votes, until all seats are filled, or until no more nominees receiving 5 or more votes are left. **
Two Board members from the last Board who have a year left to serve are remaining on the Board (Tony Shannon and Katherine Reason). Due to the above passed Bylaw amendment, setting the board size to no less than 5; no more than 9, there are no less than 3, no more than 7 board seats available.
Voting Results (listed by highest number of votes obtained):
- Bob Gardner (11)
- Tony Udell (10)
- Arjuna Greist (9)
- Steve Cutting (8)
- Steve Curylo (8)
- Ed Russell (write-in) – Less than 5
- Joel Saxe (write-in) – Less than 5
The Board of Directors of Valley Free Radio, as of November 1, 2009 is:
Tony Shannon, Katherine Reason, Bob Gardner, Tony Udell, Arjuna Greist, Steve Cutting, Steve Curylo. The first Board Meeting will be Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7 pm at MEF. Board positions (co-chairs, clerk, other roles) to be determined at that meeting.
For ease of transition, both new board members and the most recent years’ board members will be on the board mailing list (board@valleyfreeradio.org). Board members leaving the board as of November 1 will be removed on November 1.
Congratulations to the new board members.
Pledge Week discussion
A discussion of the upcoming pledge week (Sunday, October 24 – Saturday, October 31) was initiated. There was scheduled to be more organizational meetings, but who was organizing, attending, and at what location was not clear. It was believed that an organizational meeting would be held Thursday, October 22 at 4.30 pm at the station – but that was not confirmed.
Among the items discussed, a few key items were determined:
- An option for processing Credit Cards would be obtained.
- Any premium offered to listeners making donations must be provided by and delivered by the programmer offering the premium.
- Programmers are not required to do non-stop promoting the fund drive during their slot time, but as much as possible to encourage listeners to either call in or pledge online.
- Volunteers to be a Day Captain for each of the 7 days of the pledge drive would be helpful in encouraging programmers to be in the station to help raise funds (more details below).
- The Voice Mail of the office line and the Automation Computer should be adjusted during the entire week to help promote the Pledge Drive.
- A Special Web Page on valleyfreeradio.org should be developed for the Pledge Drive.
- A Pledge Week goal of $7,000 was suggested (more details below).
Bob Gardner displayed a chart that broke down each day into 4 slots and asked people to volunteer to be present during the times to be on-air to promote the Pledge Drive. The time slots were: 8 am to Noon; Noon to 4 pm; 4 pm to 7 pm; and 7 pm to 11 pm. PLEASE CHECK THE CHART IN THE STATION TO SIGN UP FOR A SHIFT – MANY SHIFTS WERE CLAIMED AT THE GM, HOWEVER MANY MORE ARE OPEN.
Day Captains are responsible for getting volunteer programmers to fill in the slots for their day. They will also be responsible for getting all Pledge Information at the end of the day.
The Following people agreed to be Day Captains:
- Sunday (still Open)
- Monday (Arjuna Greist)
- Tuesday (Steve Cutting)
- Wednesday (Andy Sewell)
- Thursday (Tony Udell)
- Friday (Still Open)
- Saturday (Bob Gardner)
Since the Pledge Goal is $7,000 – each day goal is $1,000 and each slot goal is $250.
The Pledge Drive will end at Midnight, Saturday, October 31.
Door Code Change
The door code will be changed for both the outside building door and the station door effective Midnight, Saturday, October 31. The new door code will be provided to the Programming Committee, the Collective Liaisons, the Board and the Trainers. Programmers should receive the new door code from their liaisons on Sunday, November 1.
November Training / Work Day
Sunday, November 1 is the monthly Open House, Work Day and Training Day. All programmers are encouraged to attend.
Budget Discussion
Bob Gardner circulated a basic budget example to open discussion.
The discussion covered various avenues of income including the pledge drive (an possibly two such drives a year); expansion of underwriting; grants; the Pay-to-Play programmer option; and membership dues.
If all lines of income were developed well, it may open the feasibility to provide a small salary for a half-time station manager who would take on some daily duties as well as serve as a center point for station activity and communication.
Much discussion was had about this idea; but in general it was agreed that a center person would be a great step for the station and would address many of the ongoing issues in the station and the VFR community including training, equipment health, community awareness, station organization and many other areas.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.
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