WBCR-LP 97.7FM, Great Barrington Community Radio

Meeting Minutes 4/24/07

Agenda:

I) Summer 07 Schedule / New Programmer Training

II) New Policy Regarding Programmers Under 18

III) Vibrant Living

IV) Fundraising & Publicity Committee: Raffles

V) Programmers Receiving Complimentary Concert Tickets  

Voting Members Present

Todd Lewis, chair

Ben Shalles

Frank Tolopko

Andy Potter

Nick Ring

Ann Condon

Dan White

Also Present:

Deborah Alecson

I) Summer Schedule

Work resumed on the summer schedule.  There were a total of 13 new program applications, eleven from new, untrained applicants and two from present programmers.  There were also 9 requests from present programmers to alter their shows or time slots.

One of the new show applications from a present programmer was from Orlando Vargas who is one of the programmers for La Voz de Esperanza which airs on Thursday evenings.  Presently Orlando and a co-host rotate every other week with another host and co-host team.  Due to differing opinions over the direction and content Orlando wishes to leave La Voz de Esperanza and begin a new show, Sustainable Dialog in the same alternating time slot.  The committee approved this.  The second application from a present programmer was from Andy Potter for a show named Live at the MarketplaceӔ (or a close facsimile, the shows name is not finalized) would be broadcast live each Saturday from the Great Barrington Farmers market from 11am Җ noon.

Of the remaining eleven new applications there were 5 applications for talk/topical shows, 5 applications for music based shows and 1 application for a mixed talk/music show.  Among the applicants were three student aged applicants.  Two of the student/applicants would co-host one show. 

One of the student/appilcants is the daughter of a present programmer and will share that programmers slot.  That left ten new shows needing time slots.  The committee was able to place all the new shows in the schedule and was able to place them all in the first or second choice time slots each incoming programmer had requested.

The matter of training was discussed.  Committee member Todd Lewis will handle the logistics of the training and the training itself will be done by programmer/intern Sam Schrager.  The training will take place on Mondays-Thursdays during the 5:30-7pm time slot.

The present programmerҒs requests were addressed.  Most were granted but the schedule did not allow for all requests, particularly requests for more air-time, to occur.

The new schedule is available in the online calendar section of the programs section of the website. It is listed in the pull down menu on the right side of the page as Summer ScheduleӔ  Please refer to it for specifics.

During the scheduling discussion the issue of under 18 year old programmers needing/having parental permission and adult supervision while in the studio or on air.  Discussion ensued and a new policy was passed.  The committee voted unanimously* that all programmers under 18 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian to apply for a show and programmers under 16 would require the supervision of an adult 18 years or older.  A draft of the policy would be drawn up and submitted to the board for approval.

*It should be noted that committee member Nick Ring had not yet arrived at the meeting and did not take place in this vote.

II) Vibrant Living

Further discussion of the Vibrant Living show was next.  Committee member Ann Condon had several e-mail communications with host Glenn Brooks regarding the fact that Glenn had not yet heard from the committee regarding the committees ruling from the meeting of 4/17/07.  Ann informed him of the committeeҒs ruling in her communication with him.  She put forth the request that the committee expedite their communication of the ruling to Glenn and Donna Brooks.  She submitted a draft for the committees consideration.  Small changes were made and it was decided the letter would be submitted by Scott Marks who had chaired the discussion wherein the ruling was made.

III) Publicity/Fundraising

Andy Potter, committee member and chair of the fundraising and publicity committee requested a future agenda item that would consider the program committeeҒs input on the possibility of on-air fundraising raffles.  It was discussed that all on-air premiums or give-aways should be 1) recorded 2) reported to the programming committee and 3) programmers would not be eligible to win such items.  Further discussion is scheduled for the next meeting (5/1/07, 7pm).

IV) Complimentary Tickets

The subject of programmers accepting complimentary tickets to shows of artists/performers they have interviewed or featured on-air was again discussed.  Committee member Todd Lewis advised the committee of a discussion he had with programmer Phil Johnson on Sat 4/21/07. 

Phil had contacted committee chair Todd Lewis via e-mail over the weekend regarding receiving tickets for the performance of an artist he was going to interview on-air on Sunday 4/22.  As the committee would not meet before the show in question after discussion Todd called Phil and after discussion advised Phil that it was his opinion that the committee would approve his accepting the tickets based of the following information:

1) The artists management offered the tickets clearly as part of PhilҒs radio-journalistic experience with the artist and in no way requested or expected favorable coverage in exchange for the tickets.

2) Phil had been very forthcoming to the committee through the entire process.

The committee, in the discussion of Todds decision, concurred. 

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10pm.

→ Posted by atimpane on 04/27/2007 at 11:15 AM. Filed under "minutes".