WBCR-LP 97.7FM, Great Barrington Community Radio

Minutes of 5/1/07 Meeting

Programming Committee Meeting 5/1/07

7pm

Present

Voting members                     Also Present

NIck Ring                             Ananda Timpane

Ben Shalles                           Phil Tierney

Ann Condon                           MayBeth Merritt

Dan White                             Glenn Brooks

Frank Tolopko                         Donna Brooks

Todd Lewis

Agenda

1) Glenn Brooks Appeal of the Removal of Vibrant Living From Summer Schedule

2) Finalization of Summer Schedule

3) New Programmer Training

4) Middle School Show Liazon

1) Glenn and Donna Brooks appeared before the committee to appeal the committeeҒs decision not to renew the application for their show, Vibrant Living,  for the upcoming summer term (see minutes of 4/24/07 programming committee meeting). 

Glenn Brooks spoke and expressed disatisfaction with the process of communication between himself and the committee, both in the events leading up to the non-renewal of his shows applcation. He felt he had not been given sufficient warning leading up to the suspension of his show. He acknowledged an occurance on his show promoting a website called saabnet.com had come very close to promoting saabs and the guests business.Ҡ He re-iterated his letter of appeal to the committee wherein he denied ever using his show on WBCR as a a vehicle for his personal business. He expressed a passion for being on radio and sharing his message.

Donna Brooks also expressed disatisfaction with what she refered to as speculation on the committeeԒs part and felt there should have been more witten communication between Glenn and the committee.

The committee then questioned Glenn about incidents they still had concerns. The primary topic was a pair of shoes that was shipped to Glenn by a guest he had on his show on WBCR-LP. The committee had become aware of this occurance when the guests publicist left a message on the stationҒs telephone regarding the shoes and requesting a trnscript of the show. There were also questions regarding Glenns familiarity with FCC regulations regarding recieving gifts from people connected with his radio show.

Next Glenn reiterated his passion for radio and expressed his desire to remain on the air at WBCR.

The committee then met in a closed session and discussed their findings. They voted unanimously* not to overturn their decision of 4/17/07. As such Vibrant Living will not be included in the schedule beginning 6/1/07. It was also decided that committee members would each would write a brief paragraph about the reasoning behind their decisions.

*Committee member Ann Condon recinded her vote the following morning and chose to abstain.

The committee members will write individual closing opinions outlining the reasoning and thought behind their votes. When these are complete they will be made part of the programming committees record.

2) Finalization of Summer Schedule

After making contact with numerous programmers regarding the schedule the committee was able to finalize the schedule. The final schedule is now available on the website. If you go to the front page choose to see the online calendar and from the pull down menu on the right select ?summer schedule

3) New Programmer Training

Sam Schrager, who is our high school intern, is handling the bulk of the training and by all accounts is doing a fine job. Todd Lewis and Tim Schaffer are also involved. There was some discussion regarding who is qualified to ?sign off on new programmers; who will judge when they are ready to go on the air. It was decided that Sam will decide when he thinks they are ready and then the programmer will have one session with their respective day captain who will sign off on them.

Ann Condon, Ben Shalles and Nick Ring will handle policy training.

Dan White will assemble programmer folders for all new programmers and the present programmers who do not have folders.

4) Middle School Liazon

A new liazon for the will need to be chosen from the committee or from among programmers.   That person will work with Donna Astion, from MVMS, regarding the middle school show?s return in the fall.

→ Posted by Todd Lewis on 05/17/2007 at 06:32 PM. Filed under "minutes".