KKK on Facebook: WHAT WE STAND FOR

Committee to Keep KBOO as KBOO · 74 like this.8 hours ago ·

STATEMENT FROM THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP KBOO AS KBOO

– WHAT WE STAND FOR
-- CANDIDATES WE ENDORSE


We believe in KBOO as a listener-supported non-commercial community
radio station, and we reject the contention that the listener supported
model, successful for the past 45 years, is “no longer sustainable.”

We do not agree that KBOO will go extinct unless it abandons its basic
values and makes fundamental changes in the way it carries out its
mission. We believe that KBOO’s programming -- telling truth to power,
speaking to and for the 99%, presenting grass roots authentic music,
avoiding commercialism, covering the multitude of local culture and
organizations -- can win a large audience, particularly because KBOO is
the only mass media in the Portland area that consistently presents that
programming.

We do not accept that KBOO has to “corporatize” to survive.

Corporatization involves toning down or eliminating controversial
programming. The corporatizers would dismiss most staff, who today and
for nearly all for KBOO’s history concentrated on training, supervising,
and evaluating volunteers, particularly on air, to insure quality radio
production. The fired staff and many locally produced shows would be
replaced by nationally syndicated productions as well as a “development”
staff seeking corporate, government, foundation, and rich people’s
grants and gifts. And the corporatizers would concentrate power in an
Executive Director, advised by a policy Board, thus marginalizing
membership, staff voice, and its committee structure.

Those
who support corporatization think it is realistic. We think it suicidal,
alienating our core of devoted volunteers, supporters, and members who
appreciate our current mix of national and mostly local programming and
our democratic participatory character. These, who make up our base of
programming and support, will vote with their feet and checkbook, and
abandon KBOO. This route to utter failure is not uncommon. Basic
Business School texts examine the terrible results when once successful
and healthy enterprises, having a bad year or two or three, but still
with a loyal following, move into panic mode and conclude they have to
quickly increase income, then “rebrand” and find a new trendy product
line, often in an area in which they are poorly equipped to compete.
These enterprises almost always painfully die. As the business school
texts emphasize, to maintain and build an enterprise in KBOO’s
condition, with traditions and a large loyal customer/membership base,
requires building on its strengths, improving its product line, and
building its base of support.

We believe that the listener-supported model is at the heart and soul of KBOO.
As for the last 45 years, to this day members continue to provide KBOO’s primary support whenever they are asked.

We believe that together we can get KBOO back on its feet.


For several years, during the long economic downturn, KBOO has run
deficits. This year, management at KBOO tried something dramatically
different. The 2013 budget was set with an expectation of raising more
than 20% of KBOO’s revenue from “major donor support,” “business
contributions,” and “fundraising and co-sponsorships.” This strategy has
not worked. None of these sources has produced the sums hoped for. KBOO
is projected to end this fiscal year with a deficit of $50,000 or more,
primarily because the Board and the New Executive Director cancelled
the Fall Membership Drive in expectations of grants and major donor
gifts that have not materialized.

We do not believe this
enlarged deficit signals the demise of KBOO. We do believe that it is
time to go back to basics - to our current members and to build
membership. KBOO, because it practices what it preaches, that is
democracy and confidence in one another, has hundreds of committed
volunteers, supporters, and alumni, who will reach out to friends and
the organizations the are active in to provide financial support to the
radio station that serves them and contributes to Portland’s highly
participatory organizational and civic culture. We see this as the way
to restore KBOO’s financial health.

What needs to be done?

KBOO has financial reserves that will allow it to survive this deficit.
KBOO’s loyal listeners and friends continue to support its work. The
2013 Pledge Drives, those that were held, exceeded expectations.
Underwriting support from our loyal business supporters is continuing to
grow. And KPOJ, with its generally progressive hosts, did cut into our
audience, but has been shut down by its corporate owner, and we will
reach out to that audience.

We believe that KBOO has to concentrate its attention on increasing membership, which will require:
-- Building a more active relationship with current members and reaching out to former members.
-- Introducing ourselves to people who do not yet know about KBOO, especially those who listened to KPOJ.

-- Reaching out to the organizations that we serve, the whole range of
civic and social justice and environmental groups, whose staff and
members we often interview and feature on KBOO, seeking their support
including promoting KBOO to their membership.

As to grants and
gifts, we will operate smart and creative, taking advantage of real
opportunities but never relying on what so many dead and forgotten
organizations came to learn, that these funders rarely provide long term
support, and once dependent on grants and gifts, the organization has
to increasingly bend its goals to fit those of its funders, thus
undermining its own mission.

We believe that KBOO can restore
its member base to 6000 and beyond, and restore a broad base of
financial support. This has been the model that KBOO has used for 45
years. We know it has worked, and we believe it must and can work still.

What about the coming election?

An important KBOO election is coming up. The ballots have already been
mailed to its membership, the votes to be counted late next month,
September 15th at KBOO’s annual membership meeting at which ballots can
still be cast. This election has candidates from both this Committee to
Keep KBOO as KBOO and those who would corporatize KBOO. Election results
will thus greatly influence KBOO policy on meeting its current
challenges. The Committee to Keep KBOO as KBOO has endorsed five
candidates for the four open positions. They are, Jen Davis, Adin
Rogovin, Robin Ryan, Joe Uris, and Michael Wells.


My board goals are to build listenership, build membership, stabilize station
finances and work with members, volunteers, staff and board to promote
organizational stability and effectiveness. KBOO operates in an entirely
different media environment than 10 or 20 years ago. We also need to figure
out KBOO’s role in building and supporting community in a rapidly changing
society – as a resource, an advocate and a model organization. I was Station
Manager from 1978-1981, another time when KBOO was in turmoil. I have an
FCC General license and can talk to engineers. I have taught grant writing at
Portland State and wrote a book on nonprofit finances.

Michael Wells, Board Candidate


Like you, I love and revere the free media, uncensored information,
community connections and musical and cultural diversity which KBOO
brings to our lives. As a young woman in the 1990s I was first involved
with KBOO answering phones, then created a special KBOO program on
homelessness. KBOO folks welcomed me with open arms to learn
recording and production skills, and I went out and taped many other
programs . I have served on two Boards; the Garden Laboratory School
and Orlo Environmental Arts. In these and other positions I’ve helped
hire staff, problem solve with diverse groups, do public outreach and

organizational
development, write grants, negotiate contracts, and work with budgets.


Jen Davis, Board Candidate
KBOO has a unique blend of news, public affairs programming and
varied music that speak to many diverse and underserved communities.
This programming must be supported and strengthened. Changing
listener habits, new technologies and options together with a failure to
adequately maintain the membership base and seek out new listeners
have put the station in great danger. If elected to the board my first
priorities would be to increase support through: better region wide
publicity, stronger efforts to regain and add members, stronger graphic
presentation of programming, a strong presence on social media, making
KBOO more accessible and financially secure. These efforts at
transparency and public outreach in addition to adding more listeners

and members will also
make the station a more democratic organization.
Joe Uris, Board Candidate


There’s an element of public service in the role of journalists that I
don’t see honored at or in other media. The community radio station
stands bravely prepared to gather news according to the high standard of
actually informing community .
Robin Ryan, Board Candidate


My experience in financial management, group facilitation, and social change
are assets I will bring to the KBOO Board and community. My relevant
experience includes 20 years of service on non-profit Boards and Staff including
Seven Generations Land Trust, The Center for Wise Democracy, Climate Neutral
Network, Alpha Farm Community, Veterans for Peace, Trillium Hollow
Cohousing, and New Orleans Community Congress II.
Adin Rogovin, Board Candidate

What you can do.
We urge you to:
· Go to our Facebook page, that provides more detail and background on our analysis and program.

· Become a KBOO member and a radioactivist in alternative
community people’s radio and join with us in the Committee to Keep KBOO
as KBOO.
· Vote in the coming KBOO election.
For More Information email KeepKBOO9@gmail.com, leave your phone #, and we’ll get right back to you.

Lori Ubell
Trucha Danzante (Jim Dancingtrout)