Board Candidates’ Statements

Community radio has changed the course of my life. I was born and raised in Aix en Provence,
France, where there is no such thing as a volunteer-powered, community-supported radio movement.
In 2008, I began volunteering for WFHB community radio in Bloomington, IN, and quickly embraced
the new-found power that came with producing Native Spirit, a program bringing contemporary Native
American music and news to the airwaves. I moved to Portland in 2011, and KBOO was the first
place I visited. I joined the Bread and Roses collective in October 2011, and have been hosting,
producing and engineering quality feminist news and public affairs since.

I graduated with a Master’s degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies from Indiana
University in 2009, and returned to school last fall to pursue a Master’s degree in Multimedia
Journalism. My work with community radio convinced me that I have a voice, and that what I bring to
the discussion matters.

I have worked in the non-profit sector for years and served on the board of the Native American
Community Center of Bloomington, IN, from 2008 to 2011. I currently work for World Pulse, a
Portland-based global action media network powered by grassroots women journalists from 190
countries. I also teach audio storytelling workshops to teenagers in mental health facilities in the
Portland area.

I want to bring my skills and expertise to the KBOO board to ensure a bright, vibrant and revolutionary
future for our community radio and independent media.

Hello KBOO community! My name is Jennifer Davis, and I have been a longtime KBOO
listener/supporter/fan for over thirty years.

As a young woman in the 1990's, I was first involved with KBOO answering phones, then created a
KBOO special program focusing on homelessness. KBOO folks welcomed me with open arms to
learn recording and production skills, and lent me an audio-recorder to go out and tape teenage
squatters in vacant buildings, houseless men knitting pot holders for sale to buy food, and Ginny
Nelson, co-founder of Sister's of the Road Cafe, among others.

As an artist and Orlo Environmental Arts Organization Board Member/Art Director, I was interviewed
on KBOO for my work creating a series of portable murals painted with groups of low-income teen
artists.

Because I grow 16 kinds of fruits and many of my family's vegetables, I was invited to do some
gardening programming, filling in when "The Dirtbag" was on vacation.
My most recent KBOO activities have been helping to educate the public about the hazards of
fluoridation. I helped reporter Joe Mayer bring Dr. William J. Hirzy to the KBOO airwaves. A former
senior-risk assessment analyst for the EPA, and vice-president of the EPA Scientists Union; he and
his colleagues determined that Hydrofluosilicic acid (fluoridation chemicals) are: "neither safe nor
effective."

I also connected KBOO with Henry Rodriguez, Executive Director of League of United Latin American
Citizens (LULAC ZAPATISTA), in San Antonio, who has been working to end fluoridation for eleven
years there. This past fall, I co-founded a small multicultural organization to help fight fluoridation,
(we contacted thousands of Portlanders with fliers, emails and videos), and our outreach to LULAC
ZAPATISTA was part of this work.

I am running for the KBOO Board because my thirty years of environmental, agricultural, educational
and social justice work have made me ever more appreciative of the crucial role of non-commercial,
listener-supported radio, which strives to represent diverse communities and explore underrepresented
issues. KBOO is an incredible news, idea and culture resource for Portland and beyond!

My past experience has well prepared me for this. I have served on two boards: Garden Laboratory
Charter School, (where I was also garden director), and Orlo Environmental Arts Organization,
(where I was also Art Director). I was also production manager/art director at Funland Pictures (now
Uncola Productions), and in all of these capacities and others I helped hire staff, problem-solve with
diverse groups, do public outreach and organizational development, write grants or negotiate
contracts, and work within budgets.

I would be honored to work with other board members and the KBOO community to continue to
strengthen our radio listenership, budget and programming, to keep KBOO on the air for years to
come.

I have been an avid supporter of community radio for 15 years. During my 20s and early 30s, I
travelled, lived, and worked around the world, with much time spent in Latin America. Whenever I had
a few months or years in the states, I prioritized community radio. I’ve served as a volunteer and
programmer at KBCS (Seattle), KBOO (Portland), KDHX (St. Louis), KTNA (Talkeetna, AK), and
WPFW (Washington, DC).

I’ve seen stations throughout the country, in big cities and small towns, thrive when they truly serve
their community.

Portland is an incredible community to serve. So great, that after all my travels, I settled here two
years ago. Unfortunately, during my time here, I’ve seen KBOO largely fail to serve the vast
community before it. For this reason, listeners, members, and dollars have fled KBOO year after year.
I served on the KBOO Board last year and was able to help garner a unanimous recommendation for
the hiring of a much-needed station manager. Due to imminent fatherhood, I did not run for a board
seat last year.

I’m hopeful it’s not too late for KBOO to pull itself from the incredible financial crisis it finds itself in, by
serving its community and staying true to its mission.

I believe my years of experience with other community radio stations, other non-profits, and my
current job running a non-profit gives me much of the experience needed to help the KBOO Board of
Directors thrive.

I'm a big fan of public and community radio, but I'm deeply worried about the future of KBOO. My
assessment of the current moment is summed up in a blog post you can read online at
www.kboo.fm/content/kbooatacrossroads .

Many people I meet say they used to be involved with KBOO, but say they wouldn't go back to
volunteering again. This is not the sign of a healthy non-profit environment. Until KBOO stops being
run as a radio club for the benefit of a few privileged staff and volunteers it will have little or no appeal
for anyone else in Portland. While the music programming is fairly wide ranging and inclusive, the
political programs are tightly controlled by a few entrenched staff and volunteers. KBOO's finances
are directly tied to how many people find it's programs worth listening to. Without growing an
audience by allowing diversity in viewpoints, there will be only a bleak future for KBOO.
Radical and progressive politics can co-exist at KBOO, there's enough room for diversity of opinion as
well as diversity of color.

KBOO has been running at a deficit for years. Until listenership and revenues increase, the board
and station management can work with the unionized staff to bring expenditures in balance with
revenues. I have experience working with non-profits and with managing finances at my small
business. I'd like to be part of a board that can implement the strategic plan, helping KBOO have a
relevant, solvent and positive future in Portland Oregon.

I have been an active volunteer at KBOO since 2008. I have spent most of my time working in the
news department where I also had the privilege of serving KBOO as the interim News and Public
Affairs Director for about 2 years. I have also worked as a producer and engineer for Out Loud Radio
and other public affairs programs. I am also a member of the Program Advisory Committee. My
experience as a volunteer and former staffer has given me some insight into KBOO's organizational
structure, as well as the challenges that we face. In an evolving media landscape, KBOO has been
suffering from declining revenues and listenership for years, which is why a five year Strategic Plan
was developed in 2011. The station is at a critical crossroads. As a board member I will work towards
helping the foundation achieve the goals outlined in this plan. In order for this to happen, we must
make transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility our priority. As your representative, I
pledge to listen to your concerns, and work with staff, board members and volunteers to help move
KBOO into the 21st Century while staying true to its values.

I wish to serve on the KBOO board so I can contribute and be a forceful advocate for community
radio. My involvement with community radio started in Seattle in 1978 when I made my first
appearance on KRAB FM in Seattle. I upped the ante by hosting a show on KBCS FM from Bellevue
Community College 1989-1993 under Harriet Baskas. I moved to New York in 1995 and contributed
items to the Lowest Common Denominator magazine for WFMU FM. I moved back to Portland,
where I grew up, in 1999 to save the Clinton Street Theater. In that effort I was helped by
KBOO. Since then I have been a guest on Daniel’s Outside World show and Matthew Clark’s
Monday Sampler on numerous occasions. I have tried to give back to KBOO in various ways such as
most recently writing and producing the radio play Ten Cents a Dance broadcast on KBOO on April
11. The fact is the time for being a dilettante is over and it’s time for me to roll up my sleeves and pay
back. If elected I promise to work hard to keep KBOO the best community radio station possible.

Sarah Cardin, KBOO’s first News Director (1979), says that community radio stations either look out
into their community and serve that community or function as a club. I think KBOO operates as a
club.

In 1945, under orders from the giant AM networks, the FCC killed the original FM band by moving it to
its current location. When the FM band was recreated, the owning class made a huge mistake: The
bottom 20 channels of the new FM band were reserved for non-commercial use, presumably by
universities. The 1 % never intended for regular people to own and operate radio stations. KBOO
exists because of this benign fluke.

A 5,700 watt Christian station transmitting from Timberline Lodge has higher listenership in Portland
than KBOO’s 26,000 watts transmitting above downtown Portland. I believe that KBOO preaches to
the choir, and that is one of the significant reasons why our listenership is in decline. I remember
when KBOO was a service organization.

During my 45 years at KBOO, I have seen a steady stream of thoughtful, hard-working, creative
people leave KBOO because we lack consistent adult supervision.

To meet our financial obligations, we are consuming our cash endowment. In a very few years, when
we are bankrupt, we must sell our license to another noncom; religious, OPB or classical, pick one. I
think we can get a million dollars.

I want to broadcast for people, not at people. I want to preserve our precious license. Do you want to,
too?

I am a member and regular KBOO listener who deeply resonates with and is committed to its Mission
and Values; providing listener supported public radio to diverse communities and
unserved/underserved groups, access and training; valuing peace, justice, democracy, human rights,
multiculturalism, environmentalism, freedom of expression, and social change.
As a Board member I will endeavor to:

• Engage the membership, the Board and the community-at-large to co-create policies and
programs that serve us all.
• Catalyze inclusive, respectful Board and Membership meeting dialogue.
• Steward and apply KBOO’s resources toward long term stability and sustainability.

I am known to be thoughtful and grounded. My experience in financial management, group
facilitation, and social change are assets I 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, Lost
Valley Educational Center, Parker Street Coop, The Natural Heritage Institute, The Center for Wise
Democracy, Climate Neutral Network, and The Co-Intelligence Institute.
Advocating wise collective process, civic governance implementing citizen deliberative councils, e.g.
consulting with the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement.
Co-founded the Eugene Facilitator's Collective. Facilitated for The Blue Mountain School, Alpha Farm
Community, Veterans for Peace, Trillium Hollow Cohousing, New Orleans Community Congress II,
and the Pacific Green Party.

Organized The Low Income People's Wisdom Council for the Lane County Human Services
Commission.

Founded Walnut Street Co-op, a 9 bedroom co-op house in Eugene.
25 years in corporate financial and administrative management.

To the KBOO Membership,
I'm applying to serve on the KBOO Foundation Board for several reasons. The first of which involve
my interest in media integrity. I'm taught there's an element of public service element in the role of
journalists that I don't see honored at or in other venues. This community radio station stands bravely
prepared to gather news according to the high standard of principles and actually informing
community as opposed to furthering corporate talking points. That desire is flanked by a deep and
abiding respect for the station's core values and the manner by which it embraces and honors the
cultural diversity so evident in the metropolitan area. If I possess attributes that might serve to be of
benefit to the preservation of the KBOO that has been an exemplary pillar of heart and tolerance,
then I'm compelled to make myself available to gather news, find funding through grant research or
design events that enhance awareness about how unique and valuable the venue is.
I ask for your support in this endeavor as part and parcel to continuing my work to create a healthier
commons.

I am running for the KBOO Board because I believe that:

• KBOO is a vital voice for progressive thought and action in the region.
• KBOO has a unique blend of news, public affairs programming and varied music that speak to
many communities with a diversity of cultural interests and values. This programming must be
supported and strengthened.

• However, 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
danger of being made ineffective and irrelevant.
• 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 and, in general, create a more accessible and transparent station for the region.
• KBOO must build a powerful presence on social media, a growing area of listenership among
many.
• These efforts at transparency and public outreach in addition to adding more listeners and
members will also make the station a more democratic organization. Hopefully, people will no
longer feel that they ‘do not understand KBOO’ and what it is about.
• I have, for many years taught Sociology and American History as well as taking supportive and
collaborative leadership roles in education, at the community college, college and university
levels.
• I have had successful involvement in commercial talk radio, KBOO talk radio, theater, and
independent publications.
• I have been a frequent contributor in the past to such publications as the Oregonian and Willamette
Week.
• My community involvement includes early peace movement and social justice organizing, pure
water and environmental concerns.
• I am comfortable with struggle, disagreement, differing perspectives and efforts to build and
maintain consensus. I will fight for what I feel is right, changing my views based solely on sound
argument and fact.

I am running for the Board and ask for your support because I believe that KBOO is a tremendous
community resource that is being underutilized. 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.

In addition to these practical matters, we need to figure out KBOO’s role in an era with four major
noncommercial radio stations, iPods & podcasts, Internet streaming, social media and satellite radio.
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 have a long history in Portland and with KBOO. I was a volunteer from 1968 to 1991, including
hosting Wednesday morning Dawn Concert from about 1975 to 1991. 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 decades of nonprofit experience as a volunteer, board member, staff and consultant. For the
past 25 years I have been a grantwriting consultant to nonprofits and teach grantwriting at Portland
State. I am comfortable with accounting and budgeting and wrote a book on nonprofit finances.

As a current member of the KBOO Board of Directors and 10 year volunteer of KBOO COMMUNITY
RADIO, I have demonstrated the ability to:

• Raise significant funds for the station, participate in station events including Good in the Hood,
Membership Drive, and the Boo Moon.
• Participate in monthly committees taking an active role as secretary for the Board of Directors,
Liaison to the Program Committee, and member of the KBOO Governance Committee.
• Seeking input about programming options including the survey for Thom Hartmann. I am eager
to see the entire community have a greater voice in programs at KBOO.

I continue to advocate for a better web site and work collaboratively to provide input that gives more
access to important content via the web site.
If re-elected as a Director, with your vote, my goal is to raise funds in a capital campaign for a new
web site that allows direct listener feedback on all our programs.
My community based contributions include participating in a county-wide coalition to promote public
health education and training. My recent appointment to a state-wide steering committee helps give
voice to those who are under-represented.

I ask that you vote for me because I have demonstrated the commitment and ability to help make
change that improves KBOO, and benefits our entire community and all its members.

Hello KBOO listeners and members! I am running for a board of directors position because I have
enjoyed the station for many years, since I moved to Portland in 1996. I was a sustaining members
for about 6 years and have been volunteering as a news writer. I went through the volunteer training
and was so thrilled with the depth of knowledge available to people walking in off the street. As a
board member I want to make sure that the links between volunteers and station viability are fully
fleshed out. By bolstering youth programs, doing outreach into even more communities and getting
more people of all slices of life involved in the workings of KBOO we can continue to grow within the
parameters of the stations important mission. I am a professional fundraiser for non-profits including
OSPIRG. I served on the non-profit OPA board for six years. I served as the Empty Bowls co-chair at
the water front blues festival for 4 years and earned over $80,000 for the food bank in those four
weekends. I know how to run events, organize volunteers and raise money. As a 14 year veteran of
the non-profit sector I am aware of the rifts and difficulties that arise when budgets get tight and
grants need to be written and I am willing to do what needs to be done to make sure that KBOO can
continue to serve the under-served and to be the bastion of free speech it is.