From:   Ted Weisgal LLU [ted@llu.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 2:36 PM
To: lsb@kpft.org; pnb@pacifica.org; duane Bradley; pd@kpft.org;
kenfree@swbell.net
Cc: PhelpsMediation@aol.com; pd@kpft.org; Joseph Kaye; David Atwood

Subject: KPFT Management Review--A Minority Report


Dear Members of the KPFT Local Station Board, Members of the Pacifica
National Board and other concerned parties,

Due to the failure of the KPFT LSB and especially the chair of the
Management Selection and Review Committee, Jim Stotts (who formerly was the
KPFT LSB secretary and resigned without ever properly performing his job) I
am submitting the following as a minority report. I am a member of the MSRC
but we have not met in approximately three months. When we last met a
review process (though unsatisfactory to some due to its limited
scope...both the issues addressed and the individuals to be surveyed) was
supposed to go forward. Mr. Stotts was the point person for further action
but as I said, this has not happened.

The Pacifica Bylaws mandate a review of management. This is my review. With
only slight modifications to this document, I previously sent it to Duane
Bradley and requested a meeting with him to see if the issues I raised
could be addressed. He rejected that request based on his false assumption
that this was going to be the platform for my re-election campaign. I am
not running. One reason for this is Mr. Bradley's refusal to collaborate in
any meaningful way with the LSB regarding programming.

I hope this review will put in motion whatever action is called for so as
to get management at KPFT to live up to this bylaw mandate.

KPFT Radio, 90.1FM was established in Houston in 1970. Members of the KKK apparently recognized its potential for evil as they saw and blew it off the air…twice. But, KPFT survives. As one of the five stations in the Pacifica network, along with many affiliates, KPFT can be what founder, Lew Hill envisioned: a source of accurate, objective, comprehensive news and information designed to contribute to peace and social justice as well as an outlet for the creative skills and energies of the community (the arts). The key words here are “can be.”

Recently, I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Democracy…it’s not what we have, it’s what we do.” About three years ago, Pacifica emerged from a lengthy struggle. The issue was Democracy. The question brought by this Foundation to the courts was whether or not Pacifica was going to be a Democracy controlled by an elite self-selecting national board deciding things from the top or a grass roots directed organization. In court and in the bylaws the elites lost; the listeners won. That should have been the end of the fighting and the beginning of a new, brighter day for Pacifica but that has not been the case.

Organizing and programming a radio station as a force for good is far easier said than done. Many of us want KPFT to be the hub of a giant progressive wheel. We want it to be a virtual community center: a place where people from diverse backgrounds and communities can hear, discuss and develop a strategy to solve the critical problems near and far. We also
want
it to be a spoke: one organization among many in the community to help build a better world.

That is what I see as KPFT’s role. It is also its potential. It’s potential is currently a dream. Instead of one big team we have lots of individual players operating autonomously. But there is one constant: the General Manager. By law, he controls the signal. He also serves as an ex-officio non-voting member of the Local Station Board. Even without a vote, he is the most powerful member of the KPFT community.

On the airwaves of KPFT, I’ve frequently heard management extol the virtues of democracy. Right now, these are just words. It’s missing from what is broadcast (there is no collaboration with the Local Station Board regarding what is on the air and when), what supports it (folios and town hall meetings or the lack thereof) and the overall politics surrounding KPFT (committee and board meetings, minutes and reports, elections and more).

After nearly three years under the new bylaws I feel I must point fingers. Without doing so, I doubt that the problem will be fixed and fixing the problem is my goal.

I find fault with the Local Station Board but I find greater fault with management. They are ultimately responsible. Members of the LSB will come and go. The people who serve on the LSB do so as unpaid volunteers. Management, especially the General Manager, is paid and it is his duty to shepherd the board through the thicket of rules that affect us. It is his job to work effectively with the board as a whole. Were he doing so, I doubt that the extraordinary number of resignations would not be what we’ve had (nine in less than three years). Whether it’s following Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules, where we could be fined or lose our license, Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) rules (which can cause us to lose substantial funding), or the Pacifica Bylaws (which can cause members and listeners to lose faith in the Pacifica Foundation), management must keep this organization on the right path. Instead, especially in relationship to CPB Rules and the Pacifica Bylaws that include Robert’s Rules of Order, management has done the opposite.

Here are some examples of the failure of leadership and the flaunting of democracy at KPFT:

1)    Membership Requirements--To belong to this foundation with the right to
vote for officers or to run for office, one need pay only $25 per year, volunteer three hours in a year or, apply for a waiver due to extenuating circumstances. This is as basic as it gets yet the General Manager of KPFT has hidden this fact from our members since the bylaws were passed. I raised this issue in a committee meeting with a staff member present. My concern has only been addressed recently in a PSA that apparently was produced by the national office. On July 2, 2006, on one location on the
KPFT web site it said a basic membership was
$35. I brought that error to the attention of Mr. Bradley shortly after
that date and some KPFT literature and announcements have changed but
today, September 13, 2006, the Donations On-Line Site on the KPFT website
still says the "Basic membership" is $35.
The Pacifica Bylaws say that this amount can be increased by a vote of the Pacifica National Board. Management has neither requested a revision of the amount nor consistently announced the correct one. I think this is disrespectful of the democratic process.

2)    Town Hall Meetings--Our bylaws call for two per year. They are designed
for listener’s to share their views, needs and concerns. This year, we haven’t had such a meeting. The last one we had was after the Katrina
disaster. About
25 people attended. Almost all of them were kids from New Orleans who had never listened to KPFT. Their horrific experience is what was addressed. While the event was meaningful from that perspective, it was not what the bylaws call for. At the first two town hall meetings, our GM was critical of the input. He described those in attendance as the “usual suspects.” For this last meeting, he was effusive in his compliments.

3)    Collaboration with the LSB Regarding Programming--This is where the
rubber meets the road. It is what we do and strikes me as to why the bylaws were rewritten. For the past two years, to receive federal funds, we have created a Community Advisory Board that is supposed to evaluate how well the station is fulfilling its goals. These goals are supposed to be established by the LSB. This is federal law; it is a good law. But, we’re not following it.  There have been two incarnations of the CAB. In both instances, the CAB has had a few meetings but they have not been open or properly noticed. Due to the failure of the LSB, they have no goals to evaluate. Management has not prodded the LSB to create goals. In fact, they have never raised the issue. According to the CPB, this is a key responsibility of and the way the LSB interfaces with the CAB. One can only surmise why management has been silent but they have made it clear that they don’t want to collaborate with the LSB regarding programming. There is no single program currently on KPFT that has received the stamp of approval from the listener/staff elected LSB. To the contrary, the KPFT GM has stated that as long as he is in that position, KPFT will carry news from the British Broadcasting Corporation. Regardless of how one feels about the program, this statement foreclosing on the option of discussion and instead proclaiming unilateral decision making should give one reason for concern.

4)    Folio or No Folio--In the past two KPFT budgets there has been a line
item for a folio. To my way of thinking, a mass produced folio is the way KPFT can become a household name in Houston. The folio can be the station’s number one marketing tool to those unfamiliar with the programs and philosophy of 90.1FM. The General Manager has stated that he supports the inclusion of paid advertising to support such an effort. He has also said that he would not stand in the way of publishing articles on such “hot button” issues as carrying Democracy Now at 7am. While this stance is commendable, the result thus far is nothing. While he rarely attends meetings of the Outreach Committee, staff that apparently represents him generally selects short terms goals such as handling out limited focus photocopied flyers for upcoming events. The effect is that there is no long-term plan. The LSB must assert its authority to publish a folio, develop a democratic mechanism for determining what goes in the folio, and the publication of this folio must be independent of management’s control.

5)    Code of Conduct--Nerves are frayed at KPFT. It is unfortunate that
instead of attacking the real enemy, the forces that promote war and social unrest, we have attacked each other. An extensive amount of time was spent in developing a Code of Conduct yet it has only been used to silence a member who chose to challenge the General Manager. When a series of charges by one member of the LSB against other members of the LSB were included in the agenda of a recent meeting, these charges were dismissed without considering the substance of them. As I said before, it is unfortunate that we have attacked each other. But what is even sadder is the fact that these charges were summarily dismissed without considering the validity of them. The consequence is that no lessons for any parties involved were learned; the Code of Conduct charges just slipped under the proverbial carpet. This was a violation of rules we say we follow: Robert’s Rules of Order, which says that at least the charge (the motion) is heard before it’s dismissed.

6)    Staff/LSB Collaboration--I can only think of one example of success in
this area. Excuse the puns here but literally it’s in the toilet. For years, KPFT lacked a wheelchair accessible restroom. After some behind the scenes and apparently strained negotiations, the LSB Building Committee built this restroom along with a ramp and deck that made access possible. As far as I know, there is no written report of what was done, how decisions were made. This strikes me as being typical of the committees of this board. Our bylaws say we follow Robert’s. Robert’s says that committees can’t do anything without board authorization. In some ways, considering how dysfunctional the LSB is, it’s good that these committees move forward. It does though, set a bad precedent.

7)    Management Review--Were I in the position of General Manager, I would
look forward to an annual review. It would let me know the staff and LSB’s perception of my strengths and weaknesses. Since the LSB is the body empowered to terminate me, I would be eager to hear their conclusions. If this weren’t done in a timely manner, I would alert the LSB of its failure to do its job. Two weak links and a power struggle have resulted in only one evaluation of management. That took place in the Fall of 2004. The power struggle I refer to lead to the resignation of one LSB member and the selection of another to chair this Management Selection and Review Committee. This member had a track record of failure as the LSBs secretary (the LSB went for the better part of a year without approved minutes even though people offered to help this individual get these minutes in order) but that did not stop the majority of the board from blocking an effective member from holding this position. It has been about two months since all the steps necessary to go forward with this year’s review. The committee chair in charge has been absent from most of our recent meetings. Since the LSB has generally disregarded absences, this person still serves. The GM and Program Director seem to be quite satisfied to go without a review. Unfortunately, that’s where things stand.

8)    Special Events--In the first year after the new bylaws were past,
independent groups affiliated with the station as well as members of the staff organized many successful fundraising events. But recently, these have slowed to a trickle. Recently there was a big event, a speech by Greg Palast. Later this year, our General Manager has told us that Amy Goodman will be here. The LSB has not participated in any way in determining the structure of these events. Management has made almost all decisions. Management gave the excuse that there was little lead-time prior to the Palast event. In this era of emails, an informal request for input from the LSB would have been possible. That request was never made. I am not aware of any role management plans to share with the Development Committee and the LSB for the Goodman event.

9)    Leadership Training/Fund Raising--In 2005, a sizable contingent from
KPFT (staff and LSB) attended a workshop on board development. At it, fund raising was highlighted. A presenter from the United Way’s Management Assistance Program (MAP) underscored the significance of boards establishing financial goals and providing means to achieve them. Overwhelmingly, KPFT receives its funds via over the air fund drives. The LSB, with significant guidance/pressure from management, votes on the budget. But when it comes to raising funds, management takes over. While they are more than happy to have LSB members do the grunt work of answering phones, they are very selective on which board members are permitted on the air. The producers of locally produced shows determine who will pitch with them. For nationally produced shows like Democracy Now, it is the General Manager who does virtually all the pitching. Some members of the LSB support this use of his time and justify their stance because they say he’s so good at it. My response: Practice makes perfect. I have asked the GM to develop a plan to train volunteers and to share this responsibility. This request has thus far fallen on deaf ears. Two fund drives ago, I suggested to KPFT’s Development Director that the station not wait for incoming phone calls. I encouraged her to have people who were sitting around the table just waiting for the phones to ring to make outgoing calls to lapsed donors. This effort, though halfhearted, resulted in over $1,000 in donations. I don’t know why it was dropped during the last fund drive. The GMs job description says he “adequately maximizes and retains volunteers.” In this area and others he is not doing his job. Furthermore there seems to be no imagination coming from anywhere regarding fundraising. Management has just scheduled our next fund drive. It will take place in August. I think this unilateral decision will eventually come back to haunt us. Programmers frequently talk about donor fatigue. There are other ways to raise money. Two other non-commercial stations in Houston do it. KUHF has trips to Europe. KTSU has frequent jazz concerts. Our efforts in this regard pale in comparison.

10)    Getting to 100,000 Watts--After many years of waiting, the FCC granted
KPFTs request to increase our power from 27,000 to 100,000 watts. This should be a great shot in the arm for KPFT. Not only will our signal reach further but it will also be clearer where it is currently heard. Unfortunately, there seems to be no sense of urgency to raise the funds to purchase the new transmitter. I assume KPFT has members who can either loan or donate funds to quickly make 100,000 watts a reality. The Pacifica Bylaws say that the Directors or their agents and Members of the Foundation have the right to inspect and copy the records of the Foundation. Management has denied this right. Consequently, fundraising has been constrained. In the past, volunteers have made outgoing calls for special events but it has always been done under the direct supervision of staff. Staff cannot be expected to be on duty when most volunteers are available and vice versa. This lack of trust is a cancer in the body KPFT. Additionally, management has not been honest about the funds that are needed. Privately, I’ve been told that the amount for the new transmitter is around $70,000. Publicly, the figure stated is $100,000.

As I stated earlier, my goal is to fix KPFT. When I ran for the LSB my goal was to make KPFT the highest rated radio station in Houston without compromising its mission. I believe this can be accomplished without changing management.  The process of firing and hiring would be such a drain on our time, energy and so counterproductive to our real goal. When our General Manager was one of us on the outside, I urged him to run for this position. When he applied I voted for him. And to be fair, he has improved the station. The staff is, as far as I know, more diverse than any time in KPFT’s history. The programming is far more progressive than it was during the previous regime. Committees, though unfortunately too small, exist and are open to volunteers. I would like to think that the changes I’m advocating are not that difficult to implement. It will take is a change in philosophy, not a change in management. If the current management is not willing to make that shift and to abide by the rules that govern us, then the LSB must make the only decision available to it.

The third election in Pacifica’s history is upon us. I hope this report opens eyes. Service on this board has been a struggle. The reason I continue to serve is because my eyes are on the prize, a better world for generations to come. Because Pacifica has the potential to support every worthy cause, I think Pacifica is worth fighting for. I invite members of
the LSB, the PNB and other concerned Pacificans to join
me in this non-violent fight.

Ted Weisgal

Since writing the above, more fodder has been thrown into the mix.
Management has threatened to further marginalize the vital news program,
“Flashpoints,” by relegating it to KPFT’s web stream. Originally, it aired
at 7pm. Then it was moved to 11pm. No discussion with the LSB or any of its
committees has occurred regarding these changes even though this program
and the material it covers can’t be heard anywhere else in the Houston market.

Also, management threatened news programmers with the loss of the use of
equipment should they serve as correspondents with Free Speech Radio News,
contending that this makes them commercial broadcasters or something to
this effect. I am writing this with second hand information but I do know
that some of these local correspondents were or are very upset. I see this
as an example of bad management.

Again, I hope the powers that be will do their job. That means that they
will seriously consider the charges raised here and, if substantiated, act
accordingly.