This group is mandated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to gather information on how the station is serving its community, and the report of this group will be taken very seriously if it's undertaken seriously.

Please attend if you're concerned about KPFK. Nobody's telling me how the selection of CAB members will be determined this time, but the last CAB I knew about was open to anyone interested.

I won't be able to attend this meeting, but the meeting has been called by Grace Aaron and Jonathan Alexander, and they should be happy to answer any questions you have.  Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested.

I can understand that this isn't center-column stuff, but I don't understand why it was hidden. LA-IMC doesn't routinely hide open meetings that I've seen--Sonali's forum is posted, Lila's Santa Monica forum was up here I think, Ka Bel meetings are here, and there's a report back on 50 people who saw a movie. It's not that the other meetings aren't important, but why doesn't KPFK rate?

Had I known of this meeting I would have attended and protested everything wrong that is going on at KPFK.

Why is everything at KPFK a secret?

I have always supported KPFK but am tired of whoever is running the station and their screw you attitude towards everyone else.

It looks like the only way to send a message is to not give anything during the next fund drive.

Now I don't.

My apologies if I've made a mistake here, but earlier today I could have sworn this was a hidden post. Now it seems that it's back to normal.

Looks like there will be another meeting for new members. I'll post it here as soon as I know the time and place.

The requirement of having this committee is to insure that the Public Broadcasing System [Corporation] continues to give KPFK the funds yearly that they do
...and KPFK like other orgs are required to have an COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE in effect.
They have failed to do so in recent years and fear losing this income.

However .........
this committee is being SET UP to be just a look-like-public and look-like-a-community ....and the selection is based on whoever is NOT wanting to make any suggestions, any changes, ask any questions of station management or staff, and AGREES to have "no power", no effect, no nothing but be a DUMMY...

just like dummy corporations, this is a dummy committee....ask the station management or LSB what the com. is able to do ?
who can they talk to at station ?
what 'advisory role' do they Really Have ?
duh.....

this is like dressing up for a wedding and there is only a show, no bride, no groom, just a fake celebration, to look good, to look-like there is compliance with the CPBS rules,....but NOT try to affect or do anything other than what the paid & petty-KPFK-bureaucrats already want & do.

That is why there is no open solicitation, because many who would want to actually BE of HELP, are not allowed in....the silence is intended to keep vocalizers away....the secret is that this is not what it is intended to APPEAR to be...the only thing that is wanted are the funds, cash, $$$$$, provided by the govt. without the actual input from the 'community'.

Don't believe me ?
ask more carefully.
Call and talk to someone who is 'forming' this committee.
Ask what any member of this new group will really be able to do or who they report to or how they are to provide their information/ requests/ suggestions/ advisements...
Find out for yourselves.

duh....
another way KPFK is not different from every other business in town...tho words to the contrary are repeated, actions still prove:

those who have a 'position' intend to keep it for themselves...

those who have any 'power' to effect any change, even improvement, are hoarding it very carefully & secretly.

those who claim KPFK is owned by subscribers and free, are liars, like the USA govt does it, KPFK does it very similarly.

Just as non-transparent.
Just as self-serving.
Just as fake.

and KPFK insiders will not allow anyone in who is not agreeing to their [hidden & unstated ] 'rules' and takes a subservient role to them, already 'established' ones.
In other words, all the station people want is another "yes masta" person to count as "community members"... duh....

check it out. See who gets on and what they get to do.
OR insist YOU do want to participate.
You will be told, always, 'it is too late'"..."we tried" ... "we didnt know you wanted in" ..." we have done it all already" ... "we dont need any help" ..." you dont qualify"...."we have it all UNDER OUR CONTROL."

yep, they do. "they" being those who are now listed or have been listed as KPFK or Pacifica position-holders already.

check it out !

It could be just what's described above, no doubt. It has been in years past. But it's also a wedge if truthful people join, write an honest and bold report, and distribute that report. It could be a strong statement to the LSB and especially the new GM--and a useful tool for the GM to get things done, if we get the right GM. It's up to the people who join.

I'll post the next meeting here. It should be an open meeting again, to all who want to participate.

Or it could be that someone with a thing against kpfk has racked up a lot of spam catching points.

It would be helpful to know, transparently, who is placed on this Community Advisement Committee,

what communtity they actually REPRESENT, not just
come out of,

what diversity there is,

how they are chosen,

by whom,

what they are expected to actually DO,

whom they advise,

how they advise - what procedures or format exists for this,

how has any such advisements been given and USED in the past,

when the last committee met and what happened,
and so on...

none of that is on website, or stated anywhere most of us who want to know what happens INSIDE KPFK.
why is it so ?
duh.....................

There's some fancy formatting here.  Hope it comes through.

Here's what the interim General Manager, Jim Lafferty, reported to the Local Station Board at its June 7 meeting on the GM search:

A note about the GM search. Apparently the selection has come down to about three (3) highly qualified candidates. They are now being being further vetted and considered and Nicole assures us she expects the new GM to be in place by the end of June. Nicole made a point of saying how much she appreciated the find job done by the LSB GM Search Committee in producing this fine list of candidates. For my part, I am very optimistic that with a new GM in place; and with the fine staff that has been in place for some time'now; and if she or he receives warm and patient support from the LSB, KPFK will, in the not too distant future, find itself in better shape than it has been in years. Certainly, I stand ready to help in any way I can with the transition that is about to occur.

and here's the report from the interim Chair of the Community Advisory Board, from the same meeting, prepared by the secretary, Ken Aaron.  The next CAB meeting will be Thursday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the station.

Minutes of Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting

(these minutes have not yet been approved by the committee)

 

Date: 29 May 08                Time: 7:00 pm till 10:40 pm

Location:       KPFK Station

3729 Cahuenga Blvd West
N. Hollywood, CA 91604

---

 

Attending

SG - Sarkis Ghazarian

DB - Doug Barnett

KN - Kwazi Nkrumah

CC - Chris Condon

MB    Marla Bernstein

CM - Cory Campbell

KA  - Ken Aaron – acting secretary, took these minutes.

BP - Bill Patterson 

LS - Larry Steinberg  

LSB members were only present for the 1^st part of the meeting.

GA - Grace Aaron - LSB Member - chair of CAB Organizing Committee

IF - Israel Feuer - LSB Member

RR - Ricco Ross - LSB Member

IJ - Ian Johnston - LSB Member

---

 

Resolutions that were passed:

1.      Actions of the CAB should be to the betterment of KPFK, the listenership and the Pacifica Foundation.

2.      Members of the CAB, as individuals, should conduct Community Needs Assessments (CNA) with diverse groups in our society and bring the written results back to the next CAB meeting.

3.      The intent of the KPFK CAB shall be as follows:

 (Ref: http://www.cpb.org/stations/certification/cert3.html)

a.        The purpose of the advisory board is to provide a vehicle for effective community input to the station's governing body about station programming, community service and impact on the community from the station's major policy decisions. To assist the station to develop programs and policies that address the specific needs of the communities that it endeavors to serve.

b.        The board shall advise the governing body of the station with respect to whether the programming and other policies of the station are meeting the specialized educational and cultural needs of the communities served by the station, and may make such recommendations, as it considers appropriate to meet such needs.

4.      KN and CC will work with JL. on Carts to be broadcast inviting people to the next CAB Meeting.      

---

Minutes, taken and transcribed by Ken Aaron.  What follows is not an exact transcription, rather a summary of approximately what was stated and/or discussed.

Meeting started around 7:15 pm
GA	Explains CAB Diversity - ethnic / geographic / interim CAB members Figure out procedures Meantime - get communities Go around the table, introduce your self and how station could serve the community.
GA	I’m on the KPFK Local Station Board and the Pacifica National Board of Directors  - Pacifica owns 5 radio stations and has 150 affiliated stations …
IJ	Excuse me, there are not enough people here from Latino Community.  What advertisements were made to let the public know about this meeting?
GA	Don White was supposed to do announcements and Terry Goodman .  It was on web sites and email lists, I did outreach myself to previous CAB lists.  I was expecting some Latino representation - Serio Monteiro was supposed to come. Good point - hope you can do some recruitment.
CC	Bayard Condon is my nom de guere.  Served on Program Oversight Committee and the Governance Committee, also I’m 1st alternate LSB member Program in trial: Counter-Intel Digest - represent 911 truth community.  Have run twice for the Local Station Board but not yet approved.  Currently I’m the first alternate for the LSB. Want public affairs programming to represent the truth not the National Security State. Want better representation on the CAB.  I would make an effort to get Latino and Chinese. What rules, term, how selected, should apply to the CAB.  KPFK should get it's grant.  But today we have allot of Insiders.  We have to do recruitment.
GA	Read CPB requirements. (Sheets handed out - ) No one on the LSB.  I'm just starting you off.                 Ref:  http://www.cpb.org/stations/certification/cert3.html
KN	I was a member of the KPFK local advisory board under old constitution.  We obviously need to recruit more diverse members to the CAB. KPFK & Pacifica would be more effective if we had live models - people from different focuses and backgrounds.  People from the Korean Activist Community – KWAI.  Station could become a factor in linking various communities.  In LA, communities don’t connect with each other.  We could build a live entity, alot of people, a CAB of diverse groups.  It would address alot of issues by itself.  Would build listenership through word of mouth.
GA	Jim Lafferty will come in after show is over.  Suggest work with him to get a cart on the air.
SG	I’m not an insider. I volunteered.  KPFK is a radio station, allows transmission of ideas.  Establish a dialogue, not just one way.  Should focus on local news in different neighborhoods and let people from those areas participate on the programs.  Train a new group of programmers and reporters.  When I hear loud arguing on the station I turn it off.  Word of mouth is good but should also use the internet.  Archives.  Meeting minutes and meeting announcements.  Should be more obvious on the internet.  The product you put out is over the airwaves and on the internet.
CM	My wife likes the church shows.  I haven't listened much.   Sidney Brown asked me to attend.  He’s Pres of NAACP of Pasadena.  Gang related issues should be covered.  For younger groups to get involved.  They need things to do, people they can speak to, otherwise they get in trouble.
BP	Israel asked me to come. Unlike any committee meeting at KPFK.  Friendly and cooperative.  Not on the main road to power.  Not representative of a particular community.  Was on the former CAB.
GA	What would you like to hear on the station.  We need more input.
BP	I could have contributed notes from previous meetings.  Israel may have it.  Satisfied with what I have.  I’m a Spanish illiterate. Want more penetration in the Spanish community.  Morning lineup. Also listen to BBC and NPR and then get more from KPFK. Delighted with KPFK.  It's the best it's been.
Jim Lafferty comes by for a few moments
JL	Sick as a dog.  Glad to see so many people here.
GA	Suggested carts be made by interim CAB members and work with JL to get them on the air. Purpose to invite more gender/ethnic/geographic diversity.
JL	Sure
JL	CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) wanted CABs because most of the non-profits didn’t have any advisory boards.  Pacifica has LSBs at each station and they’re elected.  So the CAB is supplemental to that. So, my hope was that CAB would have goal to bring the station into new communities, geographic diversity.  Broadcast from Church, Union Hall, East LA, Valley.  Remote broadcasting from anywhere.  Get the station into new communities.  Diverse area.  Long Beach.
GA	Can these people be interim CAB members?  We’ll take the station tour later.
JL	Yes. Sure.
BP	(Reminiscing about earlier times at KPFK)  Remotes are popular.
GA	(Explains new equipment for doing remotes.)
LS	Third manager of KPFK - 1960s.  Did a law show.  I'm a lawyer.  Listened since it's been on the air.  A program I don’t like, the Aware Show.  Wish we had some classical music.  Used to have a Prof. from UCLA used to get the material.  Mario Cassetta - folk music.  Sunday Opera.  Terry Drinkwater.  Still listen 2 or 3 hours a day.  Thing that brings the station together is the rest of the media is not very broad.  Use to have 25% on Iraq War, now down to 3%. LA Times - nothing about the Iraq War.  Used to have Chairman Mao poems.  Casper Winburger.  Used to have people who were Nazi party candidates.  Used to have John Birch Society show. I don’t like the AWARE show.
DB	Conflict between CPB and Pacifica.  Not community radio, we're mission driven.  Have to get out in the field and write how the station fulfills CPB. Don’t need professionalism.  Need skill to do dialogue.  AWARE is group that did the blacklist.
KA	Is it the same people, the people who do the AWARE show and the people who did the blacklist?
DB	I don’t know, just the same initials.
DB	I’ve had 10 years of homelessness.  I represent the homeless and casual employee.  Our mission has failed.  I answer phone calls.  Pacifica had 50 years to propagate our mission.  We're not doing it.  I can represent South Central.  Not representing that.  No voice in aero- space.  North Los Angeles County not represented.
MB	Traveled around the.  been to Bronx, shear poverty.  no ambulances.  Grew up in Chicago.  Arts community. At KPFK I align myself with woman and Children.  In South Central - expensive.  KPFK is missing out.  we should go to those communities and meet the people.  Do small events.  College professors.  In San Diego - interference.  So are they hearing it on line.
KA	We need diversity in terms of occupation and sector, eg: Civic Service diversity, county workers, fireman, doctors, etc.
Following comments from LSB members was to be limited to 2 min each.
RR	Also chair of the PDLA Education Caucus - Election Protection Task Force.  What I want from this committee is, what the BBC in Europe used as its motto: Educate, Enlighten and Entertain.  Like to see that in this station too.  CAB Knowledgeable about different communities and bring in younger people.  Doers not complainers and talkers. Positive outlook.  Nothing more important than the media, cause it forms opinions that control everything else.  Ignorance is not bliss.  Station is unique - tells things you wont hear elsewhere.
IF	(Israel talked about his experience at KPFK)
IJ	(Ian talked about his concern for the future of the station.)
GA	We will interest more people with the carts.  I'm on the PNB.  Roots in the Peace movement.  Sane Freeze. Lower Military spending.  Years ago ... though cut military budget for tax cut.  I did a survey.  I was wrong.  People wanted to spend money on education.  Have to ask and have to listen.  Have lots of people, not a static committee.  Get the view of many people.  I thought people were basically selfish, but they weren't.  CAB not just to fulfill CPB requirements.  Have to listen to the community.  Tour.  Then two things, Next meeting date and time.  and who will record the cart.  All the LSB members should leave the room.
CC	Kick out the LSB members.
Meeting continued with out the LSB members.  This was about 9:00 pm.  Remaining in the meeting were CM, MB, SG, DB, QC, CC, BP, KA and LS.
CC	(Volunteered to chair, no objections.) (Made suggestions about the CARTS that would be made to advertise the next CAB meeting.)
KN	Groundwork is needed to enable diverse group together.  We have to talk about that a little bit more. That will guarantee success.  We all have ideas, but we need to agree on goals.  Good feeling.  Respected.  Not a basis of exclusion.  Not against putting out a cart.  But bringing in people to the station who represent significant and diverse elements of the community rather than just those who would respond to a cart.  Important that we get doers not talkers.  If it’s just people that want to talk, we have alot of people attending and we’ll get nothing done.
CC	We will be listened to because they need us. Hundreds of Thousands of dollars.
KA	I recommend that we go out and do surveys, community needs assessments.  There’s nothing in the CPB requirements that say how it has to be done.  We can just go out and get the information, in writing and bring it to our next meeting.
SG	Could use the internet for that.
BP	No need to limit.  Internet is limited.  It would only reach listeners and only those who go to the website and want to fill out the survey.  Too limited.
DB	When is the town hall meeting? It’s mandated. 19 July 08.  That could be our next meeting of the CAB for the public.  Same time and place, just before or after, and we’d get more people.
KA	Let me make this as a motion:  Members of the CAB, as individuals, go out an do community needs assessments (CNA) from Report this post as: Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ add your comments the rest of what I know by Leslie Thursday, Jun. 12, 2008 at 9:10 AM I was afraid the fancy formatting on the CAB report might confuse the system here.  Here's the rest of what I said: Some of the answers to your questions are above, but here is what I've heard to the rest: I don't know about anyone's representation, except that Kwazi is a union and community organizer.  Larry Steinberg was KPFK's general manager through 1962. It's my understanding that Kwazi Nkrumah and one other gentleman are African American, and the rest are white.  Marla Bernstein is the only woman. So far, all those who show up are members of the Community Advisory Board.  Since the LSB and station staff are prohibited from interfering with the CAB, I'm guessing that if the number of members get too big, the CAB will determine it's own membership.  The CAB plans on recruiting members at the LA Social Forum. Their final report is submitted to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  Thus far, it hasn't been distributed any further that I know of, but the CAB has the option to do with it what it will.  Not knowing what has been reported to the CPB in the past, I can't speak to how the recommendations have been used. The CAB is formed and reports annually, so its last report was last year.  I don't know anything more about that CAB, or about why this isn't on the KPFK website.  Try writing to Ali Lexa, webmaster@kpfk.org, or I will, if you want. Report this post as: Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ add your comments EVERYONE ASK KPFK WEBSITE TO INFORM US ALLL by aKPFKer Saturday, Jun. 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM everyone demand that KPFK website include all information relevant to us all....about the CAB, when it is meeting, where, where LSB meets, when, minutes, and all else that we cant ever find.. who are LSB members ? when does their term expire, etc. Report this post as: Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ add your comments You are helpful with giving us INFO here, thanx by a-KPFK-er Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2008 at 1:17 PM THANK YOU !!! INDY MEDIA VOLUNTEERS and donators for making this the only place I can find info about KPFK ..that is visible to all....of us.... and thanks to Leslie for sharing as much as you "know" and as soon as you know it, because I dont see others writing or telling or sharing what they know... some of us keep complaining, regularly....that KPFK IS SO CLOSED, OPAQUE, SECRETIVE AND SUSPICIOUS, the staff that is, and it's programmers act this way too.. 'it's the culture, stupid !' and they at Our Radio Station dont answer phone message or emails ! EVER ! It's as if they dont have to be responsive to the listeners but just get to ask for money all the time....all the time..... even if they need it....but....no response, no cash... it's that simple for many prior-subscribers. so thank you Leslie and those who comment back who tell us what they know, hopefully honestly and w/o another agenda other than COMMUNICATING to The Community, which means to all who listen, who care, who want to help make improvements, or give comments or advise or respond or suggest....etc. The CAB is maybe meeting again to find or select or somethin' ... on Thurs 6/26 at 7 pm at KPFK... this was heard from an in-real-life-person, and now shared here..... to not have this group be politically selective, exclusive, or picked by a few {be it LSB or other people who already have all the petty Power at OUR station} . The Community Advisory Board seems to have started up and many of us never knew it met or even how to find out about the meetings, until Leslie wrote this info above. WE thank all those who taped, transcribed and shared that info above...which was fascinating and thus encouraging many more of US to want to participate. Let's all do it, with genuine good intentionitis and good willingness.... wouldnt this be nice ? or effective anyhow. Let's be there... Report this post as: Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ add your comments keep asking by Leslie Wednesday, Jun. 18, 2008 at 2:59 PM leslie@radiojustice.net and I'll keep answering, as best as I can. I have signed a confidentiality agreement that restricts some of what I can say.  The Bylaws say I may not speak about what occurs in a closed meeting" those meetings dedicated to or predominantly regarding personnel, proprietary information, litigation and other matters requiring confidential advice of counsel involving commercial or financial information obtained on a privileged or confidential basis, or relating to a purchase of property or the use or engagement of services whenever the premature exposure of said purchase or sale, in the Board's sole opinion may compromise the legitimate business interest of the Foundation The confidentiality agreement is more encompassing.  It includes: Properly deemed "Confidential information" is information that is disclosed in confidence and deemed confidential by the Pacifica National Board or a Local Station Board or a committee and may include, but is not limited to the following:  Certain limited information concerning potential or actual litigation against the Pacifica Foundation and/or any of its officers, board members, or employees.  Certain limited information concerning employees of the Pacifica Foundation, unless the employee(s) agrees that such information may be disclosed.  Certain limited information regarding the sale or purchase of Pacifica property.  Certain limited financial information regarding the Pacifica Foundation.  Information disclosed during a closed session of any Pacifica Foundation board or committee. Imho, some of what should be public is tagged "confidential."  But that's another story. Report this post as: Share on: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ add your comments