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General Manager's Report 2009-08-11

Submitted by webadmin on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 10:24.
2009: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 
SUMMARY
Governance: Recommendations on by-laws changes
Personnel: Leadership Snohomish County
Finances: 2010-2011 budget work.
Fundraising: Pledge Drive Friday, Oct. 9th – Saturday, Oct. 17th
Programming: Sound Living schedule (attachment)
 

Governance 
By-laws Changes.
I've been on both sides of the fence on this issue, but having looked at all the plusses and minuses, my recommendation is that an ex-officio position on the BOD be reserved for an elected representative of station volunteers.  Since the General Manager is only an ex-officio member of the board, I cannot see how a volunteer could be seated on the board as a voting member. I believe THAT would set-up the intractable conflicts-of-interest that bedevil so many community radio stations. However, a non-voting representative would have the benefit of making sure the perspective of our volunteers is heard in all board deliberations. I do not have final language to suggest at this time, but I will draft some proposed language this week and send it out in time for a vote at the Sept. meeting.
 
Personnel
Leadership Snohomish County.
I have enrolled in 2009 Leadership Snohomish County program, as recommended by the Board. I have been leery of spending the $2k, given the vicissitudes of the economy, but I believe the benefits to the station will be substantial. As we have previously discussed, building stronger relationships with the community is key to KSER's growth, and as the ED. it's critical that I step up my efforts to connect with other community leaders. I am both excited and daunted by the task ahead, but feel on balance the long-term benefits will out weigh any short-term impacts on my productivity.
 
Finances
I have been working with staff on the financial components of our strategic plan. The first task is a 2-year budget looking at the various options - status quo, worst and best cast scenarios - as they play out under the current economic conditions. After we've refined those numbers, I'll extend those projections out another 2 years. The executive summary is that all options will require significant new efforts in fundraising by the Board and staff. As our state funding comes to an end in 2009, one way or another, we need to starting bringing in at least $65k more each year to cover increased costs and the decline in listener and Tower income. The upside is that if we can increase our income by 65k, it will most likely put is within striking distance of re-gaining our CPB funding in the last quarter of 2011. I believe as the media environment continues its painful evolution in the years ahead, this funding will be critical to the KSER's continued success. I will have more budget details to share with you at our September meeting.
 
Fundraising
The results from our Summer Tell a Friend campaign are in:
 
Expenses:
t-shirts and caps(incl. postage)......$1,200.00
frisbees........................................$  274.00
bags............................................$  508.00
printing(mailing).............................$  978.00
postage1(mailing)..........................$  347.00
postage2(gifts)..............................$  194.00
Total Expenses............................$3,501.00 

Income:
Total Donations............................$6,808.00

Net Revenue.................................$3,307.00
 
Fall Pledge Drive

The Fall pledge drive runs Friday, October 9th through Saturday Oct. 17th. Reserve the dates – more details to follow. 

Sound Living Schedule

Guest List: September (subject to change)

September 4th Bicycle friendly Everett

Guests: representative from Alta Group in Portland
developing bike plan for Everett & John Lindstrom, Everett bicycle enthusiast and activist

September 11th The state of movies in popular culture

Guest: Robert Horton, long time and prolific movie reviewer
with Herald newspaper

September 18th Digital v. Film photography

Guest: Lloyd Weller, EvCC photography instructor and
award-winning professional photographer

September 25th (Pending) The Future of the Collins Building

Guests: Michael Hoffmann, Everett Port Commissioner
Valerie Steele, Historic Everett, Collins Building
activist

Guest List: October (subject to change)

October 2nd Helen Thayer, adventuress

Guest: Helen Thayer, Snohomish resident, at age 50 was the first woman to trek solo to the Magnetic North Pole without dog sled or snowmobile. And at the age of 63 she and her husband walked the Gobi Desert.

October 9th The Future of Newspapers

Guests: Scott Wilson, editor of the weekly Port Townsend
Leader newspaper and Neal Pattison, Executive Editor
of the Daily Herald.

October 16th Puget Sound’s Folk History

Guest: Bob Nelson, founder of the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society, involved in folk music scene from early 50’s and even had an offer from the FBI (at 17) to spy out Communists in the Puget Sound folk scene.

October 23rd The Navy in Everett

Guest: Captain Thomas Mascolo, Naval Station Everett Base
Commander

October 30th Everett Schools

Guest: Dr. Gary Cohn, Everett Superintendent of Instruction

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