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Here at KPFK, our slogan is “powered by the people”. Today we are going to delve into how that translates into the station’s governing structure. KPFK is one station in the listener supported, community radio network of five Pacifica stations. A few years ago, the Pacifica Network made an unprecedented structural change in order to deepen their commitment to community-run radio. Instead of appointing members to the local station boards, the members of each station’s governing board are elected by listeners and staff. Of the 24 board members at each station, 18 are listener representatives elected by other listener sponsors. Six are staff reps, elected by staff as defined in Pacifica’s bylaws. From now until July 19th, you, the listener can nominate yourself for KPFK’s board, if you have made a minimum $25 donation to the station or volunteered a minimum of 3 hours in the past year. An elected board is certainly much more democratic than an appointed board, but it can also be more challenging to maintain. Recruiting candidates, holding elections, and then keeping a large board cohesive throughout the year is a difficult task. But many organizations that are committed to bottom-up management make this model work. To discuss the in’s and out’s out of democratically elected boards, my guest today is Adam Schwartz, the Vice President of Public Affairs and Membership Services from the National Cooperative Business Association. The board of the NCBA is elected by its membership, which is made up of consumer-owned cooperative businesses nationwide.

GUEST: Adam Schwartz, the Vice President of Public Affairs and Membership Services from the National Cooperative Business Association

REMINDER: Deadline to run as a nominee: 6 pm July 19th

Contact Marc Herbst, Local Elections Supervisor for more info
les_kpfk@pacifica.org
(213) 261-7488

LSB Election Signature Gathering Event
Sunday July 11th, 2010
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

held at the KPFK Radio Station
3729 Cahuenga Boulevard West
North Hollywood CA 91604

This is your opportunity to find out about the location station board election process, pick up an election nomination package, and obtain signatures of support from fellow KPFK members.