4th Floor
Board Room
Educational
Communications Board; Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Center; Madison, WI
MINUTES OF THE WPRA BOARD BUSINESS MEETING
Friday, January 13, 2006
Members
Present:
Kubale, Chell, Hildebrand, Jopek, Sigman, Donoghue,
Lichtenberg, Lenz, Gilmore, Rosewall, Egan, Steele (via phone) and Corriveau.
Members
Absent:
Eckels, Lorman, McCormick, Merrick, Sebranek and Taft
Staff
Present:
WPR/UW-Extension: Yocom, Knight, Brett, Gasper, Stockdale,
Kallenbach, Munson, Reyer, Estes, Purcell, Nalbandian and Johnston.
ECB: Wink and Behr
Others
Present:
Hamilton
Call To Order:
President Kubale called the meeting of the Wisconsin Public
Radio Association (WPRA) board to order at 12:50 PM on Friday, January 13.
Approval of the Minutes of September 29-30, 2005:
A motion
was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the September 29-30, 2005 WPRA
board meeting. Motion carried by voice
vote.
Phil Corriveau reported the loss of WLFM/Lawrence
University/Appleton station and the addition of a new station, WEPS FM/88.9, at
Elgin, Illinois. The possible
affiliation with the UW-Stevens Point station is currently not being pursued.
He also reviewed two major initiatives to be undertaken in
2006. One involves an extensive review
of program content by seven peer review task forces led by Anders Yocom. The other will involve a comprehensive
review of facility upgrade options facing the system including signal
protection and signal expansion.
Sheehan Donoghue inquired about possible visitation with the
state’s congressional delegation about the recent Inspector General’s report on
CPB and implications for WPR. Michael
Sigman suggested that board members make routine contacts with legislators
regardless of political affiliations.
Steve Johnston presented a convincing demonstration of
digital radio via the newly activated service on WHA.
Patty Stockdale introduced Russell Melland, Vice President
of Johnson Bank. Mr. Melland reviewed
the association’s trust report for the last quarter of 2005 and answered board
member questions. Copies of WPRA’s
trust performance report were distributed at the meeting.
John Munson reviewed the proposed crisis action plan for
WPRA. Discussion followed regarding
further development and integration of the plan.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the process
of moving forward with the development of a crisis action plan. Motion carried by voice vote.
Report of the Finance Committee:
Bob Lenz reported on the items discussed at the committee
meeting.
Discussion items included Whad’ Ya Know? funds in WPRA’s
budget and a cash investment policy. WPRA is not vulnerable to extravagant loss
from WYK? because all remote related expenses are under contract . Also, a pending contract with the WYK? host includes
language that the host will share in any revenue losses. Patty Stockdale will be developing a policy
on cash investments which will be reported on at the May 2006 meeting.
A question on service club membership fees in the regional
promotions budget was raised.
Report of the Board Operations Committee:
Joe Jopek reported that the committee reviewed the slate of
candidates vetted by staff for the Spring 2006 election and recommends board
approval.
A motion
was made and seconded to approve the slate of candidates for the WPRA board’s
Spring 2006 election. Motion carried by
voice vote.
A proposed conflict of interest
policy was discussed by the committee and recommended for board approval.
A motion
was made and seconded to approve the
conflict of interest policy.
Motion carried by voice vote.
Jopek reported that the committee discussed board structure and recommended one change
requiring a bylaw amendment on term limits for appointed members. The issue of
term limits generated much discussion.
A motion
was made and seconded to prepare for future consideration a bylaw amendment
establishing a limit of two consecutive 4-year terms for appointed board
members. Motion carried by voice vote.
Other items discussed by the
committee involved the application for board candidates, greater utilization by
WPR staff/WPRA board on the improvement and development of the association's
web site, and board evaluation. No action was taken on these items.
Copies of the WPRA Bylaws with an
updated provision (Article V. Section 5.03) were distributed.
Regional managers Estes, Kallenbach and Purcell reported the
mixed results of the listener sessions held in their respective areas. Discussion followed on effective
alternatives for involving listeners in future efforts including the
possibility of routinely conducting surveys of the WPR members. Bob Lenz reported that Wisconsin Public
Television’s annual membership survey yields many returns but ways of utilizing
the data is a challenge. WPR staff were
charged with proposing and recommending for the Board a WPR member survey. Consideration needs to be made related to
details including but not exclusive to scheduling, conducting, and how results
will be used.
President Kubale again encouraged directors to contact him
or Mr. Corriveau regarding agenda items for future meetings.
Adjournment
A motion
was made and seconded to adjourn.
Motion carried by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 4:12 P M.
Next meeting
Friday, May 19, 2006; Pyle Center, Madison, WI
______________________________________
Joseph J. Jopek
Secretary
