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DRAFT Wisconsin Public Radio Association DRAFT Board of Directors Meeting Friday, May 19, 2006 Pyle Center, Room 213 Madison, Wisconsin MINUTES OF THE WPRA
BOARD MEETING Members Present: Kubale, Taft,
Sebranek, Lorman, McCormick, Merrick, Chell, Hildebrand, Jopek, Sigman,
Donoghue, Lichtenberg, Lenz, Gilmore, Steele, Egan (via phone) and Corriveau. Members Absent: Eckels and
Rosewall Staff Present: WPR/UW-Extension:
Yocom, Gasper, Stockdale, Kallenbach, Sherer, Reyer, Nalbanian and Johnston. ECB: Wink, Purcell,
Dokken and Garvey Others Present: Hamilton,
Rudnitzki, Good and Jim Hart Call To
Order President Kubale called the meeting
of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association (WPRA) board to order at 9:30 AM on
Friday, May19. He made a few appropriate
comments and presented recognition plaques to Bob Lenz of Waunakee, Charlotte
Chell of Kenosha, Joe Jopek of Antigo and Bill Merrick of Appleton for their
years of service as WPRA board members. Phil Corriveau awarded a plaque of recognition to Gene Purcell for
his work as Regional Manager. President Kubale announced the
results of the 2006 election and introduced the new board members present. Pat Sebranek reviewed the election
process and job descriptions for WPRA officers. Nominating forms were
distributed to board members to indicate a preference for any office. The forms
were completed and collected for deliberation by the board operations
committee. The board operations committee met
in Room 205 and the finance committee met in Room 213. After lunch, President Kubale
reconvened the WPRA board of directors meeting. Dean Kallenbach reviewed the
background of a listener survey taken 11 to 12 years ago. He indicated that it
was thought appropriate to conduct another survey in the near future. Board members Gilmore and Sigman volunteered
to help with the project along with staff and Joan Rudnitzki. Report
of the WPR Director Phil
Corriveau reported on the status of 2006 federal funding for public
broadcasting and the role of Congressman Obey in reestablishing sufficient
funding. Phil identified a new resource
(www.tellthempublicmatters.org)
being organized for citizens to advocate for public broadcasting at the federal
level. He also
reviewed several staff changes and the current status of high definition radio
installations in Wisconsin. Mr.
Corriveau also announced that WPR has been accepted into the “More Channels, More
Service” grant program sponsored by Public Radio Capital. This will provide a comprehensive study of
our service, address network weaknesses, and explore possible expansion. He
also invited the board members to offer their feedback, and that of the members
they represent, on the current level and amount of underwriting announcements
heard on the air. The federal
funding crisis action plan remains a work in progress with John Munson
addressing the questions that were raised at the January 2006 board meeting. A question
was raised by WPR member Jim Hart about potential WPR participation in the national
conference on media reform. Phil
Corriveau offered to visit later with Mr. Hart regarding the details of his
inquiry. Report
of the Finance Committee Teri
McCormick reported on the items discussed at the committee meeting. The committee recommends preliminary approval
of WPRA’s 2007 budget along with an investment policy for cash and savings. A motion was made by Bill Merrick
and seconded by Bob Lenz that the preliminary 2007 WPRA budget be approved.
Motion carried by voice vote. Teri
McCormick and Patty Stockdale provided a background on the proposed investment
policy for cash and savings. A motion was made by Mike Sigman and
seconded by Gary Lichtenberg that the investment policy for cash and savings be
approved. Motion carried by voice vote. Terri
reported that Patty Stockdale will do some checking on socially responsible
investments and report to the finance committee. She said that the question is
complex and needs to be approached cautiously. A letter
from the Educational Communications Board requesting $80,000 was explained by
Wendy Wink. The amount is included in the preliminary 2007 budget approved
earlier so does not require further board action. Report
of the Board Operations Committee Pat
Sebranek reported on the board operations committee. He reported that the
committee reviewed the proposed bylaw amendment and the question of
applicability if approved by the board. The committee agreed that the terms of
current appointed board members would not retroactively apply to any
reappointment after 2007. A motion was made by Dave Hildebrand
and seconded by Jack Taft that the following bylaw amendment regarding term
limits for appointed board members be approved. Motion carried by voice vote. “Effective with the 2007 term,
appointed Board members may serve no more than two consecutive four-year terms.
Following the completion of the second four-year term, the member may not again
serve on the Board of Directors for a period of a full calendar year. The
member may then be elected or may again be re-appointed to serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.” Pat
Sebranek reported that the board operations committee reviewed the nominating forms
completed earlier by board members. The committee recommends the following
slate of officers be approved: President: Ellen
Rosewall Vice-President: Gary
Lichtenberg Secretary: Sheehan
Donoghue Treasurer: Teri
McCormick A motion was made by Dick Egan and
seconded by Joe Jopek that the recommended slate of officers be approved.
Motion carried by voice vote. Pat
Sebranek and Dean Kallenbach discussed the 2006 election and the need for some
adjustments. The staff will be discussing possible changes for committee
approval. Pat observed that recent
elections have generated a lot of interest in WPRA and provided a splendid base
of capable individuals along with former board members to be called upon for
future endeavors. Pat also
reported a possible focus on board evaluation at the forthcoming retreat tentatively
scheduled for September 28-29 at Wisconsin Dells. He also reported that Dean
Kallenbach will undertake improvement of the WPRA website with staff resources
at the Eau Claire office. Joe Jopek
reviewed a resolution authorizing Teri McCormick as treasurer to sell all stock
given to WPRA. A motion was made by Joe Jopek and
seconded by Jack Taft that the resolution be adopted. Motion carried by voice
vote. Comprehensive
Program Planning Phil
Corriveau and Anders Yocom provided background information on the eight month comprehensive
program planning effort. The proposed changes
to the program schedules for both networks were then reviewed for board feedback.
The proposed schedules generated much discussion. Board
Evaluation Process President
Kubale provided insightful comments on his expectations of such a process on behalf
of evaluating the Board as a group and not the individual members. He posed questions such as: What should this Board do; What do we want
to do; What kind of information or assistance do we need to do that job; Are we
getting that information and assistance now? Barbara Gilmore suggested that the listener survey could provide
some direction for the process. Barbara Lorman mentioned a possible review of
the bylaws and mission statement. Staff
will make recommendations on how to conduct the evaluation. Board members were encouraged to review
bylaws and organization documents. Dave Hildebrand
congratulated President Kubale for a “job well done”. The board concurred with
applause. President Kubale expressed
his appreciation to Ramona Gasper for her great support. Adjournment A motion was made and seconded to
adjourn. Motion carried by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at
3:48 P M. Next
meeting Fall
Retreat; September 28 – 29, 2006; Great Wolf Lodge, Wisconsin Dells __________________________________________ Joseph J.
Jopek, Secretary |