Minutes of WPRA Board Meeting
Members Present: Rosewall; Lichtenberg: Merrick; Rudnitzki; Good; Powless; Egan; Jones-Bey; Gerlach; Jasper; Steele; Bock; Gilmore; Corriveau; Donoghue; Sigman; Utley.
Members Absent: Sturgul; Eckels;
Staff Present: Reyer; Munson; Kallenbach; Nalbandian; Stockdale; Brett; Gasper; Sherer; Yocom; Gaddo; Stockdale, Purcell
President Ellen Rosewall called the meeting to order. Phil Corriveau gave a review of the history of Wisconsin Public Radio as well as a thumbnail sketch of our plans for the future. He discussed the conversion progress of our radio stations from analog to high definition radio (HD). He noted that on 90.7 WHAD, the Milwaukee sypmphony will now be broadcast on HD radio.
Phil reported that the State Building Commission had voted in favor of a grant in the amount of $684,000.00 for the digital conversion of the following stations:, WHBM Park Falls; WHWC Menominee; WLBL Auburndale, WHLA La Crosse, WHHI Highland, and WHDI Door County.
Our total annual listening audience has increased from 383,000 in the spring of 2006 to over 400,000 in the fall of 2007.
President Rosewall introduced the new Board members. The Board was then greeted by UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow. The Regional Managers reported on activities in their respective regions.
The Board proceeded with a planning session led by President Ellen Rosewall. The vision and purpose of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association (WPRA) were discussed. Several elements were identified for the purpose of WPRA's existence. A brief summary of the elements are as follows:
Ellen Rosewall gave the President's report. A discussion was held regarding how the Board members could be of additional assistance in working with the Governor and Legislature to restore the funding in the State budget for Wisconsin Public Radio.
Ellen Rosewall reported that she had met with the Friends of WHA-TV which is the support group for Wisconsin Public Television (WPT). WPT has proposed that one of the WPRA Board members sit on their Board of WPT and one of the WPT Board members sit on the Board of WPRA. The WPRA Board will discuss this further when WPT is ready.
Phil Corriveau presented his report. He highlighted the fact that WPRA has increased its number of members by 6% over last year. The number of WPRA members is now 41,500. The revenue received from members has increased by over 8% in the last year.
Currently WPR is in recruitment for a Chief Operating Officer to replace Anders Yocom. Anders graciously agreed to come back from retirement to assist us until the state budget situation is settled. Currently there is a hiring freeze in state employment. Phil is doing some internal recruitment to hire a Director of Talk programming and National programming.
Phil reported that ECB just received a Federal grant of $323,000.00 to build a new station in Adams for the Ideas Network. The WHA Tower has finally been rezoned thanks to the testimony and assistance of Gloria Jones-Bey.
Phil gave a summary of the strategic planning for FY 2008. He talked primarily about five goals for the next year.
He discussed the fact that the Media Landscape is changing very rapidly, i.e. the Internet, IPODS, downloads and archives.
Committee Reports:
Board Operations Committee
The committee recommended that the Board create an ad hoc committee to develop and implement policy and procedures for advocacy of issues affecting Wisconsin Public Broadcasting.
Ellen requested that we have an advisory committee composed of former Board members and experts on specific issues that we may call upon to assist us when we are dealing with problems in their areas of expertise. The committee asked that Phil Corriveau develop a contact list with contact information that Ellen, as President of the Board, would have access to. Phil is to report back to the full board on this contact list at the January meeting.
The committee discussed with Dean Kallenbach and John Munson the upcoming vacancies on the board and the procedures for holding the elections. The Board members whose terms of office terminate in 2008 are: Ellen Rosewall, Lu Eckels, Barbara Gilmore, Michael Sigman and David Steele. The deadline for the list of names on the ballots to go to the Board is two weeks before the January meeting. The January meeting is scheduled for January 11, 2008. The determination of the need for a primary in a particular region(s) must be made so that the ballots for can be mailed out by February 1, with the ballots to be returned no later than February 28. The general election will be held on April 1 and the ballots must be returned and tabulated by May 15.
Development/Finance Committee
A recommendation was made that Gary Lichtenberg and Dick Egan form an ad hoc committee to research a quasi-endowment and planned giving.
Finance Committee
Bill Merrick moved and Barbara Gilmore seconded a motion to continue the authorization of Ellen, as President of the WPRA, to sign stocks etc. donated to the WPRA. The Finance Committee noted that we received an outstanding report from the auditors complimenting the Association on the records kept by the Association and WPR.
The FY08 budget was amended to include line items for Board discretionary expenses, Directors discretionary expenses and public awareness.
A motion was made that the President of the Board may appoint a person to attend the ECB meetings in their place for those times that they are unavailable to attend meetings. Chris Powless moved adoption and Bill Merrick seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by David Steele: Resolved that the WPRA shall create and implement an ad hoc advocacy committee to develop policy and procedures for advocacy of issues affecting public radio broadcasting. The motion was seconded by Joan Rudnitski and passed unanimously.
Michael Sigman moved that we adjourn and Gloria Jones-Bey seconded. Motion passed.