Minutes
WPFW Regular LSB Meeting
May 8, 2019
Southeast Library
403 7th St SE
Washington, D.C.
20003
Sabooh Hakim – Chair
Ellen Williams Carter - Secretary
I. Call to order
Sabooh Hakim chair
called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm. Quorum was established at 6:40pm.
II. Roll call
13 - Members were present
at roll call: Maskeelah-Myrtle Washington, Ellen Williams Carter, Robert Simms, Eileen Rosin, Julie Hewitt, Louis Wolf,
Nancy Sorden, Ron Pinchback, Cliff Smith, Sabooh Hakim, Tony Leon, Benito Diaz, Martha Peterson, Craig Williams, Nick
Arena.
2 - Excused Absences: Vicki McGill, Jim Brown
2 - Unexcused: Lona Alias, Gloria Turner
There was one
resignations/removal.
1 - Resigned: Robert Simms resigned from his 2018, elected two 3 year term. Actually, his term
ends this December 2019. He remains on the WPFW-LSB until December 2019.
The GM Jerry Paris spoke to the LSB by
telephone.
The IPD Katea Stitt was absent.
Timekeeper: Robb Simms
Sergeant at Arms: John Tatum
III.
Approval of Agenda
The Agenda was approved with Cliff Smith’s addition. The LSB unanimously approved a
motion, made by Tony Leon, to allow LSB Members to make comments immediately following the public Community Comment
period.
IV. Approval of the Minutes
The March 13, 2019 and April 10, 2019 WPFW- LSB regular meeting minutes were
approved.
V. Management Reports
The General Manager, Jerry Paris stated the following:
We have raised $31,300
so far during the Spring Pledge Drive. American University was paid $25,000 from the grant that was received to cover
the cost of the transmitter construction. The rent has not been paid yet. Health Insurance and Central Services have not
been paid. Live@5 received a $1000. Pledge.
VI. Finance Report
The Treasurer, Nick Arena distributed a Financial
Report:
The bank balances were less than $5,000 as of April 30. The Spring Pledge Drive goal is $350,000. He said,
“IT IS CRITICAL THAT THIS GOAL Be ACHIEVED”. The General Manager is meeting with major donors with current
pledges of $27,500. LSB members should consider potential major donors and volunteering for the Spring Drive.
The
budget expenses through April 30, for the station are behind budget by over $109,000. Taking into account the past due
Central Services payments (5-6) and past due health insurance payments ($9,000) that have not been paid as well as
$30,000 in National Election costs that are in the budget, the budget deficit is over $225,000. The Station has not
been asked to make payments for the National Election to date. In addition, over $40,000 in transmitter expenses have
been paid from funds raised in FY2018. Additional Off-air fundraising activities/events are needed in June-July.
The
Treasurer asked Board Members if they could volunteer making calls to donors to help resolve the credit card batch
problem. He also asked if we knew of someone that would be willing to write grants for the station?
VII.
Community Comment
John Anthony- He wrote about ideas for fundraising.
Tony Norman- He said there should be a
demand that the LSB show return to the airwaves. He said that it is an important component. He suggested that we meet at
the station. He said we should let the local community know where we are meeting when meet at the libraries.
Joe
Brown- He asked how is Katea is doing after her hospitalization. He feels that the past chair Robb Simms owes Benito an
apology.
Ramone Gramaldi – He stated that we need a WPFW-LSB show and that all Community Comment shows should
be more like Ron Pinchbacks and Don Williams, which include listener free speech call ins.
Thomas O’Rourke- He
is concerned about the programming of Afro- Pop on Monday. He wants to know where the programming going is.
VIII. PNB
Report
Benito Diaz
He is concerned about election information that was deleted from the Pacifica website. Benito
agreed to present the LSB with his recommendations for how to resolve/prevent future election interference.
He stated
that the CAB needs to meet before June 4th.
Ron asked the LSB to ponder/analyze why this area doesn’t have
enough people interested in running for the LSB, as compared to the other 4 stations.
PNB Program Comm – Cliff
stated that the CAB must meet for Pacifica/WPFW to receive CPB funds.
Tony moved that the LSB Chair contact the CAB
Chair to get an update on their status. Motion passed unanimously.


IX. Program Committee
Donna Grimes
-They want to discuss their proposed Memorandum of Agreement describing a process of collaboration between management
and the LSB on developing and altering programming at WPFW. MOA was distributed to LSB for review. Motion to vote on it
was postponed until the June LSB meeting.
They submitted a motion as follows:
The Program committee recommends to
the LSB that it demand of management that it return the LSB Show to the airwaves immediately and without
conditions.
Vote 11 in favor 2 abstained
The motion was approved.
X. MASC Committee
Report was made during
executive session regarding personnel matters.
XI. Outreach and Development
The 5KWalk/Run will take place in
September.
XII. New Business
Tony Leon asked if the $200 raised for advertising can be used to purchase more post
cards to distribute. The vote was unanimous. Approved.
Craig Williams wants to dissolve the MASC committee and create
a committee of the whole. He submitted a motion. Vote: 2 Favor 10 Against 1 Abstention
The Motion was not
approved.
XIII. Adjourned Regular Meeting at 8:27pm
XIV. Executive Session Convened 8:32pm
Sabooh Hakim, Chair
adjourned the meeting at 8:57pm
Minutes submitted by: Ellen Williams Carter