DRAFT Notes
from Election Committee RFP-Working-Group Teleconference
of Sunday 3.28.10

Present: Bill Crosier (KPFT), Melinda ILey-Dohn (KPFT), Wesley Bethune (KPFT), Peter Tucker (WPFW), Russell Dale (WBAI),
Carolyn Birden (WBAI), Yosh Yamanaka (KPFK), Ken Aaron (KPFK), Tracy Rosenberg (KPFA), Anthony Fest (KPFA)

The teleconference convened at 5:30 pm Pacific time.

In the context of cutting expenses by not mailing out printed candidate-statement booklets out to all voters, there was
discussion of the details of implementation:

Bill mentioned that at the previous meeting, the group had decided on an opt-out, not opt-in procedure (so that voters
who do nothing will receive a booklet), but suggested that not many voters are likely to actively opt out, and proposed
that the WG think of ways to encourage voters to use the process.

Carolyn said that Pacifica could do a multipurpose preliminary mailing (probably in July) alerting subscribers to the
upcoming election. The mailing could include an opt-out postcard, together with a fundraising appeal and a request to
provide Pacifica with an email address.

Ken Aaron asked what are the costs-per-piece of the ballot, candidate-statement booklet, etc. Bill will check with Les
Radke to obtain this information.

There was discussion of the state of voter lists, particularly the WBAI lists. Carolyn said that, to her knowledge, the
WBAI lists are not yet being cleaned, probably due to a shortage of personnel with the necessary knowledge of MEMSYS.
Ken suggested that MEMSYS-fluent staff at other Pacifica stations could help at WBAI, possibly by remote access. Russell
responded that MEMSYS is DOS-based, so remote access would not be possible. Tracy agreed to check with the stations
about which version of MEMSYS each is using. Tracy also drafted a motion expressing the Elections Committee’s
recommendation that stations with MEMSYS expertise assist other stations; the Working Group approved the motion without
objection.

There was discussion of contracting-out selected election functions, notably the mailing of replacement ballots. Tracy
said that this activity could not be centralized for the entire election season; in the closing days of an election, it
must be done locally so that the voter receives a replacement ballot in time. In reply to a question about how many
requests for replacement ballots are likely, Tracy said that in her term as KPFA Local Election Supervisor, about 330
such requests came in, most of them toward the end of the election period.

There was discussion of whether the Elections Committee, or the stations, could assist with the hiring of Local Election
Supervisors. Tracy agreed to locate an old LES job description.

The teleconference adjourned at 7:45 pm (Pacific).