Minutes:
WPFW Local Station Board Meeting
2390 Champlain Street NW, Washington DC 20009
14 June 2006
Quorum declared about 8:00 P.M., Carol Wolfe serving as Chair.
Board Members present at the call to order: Jim Brown, Acie Byrd, Billy Ray
Edwards, Joni Eisenberg, Jane Gatewood, Ayo Handy-Kendi, Ambrose Lane, Dan
Logan, Kalonji Olusegun, Zarinah Shakir, Gloria Turner, and Carol Wolfe.
Absent: Cade Campbell, Donnie McKethan, and Mark Roberts,.
Excused Absences: Mark Berman, Joe Chiara, Norberto Martinez, Rob Robinson, and
Hakam Takash.
Late Arrivals (between 9:00 and 9:30): Luzette King and Thomas Ruffin.
Also present: Ron Pinchback, WPFW General Manager and Carl Pfluger, LSB
Secretary.
[In the 15 minutes before quorum was achieved, The General Manager presented
his Report in an informal discussion with the 10 members then present. Mostly
concerned with fund-raising woes: last membership drive fell short of goal by
$60,000 (for the first time in 5 years) largely because of donor
fatigue/competition/anxiety/apathy, perhaps abetted by a certain staleness in
our programming: WPFW's programming schedule has changed little since the time
of General Manager Hankins. He distributed a questionnaire in which Board
members could suggest additions to the station's public affairs programming.]
Amendments to the Agenda: Billy Ray Edwards moved adding to Old Business a
discussion of the proposed LSB "Report to the Listeners" show, and to New
Business a discussion of the problems of "LSB Burnout." He observed that the
LSB show has been on the Old Business Agenda for about 6 months, and still has
never been addressed. Zarinah Shakir then moved bringing Old Business forward
on the Agenda, to precede Community Comment. Jane Gatewood moved splitting
Community Comment into two 15-minute segments, the first preceding the
Committee Reports, the second preceding New Business. Amendments to Agenda were
approved without objection, so moved by Kalonji Olusegun, seconded by Ambrose
Lane.
Approval of Minutes: Ambrose moved approval of the Minutes of the April 18th
meeting (there having been no meeting in May, for lack of a quorum.) Seconded
by Jane. Approved, 9-0.

Old Business:
Establishing membership of LSB Committees: Members had previously filled out
forms ranking their preferences for committee work. These had been tabulated by
Jane, and the distributed lists were read by the members of the Board present,
who confirmed which committee memberships they wished to retain. Members listed
who were absent from today's meeting were noted as "tentative" members of their
committees, except when a member present reported firm knowledge of an absent
member's intent. The confirmed lists are as follows (the Chair/Convener of each
committee is indicated by an asterisk):
OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT: Cade Campbell, Ayo Handy-Kendi*, Luzette King
(tentative), Norberto Martinez (tentative), Zarinah Shakir, Gloria Turner,
Carol Wolfe.
PROGRAMMING: Joni Eisenberg, Kalonji Olusegun, Rob Robinson, Mark Berman
(tentative), Jim Brown, Dan Logan*, Norberto Martinez, Hakam Takash.
TECHNOLOGY: Thomas Ruffin (tentative), Zarinah Shakir, Hakam Takash, Jim
Brown*, Kalonji Olusegun.
COMMITTEE OF INCLUSION: Ambrose Lane, Kalonji Olusegun*, Hakam Takash, Norberto
Martinez.
FINANCE: Jane Gatewood*, Ambrose Lane, Joe Chiara, Luzette King, Norberto
Martinez (tentative), Thomas Ruffin.
GOVERNANCE: Jim Brown, Acie Byrd*, Cade Campbell, Jane Gatewood, Thomas Ruffin
(tentative.)
MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT & SEARCH COMMITTEE (MASC): Mark Berman, Jim Brown*,
Ambrose Lane, Rob Robinson, Gloria Turner, Carol Wolfe.

Three Members have not signed up for any committees: Billy Ray Edwards, Mark
Roberts, Donnie McKethan.
The Chair urged the Conveners to schedule meetings of their committees over the
coming month, and to inform all members of the LSB of their times and
locations.

PNB Programming Policy: A document concerning this was circulated by Rob
Robinson, and placed on the agenda so long ago that most members don't remember
it well enough to evaluate it. Jane moved that the Programming Committee should
convene a special meeting to review this document, and report on it to the
Board. Motion seconded by Ayo, passed without objection.
Election to Replace Resigned Staff Member Kateah Stitt: Joni Eisenberg reported
that Damu Smith's death and memorial services disrupted preparations, and that
now there is not enough time to hold a special election.
Resolution on Absences: Zarinah Shakir noted that Damu's death was also largely
responsible for the absences that aborted the May meeting; and that in general
there has been a problem with excessive absences (excused or not) of some
members. After some discussion with the Chair, she moved a resolution, seconded
by Ambrose, to put a discussion of this problem on the agenda of next month's
meeting. Motion passed without objection.
Replacement of Resigned Listener-Member Sarah Bittle: Chair reports that Amanda
Sweet, next-highest vote-getter still available for service, has said she'll be
ready to begin serving at the July meeting.
LSB Report Show: 15 minutes of discussion, with contributions by Billy Ray,
Ron, Jane, Ayo, Acie, Zarinah, Ambrose, and Dan, concluded inconclusively: time
ran out before Billy Ray could move a resolution, and the Board voted 6-4
against extending the time.
Community Comment, Part 1: Four speakers addressed the Board: Lamont Nichols,
Dorcas ???, Chris Crowder, known as "Brother Chris," and Darlene ???. All
urged, with varying emphases, stronger involvement of WPFW with the surrounding
community.
Reports to the LSB: Summary statements by the General Manager and
representatives of the Outreach, Finance, Programming, and MASC Committees.
Common theme of all reports: an appeal for more active and sustained
participation in all areas of our work by all members. Jim Brown of MASC had
prepared and distributed a "General Manager Evaluation Form" to be returned by
Staff and LSB members. Jane Gatewood, seconded by Ambrose Lane, moved adding
this evaluation to the meeting's New Business. Motion carried, 7-2.
Volunteer Appreciation Awards Ceremony: Gloria Turner reported that she has
been negotiating with the Prince Hall Charitable Foundation to rent their
facility (at 1000 U Street NW) for this event. We should be able to get the non-
profit rate, and charge $20-$25 per ticket. It is scheduled for Saturday,
November the 4th, from 7 P.M. to 11 P.M.
Community Comment, Part 2: Two speakers: Brother Chris again, and Jane Jackson
of the KPFA LSB.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:30 P.M. New Business was never discussed.