Report of the Executive Director to the Pacifica National Board by Summer Reese April 27, 2014
The following is my report on the status of major issues and concerns currently facing Pacifica Foundation Radio during the crisis that has been created by the actions of the board majority. The reckless and illegal actions of the majority have caused considerable concern to our many creditors, who are now uncertain about the organization’s stability and ability to meet its financial obligations over time. This has resulted in two collections actions being filed against the Foundation this month by creditors that were previously working with staff on payment of these liabilities. Continue reading Major Issues and Concerns Currently Facing Pacifica→
Berkeley-The board majority’s request for a restraining order to empty the national office of community members who have been occupying Pacifica’s headquarters since March 17th, when Executive Director Summer Reese cut off a flimsy padlock and returned to work, was not granted today.
This month Save KPFA sent out a call to their supporters to attend the Local Station Board (LSB) meeting of Saturday, April 12th. And, from an article afterwards appearing on their website, one might get the impression that an impressive number of SaveKPFA supporters attended that day. Continue reading Where Are Save KPFA’s Grassroots Supporters→
Berkeley-SAG/AFTRA has filed a complaint at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Pacifica Radio, for unilateral contract modifications and bargaining in bad faith with the union local at WPFW-FM in Washington DC. Acting/interim/disputed chair Margy Wilkinson approved the seeming contract violations at an April staff meeting when presented by WPFW’s general manager Michele Price. The complaint report can be seen here.Continue reading Rudderless Pacifica Back in Front of Labor Relations Board→
Berkeley–The “reason” for the abrupt breaching of executive director Summer Reese’s contract appears to be a bit of a moving target as the date for the preliminary injunction hearing on May 6th inches closer and closer. KPFK producer Ian Masters has jumped into the fray. While earlier reports said Reese was fired because she didn’t have a social security number, Master’s breathlessly announced his discovery of a political donation to the Libertarian National Committee by Reese. The $250 donation from 14 years ago (date 6-27-2000) is from an individual providing a Washington DC address.
For the last month we’ve been occupying the Pacifica National Office, barricaded in, 24/7, taking turns standing watch, resisting the rogue board. We’re KPFA listeners and programmers, United for Community Radio members, with help from our allies at other Pacifica stations.
Berkeley-Appointed/disputed/interim executive director Bernard Duncan failed to appear without notice at two scheduled meetings on Thursday, the first with national office administrative staff and the second, the weekly senior management call. Duncan reported illness and may have left the Berkeley area on Thursday after missing both scheduled meetings. Duncan appeared on KPFA briefly during the April 15th fundraising drive. That full interview can be heard here (Duncan’s interview is midway through the hour-long program).
The song changes, but the name remains the same: Save KPFA, formed in 1999 for the purpose of addressing the station’s needs vis-a-vis the Pacifica network of which it’s a valued part was a respectable organization in its own right. Savekpfa.org is a site whose current owners had little or nothing to do with those events of 15 years ago. Cleverly borrowing the name, they seek to reawaken the memories of that deeply unsettling conflict and to re-invoke the us-versus-them, station autonomy-versus-oppressive network paradigm. Continue reading Straight “majority” rule? Lewis Hill would be disappointed→
Berkeley-Confusion reigned at the national Pacifica Radio network when board member Hank Lamb from Houston (one of the 12 directors being sued for breaching the executive director’s contract) sent a muddled email to network employees.
Lamb’s April 10th email assured staff the “legal” executive director was *not* Bernard Duncan, but was instead alleged chair of the board, Margy Wilkinson. Lamb’s email stated, “Until a court says otherwise, if they ever do, you are an employee of the Foundation and there is a direct heirarchy [sic] to be followed. You follow the bylaws and job description and wants and needs of the iED, Margy Wilkinson. She is the legal IED”. Continue reading Rogue Board Swapping Out Executive Directors Again?→
On April 7, 2014 Pacifica Radio’s Executive Director Summer Reese was interviewed by Heather Gray of WRFG-89.3FM in Atlanta which is an Affiliate of Pacifica Radio. Ms Reese discussed her accomplishments, the challenges of community radio and her ideas for future development of community radio overall in America and specifically about the Pacifica Radio network.
