| Statement |
My name is Bryan Hlavinka. The last name is Czech and the H is silent. I am running for the staff position on the Local Station Board. I believe my community involvement with local non profit organizations have allowed me to sharpen my marketing and fundraising skills which I believe will enrich KPFT. I have found that KPFT is Houston’s “best kept radio secret”. If elected to the Local Station Board, my mission will be to make sure the secret gets out.
I have become familiar with KPFT through “Queer Voices” which I have been a co-host on for over a year. It has been working on this show where I have fallen in love with KPFT and its mission. While working on “Queer Voices”, I have spoken to many in our community who were not aware of KPFT and its mission. I hope to change this going forward. KPFT currently serves a very important role in the GLBT community. KPFT is the only source of GLBT radio programs in Houston. It helps to provide news, issues and information on a weekly basis that is not available on any other print or radio program.
I am fairly active in Houston’s GLBT community where I work mostly to fight HIV/AIDS. I currently serve as the first vice chair and chair of development for the Center for AIDS, a non profitt. Also, since 2003, I have been active in the Bayou City Boys Club working to raise money for local HIV/AIDS organizations. In BCBC I have co-chaired many events including the Jungle party. Jungle is a community wide event that raised $54,000 the last year I co-chaired. I truly believe the skills I have learned working these organizations will translate to KPFT.
KPFT has had a big impact on my life including my coming out process. I grew in small town near Freeport in Brazoria county. At the time, I thought I was the single gay in my area. One night, while going to have a late dinner with my mom at the Kettle Restaurant, I “accidentally” tuned in a late night gay program on KPFT. Listening to this program with my mom not only allowed me to not feel as alone, it also helped me eventually tell her about myself. KPFT has been the catalyst that lead to the person I have become twenty years later.
I hope to bring my talents and enthusiasm to the Local Station Board and to make what is already a great radio station even better. I hope that you will consider voting for me.
Thank you for your time,
Bryan Hlavinka
KPFT Candidate Questionnaire
1. I want to be on the Local station Board to help represent my community (GLBT) at KPFT on the radio in Houston.
2. I envision the Local Station Board working closely with Pacifica Foundation to continue its mission of programming while working with the local community to determine what the listening preferences are and adding them to KPFT.
3. The station can better serve its listeners by expanding their listener base and reaching out to underserved markets and filling a need that is not served by any other radio station in Houston.
4. To increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities, I would identify leaders in a community that KPFT would like to enter and interview them on the radio. I believe the word of mouth buzz around this interview would bring in new listeners and add to the KPFT family.
5. I believe KPFT should pursue more events driven fund raising. This works well in the GLBT community and I believe it would transfer to KPFT. I have many years experience in this and would love to implement at KPFT.
6. I am very active in Houston’s GLBT community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I currently serve as the First vice Chair and Chair of Development for the center for AIDS. In addition, since 2003, I have been active with the Bayou city Boys Club a non profit. In is through BCBC that I have learned about marketing and fundraising which I believe would be useful at KPFT.
7. I am very interested in getting the word out about KPFT through the marketing or community outreach committees. I would also like to bring my experience at fund raising to KPFT.
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