2008-04-13 PNB Houston Draft Minutes

[audio b-23:01] Public Comment

1:31: [audio a-00:14, c- 03:38 - end] SG: Reports out from ex session.

1^st. A briefing from Foundation Counsel re the status of several legal actions that the board is involved in.

2^nd. Job descriptions (and the discussion was in exec session because there are actual human beings who occupy those jobs). A motion was passed (YY's motion):

The national finance staff works under the direction of the CFO. All Pacifica staff, including the CFO, and other national finance staff, shall report to the ED. But the CFO/PNB reporting relationship shall be kept intact.

1:43 pm. Report on Anti-Racism Training 4/11. LD left to check out of hotel room.

1:53 pm. BL: Motion to change the name, responsibilities and composition of the Committee to Investigate Allegatons of Racism and Sexism :

1. The Committee to Investigate Allegatons of Racism and Sexism will be renamed the Committee on Racism, Sexism and Other Forms of Discriminaton. This committee shall be responsible for coordinating investigations of allegations of racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination by members of Local Station Boards, the Pacifica National Board, and their committees, after procedures for such investigations have been approved by the PNB. In addition, the committee's responsibilities will include:

a) receiving periodic reports from each sister station's COI, and promoting informtion sharing, cooperation and use of best practices by these committees, and

b) studying and offering recommendations on Foundation policies to monitor and eliminate racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination, and promoting inclusion of underrepresented communities, at all levels within the institution.

2. In addition to the current membership of one Director from each sister station plus one Affiliate Director, all elected by the PNB, the Committee on Racism, Sexism and Other Forms of Discriminaton shall also include two Delegates not then serving as Directors, each elected by each of the five Local Station Boards using Single Transferable Voting.

Passed unanimously.

 

2:03 pm. MP: resolution to educate the public re Coalition of Imokalee Workers National Campaign to Stop Slavery and Sweatshops in the Fields:

Resolved that the Pacifica Radio National Board encourages all Pacifica station and affiliates to educate its listeners about the situation of Florida farm workers and the efforts and demands of the Coalition of Imokalee Workers campaign and others to improve the wages and working conditions of the workers who pick tomatoes, and to eliminate modern-day slavery and human rights abuses fr4om Florida's fields.

 

Passed by acclamation. Secretary directed to post on Pacifica website, and distribute to all the 5 stations.

2:10 pm. [audio d-21:55] New/Unfinished Business.

MP motion: That during executive sessions, all on-line devices, including PDAs, laptop computers, cellphones and other such equipment, be turned off except for any officer of the Foundation - secretary or legal counsel - who may need to have access in terms of recording or information, or for legal counsel to research any particular question on the floor.

Discussion.

[d-17:45] BL: calls the question. Without objection.

[d-16:22] Vote: Y3, 8 N. Motion fails.

[d-14:35] BL: Last year board passed a motion requiring training at all stations regarding issues of "indecency", etc. , so that all understand the consequences of breaching them. Also, board wanted to work with FCC counsel to file an amicus brief. It was considered premature at that time but now seems appropriate,so offers this motion:

That the PNB requests that the ED work with Pacifica's FCC Counsel, with the input of any interested party within the network, to prepare and publicize or co-sponsor a friend-of-the-court brief and public statement opposing the FCC's indecency and profanity policy that is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.

DS: Might be possible to join in an existing one, rather than having to write our own.

LH: Since it's our policy too, would be nice to have a Financial Impact Statement

[d-11:02] BL reads his amended version.

NS: We ought to wait and see ... we may have some different feelings in Pacifica re the use of women's bodies ...

Discussion.

[d-04:45] YY: moves to postpone to the next meeting for further information. Passed without objection.

 

2:30 Digital Distribution Report and Presentation - RR:

 

3:16; Short statements from BL, LD and NB.

3:23 pm. Houston Meeting Adjourned.