Report to the Pacifica National Board
from the interim Executive Director
June 7, 2009
All the station fund drives so far (KPFK is in the middle of one) have
improved in performance over the winter drives. Although WPFW and KPFT
came in 10-13% under budget from last reports, that is still a lot
better than the 20-25% shortfalls in the winter drive for those stations.
According to LaVarn Williams, interim CFO of Pacifica and acting General
Manager of WBAI, the WBAI fund drive that just concluded on Saturday,
May 30th raised over $839,000! The goal for this drive in the Fiscal
Year 2009 Budget was $672,000. According to James Ross, Chair of the
National Finance Committee:
"This is very good news. The budget goal was actually $672,000, so
we beat that by $160,000. For comparison, the winter drive did
$545,000, and last spring did $608,000 (in two fewer days).
"This is the best WBAI drive in over two years."
KPFA has been finalizing details for its restructuring plans. KPFA has
also successfully completed the hire of a new Information Technology
Director. They also replaced their website director with an interim
hire and are going to be filling the position with a regular hire within
6 weeks.
Lemlem Rijio, KPFA GM, also says: "I am shopping around a couple of
proposals for funding---small proposals for training and projects
($10k-$50k) and just yesterday we got a $15k award from the san
francisco foundation. Our May drive is about 70% fulfilled; our summer
friendraiser is in the planning process. Our fall drive is budgeted to
begin in mid Sep. but I might move it to the last week so A and K can
bring our drives in sync and raise more. Three students from the UCB
school of business will be doing an internship in our development
department this summer working on three projects to plan and implement a
membership expansion campaign; a plan and materials to increase the
percentage of renewal of new members; and conducting market research for
new programs and strategies (they have developed 4 sets of really good
surveys)."
The Pacifica Archives has just signed a contract and is moving forward
with a book project with CityLights publishing that is very promising.
Also, there will be a 'Gay Day' at KPFK on Sunday, June 14th from 9:00
a.m. to Midnight. The LGBT community will express themselves in a day
long celebration of Gay Pride 2009. Featuring: Personal Time Capsule
stories; Live reports from the LA Gay Pride Parade and Festival,
rallies, protests, demonstrations, teach-ins, forums and gatherings; etc.
Our interim Human Resources Director has been helping with HR matters
related to WBAI, KPFK, WPFW, the Pacifica Archives, etc. He has also
researched on-line anti-discrimination and sexual harassment training.
The final logistics are being worked out and that training will be
starting in a week or 2. He has also begun working with the Personnel
Committee on the CFO and ED hiring process.
As mentioned earlier, Les Radke has been hired as the National Election
Supervisor and he has hired all 5 Local Election Supervisors. He will
report on election progress in a few minutes.
The National Office in conjunction with volunteers from WBAI and the PNB
Coordinating Committee are working to secure a venue and accomodations
for the next PNB in-person meeting to be held in New York.
Tony Riddle, National Development Director, has been researching federal
stimulus funds and CPB grants we may be eligible for.
In Peace,
Grace Aaron
Chair of the Pacifica National Board
Interim Executive Director of the Pacifica Foundation
phone: (310) 286 - 1011, cell: (510) 734-3496
1925 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-1034 *
www.pacifica.org * tel: (510) 849-2590 * fax: (510) 849-2617
Pacifica National Board 
