RadioPoetics.org

A special PNB teleconference meeting for June 2008 will take place on Sunday, June 8, at 4:30 pm EST.

Agenda:

Financial Update (Executive Session)
Financial Update (Open Session)
Date and location of the next PNB quarterly meeting
Report out from executive session

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Some Background:
Due to the current financial crisis the Foundation has considered canceling some of its upcoming meetings among other cost saving measures. Some of us take the position that the solution is not to cancel meetings but to find ways to hold meetings that cost less. Further, the financial crisis calls for the board to be more active, not less. There is a concern that the financial crisis not result in the marginalization of the board or in the dilution of its authority. An ad hoc PNB task force comprised of Efia Nwangaza, Ambrose Lane, Rob Robinson, Grace Aaron, Carolyn Birden and [Joe Wanzala] has been able to develop some alternatives for an in-person meeting to be held in July (in Washington D.C. or in Berkeley) which average less than half the cost of the least expensive PNB meetings in the recent past. The PNB shall consider the task force proposals this Sunday.
The board also needs to develop a forward looking plan to consider/rethink its current operational model and fundraising approach - to be sure it needs to remain listener funded, but we need to cultivate new listeners rather than tap out current listeners. The results of the recent fund-drives suggest donor fatigue may be setting in and also suggests that the network has to revamp its programming which means that management and programmers have to think more creatively and be willing to adapt to the foundations needs, rather than the other way around.

Joe Wanzala