PUBLIC RADIO IN MID-AMERICA (PRIMA)
Executive Board Conference Call
October 7 , 2008
2:30 ET
Minutes
Present: Cleve Callison, WMUB (President); Christina Kuzmych, WFIU (Vice President) Dorie Vallillo, WIUM (Treasurer), Jon Schwartz, Wyoming Public Radio, (Board Member No. 2)
I. DETERMINATION OF QUORUM & CALL TO ORDER
PRIMA President Cleve Callison called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.
It was determined that a quorum was present.
II. PRRO UPDATE
Cleve reporting:
Discussions about frustration PRRO members have about the NPR Board meetings. NPR announces a Board meeting, but the first day is taken up with committee meetings, many of them taking place simultaneously. For PRRO members the first day is often wasted.
Committee Chairs solicit participation from PRRO members. However, this is followed by a closed Executive meeting. The concluding open meeting is formulaic with short comments from PRRO members, politely listened to by Board members.
PRRO requested a conference Oct 16 to talk about this situation with Stevenson, Haarsager, Dana, and Mitch. They hope to bring up issues of the closed
Executive meeting as well as lack of transparency. Will ask Board members what they consider the role of the PRRO group, and conversely explain how PRRO sees their representation. PRRO members believe that PRRO represents member stations.
Cleve will report back after the PRRO conference call.
III. WINTER MEETING
Scheduled for February 4 through 6 in San Antonio. Members on the call believed that there is no need for rooms on Tuesday night. Rather, we should reserve 35 to 40 rooms for Wednesday and Thursday nights. There was concern that 40 rooms may be too many. However, if APM, PRI, CPB, NPR representatives are added to the total, 40 rooms may be realistic.
The price is $199 per night. Christina will continue to work with Dan’s staff to secure a contract.
Cleve asked that Christina’s marketing director prepare the conference brochure again. This time it should be placed in a PDF file and mailed to members as well. This should be done well in advance of the conference.
Presenters and topics were discussed. Christina will consult with Dan for best options for the Leadership/Management sessions as well as the evening activity.
Results from the Survey were discussed. It was noted that the PRIMA suite received low ratings. Several possibilities for increasing PRIMA Suite participation were discussed. Christina will ask PRIMAtes for recommendations for PRIMA Suite activities.
IV. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Kuzmych, Vice President