Wisconsin Public Radio Association Board of Directors

September 25, 2009

Minutes

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Rosewall, Katz, Shurgot, Powless, Utley, Dietrich, Alden, Gintz-Jasper, Gerlach, Lichtenberg, Sigman, Jones-Bey, Gilmore, Merrick, Steele, Rudnitzki, Egan, Corriveau

ABSENT:  Tenerelli

 

President Rosewall called the meeting to order at 2:11.

 

Egan/Rudnitzki MOTION: to approve May 2009 Board Meeting Minutes.  APPROVED

 

Future Meeting Dates/Topics

  • Winter 2010 meeting
    • Training for fundraising/philanthropy, including evening event
    • Tentatively scheduled event for Thursday, January 14, with meeting the following day, January 15 in Madison
    • Rudnitzki instructed to work with staff to develop evening event

 

  • Spring 2010 meeting
    • Includes a visit with legislators and staffers at the Capitol
    • Tentatively state for Monday, May 17, with legislative visits May 18.

 

  • Fall 2010 meeting
    • Set for September 30-October 1
    • Tentatively set in Eau Claire

 

Committee Reports

 

Advocacy provided by Chet Gerlach

  • Gerlach reports he was elected to chair the committee
  • Malcolm Brett (UWEX BAMI Director) and Gene Purcell (ECB Executive Director) joined the committee in its discussion of the collaborative efforts that have been made
  • Regional legislative visits from winter/spring of 2009 were analyzed by the committee
    • Feedback was invited from the board
  • Committee would like to see regional meetings continue
    • Regional managers directed to develop events and set dates for late winter, 2010.

 

Development provided by Joan Rudnitzki

  • Rudnitzki reports she was elected to chair the committee
  • Committee reviewed its effort to get the board involved in the development process
    • Rebecca Dopart (WPR Membership Manager) reported on the success of the effort to have board members make personal contact with lapsed major donors.
  • Commitment forms were passed out to board members.
  • Shurgot/Egan MOTION: Use total board giving as a matching grant to leverage on-air membership fundraising gifts.  APPROVED

 

Finance provided by Bill Merrick

·         Merrick reports he was elected to chair the committee

·         Final Audit has been received.  Final review was provided by the auditors.

o        Clean opinion.  Auditors found nothing to comment on regarding procedures.

·         Dietrick/Lichtenberg MOTION:  Accept the audit report as final. APPROVED

·         Jasper/Dietrich  MOTION Finance committee will review endowment policy to see that it matches the requirement of a new state law.  APPROVED

·         Jones-Bey/Lichtenberg MOTION:  To approve the final budget. APPROVED

·         Dietrich/Gilmore MOTION:  To rename the line item “Bequests” as “Operating Reserve” to be available at the discretion of the Director of Radio.  APPROVED

 

Board Operations provided by Dave Steele

·         Steele was appointed to chair the committee

·         Rosewall volunteers to provide a proposal for the January meeting regarding the potential development of an honorary board of advisors to supplement the WPRA board.

·         Five elected positions will be available in the spring of 2010

o        Currently held by Alden, Egan, Jones-Bey, Steele and Rudnitzki.

·         Steele/Gerlach MOTION: 

In the “Election of Board” procedures, replace the first two sentences of point number 2 under “Election Process” with the following (changes underlined),

“Notice of an election of Board Members is made through notification in the autumn Radio Waves newsletter, on the WPRA web site (www.wpra.org) and on WPR stations and its website.”  Nominations for elected seats on the Board, the deadline for submission, the online nomination form and clear instructions will be in the web posting.  Paper versions of the form will be available through Audience Services or regional offices. 

In the “Election of Board” procedures, change the first sentence of point number 4 under “Election Process” to read,

“All nomination forms, accompanied by the candidate’s resume, must be returned via the web nomination form or to the regional office of the area from which the nominee intends to run.  Radio Waves and the web site will indicate that, if the forms are not returned properly, the nominee will not be placed on the ballot.”

In the “Election of Board” procedures, change point number 7 under “Election Process” to read,

“In the case of a region where there are more than two (2) candidates, the Board Operations Committee may determine that a run-off (primary) election will occur to reduce the number of candidates to two.  WPR central staff will mail a special run-off ballot along with directions to candidate profiles published on the WPRA website APPROVED

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:44.