WRFI Board Meeting Minutes — September 2021

WRFI Board Meeting Minutes — September 21, 2021, 6-8pm

 

Present:

Stephen Cope

Carlos Gutierrez

Joseph Haefeli

Joe Romano

Chantal Thomas

Pamela Tan

John Young

 

Not Present:

Godfrey Simmons

 

• Approval of minutes
• GM update (Felix)
  • Membership drive
    • Summary emailed by Felix on 9/21/21
    • Main objective: new members
  • Programming Updates:
    • Monthly collaborative call-in show with the Ithaca Voice (including for “non-serious topics”)
    • Re-Entry Theater
    • Raza Rumi: public affairs
    • Two new programs
    • Arts Roundup
    • Youth Radio Project: 6 recruits
  • Underwriting:
    • Taitem Engineering
    • Kitchen Theater
    • Resident Noise
    • Ithaca Children’s Garden
    • Nothing Nowhere
    • Underwriting sales pitch
  • Park Report/Application
    • Felix would like the Board to take the lead on this.
    • Disbursed on March 31, 2021
    • Proposal due January 8th
    • Stephen and John available to assist.
  • Requests from Felix:
    • 6-8 new board members
    • Board Member expectations: review and approval
    • Request for following up with major donors - and on air testimonials
  • Major fundraising campaign: major donor push
    • Futures fund: operating + growth
  • Tower/transmitter update:
    • County tower: exploring from technical perspective
    • File to modify current permit
    • Ownership filing by Dec. 1
    • Construction Permit
    • Grants Gateway: want to see (1) a minority/women-owned business policy, and (2) roster of officers
  • Studio A construction: Coming along well. Hope to have it ready by the next fundraising drive.
  • Personnel Committee to work with Felix on staffing
  • Finances:
    • Bookkeeping taken over by Felix
    • Outcome of survey for news programming
    • 2020: Covid, AGM, plus salary increases.
    • WINO project: increased capital and operating costs
    • Donations higher with talk programming v. music programming?
    • Increases needed with Major Gifts/Major Grants
  • Interns

• Expanding WRFI Board: How is it going with outreach/conversations to potential board members? (Joseph)
• Chair’s Report (Stephen)
• Treasurer’s Report
• Fundraising drive for transmitter (John)
• Approve any raises (due in May)
• Greater Board/leadership transparency for volunteers (Pamela)
  • Post minutes on website
  • Key board meetings: Public? Agenda item requests from volunteers/staff?
  • Reach out/thank you to volunteers